Calgary, AB 4/8/10

[AnotherHeartbreak]

So whos attending this show, setlist?

[garyrulez]

Very good review of last night's show, which took place in front of another pathetically small crowd.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/Review+Without+Page+Barenaked+Ladies+hold+their/2782422/story.html

[Rich E P]

Hello all,

First time poster but long time fan here. Just a bit of background on me. I became a fan very soon after the release of the yellow cassette and bought Gordon on the day it was released. I had a busking act at the time and we really loved BNL and back in the early 90's we'd play sets of only BNL with a sign out saying "all naked - all day" on Stephen ave. In the early years I was very much a bigger fan of Page's contributions (vocally as well as his writing) than of Ed's; but loved them both. Over the years though, I felt Ed got much better as a singer and writer (he was always the better instrumentalist) and looked forward to Ed's contributions as much as Steven's.

The split affected me more than I thought it would. I was sad. Sad for them, sad for me...
I grew up with the band, bought all their cds the week of release. Went to a ton of live shows (damn they put on great entertaining shows as a five piece). I went through a period of mourning.

So what to think of the new album and new 4 piece live show. Hmmmm.

What does a band do when it loses it uncontestable best singer and arguably their best writer as well?

The answer is put out a super strong album and deliver a wonderful, high energy, super entertaining, live show.

Setlist
Testing
Old Apt (Ed really does this well - thought I would miss Page more here)
Who Needs Sleep
Calgary Weather Adlib
Too Little
super quick Kev adlib on his faulty keyboards problem
Every Subway Car
One Little Slip (just acoustic - Ed and Ty)
Vanishing (Kev solo)
Ordinary (around 1 mic acoustic)
Lovers In A Dangerous (beautiful version)
Eraser (not planned but a cute little girl had a sign and even though it wasn't rehearsed and they didn't know who would take Steve's bits they rocked it out. One of the best parts of the evening actually)
4 Seconds (great!!)
Another Heartbreak
Blame It On Me (jazzy and another wonderful Ed vocal)
You Run Away (audience really got into it)
Big Bang Theory
On The Lookout (Jim - piano, Ed - Bass, Kev - Guitar)
One Week (with Once in A Lifetime intro mocking the two Alberta Jubilee Auds)
It's All Been Done (heard many live recordings of the 4 piece do this before, but this was the best performance of this yet)
Summertime (a highlight of the night for me)
Pinch Me
1,000,000
Magic (with beatbox, rap and dance routine)
---------------
Encore
Life In A Nutshell (very good but missed Steve's vocal a lot here)
What a Good Boy (thought this would suck without Steve - totally wrong though - Ed sang it very well)

Great setlist. Because the band has so many great songs (even without Steve's songs) I still was sad about them not playing a bunch of my favorites. Every show should have When I Fall IMHO. And I was really hoping for Golden Boy as it is in my top three from the new record. I also here they do Brian Wilson now (I'd like to know how that sounds) But all in all, it seemed a better setlist and a longer show than Victoria got, so I was very pleased.

Did I miss Steve's presence? Yes. As great as the 4 piece is, there is no one in the band who can sing as well as Steve. I doubt they would argue that. When I saw Steve Page at the Calgary Folk Fest last year though, as much as I loved Steve's impressive voice I missed the band - HUGE. Mr. Page is brilliant vocalist but a mediocre guitar player at best. I doubt he would argue that either. But I can't wait to hear his new cd (AOT doesn't really count IMHO) as it is produced by John Fields and I love his work and he should be a perfect fit for Steve. I'm sure with a new crack band behind him; his live show is going to be killer too. The mourning of the split is over for me and I am looking forward to enjoying the fruits of the two careers.

Back to the BNL show last night, the boys are certainly reenergized and connect well and are very tight when they play songs they have rehearsed. And when things go wrong they make light of it and it improves the shows. When one of Kev's keyboards was faltering you could tell he was upset and the roadie tried to fix it a few times during Too Little Too Late but couldn't get it going. The band made a joke of it and Tyler said sometimes "Shit just doesn't work" and they made up a little song. And they ALL enjoyed the moment. The sample "Holla Holla Holla" didn't work for Who Needs Sleep either and that also became a running joke throughout the night.

I enjoyed the little spotlights sections for Kev and Jim's songs, but as they are clearly not as good vocally as Ed I hope that they don't allot MORE time in the setlist to them. As it stands now it is a nice break but I think if Kev and Jim got more spotlight time it might be a big lull in the show.

Tyler really impressed me with his vocal contributions. He is singing way more than he ever did and he covers Steve's harmonies very well. I wonder how he would do if they gave him 1 Steve song to sing lead on all the way through?

As for Ed, he picks up the front man slack very well (it seems almost effortless), and though I miss the interplay between Steve and Ed I was hugely entertained and laughed tons. And his vocals really impressed me and I am super picky. A big difference from his singing 20 years ago.

Speaking of which, they thanked the audience for sticking with them all these 20 years. Kev says "19 of which were great years". It did NOT seem like a shot in Steve's direction just an acknowledgement of a difficult period for everyone.

