BoDeans
2006.11.17 Metropolis • Arlington Hts, IL

Sam Llanas, Kurt Neumann, Bukka Allen

Friday November 17, 2006
Metropolis Performing Arts Center - Arlington Heights, IL

For a second night in a row we found ourselves making our way to the Metropolis in Arlington Heights. The guys took the stage about 8:15 and proceeded to wow us a second time around. Kurt welcomed us and said they were going to play some new stuff and some old stuff & that we could "sing along quietly"

Again it was Kurt sitting while playing that beautiful T5, Sam standing with his acoustic and Bukka in the middle with his accordion and every so often he'd go back to the upright piano, which we could see this time had that same apple on the corner, but this time we could see that there was an orange and banana there as well. Jeez, if Bukka needed a snack, we had lots of leftovers from dinner! All he had to do was ask! :) Not to mention I couldn't help but think of the apples & bananas song.....("I like to eat, eat, eat apples & bananas....:)

Ok, enough of that silliness...on to the good stuff:
1. Only Love - They had me fooled, I thought it was Dreams until they started singing! Ann, just so you know, Kurt did his usual foot stomps and there was no doubt that everyone in the theater heard it. It was just that quiet in there! Not to mention the acoustics were just that good too!
2. Jenny Rae - How cool was that! Didn't expect that and definitely don't remember ever hearing this acoustic. It had such a bluesy feet that I actually thought it was Trying To Get To You. Fooled again! (making me 0 for 2) Kurt even made sure to point out to us that "Sam's playing the blues!!" No matter what, it sounded SO good especially with a very jazzy piano!
3. Going Home - Sam tells us the story about Robbie Robertson and his comment to Sam 'that should be a song' - "so it is"
4. Idaho - Kurt begins by asking who was there the previous night, then says "well hold your ears because I"m going to tell the same story. " He then starts the same story but as soon as he mentions Manhattan Montana, someone in the crowd cheers. So Kurt asks: "you from Montana?" (no answer)...."visiting from Montana?" (still no answer)...."just a general affection for Montana?" (we all laugh)
Other than that, it was the same story from the previous night and the song itself was just as beautiful as the previous night too! Although we did have a "we're spotted" moment with Bukka including a reply knod to me. :)
Again the "staring at the world" part at the end was so cool. Their voices were crystal clear and came across so beautiful in the (then) quiet theater.
5. First Time - Kurt gave all the BoDivas the chills when he sang a higher harmony on the line "Falling from my baby's eyes..." It was definitely a jaw dropping sort of moment.
After the applause died down, Sam mentioned that they appreciate us being there and being quiet because "I know it won't last". I'm sorry to say Sam was right on with that comment.
6. Far Far Away From My Heart - Sam began by saying that sometimes you get away from your heart and find yourself going down the wrong path and yet sometimes you keep going down that wrong path. As for the song, Sam's voice on the song was unbelievable.
7. Trying To Get To You (Elvis) - Sam had me melting into my chair again with that voice of his. While Kurt had an "ahh" in the middle of the song that was way better than any "baby".
8. Brand New - Although the theater's air conditioner seemed to be working quite well both nights, it couldn't stop us from practically feeling the "hot and humid wind" through every note.
9. Angels - always a lot of fun. Funny how a song like this can rock both acoustic and electric. Lots of crowd clapping going on by now and while it's fun to clap along sometimes....when the clapping drowns out the music, then there's a problem.
After the song was over, everyone who had gone into the lobby to get drinks now walked back in, and at the same time more people got up to go get drinks. So Kurt made comment "Sam...they're on the move again" And continued saying that it's Friday night and they want to drink. Kurt then proceeded to impersonate them by saying "I gotta drink 12 more beers (looks down at his watch) and only have 2 hours to do it!" then Sam brings up those "40-ish year old bladders?" (of course he got a good laugh out of that comment) Kurt then continued saying that "If I'm going to fall asleep....I'm going to FALL asleep!"
Once the laughter died down Sam started talking about how he used to live in New Orleans and that he thinks every songwriter who has ever lived there writes a song about the city and that he "didn't want to be left out" Then they go into....
10. Slipping Into You - Wow pretty much sums it up. Have only ever heard this at Linneman's and was it ever surprising to hear it Friday night. It was so sultry, so beautiful, so much passion that you couldn't help but get lost in the music. Absolutely perfect.
