By: David de Young
Okay, so today (4/23) I read Pete Scholtes blog at the City Pages from Monday, April 21st: "We missed Mallman (hey, where's David de Young when you need him?") Driven by feelings of shame akin to some superhero who's gone into hiding, I decided to clear my conscience by offering up a few words on Saturday night's Mark Mallman show at First Avenue. I was indeed there! (Though unlike Scholtes I missed Fischerspooner.) I had simply not planned on writing up Saturday's show as I'd previously written up the full Mallman show of November 22nd, 2002.
However, bear in mind that I took no notes Saturday night and this is being recalled 5 days and several whiskeys later. To make matters worse, we were slightly late, missing maybe the first 15 minutes of Mallman's performance (and unfortunately all of Rob Skoro and Astronaut Wife.)
I'd have to agree with what Scholtes heard that this Mallman show was "sub-par". I would clarify by saying it was a little on the perfunctory side for a Mallman show (this was more of a general feeling I got from the show rather than a set of individual occurances I could point to), but keep in mind that what might be considered even sloppy for Mallman is still tighter and more engaging than what most bands deliver. Mallman and company still staged the high energy and crazy rock and roll show that people came to see. Since Mallman is adept at expanding to fill his environment, it's always good to see him on the First Avenue main stage. I highly doubt any but the pickiest of listeners at this well-attended concert came away actually disappointed.
Songs included "Humankind," "Love, Look at You," and "To speak of The Animal" and several from Mallman's last two releases. (Again no notes! I can say he did NOT play the "Panne kuchen song!")
For those of you following Mallman's live show fashion (I know you're out there!) Saturday Mark was decked out in ripped up blue jeans (big hole right under the right butt cheek) and bright red, too tight Dairy Queen t-shirt, ironically exactly like one I gave to the Salvation Army about two years ago. (After the show I complimented Mark on the shirt and theorized he might have picked up the same one that I'd gotten rid of two years before.)
One highlight of Saturday's show was an extended jam during which Mallman walked the stage and "checked up on his band." Walking over to guitar player Ryan Smith and scratching his chin while looking him up and down in mock judgment, he said, "Hmm. He's pretty good." He did the same for Kat Hixon on bass, and Erik Kassel who was sitting in on additional keyboards, and of course himself, concluding again, "Hey, I'm pretty good!" When it was time to check up on drummer Peter Anderson he and the rest of the band actually left the stage to let Anderson play about a 5 minute drum solo which in itself was a highlight. How often do you get the opportunity to hear a drum solo lately, let alone one of Anderson's? It appropriately finished with a beautiful stroke of the gong.
Susstones head honcho and Polara frontman Ed Ackerson was manning the headphones for part of Saturday's show monitoring the off board recording for that potential Malman live record. Ackerson told me it sounded good through the phones. When I told him I was looking forward to hearing it, he replied "You probably will." I take that as a good sign.
Location Info:
First Avenue
Artist Info: Mark Mallman
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