From: gt0434b@prism.gatech.edu (Strawberry Dreams)
Subject: Roses in Atlanta - brilliant!!!
To: roses-list@best.com (The Stone Roses List)
Date: Mon, 15 May 1995 14:29:49 -0400 (EDT)

Well world, yesterday, I witnessend the resurrection. Yes, the Stone Roses are in the US!!! I was at the Atlanta show yesterday, and let me tell you, it was fucking ace. There were at least 5000 people packed onto the field at the Midtown Music Festival in Atlanta. I happened to be in the very front, after waiting several hours there. The day was perfect, a cool, cloudy day, with the Atlanta city skyline behind the stage. Then it all came down. After all the roadies set up, everything went quiet, and the intro to "Breaking Into Heaven" came out of the speakers. 

The anticipation as enough to drive a person fucking mad. I think everyone was about to pop out of their bodies. Then, Mani came runing on stage, jumping up and down and all over with the excitement of a little boy. The crowd went absolutely crazy. You could tell that he was sooooo excited to do their first ever gig. And then, one of the best moments of the show, you could see Ian and John give each other a hug backstage before strutting on stage, as if to say, "OK, here's what we've waited 6 years for, let's go knock the fucking US on it's knees." 

And they did. Robbie came on, and Mani went into the opening lines of "I Wanna Be Adored". It was so ace. And I don't know where all the bad reviews of Ian singing out of tune came from. He was right on, man! The crowd again went crazy, as everyone was singing along. Here's the set list:

• I Wanna Be Adored

• She Bangs the Drums

• Waterfall

• Ten Storey Love Song

• Daybreak

• Breaking Into Heaven

• Love Spreads

• I Am The Resurrection

Yes, that's it, folks. The band could not hear themselves play for the entire show because of a faulty set up by the roadies, apparently, but I must make it clear that I was not disappointed in the least, even though they only did eight songs. They decided to stop early because they couldn't hear themselves play. Also, they were only allotted 1 hour to play, so they could not do an acoustic set. 

One of my friends got a set list, and they were going to play "Made of Stone" and "Driving South" too. I suspect that for other US dates, they will be doing more songs, similar to their European tour. But I was kinda glad they closed with Resurrection. It was the best song of the day, too. It gave me chills when I could hear more than 5000 people shouting "I am the resurrection, and I am the life....". Then, in the middle of the song, me and several of my freinds just started launching orange slices at the stage (first album cover, you know) and all the band members just looked at us and smiled. Ian picked one up, held it up to the crowd, and then began sucking on it. It was so great! John Squire was godly at the show. After the show, I somehow managed to get backstage, where Ian was surrounded by about 10 girls and they were all smoking joints. Ian was really nice, not an ass like I expected. But I talked mostly to John. He is really a great guy, and he seems so unlike a rock star. He told me they weren't doing Lollapalooza because Mani's girlfriend is pregnant and due in August, so they couldn't do the whole Lolla. They are coming back in July to do a total U.S. tour, though. I talked to him for maybe 20 minutes, and I can't really remember everything I asked him. He said he was into Beck and the Beatles. He said he never combs his hair (surprise!!) and that he's been playing guitar for 15 years. He has season tickets to Manchester United, he didn't know Glasto was sold out, and he's pretty excited about that. 

They're going to Japan in June. Oh, and if anyone gets a chance to talk to him, do NOT bring up the subject of the new Silvertone release, because they are not happy AT ALL about that. John uses really thin strings on his guitar, he said, because he is "a wimp". He told me this because I happened to notice he had no blemishes on his hands due to playing. He said he likes the sound of the Les Pauls (he used two Les Pauls during the show) better than hollow bodies, and when I mentioned that I had just watched the Blackpoll '91 video last night, he smiled and said that he had that guitar on tour too, after I asked him if he had smashed it. I got the impression that John really dislikes talking to he press, but just loves hanging around with fans, because he was so nice and seemed to be enjoying talked to me (I mean, he didn't try to push me away, 

