Crocodile Cafe, Seattle

["Mike Spindloe" <mike_alstublief>]

Just back from Seattle, very interesting show and indeed we did half half of 
R.E.M. (or at least R.E.M. as they used to be) in Peter Buck and Bill Berry 
on guitar and drums respectively along with two other chaps whose names I 
don't know who make up the Minus Five, whom Patti gleefully called "my very 
own bar band."

Didn't write down the setlist but it started with four or five songs from 
just Patti and Lenny Kaye, beginning with "Redondo Beach" and including "My 
Blakean Year" complete with an improvised ode to Seattle at the beginning. 
The surprising thing about the set in general was the lack of "Horses" 
songs, considering this was supposed to be 30th anniversary show.

Patti appeared quite tired (or perhaps stoned?!), and seemed to have a lot 
of trouble (more than usual, natch) collecting her thoughts between songs 
but did manage a couple of very funny monologues. Maybe her jet-setting 
schedule of late was just catching up to her a bit..

The setlist leaned heavily on standard repertoire - Dancing Barefoot, PHTP, 
Gloria, R&R Nigger, Ask The Angels etc. Patti left the stage while Lenny 
took over on a cover of "Pushin' Too Hard" and led the crowd through a 
rousing singalong of Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone."

Overall I don't think this was one of her strongest shows (I've only seen 5 
now, all since 1999), but what a treat to see her in such an intimate venue, 
and it was especially fun watching Peter Buck playing off of Lenny's cues - 
most of this material is fairly simple, of course, but overall the Minus 
Five nailed it like the pros they are.

The show was about an hour and 3/4s including the encores.

Cheers, Mike (back home safely after driving down from Vancouver in the 
pouring rain and waiting almost two hours to get across the border)