Tom McRae @ Joe's Pub and Fez

[amezri]

September 26, 2004

10:00am

Sitting on the train getting ready to leave Albany. I'm excited! Tom in 8 hours! Eee! IMed Vaidah (alorarose this morning and texted Mike just now. Wonder if Jamell eye2eye18 will make the early train and meet us at 12:30. Heh. Listening to Tom now. I brought a crystal bracelet for Erika and Velvet Chain stickers to pass around at the Tom shows, since it's our current recommendation. So it's related... Won't see Albany again until 2am.

... Our conductor doesn't know what our stops are... but he's mad funny when he actually does stop. Like Croton-Harmon: "Honeymoon capital of the lower Hudson Valley." And Yonkers: "If you wish to get lost there, exit behind the cafe car. Yonkers, home of Paul Simon." Once we left, he said "now that we've escaped Yonkers, our next stop is historical, exotic Penn Station." *snort*

12:30pm

Met up with Vaidah and found Mike. His girlfriend, Laurie, wasn't able to come and Jamell missed both the earlier train Vaidah took and the 11:50am. So... we'd meet him later at 2-ish. Had pizza at a place near where Mike works. Went to Chinatown and bought Utada's Exodus CD and a Black Mask VCD, hoping that it's actually in Mandarin and has subtitles. I like the movie, but the ghettofabulous dub job is painful.

Met up with Jamell around 2:30pm and we sat in the park for a while. That was cool. Shade and seating. Yays. Once we decided to move again, we went to the South Street Sea Port. Mike left after that so he could make his TKD class. Jamell, Vaidah, and I made our way back to Lafayette street and found Joe's Pub and Fez. Killed some time at Tower Video looking at overpriced DVDs of movies that I would love to own. Did anyone else know the ReBoot movies were on DVD? Because I want. Meh.

Went back to Joe's Pub to wait for them to let us in. Vic (musesfool) and her friend fleurdeleo introduced themselves outside. It was a good thing I had my Tomination shirt on. Heh.

Tom McRae @ Joe's Pub - 6:30pm

We went in and were shown our table. Oh yeah, that was lovely. We were sat right next to a stage.. with a spectacular view of the piano. I, with my social disorders, took the seat with the closest thing to a wall, which was the pillar. So... pillar behind me, another table crammed to my right and a piano in front blocking my view. I was pinned!!11!one

Speaking of... Dani danibelle and her friend Rohini (afterknowledge) were in the table that was smooshed to my right. You can read Dani's report here.

The boys came out at about 6:50pm. I saw lots of nice shoes, jeans, and Tom's hair over the piano. I tried to take a few pictures, but without the flash all I got were some abstract color blobs. "Use the flash!" I hear you saying. Yeah, well, my flash can blind whole rooms in the daylight, so I didn't really want to blind the guys I came all this way to see. That would have been pretty wrong. Besides, I think it's kind of rude to be using flash photography while someone's trying to perform anyway. So.. this is me suffering with no pictures.

1. You Only Disappear
2. Walking 2 Hawaii

Tom to the crowd: You're here to see Rachael [Yamagata], right?
Some people in the crowd: And you!
Tom: [slight disbelief] Really??

I have something in my notes about both he and Rachael being manic depressive bands and having a manic depressive audience. I have also scribbled "miserable shit for 20" but I have no clue what that means. Edit: Vaidah corrects me: We'll have to listen to Tom go on about "miserable shit for the next 20 minutes."

3. Mermaid Blues

Vaidah: I can see his feet.
Me: He has nice sneakers.

Cello!Oli with his rock!cello was very awesome. Even though I couldn't see him at all.

Tom introduced the Ollies as the subway cars were running below us. Vibrating floors are very odd.

4. A&B Song

There was a water spill debacle at our shared table. Some girl spilled her glass of water on Jamell. He told me I should mention that. So I am. By the way, Jamell at this point nods and says, in regards to Tom, "he's good."

$13 panini and $4 for a soda? Not really amused, but expected.

Tom: Did you want to hear a song about suicide or killing other people? [some audience shouts both] Both?

He intros the next song with a babble about wanting to be meaningful when you write songs but "with this song, I was, in fact, hoping to kill someone."

5. Boy With the Bubblegun

At this point, Tom does the obligatory whoring of himself, the Just Like Blood US release, and the Napster CD (which now has kickass cover art I need to download).

6. Ghost of a Shark

That was the last song of his set at Joe's Pub. It was fantastic and it was really great to hear him live. It was everything I expected and more. Probably would have been better if I could see...

