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23 November, 2003- The Villiage, Dublin, Ireland please scroll down for all the reviews and artifacts review by David Good gig. Crowd very much into it. Much
larger gathering as well than when I saw Lanegan two years ago in Dublin,
which indicates that involvement in Queens of Stone Age has done a lot
for his popularity. He was more taciturn this time round. It was clear
and bright that day, the sun spilling cold white light on the water
and seashore pebbles. But maybe the climate change from warmer Greece
didn't suit Lanegan, he mumbled something about the 'cold and flu season'.
Setlist not quite in order. Borracho, Mockingbirds and Death Don't have no mercy were maybe the best versions. Mockingbirds was great, just Mark accompanied by one guitar. I don't think the because of this/ hotel medley really worked. The bits from Hotel were good, but because of this was just a searing mess of noise. I think Mark Lanegan is slightly better on record than he is live; sometimes you get the impression that he would rather be somewhere else. But this was still well worth the money. review by Conor It was a quite full venue that awaited the return of the man who sings like he has "corpses in his mouth", according to a QOTSA review I read recently. Although mostly an older crowd, I noticed a few more younger faces in the audience than the last time I saw Lanegan in 2001 - they were probably amassed through Lanegan's QOTSA/Dave Grohl connections. Judging by some of the young'uns reactions I don't think they'll be back again - chattering through songs is not a good way of showing one's appreciation Opening band, Enemy, had to cancel because Troy V.L. was sick. Brett Netson came out and announced this, and played one of his own songs before saying "Mark will be out in a few minutes" and disappearing offstage. So we waited. Finally, about 9:30, the band came on. Mark winced as
some overeager fans flashed their cameras - why can't people wait a
while? They played (as I recall - I'll confirm list and running order
tomorrow): They finished and left the stage. I really thought that
would be it and was about to leave to get our coats when a cheer erupted
again and the band came back one last time to play There were one or two more songs during the main set - again, I'll confirm them tomorrow. I mentioned to one photographer about posting the pix on the web - here's to hoping. The keyboardist didn't add much during the show except for "Pill Hill". He had these bizarre effects on some songs that did nothing for the arrangements. The FX sounded like they came from a cheap Casio home synth. Mark was in good form during the show, I think. He even smiled once, my friend noticed. After the first song, someone wished him a Happy Birthday, and he dryly replied, "Thanks for reminding me." Later he remarked that it was "the season of colds and 'flu" - referring to Troy, I guess. When he came back for an encore, a few flashes popped again and he said "You see, that's why I keep my eyes closed all the time, with you guys going off every minute." Finally, Mark smoked more than 20 cigarettes during the set. He is a man possessed seemingly. Doesn't seem intent on sticking around this planet very long. No home, no partners, no concern for his health. A tobacco Buddhist? review by Killian The support Enemy, who I know nothing about, had to cancel cos the singer had a sore throat, so Brett Netson did a song which wasn't bad. The place was pretty packed out. Lanegan came on and ripped into Borracho which really is amazing live and that kind of set the tone. Other songs I can remember: One Way Street, Jesus Program, Dont Forget Me THere were a couple of new ones which I really liked, and he played a fair bit off Field Songs (No Easy Action, Miracle and Pill Hill) before going into a cool version of Death Dont Have No Mercy, which really rocked. Then they played an epic version of Because of This with Hotel mixed in. This went on for a good while and the crowd got a little bored I think. I must say the crowd were shit. I dont know what they ere expecting (Queens of the Stone Age maybe) but apart from me and my wife who really enjoyed it and a few Spanish girls, a lot of people around us were just...dead He played Creeping Coastline and I'll Take Care of You, 2 of my wife's faves (she loves that album) which were great, before doing a great Methamphetamine Blues which was really hard and heavy. Lanegan was in great growly voice, he really makes all other singers seem a bit limp in comparison. They all went off and then Mark and the other guitar player (not Brett Netson) came on and did Mockingbird. I think I have this all mixed up and fucked up by the way. Then the rest of the band came back. They did She Done Too Much which slid into River Rise. I think Clear Spot was next and the Fix, which was pretty affecting, and became really rocking, Mark growling 'Fiiiixxx' made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. They went off for a while, then came back and did Kimiko, which he sang really well. And that was it. We were bouncing out of the place but most of the crowd were just lifeless, were they just too busy being cool ? They didnt look like they enjoyed it. I dont think a lot of the crowd knew any of Mark's stuff, and it cant have been much fun for Mark being faced by a load of pseuds trying to be cool just to say they saw Lanegan or something. Maybe I'm harsh but I just wondered why they were there. We really enjoyed it though. Great to see him and hear him live. He seemed in fairly dry, sarcastic form, and his band certainly hit some good grooves. review by Rory Having made the long Journey from County Down I was in good spirits and really looked forward to an amazing show and after a two year wait I wasn't disappointed. Brett Netson from the criminally under rated band "Caustic Resin" informed the crowd Troy van Leeuwen wasn't feeling great and that his Band "Enemy" weren't going to play and after a fantastic if not short solo song informed the crowd Lanegan would be on in a few minutes. After what seemed like an eternity the Lanegan band stepped out and in true fashion launched straight into an amazing version of "Borracho". The crowd were then treated to a very heavy set no doubt helped by both Lanegan's experiences with QOTSA and van leeuwens heavy guitar style (which was a lot different than the more melodic Mike Johnson) the band played an amazing set which included the following;
