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Annual Heart Wreck Show, from Doug Culhane
Feb. 14, 2001
No one else has done it so I guess I will step in with my report on
Syd's riveting performance. She sang, she joked, she played guitar,
she flashed her bra, she didn't wear the squirrel suit ( even
stranger, though more lovely, she wore a long skirt and white satin
blouse). I don't have a set list (I'm not that obsessive) but here's
some of what you missed: Time Has Done This (post Skeletons
arrangement), When My Ship Comes In, Almost As Blue, Black Squirrel,
Static, Love and the Lack of It, CBGB's, Actress, Gold (the Blegvad
tune), Obsession (Blegved again), Other covers included: Love is A
Friend of Mine, and Nights in White Satin (which Syd somehow
redeemed). The band was great: Soul Cougher,Sebastian Steinberg on
bass; cellist Michelle Kinney; Allen Bezozie (sp?) on drums and Joe
Ruddick on Keyboards. Guests were Jody Harris who sang some of his
songs (Syd Harmonized) and Fountain of Wayne Chris Collingswood
(guitar and singing).
Syd was in great voice and form, she had a great time with the band.
Her wit was sharp as ever and her lingerie was all you had hoped it
would be. She played the red tele. So that's the bare bones report on
what you missed that Valentine's Day night. Hope you had a really hot
date, because you missed the matchless Ms. Straw at her best.
Playlist (from Mark DePazza):
Almost As Blue
Static
Obsession
Love and the Lack of It
Time Has Done This
When My Ship Comes In
Love is a Friend of Mine
True Love
New York Romance
A Couple of Swells
Actress
Black Squirrel
X-Ray
She's Got a Problem
Come Back to San Francisco
I've Got a Flair
Nights in White Satin
CBGB's (encore)
Fez, from Mark DePazza
Nov. 17, 2000
Another fun time was had by all at the Catfight at the Fez featuring Syd
Straw and friends. The friends included Jody Harris (bandmate from Syd's time
in the Golden Palominos), Catherine Russell Rich, Amy Hempel, Pierson Marks,
Ann Homes, Rick Moody and Mary Gaitskill. Please forgive me if I had
misspelled any of the participants' names. The show started with Jody Harris
and band performing a total of 10 songs consisting of cover tunes as well as
originals. Syd and her band took the stage quickly after Jody's performance.
The show continued with Syd and band playing 3 songs followed by two readers
for the remainder of the evening until its conclusion.
I did not confirm some of the titles of the songs Jody had performed but
others were obvious popular tunes. Also I did not confirm the titles of the
readings given.
Playlist:
Jody Harris and Band
True Love
Pretty Creatures
If I Gave You My Love
Goldfinger
Never On A Sunday
Alma Mater Song
The Beat Goes On
Peter Gunn Theme
(unknown)
They Tried To Tell Us We're Too Young
Syd Straw and Band
Madrid
Love and the Lack of It
Almost As Blue
Reading by Catherine Russell Rich
Reading by Amy Hempel (Beach Town)
Time Has Done This
Gold
Self Defeater
Reading by Pierson Marks
Reading by Ann Homes
When My Ship Comes In
Still the One I Love (Shania Twain)
This Guy's In Love
Reading by Rick Moody
Reading by Mary Gaitskill
CBGB's
Fez, from Mark DePazza
Nov. 10, 2000
Here's the basic's: The show started with Syd, her bass player and her piano
player sharing the stage with Rick Moody and his drummer being introduced as 'The
Sexual Compulsives.' They performed 5 songs together, after which the personnel
changed to all Syd's band. Syd's voice was in fine form, displaying warmth
and emotion in every aspect as well as strength when needed. Particular high
points occurred on songs such as "When My ShipComesIn", "Almost
Magic", "This Guy's In Love", a rocking "CBGB's" and
one of my particular favorites, "XRay".
Besides the music, stories were told and audience participation added to the
friendly, casual atmosphere. Particularly when one of Syd's friends lent assistance
with duct tape when Syd encountered difficulties with her glasses. Similar to last week,
after the show Syd spent some time with members of the audience before saying goodnight,
leaving us with anticipation of next weeks show.
