Wishbone Ash - Moondog’s Blawnox PA USA March 18th 2005
Setlist: Set 1: In the Skin / Helpless / Standing in the Rain / The King Will Come / Throw Down the Sword / Pilgrim / Rock n Roll Widow / Sometime World / Changin’ Tracks / Vas Dis Set 2: Wait out the Storm / Ancient Remedy / Warrior / Persephone / FUBB / Almighty Blues / Living Proof / Blowin’ Free - Bad Weather Blues - Where Is The Love // Ballad of the Beacon /// Jailbait
I thought: Well, I am here in the USA for the month of March, and even though I’ve been to gigs in the colonies before, none of them have been rock gigs. So, I checked out various websites and no-one worth seeing seemed to be playing in PA. Then, I noticed that Ash was playing Moondog’s. Now, I am convinced that it originally said Sat 19th March for this gig. I’d figured I could go see Pittsburgh and then wander up to Blawnox for the gig. But, when I logged on to wishboneash.com Friday lunchtime, I got the shock of my life to find out the gig was that night! OMG!
I finished up my afternoon demo, left work, went back to my hotel, changed quickly and hit the I-76. Now, I’m accustomed to driving long distances to gigs, and this was like driving from my home down to London. However, in the UK, I do tend to drive a little faster and I would easily be doing 90mph down the M6/M40. I’m with Sammy Hagar: I Can’t Drive 55; it is a ridiculous speed. But, that’s a rant for another time. Let’s just say that I left Philly at 4PM and arrived at Moondog’s at 9PM; I stopped for coffee once, and petrol, sorry gas, once.
I finished up my afternoon demo, left work, went back to my hotel, changed quickly and hit the I-76. Now, I’m accustomed to driving long distances to gigs, and this was like driving from my home down to London. However, in the UK, I do tend to drive a little faster and I would easily be doing 90mph down the M6/M40. I’m with Sammy Hagar: I Can’t Drive 55; it is a ridiculous speed. But, that’s a rant for another time. Let’s just say that I left Philly at 4PM and arrived at Moondog’s at 9PM; I stopped for coffee once, and petrol, sorry gas, once.
Moondog’s is the sort of intimate, friendly little venue that I like. If I lived around Pittsburgh, I would be there all the time. Fercrissakes, the place won the Blues Club of the Year award! Sonny Landreth has played there! Hell, I’d move in if I could.
At least, I hadn’t missed anything, I noted thankfully. I knew I had a long drive back, so no beers for me. [Insert sad, pouty face] I ordered a large Coke and asked the guy stood next to me if he knew what time the band was going on. We chatted. He noticed my accent and asked if I was a Wishbone Ash fan. Had I seen them before? he wanted to know. I explained how I came to be at the gig and, soon, I was being introduced to everyone within hailing distance as the crazy English guy who had driven all the way from Philly for this gig. I can handle that kind of notoriety. When asked if I’d heard of The Groundhogs, the fact that I not only knew of them, but had seen them live, assured my acceptance within this amiable community. That’s amiable, not Amish. Mind you, Wishbone Ash playing in Amish country, could be interesting?! Anyhoo, before I continue, ‘Hello!’ to all of the great people I met who made me feel so welcome. And Lynne, if you see this, I made it back to Philly about 6:30 with no problems. Hell, it was only a 550 mile round trip, with 10 hours of driving...
At least, I hadn’t missed anything, I noted thankfully. I knew I had a long drive back, so no beers for me. [Insert sad, pouty face] I ordered a large Coke and asked the guy stood next to me if he knew what time the band was going on. We chatted. He noticed my accent and asked if I was a Wishbone Ash fan. Had I seen them before? he wanted to know. I explained how I came to be at the gig and, soon, I was being introduced to everyone within hailing distance as the crazy English guy who had driven all the way from Philly for this gig. I can handle that kind of notoriety. When asked if I’d heard of The Groundhogs, the fact that I not only knew of them, but had seen them live, assured my acceptance within this amiable community. That’s amiable, not Amish. Mind you, Wishbone Ash playing in Amish country, could be interesting?! Anyhoo, before I continue, ‘Hello!’ to all of the great people I met who made me feel so welcome. And Lynne, if you see this, I made it back to Philly about 6:30 with no problems. Hell, it was only a 550 mile round trip, with 10 hours of driving...
The band took to the stage around 10PM and launched into the first of two sets for the night. Andy, Bob and Ray form a very tight combo and have been together for a while. Every time I have seen Ash they put on a good gig; that’s just the way it is with a band like this. For me, the question was newbie, Muddy Manninen. You see, I had just got used to Ben Granfelt and had only just stopped regarding him as the new guy, then he goes and leaves and you have to cope with a new string-bender and how he will work with Andy. I should have had more faith in Mr Powell’s choice. Muddy is one hell of a guitarist and, watching this line up, you would never know that he hadn’t been playing together since the year zero; his slide playing is especially tasty. This gig immediately became about just enjoying the music.
Now, there was the odd bum note here and there, and Andy’s Flying V needed a screwdriver at one point, so the gig was not without incident, but I’m not a great one for bothering about that. What I look for is feel, atmosphere and enjoyment. At Moondog’s, the audience may not have been excessively large (don’t get me wrong, the place was packed, but it’s only a small bar) but those in attendance were into the band, big style. There was an awful lot of enjoyment going around, both on and off the stage, and this engulfed the stage and fuelled the performance. This was a small, select venue where everyone just wanted a good night of English rock music - and Wishbone Ash delivered it in big bucketfuls.
