The Good, The Bad & The Queen @ Webster Hall

So all the events of the day led up to the U.S. debut of Damon, Tony, Simon and Paul's project called The Good, The Bad & The Queen.

I won't repeat what I've already talked out from the Roundhouse show or my association with Damon, so I'll just post a setlist, some differences from the October show and a lot of better pictures.

How do I know the setlist? Because I have it in hand, baby. It's just the album in order anyway:

• History Song
• 80's Life
• Northern Whale
• Herculean
• Behind the Sun
• The Bunting Song
• Nature Springs
• A Soldier's Tale
• Three Changes
• Green Fields
• The Good, The Bad & The Queen
• Encore: Doghouse
• Mr. Whippy

Setlist wise, the only addition was "Doghouse," which was left unfinished from the album. It's pretty much a dub freestyle jam with no vocals. Mr. Whippy is a B-side performed by the same Syrian rapper from the October show. As a tease, while Damon was on the piano, he played 10 seconds of "Intermission" from Blur's Modern Life is Rubbish.

The show as a whole was just as exciting as October, although I'll think of that show more because it was just an exciting night. As I said before, I'm glad New Yorkers got to see the performance. It's not a dance party or pump your fist type of concert. You just soak in all the great melodies, until the end where it builds up for the title track and everyone gets nuts on their instruments. I think Paul got more shouts from the crowd. I love how he treats his bass playing as a waltz.

This time around, the GBH group had a string section that introduced the band and interjected when needed. Damon was much more out there in terms of singing and didn't spend as much time behind the piano. In October, he played acoustic guitar with Paul on bass for "Behind the Sun." Tonight, he didn't use any guitar, instead opting for a melodica.

I'm much more familiar with the music now obviously since the album has been released. It will probably make my Top 10 of the year because it's such a complete effort. The songwriting is extraordinary and the musicianship is impeccable. We know Damon is the reason we're paying attention, but you have to look at this project as a collaboration with all involved parties and producer Danger Mouse. It all comes together in this loose story about London life at various points in time.

So I'm exhausted. Sleep is needed. Here are the pics...

Comments

[David McCaffredy]

Awesome show - awesome pics. While I don't think Webster Hall was the best venue for them to play, they did their best to jazz it up.