HOB Review

[L. Bird]

Courtesy of Whochat Forum:

>From twt.com regarding last night's HOB show:

Wow!!!! I think that tonights show at the HOB in Chicago wasn't advertised 
too well as the site was pretty empty.

Pete put on a clinic in Chicago tonight!!!!

It was an inpromptu "In The Attic" performance and it opened with a set from 
Simon Townshend!!! He introduced a new song followed by Girl In New York and 
The Way It Is.

Rachel then introduced a young country band......a great singer playing 
guitar and his very young brother on drums. They played a couple of their 
songs and then Pete came out and played a country song with them! I thought 
it was cool how Pete stayed back in the shadows and didnt' steal these kids 
stage.

These kids were in awe of being on the same stage with Pete....but Pete had 
a good feel for the situation and stayed back in the shadows.

Pete then did his own solo show with a country song that I didn't recognized 
followed by Let's See Action and an advanced version of Endless Wire.

Pete was in a jovial mood to the very small crowd tonight in Chicago.

Then Rose Hill Drive hit the stage. This is a very promising up and
coming band. They were loud and powerful!!!!

Then the singer (who also plays the base) said...."I want to introduce Pete 
Townshend to the stage......I can't believe I even just said that"

And Pete sort of stayed behind in the background playing with this young 
band. The guys in the band were pretty much in awe of being on a stage and 
playing with a legend.

Then they all went into "Young Man Blues"!!!!!

Wow!!! This was an amazing version of Young Man Blues that went on into an 
extended jam that lasted for 15 minutes or so.

Pete was showing these kids how it's supposed to be done during thie version 
of Young Man Blues. He was absolutely on fire and the guys from Rose Hill 
Drive seemed awe struck!!!!!

I'm hoping that a video of this version of Young Man Blues that was 
performed tonight shows up sometime!!!!

Pete just kept showing up all night long with different bands....in addition 
to his own set.

And the crowd was very small. Weird. I think it wasn't promoted well. How 
often do you get to see Pete performing to a very small crowd??? It was an 
awesome night!!!!!!

The night closed with a group singing of "I'm One".

A great night in Chicago!!!!!!!

Where the heck was everyone????? Not often that you'll get to see Pete in 
such an intimate atmosphere....

WHO HEAVEN in Chicago Tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Just got home from the In the Attic performance tonite. For those of you in 
Chicago that missed this and for those of you unable to attend, you missed 
something magical tonite!

The Chicago House of Blues (the original HOB) is tiny, holding about 1200 
people for standing only events. This night, seating was available which 
probably cut down the capacity to about 800 and the event did NOT sell out!! 
I estimated about 600 people there. Most I talked to did not even know this 
was happening until a few days ago, and if you don't keep up on Rachel's web 
site you wouldn't have known about it. I was about 10 feet from the stage, 
dead center. This venue feels like bands are literally playing in your 
family room and the sound is superb!

Rachel was the host and she was looking VERY hot. Tight leather pants with 
an embroidered skeleton head on her butt (which I believe matches those 
skeleton heads on Pete's scarf) with a vlack almost micro top....very sexy.

This is Rachel Fuller's event but it was dominated by Pete. Rachel selected 
the other artists and included on the bill tonite were (If I miss on the 
exact order of performers forgive me):



Simon Townshend who opened the 2 hour and fiteen minute event by playing 3 ( 
I believe) of his own songs. I happened to meet Simon outside the venue 
before it began while he was having a smoke and had a chance to say hello. 
Simon's set was played alone on electric and was a great way to start.

Rachel then introduced Willie Mason, a very young performer who Rachel 
fancies, who performed about 4 of his own songs. If you were to close your 
eyes you would swear you were hearing Johnny Cash from 40years ago. He was 
very good. All acoustic backed by his brother on drums. He then Introduced 
Pete who played a final song with him, with Pete playing rhythm acoustic.

