Choose Your Title: Ian Hunter Restores Me....OR....That's A Fucking Rockstar
Good God but Ian Hunter does my heart good. We snuck up to Chicago on Wednesday to see him at his second night at City Winery. It was an expensive splurge for us between the tickets and drinks and the hotel but I'd do it again this second if I could. It was glorious.
He is just so fucking rock and roll.
Ernie picked me up from work early afternoon and we spent the next three hours driving in rain so thick you could barely see the road. Not the most relaxing but we made it there without incident so can't really complain. Then we drove down West Randolph and went around various blocks a stupid amount of times as we tried to decide what to do and where to park. Finally we landed a spot pretty close to City Winery. It was still early so we headed over to bellyQ to hang out a bit. Can't argue with happy hour pricing....$5 for sake or the Kirin Ernie had. We nibbled a couple of plates for $5 each too...a kale and green papaya salad, which was good but more kale than green papaya, and some Asian glazed rib tips. We snuggled into some comfortable chairs and watched people walk by with umbrellas. Then our beloved Annette joined us. I love that woman. Just love her. She had managed to win tickets. She's always winning tickets. I asked her how she does that and she replied, "I'm persistent." Can't argue with that. She ordered some food that blew our away....a broccoli dish and an eggplant dish. Truly delightful, so definitely yes to bellyQ. She took off to pick up her friend and we meandered over to City Winery.
Our seats at City Winery were great and the people we were sitting with were delightful, which is a good thing as you're pretty much smashed together. It's nice when you can tell you're all kindred spirits.... Opening was Gerald Dowd, who I hadn't been familiar with. He's got an album on Bloodshot though (and has played with tons of folks). Great voice and good songs. He had Robbie Fulks with him. I'm not the hugest Robbie Fulks fan even though he's crazy talented but he didn't irritate me particularly so all was good. Oh, and two seats next to me were empty so we convinced Annette and Steve Krakow to sit with us....kicking my happiness into overdrive.
And then, after some more wine and some more chat, and some more of me getting tense with excitement.....we got Ian and the Rant Band. The band is so freaking great....soooo tight....they truly all seem like different parts of one being. And Ian. Well, Ian just still has it...and always will.
Set list was great....I grabbed this online but it looks right to me....
That's When the Trouble Starts
Once Bitten Twice Shy
When I'm President
Saint
The Truth, the Whole Truth, Nuthin' but the Truth
Cleveland Rocks
All American Alien Boy
Fingers Crossed
Honaloochie Boogie
Dandy
Shrunken Heads
American Spy
Michael Picasso
Ghosts
23A Swan Hill
Sweet Jane
Encores
All the Way From Memphis
Life
All the Young Dudes
Goodnight Irene
I'm always happy with whatever he plays but The Truth, the Whole Truth, Nuthin' But the Truth, All American Alien Baoy and 23A Swan Hill made me incredibly happy....and I thought it was a particularly moving version of Michael Picasso. There's so much loss and poignancy in that song...always makes me think of my sister Judi.
The whole set flew by. And it wasn't just the songs and the voice...it was his wry grins, the way his collar stood up and he flicked it to make sure it was still up every so often...the way he fluffed his hair midway....it all made me inordinately happy. Honestly....I felt such joy. He just brings me great, great joy. At the very end, after the band had filed off, he came to the very front of the stage and leaned out to shake some hands. Then he stood back, looked at the crowd and waved and all I could think was, "Now, THAT'S a fucking rock star.
Thanks Ian.