Warren Zevon ~ 2000 December 1 ~ Paradise Rock Club ~ Boston, MA
Warren Zevon, vocals, guitar, keyboard, harmonica; Bleu, vocals and guitar, opening set
Set List
(guitar:) Lawyers Guns & Money - I Was In the House When the House Burned Down - Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead - Searching For a Heart - Boom Boom Mancini - (keyboard:) Excitable Boy - Seminole Bingo - Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner - Don't Let Us Get Sick - Hit Somebody - (guitar:) Carmelita - Chimes of Freedom {Dylan} ... intermission ... (keyboard:) Frank & Jessie James - Hasten Down the Wind - French Inhaler - Desperadoes Under the Eaves - (guitar:) Santa Can't Stay {Dwight Yoakam} - My Shit's Fucked Up - Poor Poor Pitiful Me - Play It All Night Long ... encore ... (piano:) For My Next Trick I'll Need a Volunteer - Werewolves of London
Concert Review
Warren Zevon has a bad reputation. He's known as the "werewolves of London" guy. Although that was his biggest radio hit, and it is a really fun novelty song, the reputation based on that one song is bad, since it really doesn't represent the style of most of his songwriting. Songs he played tonight ranged from tender ballads ("Searching For a Heart") to gritty songs about real life ("Carmelita,") to story songs about real life characters ("Boom Boom Mancini"). He puts a good deal of sardonic humor into many of his songs, giving them a sparkle and joy that prevents them from descending into grimness ("Poor Poor Pitiful Me," "For My Next Trick I'll Need a Volunteer").
One of the highlights of the show was Warren's newest song, "Hit Somebody!", about a hockey player! That's a real distance away from that werewolf song. It also has an audience participation moment. The tour manager came out on stage to coach the audience in their part. Our job was to shout "hit somebody!" in imitation of a hockey crowd. It was really fun to do! The song is also a touching story about a Canadian boy whose job on the team is to be an "enforcer," but who dreams of scoring a goal. There's another audience participation moment in any WZ show, which is the line "and his hair was perfect!" in "Werewolves." I wonder where the custom started, of the audience shouting that line; it certainly is fun!
The show was opened by Bleu, a Boston area singer/songwriter.
The Paradise is one of the best places to see a show, being one of Boston's longest lasting nightclubs. I went there many times during my pub crawling youth (the years from the mid-1970s to the late-1980s) to see many a show. It's a standing venue and the best place to be is right in front of the stage, although one can also sit up in the balcony and get an equally good view.