Philzone.org - Philzone Phansite Community Discussion Board: Setlists and Reviews: Non GD Related Reviews: Archive: Melvin Seals-JGB>Sphongle>WTF 6/22/07 SF

So, last night. What a crazy night.

I started off at Slim's for Melvin Seals and JGB, I saw the first set, it sounded great. Off the top of my head, they played...Lay Down Sally and You Never Can Tell to start it off. I think next was Money Honey...The set ended with The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down and Cats Under Stars.


The music was great, so fun...Stu's voice is great (especially appreciated on the night they drove, it would have been painfully slow and tedious if he wasn't such a joy to listen too), Melvin was a big smile as always, the girls were great, one of them couldn't stop cracking up watching the crazy twirling dancers! Ha...the dancers were letting their freak flags fly! and the drummer was great, hitting hard but never crowding, perfect for the mellow vibe, and the bass player was great too. No surprise there, this is a solid band, they've had lots of time together by now!

So set 2...I never intended to stay for set 2, I had plans to hit 1015 Folsom (a club, in the electronic sense)...well, everyone who was gonna go bailed, even the guy I had a free ticket for? that was the first WTF, especially since he bailed to go to the phish phry? My options at this point were eat the tickets, only $30--stay for set 2 at slim's, go to the club miracle a couple people, the club was only a few blocks away...but if I'm gonna go all the way over there, why not at least check it out? I'm already there...what's the harm?

Okay, so I go...what the hell! I miracle a guy out front, tell him about how I wasn't even gonna go, blah blah blah, he reaffirms that since I'm already there what do I have to lose? Okay, in we go...well maybe not. The search at the door is one small step above cavity search. I've got a bag full of stuff that they won't let in...so miracle guy had made it past the search easily, quick wave and I'm gone, stash all the contraban items--thank god for bras!

When I go back to the search, the woman laughs at me because my bag is light now...she says, well you didn't have to get rid of it ALL. Who really knows what she meant by that because she had just told me I did??

Oh well, I'm in...hit the bar, scope the place out...it's a big club, three dance floors and a smoking lounge spread over a couple of levels...Miracle guy found me, and really wanted to give me something for the ticket, whatever it was $15, not a big deal, but maybe I'd like to trade for something small and pill shaped. Okay...I'll do that

So long story short, meet a swedish guy, buys me a couple drinks, wants to find some acid...he gravitated to my tie-dye...ha! Can't help him with that, but I did have a mushroom chocolate that I had from the JGB show, and it's heart shaped, wrapped in pink foil...ha, perfect for sharing with the swede! Then miracle guy came back with more drugs, long story short...I made any good head proud by trading my extra for drugs and making new friends.

It was fun dancing and goofing around with the random strangers but ultimately, I was a fish out of water. WTF is Sphongle?? Why did my bluegrass loving friend thing I'd like the music, it was so predictable, maybe I just don't appreaciate the dj thing enough to understand the nuances of it, but really...wtf? I've done the electronic thing before...sts9, moby, fatboy slim, I've even seen paul oakenfold and the chemical brothers, the Basement Jaxx remain of the best shows I've ever seen...but sphongle...I dunno, it seemed like there's always some big rave happening in SF, this is not unique, I'm not sure why people went CRAZY for this british guy, this stuff happens all the time. I was unimpressed, I'm glad I went...I enjoyed the tom-foolery of the evening, but ME? at a CLUB? Who thought this was a good idea? I eventuallly left around 3 am, it was fun but superficial and not all that important...the lights were kinda fun though



Left Coasting is gonna sound very sweet to these ears tonight! and being surrounded by lovely zoners will also be sweet, a stark contrast to last night.

Odessa you a soldier in the army of the night..

Great stories there, Em. Sounds like an adventurous night out!!

I think it was Rory that saw Shpongle at the Harmony Fest late-night, and I recall him saying he had a pretty good time. But he might have indulged in certain party favors beforehand ;-)
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go emily!

Yeah, Rory was the second positive review I'd gotten on Shpongle but in both instances it was more about the party favors than anything else. I dunno...I like party favors but it's usually better when it's a party I'm interested in. I'm not headed back to 1015 anytime soon.

Actually, now that I think about it...I don't think I even made it long enough to see Shpongle, I think I really saw Hallucination, which is the straight Simon Posford dj set...I am sorta curious about Shpongle, which would have added other guys in for a live set...not curious enough to hang out until 4 am though...

That sucks you didn't get to see the Shpongle set. Super psychedelic electronica. I have not seen the Hallucinogen show so I couldn't tell you if its different or similar to Shpongle.

And yes, the party favors probably played a significant role in my enjoyment. Although, I do like to play his music as low background stuff while I'm working.