Playlist:
Let My Love Open the Door
The Train That Takes You Away
They Don't Know About Us
Lost Youth
Still The One I Love
Madrid
Toughest Girl In The World
People of Earth
Almost as Blue
X-Ray
Actress
Black Squirrel
When My Ship Comes In
Almost Magic
This Guy's In Love
CBGB's
Fez, from Mark DePazza
Nov. 3, 2000
Nora York opened the show. Her voice reminded me of
another female vocalist I like named Loey Nelson. She performed cover tunes
as well as originals. Two songs I can recall were "Ring of Fire" and "Can't
Find My Way Home". It was a fun night interspersed with stories and songs.
Attended by about 30 people, most of whom Syd knew, it felt like a show in
Syd's living room at home. Syd had told us stories about her plane flight home
from California, and her house guest, a bat in her cellar with a seemingly
defective guidance system. After the show Syd made the rounds and chatted
with several of us in the audience and also took the time to sign several
articles brought in by my friend Scott and myself.
Partial Playlist (not in order):
Madrid
Black Squirrel
Love and the Lack of It
X-Ray
Time Has Done This
When My Ship Comes In
Self Defeater
Almost as Blue
Dancing Days
This Guy's in Love - Burt Bacharach
CBGB's
Largo, from Sean Zwagerman
Oct. 28, 2000
More talk, less rock than Oct. 21. Syd's between-song repartee makes it clear where
her clever, verbally-adept music comes from. She's smart, engaging,
self-depracatory, and --perhaps best of all-- she "rocks like fuck." And
looks great doing it, I might add. No suicidal lunatics in tonight's crowd, just
one loquacious, aging hippie-type who seemed to have lost control of his motor
skills. But enough talk, onto the rock - and what fun and surprising rock it was.
Partial Playlist (not in order):
Black Squirrel
Toughest Girl In The World
Madrid
His Turn To Cry
What Am I Worth (with Dave Alvin)
My Daddy Flies ([title?] A Woody Guthrie children's song)
Actress
Howl
White Rabbit
CBGB's
Golden Dream
When My Ship Comes In
Good Night Irene (with Dave Alvin)
Largo, from Sean Zwagerman
Oct. 21, 2000
A crowd double the size of the one from the Oct. 14 Largo show enjoyed a great
performance which, in Syd's phrase, featured "less talk and more rock."
(though still plenty of talk). The woman from the first show who was suffering
from post-hamster stress disorder was not inattendance, her place taken by an
unnervingly depressed and unstable fan, who muttered something about "razor
blades and a hot bath." His heckling was obviously a cry for help, and
Doctor Syd, with humor and compassion, helped him through his difficult time. She
also shut him up so the rest of us could enjoy the show.
Partial Playlist (not in order):
Golden Dream
Toughest Girl In The World
Love, and the Lack of It
CBGB's
Time Has Done This
Black Squirrel
When My Ship Comes In
Madrid
Almost as Blue
X-Ray
Static
Handle Me With Care
Largo, from Jerry Butterfield
Oct. 14, 2000
Not a real big crowd, the band was severely under-rehearsed but, hey,
to Syd those are just colors in the paint box, you know? She played on the intimacy
and spontaneity for all they were worth, and it was obvious from the opening bars of the
first song that she was in fine voice... and fine form... as funny and charming as ever,
drawing the audience in to a point just short of dragging them up on stage.
A lovely evening, and the best part is that she's going to be
there the next two Thursdays. Largo likes to operate in near secrecy for some
reason, and it's impossible to get any useful information, especially over the
phone, so I'll mention that the set started right around 10.
Partial Playlist (not in order):
Golden Dreams
Toughest Girl In The World
Madrid
Black Squirrel
Time Has Done This
Actress
Almost As Blue
CBGB's
His Turn To Cry (request)
Knitting Factory, from Mark DePazza
Oct. 2, 2000
2 shows. Syd seemed to be happy and relaxed in the setting and was casually conversant
during both shows. During the first show I had seen at least 3 videocameras
in the room positioned at both sides of the stage and one a few feetback
suspended from some support structure. The cameras were not there for the 2nd show.
Partial Playlist (not in order):
Love and the Lack of It (both shows)
CBGB's (both shows)
Madrid (both shows)
Almost as Blue (late show)
Black Squirrel (both shows)
The Train That Takes You Away (2nd song of encore-both shows)
Time Has Done This (both shows)
Golden Dreams (both shows only song from Surprise)
People of Earth (both shows)
"Led-Belly Zeppelin's" Dancin' Days (both shows)
Burt Bacharach's This Guy's in Love With You (1st song of encore-both shows)
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