The band came together and had a blast delivering an infectiously fun show. Long may it continue I say (and bring on Steve's new cd and tour)!!!

To BNL (and Mr. Page too) - Thanks gents. Your music has been a gift that I have enjoyed for two decades and has brought me strength. joy, laughter and the occasional tear. Keep up the good work!

[garyrulez]

Rich, that's an AWESOME post. Thanks for all the great info about the show and your opinions as well. Great stuff!

[Liam]

Tyler really impressed me with his vocal contributions. He is singing way more than he ever did and he covers Steve's harmonies very well. I wonder how he would do if they gave him 1 Steve song to sing lead on all the way through?

They gave him "Alcohol" for a few shows, and by all accounts, it was great. I'd love to see that re-introduced.

Great post, by the way - thanks so much for the info!

[Amicustoall]

Thanks for the insight Rich

[AnotherHeartbreak]

I was extrememly dissapointed at the last set list, but Im more so happy with this one since they played more songs from the album they are touring for lol.

[mistee84]

That set list is so awesome. It has me so stoked for the 26th.

[Ellen from Saint Louis]

Thanks from me too, Rich.I'm glad to hear Kev said only one year was bad.
I've been dismayed to hear them say things like"It hasn't been fun for the last four years" and "know you know how we've felt for the last five years." Five years is as long as I've been following the band, and it makes me sad to think the friendship and rapport I enjoyed was really just professionalism.

[sarah11918]

I'm glad to hear Kev said only one year was bad.

And here I thought he meant the year before he joined or something! ;)

But also, thanks from me for posting. It was a great review.

[WeedMage]

And here I thought he meant the year before he joined or something! ;)

Me, too! :)

[LyricBookLady]

And here I thought he meant the year before he joined or something! ;)

Since Kevin said it, we took it as the year that he was sick with cancer.

[sarah11918]

That crossed my mind, too.

[Mobitz]

And here I thought he meant the year before he joined or something! ;)

Since Kevin said it, we took it as the year that he was sick with cancer.



I was thinking it was more along the lines of that too!

[wuzzleteats]

Very good review of last night's show, which took place in front of another pathetically small crowd. -
http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/Review+Without+Page+Barenaked+Ladies+hold+their/2782422/story.html

Hey, it was pathetic due to the weather. I am sure that we were not the only ones who battled two hours through the blizzard, to only get as far as Olds and then have to sleep in a college gym, as there were no hotel rooms left, once they closed down the QE II.

[designerfox]

Thank you for sharing, Rich. Too awesome that they played Eraser for the little girl.

[YouAgain]

great review, it was a good show and worth every minute of the 13 hour each way trek I made to see them! I only have to disgaree that "Nutshell" wasnt bad at ALL... one of my fave songs and I thought it was good. But otherwise great review.. the holla holla holla thing was so funny!!!

[AnotherHeartbreak]

great review, it was a good show and worth every minute of the 13 hour each way trek I made to see them! I only have to disgaree that "Nutshell" wasnt bad at ALL... one of my fave songs and I thought it was good. But otherwise great review.. the holla holla holla thing was so funny!!!
Oh yeah! During Who Needs Sleep. Who does that sound now?

[TheHYPO]

I was thinking it was more along the lines of that too!

There were many many many references to 2008 being a terrible year (eg, this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57vo2AlJRjg )

Re: a question about how they'd describe the last year, and that October being the band's 20th anniversary, Kevin retorts "It was a wonderful 19 years". I highly suspect his 19 year comment refers to the band in 2008-9, not his personal situation in 1998-9.

[Bosman71]

I also here they do Brian Wilson now (I'd like to know how that sounds)

I actually asked Ed this very question backstage before the show as it is my favorite BNL song of all time.

Ed's reply was "We have been trying it a few different ways, but everytime it sounds like we are covering a Barenaked Ladies song." He went on to say that they are going to keep trying it and others and that no songs have been retired however it may be a long time before we hear some in concert again.

[Bosman71]

Hey, it was pathetic due to the weather. I am sure that we were not the only ones who battled two hours through the blizzard, to only get as far as Olds and then have to sleep in a college gym, as there were no hotel rooms left, once they closed down the QE II.

I was lucky enough to leave Red Deer at 4:30 and stayed just ahead of all the trouble to get to the show. However nothing would have stopped me. Getting home wasn't much fun for as you mentioned the QEII was closed so I took the back roads all the way home. 3.5 hours but we made it back safe.

[NiceyDoodle]

I had seen them in Victoria Tuesday night and then again Thursday here in my town Calgary.

I friggin loved it. I loved it more than Victoria!!! My hubby went to London afterwards and he compliments my theory that the shows are just getting better and better as they go along.

Everything felt light, fresh and EXCITING! Ed is doing an amazing job...I was afraid when he attempted What a Good Boy, and wow...I love it even more now. Wow.

If you haven't seen BNL 2.0 then you have something to really look forward too.