The MELVINS Shack - The Barn 24 June 1998

The Barn
University of California
Riverside
24 June 1998

Who hid Buzz's axe?

The Set List
They didn't play "Revolve", "Road Bull" or "Shevil"

A great concert but Buzz seemed a little off and wasn't in the best of moods. He just mumbled "Hi" in passing this time. Someone said he was concerned that Kevin may not have been ready for OzzFest/Tool, but they all played great.
It was cool that when I got to the barn at 7:30, the Melvins were doing their sound check. I got to stand ALONE in front of the stage and listen to them. They did "The Bit" a couple of times and "Revolve"!
Goatsnake opened and I liked 'em. Some people say their music all sounds the same and that Pete Stahl is a poser. Got me fired up, though.
Buzz flipped us off at the start of the set. The started with a super-slow version of "Green Manalishi...". Kevin seems to enjoy the show more that Mark used to and he treated us to his slide bass riffs on "Lovely Butterfly". Dale got off his drums to sing "5". Buzz hurried off stage after the show without looking at the audience and they didn't do an encore. Maybe it was because they didn't go on until after 10pm and it was past Buzz's bedtime?
I was floored when Dan told me they were gonna do 'Eye Flys"! And when they did--wow!
"5" was like Buzz and Kevin doing a kinda 4/4 driving rhythm and Dale shouting into that old mike. Kevin coaxed feedback. It was a short song and at the end he repeatedly shouted "Five" and sorta threw his open hand out toward the audience. Like slapping us. Then he remounted his kit and they finished the song. Is this a Melvins tune or what?
"Lovely Butterfly" sounds way different than the studio version. Kevin was reeling and rocking and using his slide on that bad old gold bass. He really put a shit load of energy into the music that Mark only hinted at on occasion.
I hope that somebody recorded or will record some of this round of tunes. Like "Eye Flys" and "Lovely Butterfly" "The Ballad of Dwight Fry" and that great molasses version of "The Green Manallishi with the Two-Pronged Horn". Every time I get to see these guys, they put a fresh twist in the show.
Melvins supposedly used some house equipment because their stuff was in New York for OzzFest.
Got to talk a bit w/Dale as he played games in the arcade. Mackie Osbourne was present also and she was milling with the people. Also was priveleged to meet Dan Raymond from the Melvins mailing list. I was surprised when he told me he was vice-principal at an alternative school in Aberdeen. Nice guy.
I hope Melvins come around again next year! I wonder who'll do bass?

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|||||BUZZ||||| DALE||||| KEVIN|||||

"Get the hell out!" - Buzz and the band in the dressing room after the show

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