It really hasn’t been all that long since Slobberbone broke up. Just a few years.
And you could make the argument that they didn’t really break up at all, just went through another personnell change, changed their name to The Drams and tweaked their sound a little.
So why did Tuesdsay night’s show at Dan’s seem like such a return to a time long ago?
They were billed as Whiskey Glass Eye, the world’s premiere Slobberbone tribute band but there wasn’t a person in the jam packed club that night that didn’t know it was a reunion show. Brent Brest, Jess Barr, Tony Harper and the return of Brian Lane (with Scott Danbaum sitting in on about half the set.)
And there I was feeling all nostalgic and shit.
They went way back and played lots of old stuff. Stuff I haven’t heard them play in a long time. They even resurrected the banjo, which Brent Best explained was the real reason they broke up. He said when you make the decision to tour with a banjo there’s no going back. And a banjo will fuck you up. Every night it will say “you just try and make me work,” so when you finally decide it would be a lot easier to tour without the banjo everyone gets all pissed off.
The band seemed as excited about the whole thing as the crowd. Brent was in full out rock mode- throwing his head around, wailing out the old songs and tearing up the guitar.
Brian Lane, still standing about seventeen and a half feet tall was all but unrecognizable in a haircut that would pass any military inspection. He looked like he was thrilled to be up there with his old bandmates.
And they killed. Seriously.
There was lots of Pabst Blue Ribbons and shots of whiskey on the stage with lots of “drinking breaks” between songs but it was still a more focused performance than their last show a couple years ago. Or maybe I just wasn’t as drunk, it was a Tuesday night.
They played for about 2 hours.
There were two opening acts, Glossary and The Magpies. Originally it was just gonna be the Magpies but Glossary was in town opening for Lucero on Sunday night and they managed to get a night off from the tour and secure a spot on the bill. So that made for a night that got progressively better as it went on. Glossary is a six piece band from Murphreesboro, Tennessee that’s probably one to watch. Scratch the probably.
The Magpies, formerly The Whiskeyhounds, from Cleveland is definitely one to put at the top of your “to see” list. If you’ve heard the Whiskeyhounds then you know they do solid, twangy, well written rock and roll. Even though I’d heard their discs, I had no idea they were as rockin’ as they were live. The keyboard player could be described as something like Jerry Lee Lewis hopped up on speed and maybe a little pissed off about something. He pounded the living hell out of the keys- with his fingers, his fist and even his elbows. His glasses kept flying off his face. And you should see what he does with a tamborine.
I had a feeling while I was watching them that Slobberbone, or Whiskey Glass Eye, or whatever they want to call themselves were going to seriously rock if they had to follow these guys.
I wasn’t disappointed either.
Here’s Slobberbone’s setlist :
Barrel Chested
Lame
That Is All
Stumblin’
Front Porch
Find The Out
Sober Song
Gimme Back My Dog
Billy Pritchard
Engine Joe
Lumberlung
Meltdown
Lazy Guy
Pinball Song
Your Excuse
Placemat Blues
I’ll Be Damned
Whiskey Glass Eye
Springfield, IL
Can’t Hardly Wait (Replacements)
Get Gone Again
Haze Of Drink
I Can’t Get Sober
Big Time (Neil Young)
I’m so jealous, I can’t even comment.
You know Gracey, I feel that way every time I see a picture of The Grand Tetons.
If it’s any consolation at all, JPW posted some video:
http://alabamaasswhuppin.blogspot.com/2008/07/but-its-not-same-when-youre-not-here.html
Geez…..Slobberbone from their debut to their last…WOW..it’s been years!!! since I liked a band this much…….Hey Jitter, Naomie still aound?
Hey John
Yes, Naomi is still in charge here. As you can see the site has been dormant for some time. There’s even been another Slobberbone reunion, two in fact, since this was posted.
Hang in there, there could always be more.
Oh, and the one I went to in Denton was incredible.
I know this blog is old, but I just stumbled across it. I love the band, and listen to them everyday. Any chance for another reunion? I’ll be at Bonnarroo….and I look forward to DBT!!! I only wish I would see Brent, Brian, Jess, and Tony!! ……some of the best song writing and vocals of our time.
Gret, John,
Sorry this blog has been not so active. We promise to do better.
Can’t believe I missed all of this…. I caught the Drams and Will Q. and the Diviners in Tampa a couple of years ago, and the Drams not only called out Brian Lane before they sang Shortsighted but they got together and played an impromptu set as Slobberbone. The crowd was sparse, the beer was good and they belted out the best shit I’ve ever heard. Pissing next to Brent Best just before the Drams went on, I commented that Slobberbone made three of the best records I’ve ever heard. Sitting here tonight, with a couple of those in the cd player on shuffle, it holds true.
Matt,
I can’t argue with that. Love the Drams disc too. Did you know Brian Lane moved back to Texas and Slobberbone lives once again?? They are even touring. Check out their website http://www.slobberbone.com. Someday, I might get to see them. Jitter does all the time, of course. . .