I really enjoyed the first set, feeling that I was really witnessing something special as these guys reinterpreted songs from their great joint catalogs. However, the set ended all too soon (it was short) and the intermission was very long considering the set brevity and the amount of time spent bantering rather than playing music during the set. The banter was largely welcomed at first, but kept getting to be more and more as the show went on to the point that during the second set it was just a bit too much. Set 2 seemed to have more ad hoc song choices at the expense of songs that would have been great to hear. Nothing played from Lulu, Applehead Man or The Great Divide. Instead some of Dan Wilson's lightweight offerings from later Semisonic albums and his solo album were performed to my chagrin (I love early Semi almost as much as Trip Shakespeare but Dan's more recent offerings aren't up to the standard that Matt has maintained - just not enough soul in later Semisonic and DW solo stuff).
I think it would have been wise for the guys to have brought John Munson and a drummer out for the 2nd set. Hearing Toolmaster of Brainerd on just 2 Les Pauls and vocals doesn't fully cut it.
Pantages Theatre @
- Minneapolis @
, MN @
- Fri, Mar 26, 2010 @
Favorite moment: Hearing the first song, Reception. It was a welcome intro to the set. @
Setlist: A decent sprinkling of Trip, some strong and weak Semi songs, some tepid Dan W songs. NOTHING from Applehead Man, Lulu or Great Divide! @
Opening act(s): none @