Date: Sat, 03 Jun 1995 02:39:35 -0700 (PDT)
From: drenalin
Subject: San Francisco show 5/31
To: roses-list@best.com

Well after a long drive down to SF and finding out that my friends got stranded up in Oregon I was a little drained the day before. I hung out and went record shopping where I saw a few copies of one of Silvertone's recent scams (the Fool's Gold '95 12"). 

I reached my friends and they had graciously called around and gotten my name put on the guest list (as I didnt have a ticket and two of my buddies were on the guest list). I arrived at the show hoping this would work and I just went up to the window and got a ticket. Inside I met a couple of friends I didnt expect and looked around. There were a lot of excited people, some who looked like old fans, maybe some new...it was hard to tell. 

The opening music was from a tape I assume, I didn't know most of the songs but they played an Elastica song and generally the sound was of the UK indie genre. 

At about nine I guess the lights dimmed and everyone cheered. As the intro started the place was filled with excitement. In the first notes of I Wanna Be Adored the crowd was jumping/dancing like mad. It wasnt moshing but fairly cramped so I moved a litlle ways back to where i could just groove without the pogo effect =).

Ian had on a black long slleve shirt and came out in sunglasses. Mani wore a white shirt and his hair has become quite long now. Robbie had on this cool hat and also come out with shades. John was looking a bit pale and on the feminine side, wearing a white billowy shirt and an odd hat, much more mod than hes looked in a while I thought.

The set list is as follows (although I dont have the tune/name recognition down for the Second Coming a kind gent helped me with the ones that werent obvious).

• I Wanna Be Adored

• She Bangs the Drums

• Waterfall

• Ten Storey Love Song

• Daybreak

• Breaking Into Heaven

• Your Star Will Shine (acoustic)

• Tightrope (acoustic)

• Elizabeth My Dear (acoustic)

• I am the Resurrection

• Good Times

• Love Spreads

• Made of Stone

• Driving South

They didnt play an encore because of Manis finger. But they looked as if they had wanted too. I think they really liked the crowd although they left in a hurry after the show. The highlights for me were I am the Resurrection and Waterfall, with Made of Stone close behind. I thought Love Spreads was well done (as opposed to previous reports of it being horrible)...all in all a fucking GREAT show!

After the show I managed to get a couple shirts they were selling on the street (I think one of the vendors might have been the manager?) because the shirts arrived after they had kicked everyone out. Then I waited around to get some stuff signed. I guess John slipped out before anyone noticed but he never came out and was gone later. 

I briefly met Ian and Mani who signed my stuff and hurried of to the DNA Lounge (which is unfortunately 21+ so I couldn't go). Then Robbie came out several minutes later and was one of the nicest guys I met. He told a couple people that he is with the band for good (in a confident way) and that they will be back in July. He speaks really softly but is a great guy and stopped to talk to several people before departing. I was very impressed with him.

My whole experience was wonderful, although lacking in some ways because my friends couldnt make it due to car truobles =(. The next day I was record hunting again and was told they would be playing the Warfield in late July and also at an outdoor venue in LA. At the concert someone I met had said they read in NME? (or MM) that they were recording a live album on Tour? Oh dont you guys love rumours? 

Anyway thats all for now, if anyone taped the SF mail me PLEASE!!! It was a phenomanal showing worth the six year wait!

drenalin