[Randy Van Vliet]

Well, I have been to the Altar and this first time
Oils concertgoer is impressed.  A few observations:

Will Hoge:  Not bad, not great.  I've seen worse
opening acts.  Kind of reminds me of a young Sammy
Haggar (or is it just the drummers hair).  Drummer
looked again loooked like he was blinking back some
incredible paid.  Some one get this man a laxitive! 
Loud and a bit too heavy for my taste.  A few singable
songs, a few clunkers.  Not bad for being just out of
the garage.

Oils Roadies:   Who's the bald guy with the tatts and
the long goatee.  Wouldn't want to piss him off.  Very
nice work, one guy dove in a couple of times to
straighten Peter's mike stand when he got it caught in
the wire.  Kind of like seeing a soldier fall on a
grenade.  

Crowd:  Typical Fillmore Crowd, some from every
age/gender/race/culture.  Most knew their stuff and
sang/danced at all the appropriate times, louder than
most crowds.  Guy next to me was the "WOOO HOOO" guy. 
Disappointed to not hear the OOOOOIIIIILLLLSSSSS
chant.

Music:  Same set as most of the LA shows, Bull Roarer
was second, Dead Heart later in the set.  Started off
full blast and then moved it up a notch 2 or 3 times
until the end with Forgotten Years and Hercules which
were as good a performance as I've ever seen.  Passion
and commitment mixed with rage and fire.  Totally went
off.  Say Your Prayers is fast becoming one of my
favorites.  

New Songs:  Not sure which is my favorite yet but Too
Much Sunshine is easily the most singable.  Luritija
Way and Golden Age also very strong.   Will take a
while to get the one they played during the encore.

Martin:  Doesn't move around much onstage but boy he
can burn it.  The one time he tried a few moves and
jumps it looked like he was about to fall over.

Bones:  My wife's favorite.  All over the stage for a
Bass.  Sweated about 2 gallons during the show.  After
the show, Colleen (the afore mentioned wife) asked if
he was the one with the nice voice on the harmonies. 
Made me wish they had played One Country just to hear
him more.  

Jim:  Very Professional musician.  Rocks out just
enough to keep you interested but handles the axe as
well as anyone.  Had no mic but sang along any way and
every once in a while looked like he had been caught
as if he wasn't supposed to be singing.

Rob:  Energy, Energy, Energy!  Drove the band
relentlessly and looked like he was having the time of
his life.  Stark contrast to Will Hoge's drummer who
was concentrating so hard his head was about to
explode.  Really enjoyed himself.  I thought his head
was going to split from all the smiling.

PG:  An extraordinary presence.  I have seen clips and
I saw what little NBC played at the Olympics, but you
really do have to experience him first hand.  Worth
twice the price just to see him.  Totally out of
control sapzzing out all over the stage.  Colleen said
it looked like he was on a roller coaster.  Has he
always been like this or did he develop this over the
years?  Worked himself into a pretty good rage by the
end, almost spit the words to Read About It.  Had a
few small rants, thanked us for doing our thing and
not being cowed by the terrorism.  And, in what almost
seemed a call to arms, spoke very passionately about
those who live below those who live below those who
hate.  It really sounded as if he was calling for a
grass roots rebellion for the downtrodden, those who
have to "grovel and eat dirt".  He also spoke very
respectfully about playing The Fillmore (as did Will
Hoge) where so many legends have gone before and
actually called it "these hollowed halls".  Must mean
something to play there.

The Fillmore:  Great venue.  Holds about 1,000 and was
sold out.  There are pictures and posters of everybody
from Janis Joplin and Big Brother and the Holding
Company and Quicksilver Messanger Service and The
Grateful Dead to Ike and Tina Turner and The
Temptations to Alice In Chains and Red Hot Chili
Peppers and No Doubt.  Lots of history and it kind of
draws out something in both the crowd and the band. 
Large (20x30 inch) picture of PG in typical raging
form from the 1994 show upstairs in the bar.  
And, what was with the traffic last night?  We came in
from the East Bay hoping to get some Sashimi and Sushi
(for those of you who don't know San Francicso, The
Fillmore is just across the street from "Japantown",
the biggest Japanese neighborhood in The City).  But
it was too late so whe had to settle for the KFC next
door.  

Anyway, great show and I envy those of you away East
who are still waiting.  Get ready because the storm is
coming.  

When are they coming back???

Randy   



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