Concert #595 - Neil Innes at McCabe's Guitar Shop (June 5, 2011)

This was my third time to see Neil Innes live and once again I had a ball. It's true, the three shows I've seen were quite similar, but I just can't get enough of something that's good and classy and that's exactly how Neil's shows are: good and classy. His shows may be similar, but by no means identical. This time there was no "Urban Spaceman" and no "How Sweet To Be An Idiot", but there was plenty of other entertaining stuff, from his old mid-sixties numbers "My Brother Makes The Noises For The Talkies" and the semi-raunchy "I'm Going To Bring A Watermelon To My Girl Tonight", to newer topical songs such as "Mr. Eurovision" and "Where Has All The Money Gone", plus Rutle medleys, Monty Python songs, piano playing, bogus commercials, French impersonations, ukulele strumming, one-liners, you get the idea.

There was lots of audience participation and Neil could not have found a more willing audience, myself included. Singing the "Philosophers Song" together with Neil was a thrill and kudos to myself for having practiced the words with diligence so that I could keep up with the Master.

There was end-to-end laughter, but none louder than the Ego Warrior bit, nor the last part of his set, when Neil had the entire audience spell out S-O-D  O-F-F, which - you guessed it - led to Neil's retreat from the stage, head bowed down, before coming back for a short encore.

Neil is classy, funny, entertaining, engaging, warm and approachable. Can't wait to see hm again.

Neil Innes reporting to work

 

Neil Innes fans lining up

The Ego Warrior routine

Neil Innes, seconds after being told to sod off

Neil Innes at McCabe's

Neil Innes autographing a fan's guitar

Yours Truly checking out the stage

Set list - Part 1

Set list - Part 2

Concert #556 - Neil Innes at McCabe's Guitar Shop (April 30, 2010)

When the concert announcer told the crowd "And now I'd like to introduce an artist who has suffered for his art - now it's your turn. Ladies and gentlemen: Neil Innes", I knew that I was in for a great night. And a great night it was.

This was the Los Angeles area stop of Neil's "A People's Guide to World Domination" tour of the USA. I went to the show with Barry & Barbara, two US-based Brits who were quite familiar with Neil's work, and yes, I was wearing one of my Monty Python T-shirts, decorated with the Neil Innes pin I bought in 2006.

Neil was fantastic. With humor and class, he shared stories and sang songs from all the different phases of his long career, from the "Urban Spaceman" and "How Sweet To Be An Idiot" to the newer "Ego Warrior". I enjoyed very much his typically British humorous songs that he used to sing early in his career - "I'm Going To Bring A Watermelon To My Girl Tonight", "My Brother Makes The Noises For The Talkies" and "On Her Doorstep Last Night".

I particularly liked the "Ego Warrior" bit. If you don't feel like watching the whole video, go directly to the 3:20 mark to see the best part:

 

The highlight of the show was, without a doubt, "The Philosopher's Song", which quickly turned into a sing-along - I was surprised how many people knew the words.

Just announced: Neil Innes will be back at McCabe's on June 5, 2011. I'll be there.