A friend of mine (Troy) posted this on another BB and didn't get much response. So, I thought I'd post it in here to see if there was a reaction. Without Troy's permission.

Saw Stan Ridgway in a microscopic club right here in Redwood City on thursday- the "Little Fox" right in the center of our sleepy downtown.

I found out about it when a buddy mentioned it in passing on tuesday so I e-mailed SR and he set me up with tix (I've done CD cover and web work for him, he wrote the intro to my book. I wouldn't say we're pals, but we have an amiable working relationship, he's an uber-nice guy). About 6 other friends tagged along too.

It was a very simple gig- him with an acoustic guitar, his wife Pietra Wexstun on junky old analog keyboards and another guy on a roundback electric/acoustic. The word "troubador" comes to mind. It was a very low key affair with no drums, but Pietra did use some really gritty percussion loops on a few songs and the 2nd guitarist managed to wring some nice and fat bass out of his guitar for a little added density.

He played music that spanned his career: from his wicked cool, throbbing cover of "Ring of Fire" to a couple of whacked new songs on a very soon to be released "Drywall" album (Jim take note- he played a few songs from it for me when I visited him last year and it rocks) and many stops everywhere in between. Yeah, he played "Mexican Radio", but he played it cajun style which was quite effective. He also did a few bars in reggae and bahia jazz style in the rap beforehand first to warm up. It was all very self-deprecatory and goofy.

The performance was funny in general. His patter between songs was filled with the same dry wit that appears all over his albums. The new "pickle juice and brandy" section to "Police call" is pretty damn funny and he got mileage out of it all night. Lots of prozac gags and getting old comments. It was just a very amiable and relaxed gig.

Afterwards he did a meet and greet and he gave me a buncha stuff including a rare Italian live album from 1996 and the "Showbusiness is my life" DVD. Great stuff for any SR/WoV fan.

Billzebub is a big Ridgway fan. I expect he'll chime in here at some point.

He actually turned me on to some SR songs other than Camoflauge and Mex Radio (neither of which I like very much) that are pretty good. I will likely track down an album or two sometime soon.

Yeah, Billz and Jim Clark, whom I haven't seen around in a while. I like some of his stuff, but haven't gotten around to it lately.

I've never seen him live, but everytime I see or hear his name, my ears perk up.

That show sounds like the show I caught in NYC last fall, the zydeco Mexican Radio is a hoot and a half. He's an amazing performer, and one of the best raconteurs, as opposed to plain 'ole singer/players we've got. "Troubador" is an apt description.

Great to hear there's new Drywall to be released. Ridgway's wonderful. If you've got money to burn, go to Artist Direct and get his big band album.

I put his album "Mosquitos" pretty high on my Listmania, and "The Big Heat" is just as good. "Partyball" is also very good. These first three solo albums are predominantly rock/pop albums.

After "Partyball", it gets interesting. A lot more acoustic stuff, the songs presenting more atmosphere than melody. This makes them, I find, much more intimate. The Drywall album achieves this as well, but amped and noisier.

On his last few records, he's injected some more old-school pop/rock inbetween the mood-setting stuff--to great effect. Last year's "Snakebite" and the recent "Holiday In Dirt" compilation are good examples of this.

If he comes to your town, make it a point to catch him. As was posted, his live shows are a treat.

Ridgeway is playing Bumbershoot this year. He's on the Friday along with M. Ward, Chris Stamey, the New York Dolls, the Donnas, Garbage and Mavis Staples - which IMO is the best day of the festival.

Fan.

I agree with Billz--Mosquitos got squeezed out of my Listmania in the final rounds, and Big Heat and Partyball am good. Snakebite is his best one in a while.

But he ain't no Troubador until he hits 3500 posts on Obner.

I knew I could count on you guys. And all in under 2 hours.

Thanks.

You hereby have my permission.

I dig him (Stan, that is), just didn't have anything to say on that other board.

I dig him, and even dig the Wall of Voodoo that tried to carry on without him to some extent.