It was now Pete's turn and I must say it was magical. When the applause died 
before he began playing he said "thanks for comimg out" I and some others 
yelled to him " Thank you for coming" He answered back, tongue in cheek, 
"...I was forced to come (by Rachel) but then again I like to being 
forced..." which drew a laugh. He was animated, engaging and told a story I 
had never heard before about his meeting one of the guys in the Flying 
Burrito Brothers in 1969 in California shortly after he finished Tommy. He 
was conversant and reminded me very much of Harry Chapin who often engaged 
in story telling about his life during his performances. It felt like one on 
one not like you were sitting with 600 other people.
Petes set included (all acoustic):

Greyhound Girl- (after performing it told a story about when he was a boy 
and of his father's crippled greyhound that he hoped he could nurse back to 
health and return to racing. Unfortunately, Pete conveyed he and the dog 
were on a London bus in the open air rear of the vehicle and while holding 
the dog it took off on Pete apparently seeing a cat or something and hence 
no more dog. (Very funny stuff)

Blue Red and Grey
In the Ether (accompanied by Rachel on piano)
EndlessWire
and LET"S SEE ACTION alone on acoustic!

Rachel then took the stage and played:
-Cigarettes and Housework
-It's a mother f**ker (a cover of The Eeels song)
-Just Breathe accompanied by Pete on Acoustic
Rachel sings like an angel; a gorgeous voice and she is very funny and 
gregarious (with a mouth like a truck driver) and at one point admonished 
Pete when he was teasing her saying "...good thing for you I am not on stage 
with you in The WHo playing those tambourines" and in repsonse Pete said "I 
told you I was forced here but then she put on those tight leather trousers 
and I had to follow..."

Mikey Cuthbert then played one of his tunes

Next up was a young group Rachel introduced named Rose Hill Drive
I must say they were terrific! A stripped down three piece group, pure rock 
no Bulls**t and their lead guitarist was exceptional!! I am going to pick up 
one of their CD's (later in the show, Rachel announced they will be opening 
for The WHo at 4 California dates. I highly reccomend not missing them).
They played 3 of their own songs which really rocked and then their lead 
singer/ bassist said " I'd like to introduce Pete Townshend who is going to 
help us play this next song.......I don't f**king believe I am standing here 
say ing that!" With that Pete picked up his Red Fender and played with the 
boys. After finishing and to everyones astonishment the riffs of YOUNG MAN 
BLUES came out of Pete's guitar and is was off to the races, with vocals 
provided by RHD's lead singer and the CROWD.....I think it was about a 10 
minute jam with Pete and Rose Hill Drive's lead guitarist trading back and 
forth one playing rhythm and one playing lead and so on back and forth...it 
was unbelieveable and incredibly tight. The place went nuts and I heard 
people saying this is magic and I can't believe what I am hearing. To Pete's 
credit he kept up with the youngsters and at one point was totally getting 
into it and started to get in his zone. These kids were smiling ear to ear 
playing with him and you could tell they would have done this all night. It 
was really special and this moment would have been totally lost in a large 
venue.

The final song of the evening involved all performers singing with Rose Hill 
Drive playing and Pete on Acoustic.........I AM ONE.

Again, this was a magic night...the only way I can describe it....a once in 
a life time... and in some ways felt like a passing of the torch with the 
age difference very apparent between Pete and the other performers but the 
music transcended the time and age difference.

After seeing The Who Monday night and now this performance I can honestly 
say I think I enjoyed tonite more. No it was not The WHo but I think it was 
something very special. After tonite, this week actually, I don't believe I 
can see another Who perfomance, this was too perfect. I almost feel sorry 
for the other cities left on the tour....CLEARLY the best of The Who and 
Pete may have been left in Chicago!

So let's see, Simon, Mikey, Rachel, Willie Mason, Rosehill Drive, and of 
course Pete for over 2 hours in an intimate venue, 10 feet from the stage 
for $90.00 Bucks!!!!
I CALL THAT A BARGAIN..the best I ever had!!!

Thanks Rachel!

PS-I Understand ITA will also being doing this in SEATLLE for those of you 
up their don't miss it! This Chicago show should also be up for viewing ON 
ITA soon! But you had to be there!!