Posted by Mountain Fan on 03-24-2004 at09:07:
77s in Knoxville, TN (well, Alcoa really)This is on topic because Mike made mention of Terry.
(Somebody post this on the 77s board if you want to).
Mike and Mark were awesome in Knoxville, TN last night! They played a very good blend of tunes. Majority 77s stuff with Roe solo coming in fairly close second and a Dog tune or two. They took a several songs to warm up and get in a groove, but then WOW! I am so amazed by Mike's passion and soul that comes out even more in his live playing. What an awesome voice too - from that low growl to those high soft tones almost like the flip of a switch.
Mark played rhythm acoustic (Takamine) on several tunes. The rest of the time he sort of set up a percussive beat with his 5-string electric bass on one of those loop thingamajigs (since they were sans drummer) and then played normal bass over the top of that. It was a little different but very enjoyable. On one of the final songs, Mark did a pretty awesome bass solo on the upper frets - you could tell he was really into it and having a good time. I really liked his "slither" background vocals on "Snake" - (I like the way it kind of sounds like "sinner" too - the accuser creeps up behind us occasionally and tries to get us to bite on this line again).
Mike had a Strat he borrowed from Derri and he made some comment about it being an effeminate guitar because it was a light green color with perhaps a hint of blue in it. Mike only played one tune on the Strat because he said the amp sounded horrible and perhaps had a tube out (looked to be vintage blackface, black cab, Fender Vibrolux). I sort of wished he would have done another 1 or 2 tunes on it anyway but I was not disappointed. He made that Taylor smoke too!
They told several good stories. Some I somewhat remember:
1) Mike said something like that it was really fun being on the BBQ tour with Terry but there is a limit to everything and it was time for something different. He said that Terry had a hot plate in the back of the "bus" and was frying livermush on it and then proceeded to plop down a big onion on it, resulting in Mike having to stick his head out the window for a few miles.
2) Mike told a little more background of some of the "banned" tunes and albums with "issues" like Pray Naked and another song that I don't remember (from an earlier 77s album, not Safe As Milk). He sang the "nice" recorded version of Dogs' Lovely Man. Also mentioned artwork "issues" with 77s Drowning With Land In Sight. Told story of For Crying Out Loud and did awesome version of that.
3) Told of being on paid vacation in Sweden (Stockholm, I think in the maybe mid 90s). Painted picture of it being a nice almost storybook place, with people leaving babies in the carriages outside restaurants while they were eating and old people and kids walking around everywhere. Then, toward the end of their stay a bartender down the street was attacked severely at "night" and when they heard the commotion and went outside the police arrived and it was a tricky situation at first. (It was a time of year when the sun didn't set). Also, I think he said Bruce kept a tape rolling on their "vacation" and they came up with the basis for about 3 albums' worth of tunes. He said it was weird seeing all these awesome blonde women, none of whom would talk to you, and how that contrasted with San Francisco.
I found out Mark spent a lot of time near Johnson City, TN which is less than 2 hours from here.
Some of the songs I definitely remember hearing (I think), in no particular order, perhaps about half or slightly over of what they played. I wasn't looking at my watch exactly when they started but I think the show basically ran from about 8:15 or 8:30 to about 11:00. I was disappointed in the low turnout - (maybe 50 people or less?) - but they played awesome anyways. I went with a friend from my church and the first people we met at the show were from our town! Thanks to Doug, Spring of Light ministries, and everyone else associated with getting the show setup.
Genuine
Related
Sevens
MT (I think, it was the one they sold to Fox that was used on TV episode with Shannon Doherty).
Nobody's Fault But Mine
The Jig is Up
For Crying Out Loud
Snake (Mike said the tour version was better than the one done on earlier tour with Leonhardt, and I agreed)
Perfect Blues (I think)
Sneakers
Go With God But Go
The Lust...
Ache Beautiful (personally one of the highlights vocally)
thanks for the nice review MF 
I posted it on the 7's board too 
Jiminy
). So I told him I would go. (I did have ulterior motives! 
But it was worth it because Derri was planning to be there! (Like I said earlier, I fell in love with his voice!) We had such a good time, and I began to really appreciate Mike and Terry's talent much more at that point. Then we started to play more of Terry's music and I just opened up! He's a musical genius!