Reply To: Portland Show 4/25/08
So a quick summary of last night's show: Paul & Storm were great and the crowd hit the merch table fairly hard after their set. Then after what seemed far too long a wait, Joco arrived and pretty much convinced everyone he should have his own sitcom. I knew he was funny but jeez. Anyway, I apologize as I don't have a full setlist, but some of the highlights were a running gag about him drinking water – first out of a pitcher (there was no glass on stage) for which he got thunderous applause and then remarked how funny it would be if we could all just get that kind of applause if we went to work and drank out of a pitcher. That whole drinking thing went through the show with various stops for guzzles and even an ice-crunching moment which actually caused him to stop soon after beginning 'code monkey' because he couldn't stop laughing at the idea of the story he'd tell AFTER the song about how his teeth got really cold. (that is SO a had-to-be-there story, but am trying to capture all the highlights). The crowd was appreciative which i think all three of them liked but it seemed from watching their reactions that the constant interruptions and random yelling out of stuff that wasn't particularly funny seemed to wear thin after a while and seemed to leave Joco desiring to just move it along (possibly why there was just one encore). I have to also mention some idiot who kept yelling out 'Freebird" as though it were the funniest thing in the world. (note: Dude, um, that joke stopped being funny about 1996 – have you been to many concerts?) The previous post about the Mission's noise factor from the bar was true – people randomly kept shouting to the bartender and he back at them – something that was surprisingly loud and kind of distracting during songs like 'you ruined everything' and 'when you go'….
But I don't mean to focus on the negative – Joco was in fine voice (although did anyone hear any stuffy-up-edness early in the set? sounds like he might have been fighting the same cold as Storm) and seemed to especially enjoy the crowd's participation in his 'utility shot' experiment where he gave us direction to either give thunderous applause, disapproving boos or 'aw that's cute' reaction.
As I said I don't have a setlist but I can tell you that he started with ikea and future soon, ended with re your brains, and gave one encore that included First of May and Sweet Caroline (and I think one other). Other songs in the set were code monkey, skullkrusher mountain, kennesaw mountain landis, you ruined everything, when you go, shop vac, baby got back, mandelbrot set,creepy doll, i'm your moon, fancy pants and i crush everything.
Needless to say, others will have likely a better memory than I so chime in – and Seattle show-goers, let us know your thoughts after tonight and tomorrow!