doodledee

And lo they came to my childhood home. And lo it was good.

My friend Melissa and I beat it out of town early enough to avoid rush and get some food before the show. We ended up at Rochester's first and only sushi bar (?!). It was packed but we easily found some seats at the bar. The waitress kicked off dinner by bringing us menus and asking "have you ever had sushi before?!" Rochester remains adorable.

Quick walk to the civic center and we're in. No security at all. We grab a beer and gawk at the merchandise (poster! florafauna!) and then head in to check out the Retribution Gospel Choir (in progress). Little old ladies in navy blue blazers immediately swarm us and shine flashlights on our tickets, eager to help us find our seats. Did I say adorable? I did. 10th row, stage right. Nice. RGC still playing. Go figure, they sound like Low. If that's your thing, then hey, you'd probably like them. They weren't as loud as I expected and it was actually a nice little warm-up.

Back out to the beer table and it's getting ROCKED. The line is like 25 people deep at each vendor and there are maybe 100 beers left in the coolers. It was tense. For sure they ran out 10 minutes after we got ours. "There's more in the back". Uh huh. If by "back" you mean "Andy's Liquors at Crossroads".

Lights down and it's showtime. Everyone immediately stands-up. That's a good sign. Opener is 'Chrome', which is always on my list. We're only two minutes in and I'm already jumping up and down. Things are moving fast. Now a 'Face' and the piano is soft and perfect and I'm allowing myself to wonder if it's maybe going to be a special night. Tweedy's talking a lot and everyone's having fun and stuff is rolling and then 'Via Chicago' hits early and outrageously with Tweedy standing center stage - in his cowboy hat and denim jacket, casually strumming his acoustic like he's playing to hippies at Newport - while the band tears holes in the fabric of space and time behind him and the lights are flashing and the world is collapsing and he slowly takes a step forward and THAT SAYS YOU HAVEN'T GONE TOO FAAAAAR and there's no denying it now: the game is most definitely on. In a big way. And I haven't stopped jumping yet.

And it keeps rolling. We sneak down to the front for a while and letmetellyou it was quite a spot from which to hear a 'Hummingbird' and a 'Jesus, etc' and a 'Hate it Here'. Really it was. I should just sit front row for every show. I'll make a note. Now back to our seats - hi narc! - and now 'Theologians' (!!) and at this point all it really needs is a 'Misunderstood' and I'll be in orbit. Not that I wasn't already mind you, but hey, it can't hurt to hope, right? It eventually closes with 'Man Who Loves You' and there's monster applause and they come back out and Kotche pounds the drums and it's 'Misunderstood' and back in my old neighborhood and off to orbit I go. And now a 'Stars' and now a 'Drummer' and the applause comes thundering back.

Double encore? Why not. Casino Queen? What the hell. Clock in well over 2 hours? Of course it did. Jumping up and down? I wasn't the only one.

Best I've ever seen in person? You damn right.

We spill-out into the night. People wander the streets looking for anything open but of course nothing is. It's 11:30, duh.

Long. Drive. Home. Wow.

more photos here [picasaweb]