BoDeans
2006.11.22 Potawatomi Casino • Milwaukee, WI

Sam Llanas, Kurt Neumann, Bukka Allen, Eric Holden, Noah Levy

Wednesday November 22, 2006
Northern Lights Theater, Potawatomi Casino - Milwaukee, WI

Once again we found ourselves just before 8:00pm standing front and center waiting for those five familiar faces to come out on stage for another fun-filled evening. And once again they didn't disappoint.

It went like this:
1. Maked U - again with Sam and the whispering "beautiful". And again I feel like I could fall to pieces...
2. Strangest Kind - with a whole new rocking beginning! There were a few confused looks and "what the hell is this?" exclamations amongst us before Sam came in with the first lyrics and then there was a collective "ooohhh" as we realize what we were being treated too. By the way, I just have to say that I absolute love the one line about "chocolate cherry kisses". Yup...definitely one of my favorite lyrics! Afterwards Sam was commenting on people in their booths and up in the balcony and said that someone up there is going to "put the Pot back in Potawatomi". About the same time, some girl up in front was yellng that she loved Kurt. His reply was only that "ours is a strange love since I don't know your name" Yeah, I'd call that one of the strangest kinds I've ever seen. :)
3. Good Work w/Batman - always so much fun. Like so many times before, Bukka was sounding so good on those keyboards of his.
4. Misery - why do I have "giddy up" in my notebook? huh, tricky don't you think girls?
5. You Don't Get Much - what a surprise! strange to hear this without Kenny, but you know what, Noah was did a great job behind the kit! In fact, he was sounding great all week!...and had the facial expressions to match :)
6. 617 - Sam switched up some of the lyrics and instead sang "I wish I could sing this song better". I don't know about everyone else, but I thought Sam was sounding great all night!
7. Idaho - Kurt REAL quickly told an abbreviated version of the "what the hell is that" story. Could you tell it a little faster next time Kurt? I didn't have time to write it all down. :) Somewhere in the middle of the song it looked like Kurt and Sam were going to meet in the middle and play together like they so often do. But for whatever reason Kurt shakes his head and motions for Sam to move the other way. And with a serious expression, Kurt then proceeds to keep nudging Sam farther and farther to the side of the stage. When Kurt finally walked back to his mic, Sam had the funniest "what the hell was that about" expression on his face. They all just ended up laughing about it and went on with the show. I tell ya, I don't think I've ever seen Kurt in such a silly mood for so many nights in a row. Sure made for some memorable moments though! :)
8. Texas Ride Song - Kurt began by introducing the song and saying that "this is NOT a jumping song! I don't want to see anyone jumping. And if you do.....it will be considered inappropriate behavior!" Once again it was Eric Schmeric on bass guitar and 4 smiling faces WAY up front.
9. Still the Night w/Wanna Be Sedated - once again Kurt told a version of the story behind the song. But this time right away came out and said "this next Sam song he stole from me." But Sam told him he could sing on it so "I guess it's all ok" :) Mid song, Kurt threw in a "well gee-whiz" after one of our "oh ooh oh".
And then the ending...wow. Sedated was fast...and then it got really fast. Much faster than I remember it ever getting. But definitely a whole lot of fun in the process!
10. Far Far Away From My Heart - No doubt I was getting lost in the music, not to mention they sure set the mood by having the stars come out behind them.
11. Sleep - Haven't heard this is some time but it sure sounded good! Between Bukka's keyboards and Kurt's wailing guitar, you couldn't help but get lost in it all.
12. Pick Up The Pieces - so much fun once again. You can't help but move your hips to that one!
13. Brand New - Sam, Bukka and Eric were getting into it at center stage, but Kurt never made it over there. Instead he slowly stepped backwards to Bukka's keyboards, reached over the top and started hitting a few keys. Needless to say that seemed to get everyone's attention. And more laughter all around.
14. Runaway - Sam's intro included a "Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams......and still surviving on the streets." At one point in the beginning of the song, Sam held his hand out in front of him and and mimicked playing the keyboard part that Bukka was playing.
15. Fadeaway w/Bed's Too Big - Wow, this song seems to keep getting better and better with age. And Kurt's solo seems to change with the seasons too. And this time, it just got so intense you couldn't help but get caught up with it all. As Kurt said afterwards "That song is a monster....it just grows and grows.....It's out of control!!" (in an almost sasquatch voice of course!) Sam then added in "But now lets just get naked" And so they went into....
16. Naked - Somewhere in the middle of the song Kurt was blowing kisses at the crowd and then jumps a few times backwards. In the process losing his black pack for his in-ears that was in his back pocket. Then was having lots of trouble getting it back in his pocket and laughing about it with Eric, he just reminded Kurt "you jumped!"
17. Closer To Free - that's MR. Eric Schmeric according to Kurt. Bukka though unfortunately was having problems with is accordion and missed half the song. But came back out just in time for some of the last 4 up front moments which are oh so very special in their own right.
- encore- Kurt comes skipping out across the stage and makes his way across the front giving high fives to some of the front row. Sam & Bukka return as well but without any silly antics.
18. Forever Young - Kurt began by trying to get everyone settled down in preparation for the acoustic song. I believe he put it like this: 'shut yer yappers!....That's Milwaukee for 'shut up' :) They then proceeded to wow us once again with a beautiful rendition of Forever Young. When it was finished, Sam made the long awaited introduction.....Kurt.....Robert.....Neumann....dot com!
Eric & Noah return
19. Good Things - "This is NOT a sing-a-long song. I don't want to see anyone singing along" Kurt says as he points to the different people in the audience. He later called out in the middle of the song..."Don't sing it out loud!.....Don't sing it one more time!" But that leads me to question....does that mean we can jump now?
And then to make things even sillier, near the end Kurt's out in front of the mics by himself, wandering one way, and then quick turning and wandering the other way and then going back in the first direction and then turning again. And if that wasn't enough, he later ended up back by the other guys and then started doing half a dozen high kicks.

Talk about a silly night! Lots of laughter on stage and off and I think it's safe to say a good time was had by all! When it was all said and done, we found ourselves back on the road again heading home in preparation for holiday festivities the following day, yet all the while looking forward to one final show on friday night.