I just decided I had to go whem I left, or he would've talked longer). John seemed a little distant from the rest of the group, for some reason. But not in a bad way. After I left backstage, I spotted Ian again just walking around the festival grounds smoking, and going up to two people and buying more pot. He was barely recognized by the majority of the crowd. It was so weird just seeing Ian Brown walking around just like the other 10000 people at on the festival grounds and just blending right in. Oh, and his hair is growing out again, it looks similar to Liam's from Oasis, but it is a little shorter. It really looks good. OK, well, I hope I haven't bored anyone. Oh, the new drummer was great too. OK, everyone, totally enjoy the shows, because they are unbelievable. Rob

From: Freshcopy@aol.com
Date: Mon, 15 May 1995 22:03:53 -0400
To: roses-list@best.com
Subject: Atlanta

I agree the set was great. Especially Daybreak/Breaking into Heaven. Daybreak was a lot more on than on the album. The crowd went nuts for "Atlanta, Georgia". But chalk it up to roady problems or whatever, but they lost the bass in the end of love spreads.

Things completely fell apart during Ressurection. Mani's bass kept cutting in and out. Finally, he got pissed and tossed his bass, storming off the stage. The rest of the band kept playing. He came on after a couple of minutes. Ian slowed down his vocals, Mani joined in, John joined in. They got it back in gear. I'm not sure if It was a brilliant save or monumental fuck up.

Yes, it was brilliant singing along

Before the show the insipid DJ's(yes, i know redundant) were asking the band questions. The one DJ said something snide about a new album in '05. The reply was no, '96. The band also have something against the Confederate Flag. Some assholes during the show held up a Georgia flag with the stars and bars. No offense meant to assholes.

Ran into Ian on Saturday at the Lenox Mall. He said that he was nursing a cold. He was nearly unintelligible. I don't quite speak Manc.

Basically, he was looking for some ace casual gear and checking out my girlfriend. Cheeky bastard.

Dissappointed with the length,

Miguel

From: Jennifer Kim <lolita@dcs.uga.edu>
Newsgroups: alt.music.stone-roses
Subject: Re: Well, did they show?
Date: Mon, 15 May 1995 15:46:17 -0400

I just got back from the roses show in Atlanta. I have to say that it was definitely well worth my 6 year wait to see them live. We got to the music festival thing at about 4 and decided to hang out near the backstage area. I was really excited because I have never seen them in person before just like most of us in the US. 

Anyway, we were chillin out and we say John Squire and I got him to sign my Australian cd . After a few minutes Ian came out followed by Mani and they signed all of the cds that I brought. They were all really nice, Mani especially, but John was quiet and he just signed my cd. Ian acted much like I expected, he was quiet, wearing shades, and obviously on something. 

I handed my Australian cd to Mani and it was funny because he said that he had never seen it before. And then they were gone. Ian was funny because he posed for lot sof pictures and he was definitely on something because people just pulled him and he followed. Another thing is that he acted like he did in the Blackpool live video. 

ON to the show. the music fest was the worst possible place for the band to debut, but I was so glad to actually see them live. There were lots of new alternative dorks and lots off frat-soroiety people because it was a festival of bands like Matthew Sweet, Bodeans, Jack o Pierce, Bush , and other shittty bands. 

Anyway, we got to about 4 rows back and prepared for the stupid fucking mosh pit that follows all shows in america. Why won;t these people get a fucking clue, They almost ruined the show because you always had to watch out for afoot of apush fgrom behind. 

Anyway, I thought the show wqas fucking incredible and blew away Oasis, Blur, Echobelly, Jesus and Mary Chain, Spirtualized, and it was even a little better than the first time I saw Morrissey. they cam eout at about 5 and kicked intoI wanna be adored.

set list

• I wanna be adored

• SHe bangs the drums

• waterfall

• ten storey love song into

• day break

• free jam for like ten minutes jamming out into

• breaking into heaven

• love spreads

• and the ended wiht I am the resssurection

this song was dope because in th emiddle of the song the slowed it down as if to stop the fuckers from moshing and ruinin the show. John Squire was so fucking good, he is definitely better than Noel = the new drummer has dreadlocks and was jamming, I thought he was incredible

Ians vocals sounded awersome, admiteldy not like the albujm, but I reallly liked his voice, he did sound better on the older songs, than the new one overall, i loved the show, but it would have been better indoors and no frat rats or cheese heads or rednecks that were there to seee other bands and don't appreciate the roses

I loved the show, basically

From: ink19tampa@aol.com (Ink19tampa)
Newsgroups: alt.music.stone-roses
Subject: Re: Well, did they show?
Date: 15 May 1995 15:30:10 -0400

oh dear god did they show up.......

