Sometime after the release of their first album, Honeysuckle Strange, Howlin Maggie made the trip up to Toledo to play Frankie’s Inner City. The name is truthful, the club was in downtown Toledo, a place I did not visit very many times during my years at college in Bowling Green.
The club was split into to sides, one for bands and one for a dance club and DJ. We realized upon arriving that the band side was woefully empty, and the club side was packed. And loud. Very loud. There were (maybe) twelve people there to see Howlin Maggie, who despite the small audience, were glammed up and rocked as if they were playing a 20,000 seat venue. That was greatly appreciated – I respect bands that put on a show regardless of audience size, but after a while it got awkward. Personally, I wanted to say to the band, “Look, we get it, you want to rock out, but you don’t need to pretend this Madison Square Garden. Dust off the glitter, wipe off the eyeliner, let’s just have a good rock show.”
I made the mistake of wearing the t-shirt of the band I was going to see, a fact that my friends Keith, Jason and Billy who accompanied pointed out without mercy.
Showing posts with label howlin maggie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label howlin maggie. Show all posts
Concert Review: Imperial Teen & Howlin’ Maggie @ Little Brothers, Columbus, OH (5/23/99)
I didn’t know who Imperial Teen were when I went to this show. I knew they had a couple of albums out in the 90s, and one guy had been in Faith No More, but beyond that… nothing. I went to see Howlin Maggie, who in a transitional period between the original line-up and a new line-up of various Columbus musicians.
HM primarily drew from their only album (at that point), Honeysuckle Strange, with a few covers included, but did debut some new tunes that would end up on either the second (and last) HM album three years later, and even on lead singer Happy Chichester’s solo album in 2007.
As a band my friends and I discovered in college, completely unaware they were based on two hours away, it was kind of thrill to see them playing together again. Little did we know that just a few years later we’d be sharing the same stage with them.
HM primarily drew from their only album (at that point), Honeysuckle Strange, with a few covers included, but did debut some new tunes that would end up on either the second (and last) HM album three years later, and even on lead singer Happy Chichester’s solo album in 2007.
As a band my friends and I discovered in college, completely unaware they were based on two hours away, it was kind of thrill to see them playing together again. Little did we know that just a few years later we’d be sharing the same stage with them.
Concert Review: The Twilight Singers @ Top Cats, Cincinnati, OH (10/15/00)
After the demise of my beloved Afghan Whigs, frontman Greg Dulli quickly returned with a supergroup of sorts, The Twilight Singers. Comprised of Satchel & Brad frontman Shawn Smith and Howlin Maggie leader Happy Chichester, the band boasted three unique talents, voices and songwriters, which of course meant it couldn’t last.
If fact, by the time this early tour took place, Shawn Smith was already out of the band, leaving Happy in second banana role to Greg, even though the band was comprised of the then current roster of Howlin Maggie on drums, bass and lead guitar, with Happy on keys and guitar and Greg on rhythm guitar.
Since the band was relatively new, songs were culled from both the Afghan Whigs and Howlin Maggie catalogs. As it was the Howlin Maggie band, seeing them play Whigs tunes with Greg out front was a bit odd, yet any chance to hear those songs played live was appreciated.
This line-up wouldn’t last, as the Twilight Singers would essentially become an outlet for Greg’s solo output, with a new cast of characters seemingly weaving there way in and out record to record and tour to tour.
SETLIST
The Twilite Kid
Clyde
That’s Just How That Bird Sings
King Only
66 (AW)
Easy To Be Stupid (HM)
Love
Annie Mae
Umbretta (AW)
Dixie Peach Promenade (Yin For Yang)
Last Temptation
Crazy (AW)
A Love Supreme
Please Stay (Once You Go Away)
Twilight
Black Love (AW)
If fact, by the time this early tour took place, Shawn Smith was already out of the band, leaving Happy in second banana role to Greg, even though the band was comprised of the then current roster of Howlin Maggie on drums, bass and lead guitar, with Happy on keys and guitar and Greg on rhythm guitar.
Since the band was relatively new, songs were culled from both the Afghan Whigs and Howlin Maggie catalogs. As it was the Howlin Maggie band, seeing them play Whigs tunes with Greg out front was a bit odd, yet any chance to hear those songs played live was appreciated.
This line-up wouldn’t last, as the Twilight Singers would essentially become an outlet for Greg’s solo output, with a new cast of characters seemingly weaving there way in and out record to record and tour to tour.
SETLIST
The Twilite Kid
Clyde
That’s Just How That Bird Sings
King Only
66 (AW)
Easy To Be Stupid (HM)
Love
Annie Mae
Umbretta (AW)
Dixie Peach Promenade (Yin For Yang)
Last Temptation
Crazy (AW)
A Love Supreme
Please Stay (Once You Go Away)
Twilight
Black Love (AW)
Concert Review: Goo Goo Dolls, Howlin’ Maggie & The Gufs @ the Ohio State Fair, Columbus, OH (8/15/96)
Although I was from Buffalo, I didn’t know the Goo Goo Dolls any better than your average music fan. It wasn’t until A Boy Named Goo made a huge splash nationally thanks to the single Name that they appeared on my radar. Of course, being a music junkie, that meant discovering the numerous albums from their punk rock past, and hearing a subtle yet consistent growth in the band from album to album.