Grateful for once for my compulsive "oh my god, must wash hands" tendencies, I saw Tom standing by the service area on my way back from the bathroom. He looked like he was having a quiet moment before heading to Fez, so I very nearly just turned back around not wanting to disturb him. But then I figured when would I get this chance again? So I sort of quietly snuck up on him and introduced myself. There was general babble, during which he pointed at my shirt and said, "I like your shirt." I told him that I really enjoyed the show, except for the fact that they stuck us in front of the piano and I couldn't see a thing. He asked if I was going to be at Fez later. Told him I was and he said to stop by after the show and try to get up front. In retrospect, I probably could have loitered a bit longer, but I thought he was headed to Fez to set up or whathaveyou, so I smiled and let him have his down time. Because I am not a crazy stalker fangirl, no I'm not. I'm not! I'm normally a very shy, reserved, properly trained Asian girl who just smiles and nods. Uh. To strangers anyway. Heh.


Rachael Yamagata @ Joe's Pub - 7:30pm

Wow.. she has a posse. I think. I couldn't really see anything but feet, but there was a lot of them, so I'm gonna say she has a posse. So, since I couldn't see anything, I'm just gonna have to go with sound.. and the fact that Rachael was wearing legwarmers.

She opened with "Letter Read," which I really love. She introduced "Even So" saying that it was a song about the moments before you tell someone something really horrible.

She? Is very funny. I love her humor. And what was with people trying to pr0n her show? Wow. Is that some sort of bizzare in joke. Because I'm scared. Anyway, Rachael joked that she and Tom should call the tour the Slit Your Wrist Tour because of all their lovely, depressing songs. Hehe.

Jamell likes Rachael better than Tom. Aww. That's okay. He likes Tom, too.

Rachael played "Be Be Your Love" and then talked about sharing a tour bus with the Tom and the Ollies. Recently she and the girls were locked out of the bunk area by the boys because, apparently, there were girls outside flashing the bus. Ha! Rachael ran to the back and shouted at them that this was a chick band - a chick fronted band - but it didn't seem to make a difference to them. hehehe.

Next she played "Meet Me by the Water," which is lovely. There was more funny banter which I should have written down. Because it was funny...

I didn't write down a lot of her setlist as I don't know the name of all her songs yet. Do know that she played most of her CD and some stuff that wasn't on it. Yeah, that was helpful, I know.

"Worn Me Down" is awesome live and audience participation is always fun. It's a radio hit, so I hope it doesn't get overexposure. Uhm, not to say I don't want it to have any exposure. There's just no reason for her to get played out when she has other good songs on her album as well.

Tom McRae joined Rachael for the last song, playing piano on a song that I don't know and wish I'd been able to record. Vaidah did a livejournal phone post, but the signal in Joe's Pub was horrible, so it's all staticy and glitchy.

Tom McRae @ Fez - 9:30pm

We all power walked to Fez and navigated Time Cafe to get to the area that's actually Fez. Gave my name and we got our hands stamped. It is really nice to be on a list.

Noe Venable was playing. I've seen her link on Tom's site, but never heard her sing before. She has a great voice, but I wasn't really into her music that much. She reminded me a bit of Amy Acker as Winifred Burkle (see Angel) and um.. bad poetry night at Sunnydale. Vic said it was like fanfic to music. Bwahaha!

Fez had a two drink minimum which I didn't know about. I'd already had my two beverages for the day (I'm like a camel.. or something...) so I told the waiter that I'd buy Tom a beer and to go give it to him before he went on stage. I think he got really confused because I wasn't charged for it. Uhm. Okay... Sorry, Tom!

Tom came out on stage at 9:35pm and played the first song by himself.

1. Bloodless

Love. That. Song.

Tom asked who had seen Rachael at Joe's Pub tonight and started playing "Worn Me Down" and singing the first few words before he stopped and said something like, "Fuck that. If I could write a hit song, I would have done it already." The two Ollies came out then. There was cheering and clapping.

2. You Only Disappear

The server brought Tom a drink and Tom asks, "Can I get two hookers and a ticket to Hawaii?" and the guy shouts back, "I'm working on that!"

3. Walking 2 Hawaii

Okay, I admit it. Cello!Oli is a hottie. But so is Tom. And Piano!Ollie.

Tom: "The happiness continues..."

4. Border Song

I can't remember if Tom had asked for requests at this point or if it was more of the random requesting, but some guy shouted out "End of the World BLUES!" Tom kind of guffawed and said, "I really love 70% of that request," and made fun of the guy to no end. "News. End of the World News."

Then he decided we should have a shouting match to determine the next song: "Dose Me Up" or "A&B Song". After all the random shouting, he announces that he's going to play "Sao Paulo Rain"... but then plays A&B Song. Hehehe.

