BoDeans
2006.03.16 Waverly Beach • Menasha, WI

Sam Llanas, Kurt Neumann, Bukka Allen, Eric Holden, Kenny Aronoff

Thursday March 16, 2006
Waverly Beach - Menasha, WI
Opener: Dave Steffen Band

Another day, another show, another fulfilled night with the BoDivas! (and the BoDeans!) :)

We arrived about 6:17 (honest!) and heard the beginnings of Fadeaway as we were walking through the parking lot. Once we got inside we quickly staked out our spots right by the doors (which were technically "open" but not to us). From there we had a nice view of the stage in order to see and hear the sound check. I'm told they started with Black White & Blood Red, and then we arrived during Fadeaway, and then heard Two Souls as well (which is always a treat!). Soon enough we were allowed in, stalked out our places up front and settled in for a night of great music.

The opener was great...lots of fun covers and they had us singing and dancing pretty much all the way through their set! It was almost like taking a mini-trip through my BoDeans bootleg collection! The first song they played started out exactly like Trying to Get to You from Saxon Pub, then they played Walking After Midnight which Sam perfected at Summerfest '03 and on top of that they played The Joker....."Some people call me Sammy!!!!". And of course the Beatles medley! Beatles....leads to Yoko....leads to perfect tshirt attire!

We were more than ready when the guys finally walked out on stage. From there on, the night went like this:
1. Ultimately Fine - I've said it before, and I'll say it again....I love this song! And think it's a great opener, why not start out with a great rocker and get the crowd going right from the get go?
2. Heart of America - Sam introduced it saying that "last time I checked this was the heart of America....Neenah, Menasha, Oshkosh, Waukesha..."
3. Texas Ride Song - Sam yelled out mid-song "Everybody polka" - but we just jumped instead! and jumped, and jumped and jumped some more! Eric changed up the bass solo in the middle of the song...but it rocked! Sort of funky and a whole lot of fun! Kurt and Sam came right up the edge of the stage with big smiles on their faces....and then Kurt took that extra step off the stage and on to the two equipment cases that were sitting in front of the stage...took a bit of skill to continue playing and then step over and between all the beer bottles/glasses/purses that were almost completely covering it! After it was all said and done Sam mentioned the venue and said "It's not very pretty but it rocks pretty good!"
4. Still the Night - love Kurt's grin through this one....just way too much fun! And then at the end Kenny took the beat and sped it way up to about as fast as TRS!
5. Idaho - I remember them playing Idaho...but I completely missed writing it down! Guess I was having a little *too* much fun.
6. Makes U - "BELLISIMA"
7.Good Work w/Batman - Before they started, Kurt said something about how his mom had told him once that the music thing was a nice hobby, but get a real job! Like always, I start to make note of this comment in my little red notebook, but was only able to write 3 words before Eric snuck up on me...pulled the pen out of my hand...and snatched my little red notebook right out from under my nose! Never saw him coming and he walked away leaving me in total shock! The girls and I exchanged looks that very few would understand, because losing a little red notebook is a *very* distressing experience! By the time I regained composure, Kurt was already leading them all into the song and I remained completely notebook-less. Thankfully, he gave it back after the song (with a very mischievous smile no less...) because there's no way I could make enough mental notes to write a decent review, not to mention the contents of little red notebooks are only fit for BoDiva eyes!! :)
---As for the song--- IT ROCKED! It always rocks... and of course we rocked as well! We, of course, sang Batman as loud as we could when they threw in that melody. Oh yeah.....and then there was that man and his cowbell again at the end!
8. True Devotion - Sorry Sam...missed your intro, I was a bit pre-occupied with getting my notebook back! (ok, I confess, we were also lost in a fit of giggles) But the song sounded wonderful!
9. Stay On - lots of "bouncing" going on up front and a little to the right!
10. Runaway w/Del Shannon intro - absolutely love this sing-along. Sam never fails to blow me away when he sings that Del Shannon intro.
11. Fadeaway w/Bed's Too Big - Cowbell was very much present and accounted for in Fadeaway! Kurt's solo was unbelievable once again! And he sang Bed's Too Big for us too! Can't get much better than that!
12. You Don't Get Much - Kenny, Kenny and more Kenny! Kenny had started out and at the same time Kurt was doing the usual band introductions and after each name Kenny would throw in that cowbell again! After Sam introduced Kurt, he went on to say something to the effect that without us, "we're just 5 guys whacking off." (hmmm, that sounds familiar! And it's still one of my all-time favorite bootlegs! )
13. Naked w/Rickshaw Riding - Sam mentioned that they do shows in NY and LA but those shows never have half the spirit as here. It's always so beautiful when they throw in a bit of Rickshaw Riding! And when we sang the echo of "Hold You" & "Control" it brought smiles and laughter to people on stage....and off. :)
14.Closer To Free - gotta love those 4 up front moments!
----encore---
15. Feed The Fire w/Gimme Shelter, Slow Ride & Midnight Hour - was thrilled to have this back in the setlist. I know it wasn't listed on the official setlist but wow, I didn't realize how much I've missed it since it's disappearance in December! And of course all composure is lost when Sam sings "take it nice and easy"
16. Good Things - absolute, total frenzy like it always is! There's nothing you can do but jump your heart out, sing-along through the whole thing and just wish it would never end!

Had the pleasure of good company after the show, on the ride home and at my place before catching some much needed sleep before a long weekend of work. Went to sleep with a smile on my face, woke up this morning with a smile on my face and smiled at my computer all day long at work! ....so yeah.....it was a great night!