From: jebarrie@mail1.sas.upenn.edu (Jorge Eduardo Barrientos)
Newsgroups: alt.music.stone-roses
Subject: Notes on the Philly show
Date: 26 May 1995 04:36:12 GMT

After being tortured with horrible techno for hours before the show, the band finally performed an inconsistant, yet still amazing show at the Troc. Ian Brown had some serious problems with the sound equipment or he simply didn't feel like singing during various songs. Most people, especially the group of frat boys next to me, were very pissed off. I personally thought it was hilarious.I don't think Ian really gives a fuck.

But the prize definitely goes to Mani, who was wearing the national flag of Cuba on his t-shirt.I wonder what North American audiences react to this? Certainly, the frat-boys who were chanting "party!!!"(or something) didn't realize Mani might as well be giving them the finger.I am not North American and with all due respect to your nation, I thought this ingenious and subtle statement was lucid and brilliant.

I read somewhere that the guy from Bush thinks the Roses can never become huge in the U.S.(like them) because of their attitude and lack of understanding of U.S. audiences.I don't think the Manchester boys are really that rude to North Americans, but they certainly embrace Anglo culture and embody the Manc attitude with style and wit. This is precisely what makes them unique and honest,qualities which involve shoveling a little dirt on your proud nation from time to time (no offense).

Anyways, the show last night was probably mediocre to some, but it blew me away, even without the encore and the sustained unproffesionalism. 

Highlights included the "Daybreak/Breaking into Heaven" medly jam and of course "I am the Resurrection".The new rasta drummer is really good too, but John Squire is clearly the best performer of them all;in my opinion, the best guitarist of the 90's except for maybe Dave Navarro. 

After five years, the Roses, undoubtedly, still know where it's at.

Later,

J.B.