FiReWaTeR TONIGHT in SNOW-CHOKED NYC!

http://www.echosiberia.com/fire05.jpg

We are buried in God's Dandruff.

http://thepolywog.com/copshootcop/mp3/index.html

http://thepolywog.com/copshootcop/disc_img/cop_pieceman.gif

You can't talk back to me either. You hypocrite!!

I told you I didn't want to see any more of those pictures.

I type faster now. 19 WPM.

http://www.usatoday.com/life/gallery/wizards/bewitched.jpg

There, does that make you feel better Alex?

There you go space private.

Do they drink on stage?

What does Copiously mean?

What's that last picture?

Is it still snowing over there?

This is what it's doing right now. Only with snow.

Now, let the madness continue....

http://www.manateebound.com/features/images/firetod.jpg

Another band with 'fire' in their name.
http://www.sunnydayrealestate.net/images/studio/willjernate.jpg

dig firewater and curious to hear the cover stuff live, but going to see tv on the radio at mercury instead.

Another bright, sunny morning with a hangover. Where's that coffee?

Alright, suffice it to say, I was well beery by the end of last night, so I have to type all this out now before it vanishes down the rabbit-hole. There's going to be a lot of needless details herein, but I can't write these things any other way, so sorry in advance. An amazing evening, it started off rather inauspiciously. Having only the vaguest of plans to meet my pal/colleague John Flowers "somewhere around the bar around 9pm," I left the comfy confines of my warm home (and my slighly disgruntled wife), and departed into the gaping maw of the elements.

After all that discussion of crowd-staving, show-thwarting blizzardry, by the time I popped out my door around 8:15, the onslaught of God's Dandruff had lessened significantly to a light-but-perpetual dusting, no longer a torrent of white blowing in one's face. Trudging down a nearly deserted Bowery in the snow, I was instantly reminded of an evening about twelve years back, when I was doing a similar snow-choked trek to go see Cop $hoot Cop at some sqaulid Lower East Side dive. Despite all the gentrification, NYC in the snow still looks the same, and it's timelessly lovely and cinematic. Turns out, however, that I was a little hasty in my departure, and found myself in the vicinity of the Ballroom of Boweryness well ahead of schedule. After some atmospheric strolling around ("Shine On..) Elizabeth Street, I popped into "the Pioneer" Bar for a minutes-killing pint of Stella Artrois, only to get sucked into watching the Iron Man Competition on the wide-screen. One beer later, I sauntered over to the Bowery Ballroom.

One of the first on the scene, I grabbed a seat at the bar to monitor the door. In short order, in walked a fetchingly brunette Jeanette (or, for those of you who've never met her, HNRY), with her admirably game mother Pat in tow. Milling about were various GvsB'ers (Scott and the other one), though I didn't engage them. Next in came bounding erstwhile Firewaterer and full-time Botanican, Paul Wallfisch. Mustachioed nogoodnick and fellow TIME Boozedesker, John Fletcher Flowers arrived and assumed his natural barside stool. HNRY worked the gathering crowd and unearthd Rudy Watkins, Qwak (I think I'm spelling that right) and a young lady whose name escapes me. Also corralled was Jim "Stop Calling Me Elvis" Everett, with his implausibly classy posters for sale (I bought one, and spent the latter part of the evening using it to club John Flowers). More amiliar faces, lovely Michelle and her Fiance appeared next, basking in the glow of enaged amore, and the ceaselessly frenetic Liz (resplendent in eye-catching Kommunizt chapeau). Officially Missing in Action: Heather, Jo, Regina, Jim Formerly in KoP, Kathy Tango Twin Number Two). After schmoozing barside with various other JetSetters and the like, I couldn't help noticing one or another opening band had commenced.

Poked my head upstairs, but was not impressed with the onstage proceedings, so repaired back to the bar. Incidentally, the Firewater shirts this tour are *MAGNIFIQUE!* Loosely based on the famous Bob Gruen photograph of John Lennon, it features the legend "FIREWATER*NYC" in a simillar font to the NEW YORK CITY shirt Lennon sports (only with sleeves) and comes in black, gymnasium grey or blinding orange (I opted for the latter). I complemented some seemingly random punter on his Foetus t-shirt, only to have him swing around and say: "Congratulations on the baby, Alex," which practically blew a new part in my hair. The Lurkers' numbers swell.

After another beer, John and I decided it was time to adjourn upstairs to prepare for Firewater. Spotted Rob Sheffield in the crowd chatting with some doe-eyed lass about the sonic wonder of Calla. No, I didn't assault him. Calla (if it is they who were soiling the stage prior to Firewater) are yawnsome shoegazery of the most crushingly ennui-enducing variety, and that's being as nice as I can muster.

Next up, Firewater, and by this time, I'm already grinning, but that probably had more to do with the beer consumption. No orange shirt for Tod, for those of you keepin' score of such things, but he did sport a strategically placed tamborine around his right boot, which I thought most groovy. To the listing strains of "El Borracho," the band assumed the stage. Herewith the set list, swiped from the stage apres encore......

"El Borracho"
"Snake-Eyes & Boxcars"
"Bourbon & Division"
"Storm Warning" (a very fitting song for the evening, given the snow)
"The Man with the Blurry Face"
"Dark Days Indeed" (which takes on a positively excorcism-like quality live)
"When I Burn this Place Down"
"Too Many Angels"
"Some Strange Reaction"
"The Vegas Strip"
"Ponzi's Revenge"
........it was to the opening notes of this song that I officially exited Planet Coolster and roughly trod to the very front to engage in some dignity-free frugging with my fellow Circusfolk.
"So Long, Superman"
"Another Perfect Catastrophe"
ENCORE:
"The Man on the Burning Tightrope"......which had me headbanging as if it was being performed by Black Sabbath.
"Knock'em Down"
and a most feral, newly furious rendition of "Dropping Like Flies".

As many other folks have pointed out in many other live reviews, there are some radical re-inventions of some songs here. This incarnation of Firewater boasts a zealous horn section that breathes new life into some old favorites, and it is WELL clear that Tod is having a ball up there. I can't speak for everyone, but I thought the band were in massive form, and I had a great, goddamn time. Do not pass up an opportunity to see this tour!!!!

Afterwards, milled around back at the bar for a bit. Didn't get a chance to chat with Tod afterwards, but didn't spot him downstairs. It was getting later and later, and with John needing to find a way back to Brooklyn and m'self having a pregnant wife at home (wisely not waiting up), we decided that it was time to split.

So, there ye have it.

woah!

No, Aja, it has stopped snowing.

How are you feeling Alex? I'm feeling miserable.

Go buy a Firewater album.