From: Jason Thompson
| I saw the verve perform in D.C.'s cramped 9:30 club. Hum opened and proved to be a wash of dull whining and guitar wanking. The Verve took stage shortly after opening w/ 'a new decade' and 'slide away'. It looked like Richard was drinking whiskey and coffee in a 12 cup coffee pot. I stood directly in front of Nick for the whole show, but got Richard to gesture at me as he came to my side of the stage and stared at the pin-striped shirt I wore. I waved my arms to get a reaction as Richard bent toward me and pounded at his torso with open hands as he carried on another inaudible dialogue with himself. I sensed some hostility between Richard and Nick when they played 'this is music'. As Nick stummed the first notes of the song, he took his guitar off and gave it too his guitar tech, totally bringing the song to an abrubt end. Richard glared at him like mad, as he then enticed the confused crowd to get their spirits up again as he yelled "come on now come on, its Friday its time to..." and the song began again. The best songs were the unreleased tracks they played. They were 'come on' and a song called 'throwdown' or 'throwabout'. I really can't remember that title. At the end of closer 'the sun the sea', as the rest of the band exited, Richard raised his hands and said to the crowd, "this is an announcement, this is an announcement, (pause) Thanks a lot ", and the show was over. Nonetheless, it was the most intense performance I've ever seen in my life thus far. |
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