28 Novemberr, 2003, Mean Fiddler, London, UK

review by ArTcH

1. Borracho
2 Message to mine
3 One way street
4 Sleep with me
5 Don't forget me
6 Wedding dress
7 No easy action
8 Miracle
9 Creeping coastline of lights
10 Death don't have no mercy (electric version)
11 Skeletal history
12 On Jesus program (new band type version)
13 Because of this / hotel / because of this / hotel / because of this
14 I'll take care of you
15 Methamphetamine blues
16 Mockingbirds (acoustic - Mark and Troy)
17 She done too much / The river rise (acoustic intro)
18 Clear spot
19 Pill hill serenade
20 Going going gone

At last a solo London date where Mark's voice is actually turned up! Sadly no 'Fix' which was on the set list last time round, but left off from this show despite being played often elsewhere on this tour, saying that I'm splitting hairs there !. Best moments included superb new songs: 'Message to mine' and 'Skeletal history'. 'Wedding dress', Miracle' and a beautiful version of 'Creeping coastline of lights' which was almost worth the price of admission alone. 'Methamphetamine blues' sounded much better live than the somewhat percussive studio version with Mark's voice lingering in the air at the end of the set: "Don't want to leave this heaven so soon....". The mutation of 'Because of this' and 'hotel' worked well, but lacked the epic assent of the version performed two tours ago. Wonderful show though, even if this band lack the tight precision of the Screaming Trees in their heyday. Hurray back Mark, the next album bodes well !