Now, there was the odd bum note here and there, and Andy’s Flying V needed a screwdriver at one point, so the gig was not without incident, but I’m not a great one for bothering about that. What I look for is feel, atmosphere and enjoyment. At Moondog’s, the audience may not have been excessively large (don’t get me wrong, the place was packed, but it’s only a small bar) but those in attendance were into the band, big style. There was an awful lot of enjoyment going around, both on and off the stage, and this engulfed the stage and fuelled the performance. This was a small, select venue where everyone just wanted a good night of English rock music - and Wishbone Ash delivered it in big bucketfuls.
In the first set, it was nice to see Helpless in there, as Just Testing was the album that originally introduced me to Wishbone Ash, as well a few of the classics; I never tire of hearing them! Nice too, to see Rock and Roll Widow in the set, which Andy introduced by telling how it was written. There was a lot of chat from the stage, always a sign of a good gig, and the first set ended - also introduced by a story - with a very raunchy Vas Dis, which everyone enjoyed greatly. By this time, it had become quite evident that, not only did Muddy play his instrument with flair; he knew the material well and had even managed to inject much of his own style into it.
The second set was so crammed with classy songs that you couldn’t have slid a Rizla between them. My all-time favourite Ashtune, FUBB, made a welcome appearance, and the deceptively heavy Living Proof rocked the house, as per usual. By the time they rolled around to Blowin’ Free, they could have sung the Pittsburgh Yellow Pages over a riff and no-one would have cared as long as they continued to play!
Tradition will out, even in a venue where there really is no place for the band to escape to, and following the standard procedure, we hollered until they came back. Maybe it’s just my age, but I cannot remember what they actually did play for the first encore. It definitely wasn’t Lady Whiskey like it says on the setlist. I know I enjoyed it, just can’t remember what it was!
Surprisingly, after more yelling and chanting they came back for a second encore of something else I can’t remember, followed by Jailbait. Come on, have a heart; be kind to old people J
The second set was so crammed with classy songs that you couldn’t have slid a Rizla between them. My all-time favourite Ashtune, FUBB, made a welcome appearance, and the deceptively heavy Living Proof rocked the house, as per usual. By the time they rolled around to Blowin’ Free, they could have sung the Pittsburgh Yellow Pages over a riff and no-one would have cared as long as they continued to play!
Tradition will out, even in a venue where there really is no place for the band to escape to, and following the standard procedure, we hollered until they came back. Maybe it’s just my age, but I cannot remember what they actually did play for the first encore. It definitely wasn’t Lady Whiskey like it says on the setlist. I know I enjoyed it, just can’t remember what it was!
Surprisingly, after more yelling and chanting they came back for a second encore of something else I can’t remember, followed by Jailbait. Come on, have a heart; be kind to old people J
I looked at the clock and was shocked to find that it was 1AM. Not only was this way past my bedtime, I still had a five hour drive back. Everyone thought I was crazy to be driving back and I was offered accommodations, but I really wasn’t feeling at all bad. I waited for Andy to come out, had a quick chat with him, proffering my Moondog’s flyer him to sign, so I could prove that I’d actually been here! I think he was a little surprised to find a fellow countryman in Blawnox, especially when I told him I’d see him in Crewe (UK tour) in a couple of weeks but, the professional he is, he didn’t call for security to protect him from the stalker. The Moondog’s flyer will take up residence on my wall of fame at home, next to the signed Nazareth setlist, as soon as I get back. I may have to liberate an Ash setlist on the UK tour though...
Around 1:30AM I left Moondog’s, saying my goodbye’s to my new chums, and headed off in search of the Penna Turnpike. Three large coffees and five hours later, I slumped on the bed in my hotel room and plugged in my MiniDisc player. I think I fell asleep to Errors of My Way.
Was it worth the effort?
Oh, for sure. Live music is always worth the effort, particularly in the smaller clubs (OK, so maybe KISS on the Lick it Up tour wasn’t!) Yeah, I’m not 17 any more, and it takes me longer to recover from these mad excursions, but when I decide that I’d rather stay in a hotel room than undertake a 550 mile round trip to see a great band like Wishbone Ash, I’ll know I’m ready for that long dirt nap. I’ll haul my adult-diapered ass into my bath chair and wheel the son-of-a-bitch over the balcony into the swimming pool, in true rock ‘n’ roll fashion.
Like the song says: You Gotta Pay the Price.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
20th March 2005
Around 1:30AM I left Moondog’s, saying my goodbye’s to my new chums, and headed off in search of the Penna Turnpike. Three large coffees and five hours later, I slumped on the bed in my hotel room and plugged in my MiniDisc player. I think I fell asleep to Errors of My Way.
Was it worth the effort?
Oh, for sure. Live music is always worth the effort, particularly in the smaller clubs (OK, so maybe KISS on the Lick it Up tour wasn’t!) Yeah, I’m not 17 any more, and it takes me longer to recover from these mad excursions, but when I decide that I’d rather stay in a hotel room than undertake a 550 mile round trip to see a great band like Wishbone Ash, I’ll know I’m ready for that long dirt nap. I’ll haul my adult-diapered ass into my bath chair and wheel the son-of-a-bitch over the balcony into the swimming pool, in true rock ‘n’ roll fashion.
Like the song says: You Gotta Pay the Price.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
20th March 2005