The Wild Boys of the Road

Cafe du Nord, San Francisco, 3/11/11

Them Jeans
Jump the Ship
Envy
Island
Brothers, Sons and Daughters
101
Charm City
Heart Like a Wheel
Standing (Stuck) Center
Welcome to LA
Hail Hail
Call Back
Old Piano
Summertime
She Really Does it For Me
Rise Up
See Her
Pure Mountain Angel
E: Middle Island Creek
Giant


Truth & Salvage Co. roared back into the northern part of our wonderful state last week, stopping first in the Capitol (see below). While I enjoyed that show, fun as it was, Friday night in San Francisco, the boys came and burned the town down. The setlist, from first glance, was just another show for the sextet from L.A. A couple of new songs, some from the back catalogue; and yet, with a packed room at the Cafe du Nord on Market Street, Smitty's drum clicks leading the band into "Them Jeans" showed the band was in the mood to treat. "Jeans" into "Jump the Ship" showed strong tempos and what matters most, those beautiful Topanga Canyon harmonies. Scott Kinnebrew, the band's lead guitarist, has dramatically changed his lines to this song, his instrument painting a mood deeper than the jingle-jangle original. Each guy, from Tim to Walker to Scott to Smitty, took lead on a song, giving the band such a wide tonal palette to choose from. Each singer knows his strength, both tonally and topically and the show moved from gleeful swamp rock to the longing of home to the Cheshire Cat smile painting of Southern California. The first new song of the night was an ode to Johnny Cash as Scott flat-picked the guys through a lush melody of voices, leading straight into "Welcome to L.A." The turn of the night, especially for the growing number of fans this band has in the room (apparent as everyone was mouthing the words) was when the band sugued from the ringing chords of "L.A." straight into "Hail Hail", usually the band's opening song. The transition brought an urgency to the second number; the guys came roaring into the chorus and the surprised audience responded in kind. Frank, the newest member of the band, brings a new energy with his vibrant bass playing and personality on stage. By the time the band ripped into "Rise Up", people were dancing, raising their hands, smiling ear to ear and screaming as Scott and Tim Jones tore into their dual-guitar attack that (as I've said before), would make the Allman Brothers Band proud. "Pure Mountain Angel" was met with the audience visably surprising the band, as the near-capacity crowd took the chorus straight from the band and returned it louder than the microphones could deliver. While Adam Grace kept the gospel piano going, the singers stood and soaked it in as we sang about the walls tumblin' in, the thunder on the mountain and the folks in the holler. "Angel", always a gift, was followed with "Middle Island Creek" and "Giant", a one-two punch of cajun and jam vehicle. The hour and forty-five minute performance being the best I've seen in the thirteen times I've seen them in just fifteen months, I was not the only one floored by how T&S continues to give us a lesson in the history of rock and roll, from its roots in the Delta blues and western swing, through the churches and alleyways of Chicago and finally the left coast Laurel Canyon cowboy harmonies. The best band in rock and roll proved themselves yet again.

My friend Ana and I were graced yet again with some time to hang out with the guys, both pre- and post-, catching up on everything from what the year will entail to books to the last three months on the road for them. I'm going to have to miss them hitting my old hometown of Fresno this week and I also wish I had the chance to be in L.A. this weekend as they play a sold-out show at the Troubadour. Hoping that there was a way for that show to be captured for posterity...:) See you on the road, T&S.


Harlow's, Sacramento, CA 3/9/11
Call Back
Hail Hail
Island
Stuck Center
Welcome to LA
Heart Like a Wheel
Rise Up
101
Brothers, Sons and Daughters
Stars and Stripes
Atoms
See Her
Old Piano
Middle Island Creek
Envy
Giant
Pure Mountain Angel
E: Jump the Ship
She Really Does It For Me

Harlow's can only be described as a let-down for the band. Their last two swings through the Capitol City brought growing crowds and amazing press. This gig should have packed the house but did not; shame on Sactown. It was cold that night, it was also a school night. Hopefully the next go-round the band will be rewarded with larger numbers and better energy. The lack of buzz from the audience was noticeable on the band. I enjoyed most seeing how the guys are shaking up the setlist every night, with a different guy each night choosing the song order. I bolted right at the end of the show as I was giving midterms the next morning and the hour-plus drive ahead made for a lonely night. A great two-fer last week; I'm still buzzing from the ringing chant of "Giant" - because we love you, Truth & Salvage Co., we'll miss you - until the next time!!!