11. Good Work - Really love this honky tonk version and Bukka's accordion was rocking like you wouldn't believe. This song really got the crowd going and some got up to dance and clap along.
12. Runaway - After a great Good Work, the guys slowed it back down for this one including those killer harmonies that they had going on all weekend.
While the song was sounding fabulous, and there were quite a few singing along, unfortunately there were also quite a few people who had began to talk as well. And the fact that the theater's acoustics were so good, that it only amplified the talkers even more. So after the song Kurt made sure to remind everyone that this show was intended to be different than their rocking shows and since it was such an intimate venue & show, those who wanted to talk were welcome to go in the lobby to do so. But if everyone would give the guys their attention for a little longer, they'd finish up soon.
So after that the crowd for the most part paid attention to the guys and allowed the rest of us to listen as well.
And then getting right back into the setlist, they go into....,
13. Fadeaway - The song was fantastic. Kurt's guitar gives the song so much life and then everyone singing along at the end was enough to give us chills again.
When the song was just finishing, there was some kind of commotion up in the back and then Sam pipes in "FIGHT!" and then begins to quietly start ad-libbing commentary to go along with the action.. ..' 'Take that' 'And that' 'No you' 'Oh' 'And that' and so on and so forth. While Sam was quite amusing through this, it's unbelievable that something like that would happen, especially at an acoustic/theater show of all places!
14. Me Again - once things calmed down, the guys continued with the show right where they had left off. Which included Sam telling the story behind this song. He said he had been listening to Johnny Cash's "Flesh & Blood" and aspiring to someday write a song like that. The song absolutely took my breath away. It was one of those times when everything around you disappears, you just get so lost in the music and the voices and that incredible harmony that Kurt was singing. While the overall song was very similar to the other times I've heard it, that extra layer of vocals just gave the song a whole new life. And believe me, there were more than a few tears falling in the theater that evening. When the song ended, there was a moment or two where no one said a word, no one clapped, you could have heard a pin drop in that theater. Kurt broke the silence when he whispered "they're speechless" - and he couldn't have been more right.
15. Forever Young - just like the previous night, we were absolutely taken back with this one. Between the guitars, the voices and that piano, we were being seriously spoiled.
16. Naked - While you could consider this more of a "raw" version of the song with the missing bass and drums, but in my opinion, it couldn't have gotten any better. There is so much emotion in this version, that you can't help but to just let Sam's voice envelop you as you're sitting there. Time and time again you just can't help but get lost in their voices. Not to mention Kurt could be seen smiling and laughing to himself when the Hold You & Control moments passed without a peep from us. :)
17. Good Things - While it was technically an acoustic version, it was still rocking and we were loving every minute of it!
- encore -
We stood, we cheered, they returned. Sam encouraged the crowd by saying "let's hear ya!" before telling us to "sit down & shut up". (Through the laughter of course). As Sam is explaining that they were going to do one more very quiet one before raising it back up...he encourages everyone to be quiet by saying "help us, help us, help us......help you." :) And then they blew us away with....
18. Paradise - So pure, so beautiful, it was absolutely breathtaking. The guys must have been reading my mind because all day long I was secretly hoping to hear this one. Not to mention it was a fun moment when Sam (who was sans guitar and standing a few feet back from the mic) started snapping his fingers in time and the crowd followed suit. Not only that, but Kurt including my favorite part of the entire song...."and I'm falling....for paradise" at the end. Absolutely made my night.
19. Still The Night - Of course a fun sing-a-long to end the show once again. And by now the crowd was up on their feet and just having a good time. And like so often in the past year, at the very end of the song they sped things way up as if they were going to go into Wanna Be Sedated. But instead Sam got everyone going by singing (REAL quickly) "If I could hold you tonight" (we answer) "I might never let go" Once again, just way too fun!

After the show, we ended our evening by finding a small drinking establishment and sort of drew *a little* attention to ourselves when we all sang along to Good Work on the juke box that did indeed have BoDeans on it. (Got that girls?) But it was all in good fun and we just made the best of a fun evening out with good friends!