July 22, 2014

Concert #721 - Jackshit at McCabe's Guitar Shop (July 18, 2014)


I learned my lesson earlier this year, I think in March, when - after having seen Jackshit in action thirty times -  I took a deliberate break from catching all their shows at McCabe's. Big mistake: while I was home doing God knows what, a certain Elvis Costello showed up as the band's unannounced guest, to the delight of those who did attend.

Needless to say, Friday night I was in the attendance, along with Gus, a construction contractor who remodeled our house a few years back. The Boys from Cochtotan were in top shape, so the absence of musical guests passed virtually unnoticed. Val McCallum was on fire, I especially liked his rapturous playing on "You'd Better Get Right".

Val McCallum at McCabe's
The highlight of the concert was "Ugly And Slouchy", the old Maddox Brothers tune that, in the hands of Beau, Shorty and Pete, became an epic rock & roll medley that brought us to our feet. The medley consisted of the following songs:

 Ugly And Slouchy - Maddox Brothers
Let Me Stand Next To Your Fire - Jimi Hendrix
Green-Eyed Lady - Sugarloaf
Spinning Wheel - Blood, Sweat and Tears
Jesus Is Just Alright - Doobie Brothers
Pinball Wizard - The Who
And When I Die - Blood, Sweat and Tears
Ugly And Slouchy - Maddox Brothers 

Davey Faragher at McCabe's

The set list included many of the songs the band often plays, plus a few new additions, such as "Sin City" from the repertoire of the Flying Burrito Brothers, Buck Owens' "Where Does The Good Times Go" and "I'm Not Talkin'", a Mose Allison tune covered by the Yardbirds and Aerosmith, among others. They all sounded great.

The set list
Not appearing on the set list, the band's one-song encore was "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In", featuring Shorty's outstanding singing and bass playing. We all went home happy. Very happy.

Pete Thomas at McCabe's
Val McCallum, aka Beau Shit, feeling the music

Concert poster