5. A & B Song

Tom was teasing Piano!Olli during this song since he was basically the entire percussion section. Heh. "It's just a rhythm. It's what the kids want. If we could only afford a drummer..."

There was more guitar adjusting as Tom talked about the songs he wanted to play and needing a full band.

"One day I'll get a full band... [someone shouts a request for "Karaoke Soul"] .. and one day we'll play Karaoke Soul."

People are still randomly shouting out requests.. which was starting to get annoying because the man has a setlist and just let him play forgodssake. Case in point, Tom's in the middle of introducing the next song and one of the guys up front shouts "Streetlight!" Tom sort of scowls and says, "Fuck it. Do you see the setlist or what?" and the guy says he doesn't, so Tom asks him what he was going to say about the song. We can't hear, but Tom repeats it for us in a joking/mocking tone, "it's a really good song called Streetlight," and mocks the guy some more. hehehe. Then he finally intros the song.. "It's a really good song called Streetlight."

6. Streetlight

Vaidah's photos are way superior to mine. I did take a of couple nicer ones at Fez, but my camera hates me and the settings weren't cooperating. Again, I didn't want to blind Tom with my Flash of DOOM, so I didn't use it.

It was 10:05pm by this time and I was a little worried about catching my train, but figured Tom wouldn't have too much longer to go...

I broke down and ordered an Earl Grey tea while Tom was pimping his merchandise. He then told us he was going to play some new songs. Yay! New songs!

Tom to the crowd: "Sit still, shut up, and pay attention 'cause I'll be asking questions."

7. How the West Was Won

I will never get tired of that song even though it is really long. Vaidah did a phone post of it.

Tom: "Six and a half minutes. That's a radio song."

Again Tom was having issues with his guitar, so he asked that the brightness be turned down more. "Can you make my music even duller?"

8. End of the World Blues News (Dose Me Up)

"Because you've earned it."

Tom commented that he's amazed we know the names of the new songs and jokes that the Ollies didn't even know the titles of things after three years of touring. Heee!

9. Boy with the Bubblegun

Tom goes on to pimp Rachael and Noe Veneble, "ex-friends, both of them." There's a babble about TV and pop culture if his stuff was a bit too depressing. "It's there for you: pop culture. I bring only misery and death."

10. It Ain't You

Tom: "I'd like to try a new one, if that's all right. It's my show."

11. Silent Boulevard

That was meant to be the last song, but they came back for an encore, of course.

12. Language of Fools

And there was yet another encore as the audience was shouting and banging cups on the table. Tom came back out by himself and joked that he would keep playing until he got kicked out.

13. I Ain't Scared of Lightning
14. My Vampire Heart

Love, love, love "My Vampire Heart." I can't wait to hear the final studio recording.

At this point it was 10:50pm and I was starting to really freak out about missing my train. I know, I know - Tom and the Ollies are there and I still needed to schmooze, but really? The 11:45pm was the last train to Albany and I had to be on it.

Clearly this means that I am not "star struck" and not as excitable as I thought I was...

Tom called the Ollies back from the bar to play one more song. "It's a love song, for fuck's sake."

14. Sao Paulo Rain

After the show, Vaidah and I wandered over to the merch table. I asked one of the guys if Erika was around and what she looked like.. which was sort of unhelpful to me at that time. Then gave them more Tomination stickers and lamely said that the other ones came from me. *facepalm* That was truly intelligent. I bought two copies of Just Like Blood with the Napster CDs.

I saw Piano!Olli by the stage and said a quick hello before he ditched me (kidding!) to talk to some friends who were leaving. I met Eve (evemac) by the stage and was too frantic as by that time it was 11:00pm. So, again, Eve, I'm really sorry for not talking to you longer and remembering to give you stickers! Just before Olli left, I'd mentioned that I was looking for Tom and there he was, but just as he was walking to the back locker area... so I decided to wait until he came back out 11:10pm and hi, quickly ticking off the minutes in my head. Victoria and her friend said their goodbyes. So it was me and Vaidah waiting...

Tom finally came out and I was all prepared to shake his hand, but he was leaning in for a hug, so yay! Tom hug! I told him that I had to go and he seemed a bit disappointed. Believe me, I was disappointed, too. I told him that I had to catch my 11:45pm train home and that it was the last to Albany. He was all, "oh god, you have to get going!" Told him that yeah, and I was going to have to find Penn. Tom, bless him, tried to give me directions saying that I'd have to "go North" and asking if I could get a taxi. I said no, we're walking and taking the subway. I get the "dear god" look again. Remembering that I hadn't found Erika yet, I told him that I'd made her a bracelet and if he could give it to her since I wasn't able to find her. He responded with a "that's lovely," and tucked it into his jacket pocket.

