Although we lurk and watch the board we haven't posted until now, but we wanted to make sure you all knew what happened in the college town of Madison, WI.

My wife & I made the snowy trek from Chicagoland, and it was definitely worth the trip. Despite the fact we saw a temperature of -10 degrees on the way home, it was warm and cozy inside the High Noon Saloon. This appeared to be a fairly new establishment, and it was a nice venue that really filled up well.

Here's the set list:

All I Need is Everything
Cruel & Pretty
Spark
Born
Lookin' Forward
All I Ever Get is Blue
White Horse
Here It Is
Etcetera Whatever
Little Did I Know
Trouble
Show Me
Son of a Preacher Man

Encore:
Jack's Valentine
When I Go
Fairpoint Diary


It was a great show and I wish that every OtR aficionado could have enjoyed it with us. We soaked up the three Chicago area shows and made the trip to Calvin College in Grand Rapids and was thrilled with each one, but this show will hold its own as we look back at the 2005 shows. Etcetera Whatever is near and dear to our hearts, and we felt blessed to hear it at the Calvin show, and it was stunning in Madison as well. We've always had a soft spot for Fairpoint Diary too, and I love the fact that they have been playing it recently. Rick's guitar work on that song is spot-on. And what can you say...any show with Jack's Valentine is unforgettable. It really felt like a treat.

Trouble is a devilishly catchy song, and we have been humming it to each other a lot over the past couple days. We are looking forward to having a recording of this new instant classic some time in the future. And Karin gave us hope for a new Christmas album next year. I hope that works out, because we love each of the three Christmas songs they have been doing of late.

Keep the group in your prayers, because she mentioned a couple of them were fighting colds. Cold weather and being on the road has got to be a strain on the immune system.

thanks for the review


someone should buy them a case of airborne

Man, I haven't seen them do "Jack's Valentine" since the 2001 Xmas tour. I was telling Kelly about how fun that song is live, but I never seem to be there when they play it.

I was thinking about that too. Was that the show at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn?

I was also at the Madison show and it rocked! Totally worth the drive. And all I have to say is, if this was at all a warm up for next weekend, you guys are in for a helluva great show!

Also, Trouble had evolved to include keys, drums and bass - really changing the feel of the song, but it's still fantastic! Can't wait to see how it evolves from here . . .