review by Randall First thing's first. I'm new to Mark's music. I'm a big ol' (since '92) Trees fan, and I'm familiar with QOTSA, but am completely unfamiliar with Mark's music as a solo artist or 'Mark Lanagan Band'. Having sorted out the guestlist for the gig (thanks to those concerned), the missus and I headed down to The Village. Got in about 8. A friend managed to get me a promo poster that hadn't been hung yet. A good start. The band came out after the guitarist did a single song solo spot due to a fella from Enemy being ill. Mark mentioned it being 'flu season'. I don't know any of the song titles, but the music was great. Reminded me of Black Sabbath. Not in style, in the feeling. Henry Rollins once described Sabbath as 'the ultimate lonely man's music'. That's a good a description of what I heard Sunday night as any. Mark's voice was more gravelly than it was in the Trees. A friend described Mark's Whelan's gig in 2001 as a 'no messin' rock gig'. That's what we got tonight. Mark stood there, clinging to the mic stand, smoking cigarettes, and looking like the world's coolest jailbird. Tattooed knuckles. His head bobbing to the music when he wasn't singing. Put him on a stage, and, like the best rock 'stars', he looked damn cool. The main set seemed composed of mainly rock/blues songs, while the encores consisted of quieter, more contemplative tunes. One song in the main set really grabbed me. I'm guessing, but from the previous reviews, it *might* be that medley. It seemed to go on forever (in a good way), and had a long instrumental middle section with a swirling guitar sound. Amazing. The sound was pretty dire, but then i was literally standing in front of the right PA stack. It was about 10 centimetres from my head, and about 5 foot from Mark. Post show, I purchased the EP, and bailed to the VIP area for drinks. Met Mark on the stairs on the way up. He signed my postcard advertising the EP. (It's the EP cover on one side and tour dates on the other). Looking at the EP cover side (the same portrait of himself repeated over and over), he smiled and said, 'It looks like evolution of the apes' and signed it. I told him about seeing the Trees at home in Australia in '96/'97 on the Big Day Out tour when he sat on a stool with a walking cane due to his broken ankle, and he looked at me with a pained expression and said 'shit, i remember that broken ankle!'. I then left him to some other fans who approached him. He came up to the VIP briefly and then left, while I stayed on drinking. A great gig. A great night. Oh, as regards a previous reviewer's complaints about
the audience. Whelans holds 350. The Village holds 600. Mark got in
about 500. There were some QOTSA t-shirts in attendance, for sure. But
maybe the audience seemed 'dead' to him, because they weren't drunkenly
hollering for song a, b, and c. Maybe they seemed 'dead' because they
were LISTENING. Even if Mark's music was new to them, it's a credit
to them that they shut up and listened to the gig. Maybe he gained a
few new fans in the process. Bands don't gig to preach to the converted,
they gig to broaden the fanbase. Hopefully Mark and co. pulled a few
more in. Fan elitism has no place in music. (Remember the little kid
in Hype! with the earplugs shoved up his nose: 'I like 'em first!'.
I'd answer, 'who gives a shit?') review by Barry Horror of all horrors when Brett Netson ( i think) announced that a member (the guitarist i thought he said) of the band was ill so they wouldn't play. Troy van Leewun came to mind and so I thought this would affect the Lanegan set. ' Mark will be out in a minute' he said and then I was a nervous Nelly. Anyway, they all came out and started 'Borracho' which got everyone really into things. The set list that other Dublin goers sent in seems spot on. The band played really hard and songs like 'No Easy Action' and 'Don't Forget Me' were outstanding. If I had have met Mark before hand I would have asked him to play that for sure. I didn't. Anyway, Mark sang his heart out. There was a bone-chilling version of ' Mockingbirds' with just Mark and Troy together. 'River Rise' was probably the only 'Whiskey' number I remember them playing which was a surprise, but far from being a disappointment. The crowd were very attentive during the songs but went ape when they finished. No one (oh thank Christ) shouted for Queens of the Stone Age songs. Instead of running out to the tour bus after the show we all went to the bar where we thought we would bump into Mark et al. No such luck. Crappy Irish 'song-writer' David Kitt was there, as was actor Stephen Rea...but no Mark. I did meet Troy alright and said I hoped he got better and that he played brilliant. I must say he was very friendly and bashful. Me and my brother waited for an hour (an hour too late) outside the alley at the back where the tour bus was. I pestered cleaning ladies, bouncers, fucking David Kitt even came out again - but it wasn't to be. My name-sake never showed. It was a great show, my first time seeing Lanegan and hope it wont be the last. P.S Rory your a lucky bastard. Nice photos too.
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