Suggestion.... get over to stage right in front of Mani... he is by far the most entertaining rose to watch.... you can admire john and ian from afar just as well... the drummer totally rocks.... look for a 20 minute bleed of daybreak and breaking into heaven... other highlights, she bangs the drums and i am the resurection... got to talk to their Geffen A/R escort... these guys are totally elated to be in the states... look for good shows all around

rob

From: "HALL, RICHARD STANTO" <RSHALL@MUSIC.CC.UGA.EDU>
Newsgroups: alt.music.stone-roses
Subject: Did anyone see tragic Atlanta show??
Date: 14 JUN 95 12:01:32 EST

Did anyone out there see the roses' tragic atlanta show on may 14? This was their much hyped "First american gig", if I'm not mistaken. After waiting 5 years to see them live, it was a crushing disappointment.

(by the way, you wouldn't believe how old john squire looks in person! I met him before the show, and he's all wrinkly and strung out.)

They played at an outdoor music festival--the sky was threatening, but a crowd of several thousand, the front throng almost all ardent roses fans, were assembled to see "The second coming." it started out promising--mani leaped onstage, obviously hyped, ian strutted out, looking kewl, john and robbie sauntered on, knowing they were the shit. Like a dream, they went right into "I wanna be adored." it sounded good, but the first indication of trouble was ian's voice--it was terribly flat, and barely audible over all of the fans screaming every word to the song. You could tell that he knew something was wrong, as he kept motioning to the soundguys. 

As the show continued, it became obvious that robbie didn't know the material too well, as his style of drumming was ill-suited for the songs. Of course, it appeared he was having trouble with his monitors as well. In fact the only person who was unaffected was john squire, as he was admittedly fantastic on "Waterfall" and "Daybreak", "Daybreak" being radically sped up and improved live. Unfortunately, there were only hints of the roses' greatness.

It all ended kind of suddenly. About 30 minutes into the set, they went into "Resurrection," but you could tell they were all out of sync. Robbie and mani, especially, were really getting angry. Midway through the 2nd verse, mani suddenly tore off his bass and hurled it at the soundguys on the side of the stage. Very unkewl. Robbie followed him a minute later, stalking off to the back. Ian and john never betrayed any emotion, tried to continue, but gave up and followed the others. A minute later, ian came out, said, "We'd like to play for you, but the sound is shit, we can't hear ourselves, show's over." and that was it, after 35 minutes. It was a crushing disappointment.

Now that I've gone on way too long about this show, does anyone else out there have an opinion of it?

Stan hall

Date: Fri, 12 Jan 1996 23:13:54 -0800
From: cstein@sava.gulfnet.com (Chris )
Subject: CGI: Roses REVIEW
Apparently-To: roses-review@freestyle.com

So, I just got on the Net, and I want to give my opinion of the Roses gig, too, because I thought it to best one of my most treasured moments. You know they're not really what one might consider a "daytime" band, but nonetheless, it was good to meet all of 'em prior to the show.

Ahh, the show. I quite enjoyed the hell out of it, except I was pissed that the sound guys couldn't pull their shit together. (Way to go Mani!) But what songs they did play, I dug extremely so. The opening trio of Adored, She Bangs, and Waterfall were all magically transcending pieces. Sue, Ian's rough, but Squire, man, he gets the mojo woikin' (thank you, Muddy) overtime. 

One thing to all who saw the Atlanta gig - no one has or will see another Resurrection like we saw. Sure, the slowdown was different, but to see them improvise and still keep it together was a gas. 

Love Spreads was incredible, especially to see Squire's amazing slide playing. But for me, the highlight was Breaking Into Heaven, because I rank that one with their greatest. Sure, I wish we'd seen the acoustic stuff and the Tears that Wembley saw 8 months later, but what we did see was magical. And can we really expect any more than that?