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Originally Posted by GregC  I just saw them tonight in Chicago. Dayum! Incredible and intense are the first two words to come to mind. I'll post more this weekend about the show when I have time, I just wanted to send up a flare for now to anyone interested--they have nine shows left on the tour. http://hootpage.com/hoot_news.html |
Hey there! I just saw Mike and the Missingmen in Grand Rapids the night before you! Intense, indeed!
Mike Watt is my #1 Bass hero. He was the guy who inspired me 20 years ago when I first picked up the Bass.
Now, I am a middle aged married guy with a full time day job and I rarely get to play and I NEVER go out to see bands any more, (much less on a Wednesday night!)
But I've been a little bummed out since the New Year when Ronnie Asheton was found dead at his home, because I had never gotten to see the Stooges since they reunited (with Watt on Bass.)
So I had planned to go see Mike Watt for 2 months, and it almost fell through, but I managed to make it to Grand Rapids, and boy, was it worth it!
I was giddy as teenager. I stood up front and watched Watt with my jaw on the floor the whole time!
I brought my old Yamaha bass (my first bass which I used in my college punk band) and stayed after the show waiting for a chance to nag Mike into signing it. Now, I have NEVER done anything like this in my life, but Mike Watt is such an inspiration and it was such a thrill.
This trio is so tight! They powered through a one hour set, with very brief (1 second) pauses between songs, working harder than any musicians I have seen in years and years. Tom and Raul are awesome and deserve credit for keeping up with Mike and vice versa.
Of course, Watt is just amazing!
Best way I can describe his approach to his instrument is that he's trying to force his humanity into the machine, like he's trying to shove a little bit of his soul into those strings, through the pickups, through the coily cord and into that sweet Eden rig (pic below.)
So definitely, if anyone has a chance to see them, you MUST!!!
So Mike, Raul and Tom all signed my bass:
Right after the set, Watt's hiding behind his rig:
