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Robyn Hitchcock
Concert appearance: Sat., 7 Aug. 1999
Stubb's Bar B Q
Austin, Texas US
Set 1
Music Against Brain Degeneration Revue
Set list:
Glass Hotel
Viva! Sea-Tac
She Doesn't Exist
The Cheese Alarm
I Am Not Me electric
Airscape
Encore: Astronomy Domine (Pink Floyd) with Sonic Boom
The MABD show was a total yawnfest. The crowd seemed rather
apathetic and unenthused by the music. Sonic Boom was a bore (I've
seen similar noise-type music performed many times, and I've spent a
lot of time and money collecting it, but you know what? I don't know
why I did). I've never been a Sebadoh fan, and the fact that they
played too loud didn't help me warm up to them. My wife and I didn't
stick around for the Flaming Lips; the Texas heat had gotten the best
of us.
But Robyn's performance was better than I expected. He seemed a bit
tired, but he played some amazing fuck-ass rock n' roll -- "I'm Only
You" kicked some serious butt. He wasn't playing the usual blue
Telecaster, he had a different six-string Fender (Jaguar? Mustang?
You know, the kind Kevin Shields likes to play) which I thought made
the song sound better, especially when he put a bunch of reverb
through it. Robyn can really still fuck shit up with an electric
guitar, and I'd sure love to see him return to that someday.
He finished his set with an encore of Pink Floyd's "Astronomy Domine"
with Sonic Boom on blurbling synths which made me grin from ear to
ear, and made me imagine I was both seeing the Soft Boys and the
Floyd live at the same time. It was a rocking rendition, and Robyn
even threw in a little of the "Interstellar Overdrive" chord
progression for effect. I loved it. He ended the show by saying
"Thanks, Syd."
One thing I wish I had asked Robyn: What if you got a phone call
from David Gilmour, and he asked you to be the new Roger? What would
you do? Wouldn't that be great? -- Gene
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