BoDeans
2006.01.31 Potawatomi Casino • Milwaukee, WI

Sam Llanas, Kurt Neumann, Eric Holden, Kevin Leahy

Monday January 31, 2006
Northern Lights Theater, Potawatomi Casino - Milwaukee, WI

We arrived at the Casino and were greeted by a small, intimate theater despite the fact that our seats were at the very back of the balcony. But we made the best of our 'back-of-the-room tickets' and had a great time being the lone dancers in the back aisle.

We were disappointed to see that Bukka wasn't joining them for this show. And we were even more surprised when it wasn't Kenny that walked out, but instead Kevin Leahy! Wow talk about a surprise! But what a treat to see him playing again...and it was just like old times. They were up there having a good time, Sam jumping up on by the drums and smiles all over the stage all night.

Setlist:
1. Idaho - and the start of lots of swirling lights & patterns glowing on stage. Quite the light show, and it actually looked pretty good from the top of the theater!
2. Still the Night - Bukka may not have been there, but we sang the accordian part for him.....ba, ba-ba-ba... :)
3. Texas Ride Song - don't remember seeing any one else jumping anywhere, but I know I did my fair share of jumping!
4. Makes U - as always, we were as happy as can be.
5. 617 - was so happy to hear this one again! I absolutely love the way Sam sings the beginning "Do you ever think..." just loved it!
6. Fadeaway w/Bed's Too Big - Before they started playing, Kurt told us a story about how they went out to L.A. to make their first album and that everyone said Fadeaway was their "club song" and that they shouldn't put their "club song" on the record. So when they were playing for T-Bone, he stopped them and asked "you guys have any other songs?" So the guys went into a bunch of different songs before playing Fadeaway and T-Bone told them "that's your single".
7. Runaway w/ Del Shannon intro - Before they started, Sam said something like 'I know you're standing in your hearts. I know your dancing in your hearts" since everyone was still sitting. And if I'm reading my notes correcting..(which isn't always the case)...I think he also said, "looks comfy" before saying that "this one is for Del".
8. Good Work - You know that driving guitar that begins Good Work before they even do a count off 1,2..1,2,3,4....well last night it lasted at least 3-4 times longer than normal. I caught myself multiple times feeling like it was time they just started already! Here we are going nuts up in the balcony and they just keep going and going and going with this intro. After the song was over, Sam says "It's good work....if you can get it.....and if you can't.." (they go right into...)
9. Misery - mid-song Sam says "I was laying in bed...wishing....and wishing...I had a girlfriend....so she could DUMP me....and I could write a song like this!"
10. Jenny Rae - rocked as always. Seemed a bit slower than in recent months but was still awesome! After the song, Kurt says that those of us who see them play more often might be wondering "Where is Bukka?" then continues saying that Bukka is off on a cruise somewhere. Sam then adds, "maybe his ship is called Titanic II" :)
11. Naked w/Rickshaw Riding - Sam introduced this one saying that his sister caught him once jamming to the radio, but rather than laughing at him, she just told him that she'd seem him up there playing one day.
12. Closer to Free - spotlight on Josh! Just as Carl use to do all those years before Bukka's accordian, Josh was the one who came running out with the harmonica this time! He was right on time the first time, but the second time...he was a little late, everyone was crowded around Sam's mic before he came running out! hee hee! I seem to remember Carl doing that on more than one occasion as well! :)
---encore---
13 Only Love - TFA - breathtaking as always! The crowd was perfectly behaved, no interruptions whatsoever! No screamers, no clapping in the middle, nobody shhh-ing anyone else, it was wondeful! The acoustics sounded fabulous, even from the very back you could hear their voices perfectly. Absolutely amazing every time.
14. Nobody Loves Me - no Sammy dance, but the song sounded great as always!
15. Good Things - What a perfect way to end the evening. By the middle of the song, everyone was on their feet. When it came time for the crowd's part, rather than having Kurt or Kevin playing along while we sing, they all stopped playing and just let us sing with the lights shining up on us. It was an awesome moment, lights shining on the crowd, everyone singing along, the band and the people at the tables all looking up towards the balcony where everyone was on there feet. It truely was a memorable moment amidst a fantastic show!