While the Goos were enjoying recognition, apparently they were not enjoying success as well, due to a bad record contract. Years later, the band would confess that they played the county fair circuit around the country as a means to support themselves out of necessity, not choice. Not only where the band not making money off of A Boy Named Goo, they actually owed the label quite a bit. But I didn’t know that at the time, I was just interested in seeing my hometown boys done well.
I drove down from college, having stayed the summer to take classes with someone but I can’t recall who. It was my first (and only) trip to a state fair. Livestock and low quality food just don’t interest me, although I’ve heard the food has gotten better.
Now, this is one of the few times I don’t need to write a review, because I already have, it’s posted below. It should be noted that this review was submitted in response to another review on a Goo Goo Dolls listserv in 1996. No idea what a listserv is/was? Google it, and have a good laugh.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
From timm@ Sat Aug 17 21:20:30 1996
Date: Sat, 17 Aug 1996 14:06:11 -0400 (EDT)
From: Timothy David Minneci
To: penberth@oswego.Oswego.EDU
Cc: “Sarah D. Davis” <102710.2520@compuserve.com>
Subject: Re: concert review
I was also at the Ohio State Fair Thursday and got a chance to see the Goos for the first time live (I’ve always had bad timing in the past). Just to add my two cents:
-The Prince (or guy with no name as Johnny put it) song was ”Never Take The Place Of Your Man” which they cover on Hold Me Up with the Incredible Lance Diamond on vocals. This is a cool coincidence because just last Friday I played this song on my radio show here at college (I felt the need for Lance’s vocals).
-I had a chance to review the Gufs single and full length for this radio station (WFAL is the name), and gave it 3 out of 4 stars. Their music is catchy, but the vocals can get montonous. Crash and Sunday Driver are cool songs, and they did both in concert.
-Howlin’ Maggie is a band I like a lot and was very pleased to see them on the bill instead of the boring Dishwalla. I don’t get the Dave Matthews comparison, Harold Chichester has a hell of lot more personality and is and incredible guitarist. If you don’t believe me, try playing the riff to the song “Alcohol” (which is incredibly hard in the first place), and then try singing at the same time. Their album is great, I picked it up used at Record Theatre on Main St. in Buffalo for $7.95 and the damn thing won’t leave my CD Player. However, I don’t think HM is a good opening band for the Goos because their music is a little more, ah sonic. They sound more like a Pumpkins opening band.
-One last thing, I got really pissed when 2/3′s through the show they played Name, and then people started leaving. Hello, show’s not over. Oh well, their tough luck, they missed the Fair Queen on stage. Overall, great performance by the Goos. They looked like kids up there running around on stage having a good time.
Adios.
******************************************************************************
Timothy D. Minneci
GO TRIBE!!! / GO BISONS!!!
TIM’S*CURRENT*TOP5*LED*ZEPPELIN*UNCLE*TUPELO*
THE*TRAGICALLY*HIP*BILLY*JOEL*HUM
While the Goos were enjoying recognition, apparently they were not enjoying success as well, due to a bad record contract. Years later, the band would confess that they played the county fair circuit around the country as a means to support themselves out of necessity, not choice. Not only where the band not making money off of A Boy Named Goo, they actually owed the label quite a bit. But I didn’t know that at the time, I was just interested in seeing my hometown boys done well.
I drove down from college, having stayed the summer to take classes with someone but I can’t recall who. It was my first (and only) trip to a state fair. Livestock and low quality food just don’t interest me, although I’ve heard the food has gotten better.
Now, this is one of the few times I don’t need to write a review, because I already have, it’s posted below. It should be noted that this review was submitted in response to another review on a Goo Goo Dolls listserv in 1996. No idea what a listserv is/was? Google it, and have a good laugh.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
From timm@ Sat Aug 17 21:20:30 1996
Date: Sat, 17 Aug 1996 14:06:11 -0400 (EDT)
From: Timothy David Minneci
To: penberth@oswego.Oswego.EDU
Cc: “Sarah D. Davis” <102710.2520@compuserve.com>
Subject: Re: concert review
I was also at the Ohio State Fair Thursday and got a chance to see the Goos for the first time live (I’ve always had bad timing in the past). Just to add my two cents:
-The Prince (or guy with no name as Johnny put it) song was ”Never Take The Place Of Your Man” which they cover on Hold Me Up with the Incredible Lance Diamond on vocals. This is a cool coincidence because just last Friday I played this song on my radio show here at college (I felt the need for Lance’s vocals).
