BRAIN: Mohawk Place 7/18

[Brian Halligan]

The Brain Surgeons
Mohawk Place
Buffalo, NY
July 18

Setlist (as I remember it):

St. Vitus Dance (Deb guitar, David bass)
Last Angry Woman (")
Stones in My Passway (Deb guitar, David bass)
A Kiss is a Promise (Deb bass, David guitar, Al mandolin/drums)
Niagra Falls (Deb bass, David guitar)
Cities on Flame (Deb guitar, David bass)
On the Road (Again) (Deb bass, David guitar, Al drums/harmonica)
Death Valley Nights (Deb bass, David guitar, Al mandolin)
Dominance & Submission (Deb guitar, David bass)
Name Your Monster (")
Time Will Take Care of You (")
Godzilla (")
Astronomy (Deb bass, David guitar, Al mandolin, guest vocalist)
The Red & The Black (Deb bass, David guitar)

Encore:
Biloxi (David bass, Al percussion)

I left early from Rochester so I would be able to find Mohawk Place before
sunset. So, I was the first person to arrive at the bar other than the
bartender. I had a beer and we bemoaned that live bands are being replaced
everywhere by DJs who attract a younger crowd. Mohawk Place has a band
every night. And the bartender was genuinely excited that the Surgeons were
returing to rock the place after a two year hiatus.

As people began to wander in, I met Mark and Rich from the BOC BB and a
couple of Buffalo fans. Just about everyone at the gig was either an
established Surgeons fan, or a hardcore BOC fan. We had no idea what the
Surgeons would sound like as a 3-piece. But I definately wasn't expecting
them to attempt St. Vitus dance without the extra guitar muscle. The result
was sometimes powerful, a little sloppy but foot-tapping, and it was great
just to hear the band going for it. Deb played guitar on most of the songs
and did a good job. She knew the parts, but didn't solo much. At times, the
complexity of the parts she played sapped the power and attitude out of her
singing. And that's what I saw as the only major drawback of the new lineup.

Another tune that surprised me was A Kiss is a Promise. If only because
Pete's solo just seemed perfect for it. Well, David is a very talented
guitar player. He invented a new solo that fit just as well, but had a
completely different feel to the original. More bouncy. Rhythmic, but with
some flying fingers too. I wondered what the Surgeons would have been like
if Peter, Billy, and David were all on guitar. But I was enjoying the now
too much to think about it for long. Niagra Falls was dedicated to Helen
Wheels and the people of Buffalo and it was a tight performance. The
harmonies were beautiful. It sounded like a celebration. On the Road
(Again), one of my favorite tunes from Piece of Work, was also a favorte of
the crowd by the time the song was finished. Al played drums and harmonica
simultaneously, and David's solo was a jaw-dropping variation of the
original sax solo.

Most of the BOC covers were decent, but sorely lacked the extra "twiddley."
On Death Valley Nights I missed the drumming. For Astronomy, Al called up
the singer of a local band who apparently had done the honors at the last
Mohawk Place gig as well. I couldn't appreciate his vocal style. Too
"howling" for me. But it was still a lot of fun to hear the song in a new
way. Godzilla, though, was a special treat and it was amazing. It was the
first time I had heard Al drum on Godzilla live, and it must have sounded
just like the old days. Or at least it looked like it. He wore an oversized
lizard mask and drummed to a strobe light. Red & the Black was also a great
version, mostly because of David's scorching guitar work, and the fact that
Al sang the whole thing solo, which made him look as if he were a crazy man
talking to himself. "It's alright. It's all-RIGHT."

It may seem strange that they ended the show with Biloxi, but it worked
beautifuly. Deb gave her best singing performance of the night because she
was unencumbered by an instrument. And Dave and Al's backing vocals were
just like on the record. Dave flubbed his bass line a little, but it just
added to the fun we were having. Even with only three people playing songs
meant for five, the Surgeons were able to blast the rafters and get
everyone anxiously awaiting their next trip to town.

Tourdates can be found at http://www.cellsum.com/

Brian

-----
Brian Halligan
mailto:blackblade at bhalligan.com
http://www.bhalligan.com/