I was fumbling with unwrapping CDs at a manic rate (using Voltaire's nifty technique) since I felt bad for taking up so much of Tom's time, especially with the crowd of people behind us (not forgetting the train). I must have looked like a complete nutter. So while I'm mad CD-opening woman, I'm babbling as Tom is crouched over a table signing things in low light. Finally, I all but throw my CD at him and promised that it was the last one. He asks if this one was for me, and I said "Yep, this is for me. Yes." Intelligent! I again apologized for taking up so much of his time.

Uhm. Even after all that? He took the time to talk to me some more. We loves the Tom, yes we do. He thanked me for all the work on Tomination and told me that it was really helpful to have something like us out there helping him along. He told me that there was something special in the liner notes and I smiled and said that Saff had already told me. I again said it was nice to finally get to meet him after all this time (nearly a year!) and that he had to come back. I hinted at the possibility of an upstate show or two and he said he'd love to go upstate but didn't know how far he could get. He said again that it was nice to finally meet and he told me to go catch my train.

I? So would have bought them booze. Lots of booze.

Run, bitch, run!

So by this time I had 30 minutes to catch my train. Vaidah, Jamell and I walked really fast to 14th, caught the train to 34th, walked along the indicated path to Penn, which was blocked off, so we ducked under a gate and came out on 32nd. Dude. wtf. There was much panicking and swearing and it was an ugly scene. I had 10 minutes to walk to Penn by then.

Got to Penn at 11:45pm basically thinking that there was no way in hell I was going to make it and just as I turn into the Amtrak terminal, they're announcing last call for my train. I sprinted through the terminal and then couldn't find the platform. Basketcase. Found it finally and ran down the stairs. The doors were already closed and they were getting ready to leave. I ran up to it and was banging on doors and windows screaming, trying to get someone to open the doors. I finally found a car with people actually in it and banged on the window. The guy sitting there just sort of looked at me like I was an alien. A woman in the same car saw me and made the move to open door, but by then one of the conductor people opened the door in the next cart with a fair amount of scorn. Dude. Sorry. I was at a TOM SHOW. Out of breath, I gave him my ticket and walked toward a seat. I passed the guy who had been staring at me. He clapped. The guy frelling clapped at me.

After taking a few minutes to actually process oxygen again, I called my mom to let her know I made the train. Then a made a really long, rambly phone post, texted Vaidah and called Saffron (crushw_eyeliner) until I lost my cellphone signal in the midst of the Hudson Valley. I'm pretty sure was having jitters coming down from the adrenaline rush.

I don't think it's sunk in that I saw Tom. I mean, it was very cool and the shows were beyond excellent. But there wasn't really a moment where I was seriously like "OMG!TOM!SQUEE!" - okay, maybe there was a moment. Only very briefly and far away from Tom. It was all a bit surreal like it was a familiar sort of activity that I was doing - being at a Tom show, saying hi to Tom and then leaving him to the other fans. The only reason that I was being a basketcase was because I was going to miss my train. Take away the train factor and I would be standing in the corner just watching people flock to him and the Ollies.

50% of the above paragraph is a lie. Inside I'm squeeing with the best of them.

Comments

[hostile17girl.livejournal.com]

Ohmygod, your running and being thisclose to missing your train is just like what happened to me when I went to a Robin McKinley booksigning last year. I had to go to Newburyport (which is like an hour and a half away from Boston by commuter rail) and the bookstore was a half hour walk from the train station, and I was running and flailing and freaking out that I was going to miss the train and be stranded there, but I made it just as the doors were closing. And then it took me 20 minutes to calm down from that.

I almost went to see Tom in Boston on Thursday, but I only know like, 4 of his songs and I want to buy the CDs and reeeeaaaally get to know everything well before I go to a show. I find that I don't really enjoy seeing concerts of people I'm not that familiar with.

[sprightliness.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the write up. I'm glad you had such a good time. Oh, Tom hugs. I love him. And the Olli's. Three days, OMG, I can't wait.

[amezri.livejournal.com]

You will have so much fun! Be sure to talk to him after his set! You should have time before Rachael comes out. Then again, if he plays the last song for every show of the tour, you'll definitely be able to catch him after the show as well. :)

eee! tooom!!!

[julietlaw.livejournal.com]

I love reading World Tomination reviews -- they're always so freaking hilarious. ;) Thanks for sharing the fun (and the stree).

Re: eee! tooom!!!

[amezri.livejournal.com]

When he goes back to France, you MUST see him! ^^