Date: Sun, 21 Apr 96 18:43:14 -0500 (CDT)
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To: bkeeley@ucsd.edu
From: bmo973@airmail.net (Bryan Motley)
Subject: Lush Concert

I managed to see Lush twice this weekend, in Austin and Houston.
Unfortunately both concerts were festivals with many bands, so Lush did not
play long for either.

THE AUSTIN SHOW:

setlist (in order) -- 
         1)  Heavenly Nobodies
         2)  The Childcatcher
         3)  Lovelife
         4)  500
         5)  Kiss Chase
         6)  Single Girl
         7)  De-Luxe
         8)  Ladykillers
         9)  Hypocrite
        10)  For Love
        11)  Sweetness & Light

        My friend and I arrived at the Music Hall in Austin around 7:00 p.m.
We took our spots right next to the stage, and just to the left of Miki,
knowing we would have to fight to keep our spots.  We fought off the heat,
the crowd, and the mosh-pit for the first two bands, when Lush finally took
the stage.

        Out of all the concerts I've been to, the overall sound of this one
was the best.  The levels and the mix of instruments and vocals were perfect
in every aspect.  It sounded just like the mix on the CD.  Miki was
wonderful to watch, playing to the crowd and genuinely having fun.  Emma
looked bored, hot, and had an expression on her face like she'd rather be
somewhere else.  Phil and Chris both displayed their usual conservative
stage presence.  The highlights were Lovelife and Sweetness & Light -- both
were flawlessly played and sounded perfect.

THE HOUSTON SHOW:

setlist (in order) -- 
        1)  Heavenly Nobodies
        2)  The Childcatcher
        3)  500
        4)  Single Girl
        5)  For Love
        6)  Hypocrite
        7)  Ladykillers
        8)  Sweetness & Light

        This was an all-day festival in the unbearable Houston heat, where
Lush took the stage just after 5:00.  The show was good, with the exception
that assholes kept throwing stuff at the band and onto the stage, which
obviously irratated them.
        After 'The Childcatcher', Miki picked up a squeezeable-water-bottle
and said, "You know, we really don't want you throwing shit all over the
stage.  It's very cowardly.  If you wanna come up here on stage, there's
four blokes back here that would be happy to beat the fuck out of you."
Immediately following Miki's statement, during the middle of '500', Emma was
hit directly in the guitar with a cup of beer.  She stopped playing for a
second, mouthed "Fuck You", and flipped off the crowd in the direction the
cup came from.  During 'Hypocrite', something small bounced off of Miki's
head, and she stopped singing for a second and backed away from the mike.
Then, during Emma's guitar solo, she said "Stop!" into the mike.  There were
also several times where Phil, realizing he was about to be hit, turned his
back to the audience right before being splashed with beer.
        On a more humorous note, between 'Hypocrite' and 'Ladykillers', Miki
pointed to some guy in the audience and said, "I saw that you dirty bastard!
You were trying to put your finger up that girl's skirt!  Leave her alone!"
When the set ended, Miki said thanks, and they all left the stage looking
annoyed.  Emma looked especially pissed off.
        However, sometime later, the entire band signed autographs from a
promotional booth.  I waited in line for about fifteen minutes before I got
my turn.  Despite the terrible demeanor of the crowd, they were all very
friendly in person.  Of course, I hadn't known they would be giving
autographs, so I had to get them to sign the back of my white,
drenched-in-sweat, Houston Rockets t-shirt.  (Miki wrote 'Sweaty!' on it)  I
only talked with them for a few moments, but I was surprised how friendly,
approachable, and easy-to-talk to they were.  And thankfully, Emma said they
would be back in Texas at a later date for this tour.  (I'm sure as the
headliners, playing their usual full-length set)