Dave and I arrived at the show quite a bit early. We’d been doing stuff in S.F., and I was anxious to see Frank. When we got there, Frank and Kevin were standing near the door. We talked to them for a bit, and I learned that the new MTX album “Alcatraz” is done. According to what everyone says it’s very different from the other stuff, and it isn’t punk at all.After catching up on all the MTX news, Dave and I went out on to the patio. Pretty soon people started showing up, although it still looked kind of empty. While we were saying hi to everyone, the first “band” played. It was actually just one guy, but he said, “Hi! We’re Casiotone For the Painfully Alone,” which was very funny. The rest of his set was far from funny though. In fact, it was downright painful. During some of the songs he had this thing that sounded like a buzzsaw cutting through metal (which is not pleasant).
Part way into the first song Dave and I retreated back to the patio. Unfortunately it was really cold, but it least temporarily it was better to be cold than to listen to anymore casiotone. We went back inside after a little bit, and the rest of the casiotone thing wasn’t so bad. I didn’t like it, and it seemed to go on forever, but the painful buzzsaw thing was over so it was ok.
Kevin Army was up next. He was quite good. His songs were pretty fast and it seemed like he was really enjoying himself. One of his songs was about Lawrence Livermore, and funny enough, Larry walked in just as Kevin was introducing the song. Everyone who noticed thought it was funny, but apparently Larry didn’t even notice that the song was about him.
As much as I enjoyed Kevin’s set, I was glad when it was Frank’s turn to play. Unfortunately, the club made Frank wait for forty minutes before he could go on. In the mean time, I went to see if the sound lady would tape his set for me off the board. She was very nice and agreed to do it. I was grateful until I got home and discovered that she’d pressed play instead of record (I was not at all happy).
Finally it was 11:30, and Frank took the stage. At this point the room had totally filled. He started the set with “Swallow Everything.” It was the first time I’d heard that song played acoustically, so I was thrilled. Next he played “She Turned Out to Be Crazy,” “I Made You and I Can Break You,” and “Sackcloth and Ashes.” They were all great, and the crowd was really enjoying it.
Before playing the next song, Frank asked the crowd whether they wanted to hear a funny song or a sad one. People started yelling out song titles, and he replied, “That’s not an answer! Funny or sad?” He got a mixture of responses, and said, “All right, this one’s pretty fucking sad,” and started playing “Coffee, Tea, or Me?” The song isn’t on anything, but it may be on an upcoming Smugglers release. Frank’s decided that since he writes so many songs that never get released that he’s going to get other bands to release them. The Smugglers are doing a couple, and the Go-Nuts may as well. But back to the show. “Coffee, Tea, or me” is sort of like a letter to Penthouse. It’s about a guy who goes on a flight and ends up getting lucky with the stewardess in the bathroom. It’s quite a funny song, with lots of clever lines (like you’ve come to expect from Frank).
Next up was “Sad Sad Shadow.” At the point where the second verse comes in Frank said, “the problem here is that I’ve forgotten the second verse.” He asked someone to tell him the words and a girl in the crowd yelled out “It’s a secret! (the first line of the third verse)” He said, “I think that’s the third verse. I think you’re wrong.” The whole thing was pretty entertaining. Finally he remembered the words, and at the end of the song he apologized for breaking character.
During the break before the next song some girl yelled out “Show us your tits!” to which he replied, “That’s a very confused young lady.” he was being bombarded with requests, and eventually decided on “You’re the Only One.” After that he played my first request, “She All Right.” I guess some people don’t like that song, but I think it’s wonderful. The line “She’s like smoking and sitting on a powder keg,” is great.
The next song was “Suicide Watch” followed by “I Feel For You.” “I Feel For You” is off “Alcatraz,” and according to Frank it’s the most simple song on the record. Simple or not, I think it’s amazing. I was already excited about the new MTX album, but this song has raised my hopes even higher.
Next Frank played “Even Hitler Had a Girlfriend.” After that he played another new song, “Every Time You Go Away You Take A Little Piece of Meat With You.” As much as I hate to say it, I didn’t like this song all that much. Parts of it are really good, but there are aspects of it that I don’t like (shocking, I know). The song itself is quite catchy, but some of the words aren’t really very funny (and they’re supposed to be). There is a glaring exception though. There’s a line that goes, “It could start a war if you make me sit through one more Nutcracker Suite with you,” which I think is really good. All in all it’s not a bad song, but I like the other new songs far better. (Boy that paragraph was hard to write, I don’t think I’ve ever said anything negative about a Mr. T song in my life.)
When that song was finished, he asked for requests. I yelled for him to play “Bitter Homes and Gardens,” and fortunately he obliged. After that came the ever popular audience participation number: “Knock Knock (Please Let Me In).” Unlike at the first solo show I went to, the audience caught on right away. Next up was “I Don’t Need You Now.” During the recorder part Frank whistled the notes (and I think a few audience members whistled along). After that he played “Two Martinis From Now,” “Our Love Will Last Forever and Ever,” and “Population:Us.” All three songs were excellent.
Some guy had been yelling “Love Connection” for a while, so Frank played “How’d the Date End” next (with the extra verse). The next song was another new one, and probably my favorite of the four he played. I’m not sure of the title, but I’d guess it’s something like “Missing You.” It almost ended up on the new album, but they changed there minds. Who knows what will end up happening with it.
Next Frank played another of my requests, “Melodrama Mama.” It’s one of my favorite songs ever, but it has yet to be released. It almost ended up on “Revenge is Sweet, and So Are You” and “Show Business Is My Life” but both times it got cut. My guess is that it’ll never be released, but it’s an excellent song nonetheless. One part goes, “I’ve spent my whole life waiting for her, and I guess I’d even worship Satan for her, if that occasion ever arose.” If that’s not great, I don’t know what is.
Sadly, Frank’s set had to come to an end. His last song was “Tonight I’m a Rock n Roll Star” by Oasis. It was really funny, even though I think that’s a terrible song. Overall, Frank’s set was totally amazing, and I couldn’t have asked for a better night.