-I had a chance to review the Gufs single and full length for this radio station (WFAL is the name), and gave it 3 out of 4 stars. Their music is catchy, but the vocals can get montonous. Crash and Sunday Driver are cool songs, and they did both in concert.
-Howlin’ Maggie is a band I like a lot and was very pleased to see them on the bill instead of the boring Dishwalla. I don’t get the Dave Matthews comparison, Harold Chichester has a hell of lot more personality and is and incredible guitarist. If you don’t believe me, try playing the riff to the song “Alcohol” (which is incredibly hard in the first place), and then try singing at the same time. Their album is great, I picked it up used at Record Theatre on Main St. in Buffalo for $7.95 and the damn thing won’t leave my CD Player. However, I don’t think HM is a good opening band for the Goos because their music is a little more, ah sonic. They sound more like a Pumpkins opening band.
-One last thing, I got really pissed when 2/3′s through the show they played Name, and then people started leaving. Hello, show’s not over. Oh well, their tough luck, they missed the Fair Queen on stage. Overall, great performance by the Goos. They looked like kids up there running around on stage having a good time.
Adios.
******************************************************************************
Timothy D. Minneci
GO TRIBE!!! / GO BISONS!!!
TIM’S*CURRENT*TOP5*LED*ZEPPELIN*UNCLE*TUPELO*
THE*TRAGICALLY*HIP*BILLY*JOEL*HUM
Concert Review: The Afghan Whigs & Howlin’ Maggie @ Bogarts, Columbus, OH (9/25/99)
This was it, supposedly the last Afghan Whigs show. For most people, that doesn’t mean much. The Whigs were an acquired taste, first with their midwestern bar band brand version of Husker Du meets The Replacements, and later with their refined soul rock that combined ’60s Motown and ’90s Seattle.
Like the legendary KISS, their records never did justice to the band the way their explosive live shows could. Lead singer/guitarist Greg Dulli, currently fronting the more sedate Twilight Singers, could be cool and seductive one moment, acerbic and nasty the next. At this particular show, Dulli was more reflective and unguarded than previous shows.
After a solid opening set by Whig contributor Happy Chichester and his reformed band Howlin’ Maggie, Happy joined the Whigs on stage for the set-opening cover of Thin Lizzy’s The Boys Are Back in Town, engaging in some triple guitar fun while Dulli adjusted the lyrics to “The Afghan Whigs are back in town.”
Drawing from their vast catalog of originals and covers, the band stuck mostly to the later era of the band, ignoring the earlier material, while sprinkling in their trademark covers of The Supremes, Steve Wonder and others. Still, this was not the Whigs at their best. Maybe it was the moment, knowing this would probably be the last time the band would ever take the stage together (unless someone, say, threw a bunch of money at them to unite at Cochella or some other destination show), that cast a somewhat somber note on the whole evening.
AFGHAN WHIGS SETLIST
The Boys Are Back In Town
Superstition/Going To Town/In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Uptown Again
Come See About Me
Be Sweet
Neglekted/Do You Feel Like We Do/Nasty
King Only
If I Were Going
Debonair
Bad Girl/66/Little Red Corvette
I’ll Be Around
Somethin’ Hot
Crazy
Bulletproof/Baby Love
People Get Ready/Faded
Fountain And Fairfax/Hot For Teacher
Omerta/The Vapire Lanois/All You Need Is Love
Into The Groove/Rebirth Of The Cool
Like the legendary KISS, their records never did justice to the band the way their explosive live shows could. Lead singer/guitarist Greg Dulli, currently fronting the more sedate Twilight Singers, could be cool and seductive one moment, acerbic and nasty the next. At this particular show, Dulli was more reflective and unguarded than previous shows.
After a solid opening set by Whig contributor Happy Chichester and his reformed band Howlin’ Maggie, Happy joined the Whigs on stage for the set-opening cover of Thin Lizzy’s The Boys Are Back in Town, engaging in some triple guitar fun while Dulli adjusted the lyrics to “The Afghan Whigs are back in town.”
Drawing from their vast catalog of originals and covers, the band stuck mostly to the later era of the band, ignoring the earlier material, while sprinkling in their trademark covers of The Supremes, Steve Wonder and others. Still, this was not the Whigs at their best. Maybe it was the moment, knowing this would probably be the last time the band would ever take the stage together (unless someone, say, threw a bunch of money at them to unite at Cochella or some other destination show), that cast a somewhat somber note on the whole evening.
AFGHAN WHIGS SETLIST
The Boys Are Back In Town
Superstition/Going To Town/In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Uptown Again
Come See About Me
Be Sweet
Neglekted/Do You Feel Like We Do/Nasty
King Only
If I Were Going
Debonair
Bad Girl/66/Little Red Corvette
I’ll Be Around
Somethin’ Hot
Crazy
Bulletproof/Baby Love
People Get Ready/Faded
Fountain And Fairfax/Hot For Teacher
Omerta/The Vapire Lanois/All You Need Is Love
Into The Groove/Rebirth Of The Cool
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