The Figgs ~ 2008 March 1 ~ Church, Boston, MA
Band Personnel: Mike Gent (guitar, lead and backing vocals); Pete Hayes (drums, occasional lead vocals); Pete Donnelly (bass, lead and backing vocals); Scott Janovitz (keyboards, lead vocal on one song)
Setlist
I Need A Reason - ...And Here's Some More - There Are Never Two Alike - Static - Reaction - Something's Wrong - [Acoustic:] If I Lose My Heart - Some Desperate Measure - Paper Knives [new song, to be on the upcoming Mike Gent solo record] - Oh Yeah (Oh No) - Mrs. Vandebilt - Please One More Time [end of acoustic section] Breaking Through These Gates - Regional Hits - Don't Hurt Me Again - Follow Jean Through The Sea - Hobble Skirt (In Erie) - 1000 People Grinning [Pete Hayes on lead vocal]- Casino Hayes - Inside The Disco ... first encore ... Mother Nature's Son [Scott on lead vocal] - Nothing But Fear - I Can Feel The Fire - Shut ... second encore ... The Bar
Review
The Figgs are a power pop trio that has been around for a couple of decades. I got to know them when they backed up Graham Parker, but they are a great band in their own right.
Concert Going Partner and I drove into Boston (not something I like doing) and had a heck of a time finding the venue, tucked away in a confusing neighborhood off of Park Drive. Despite an adventure in circling the block, fortunately we got there early enough to nab a space in their parking lot. I have no idea what folks do if they get there after the lot is filled; public parking in this neighborhood is basically non-existent.
But got there we did, and once inside, we were surprised and impressed with how nice the place is. It's a large open room with a pool table or two and bar stools scattered here and there that one can sit on while waiting for the show to start. It's a standing venue -- always my favorite for a rock band. The stage is plenty big enough for a four piece band (which the Figgs were tonight!) and about two feet high. The restroom walls were covered in neopunk graffiti.
The show was opened by a five piece band called the Rudds. They were very good, playing soul-tinged rock, with a very good lead singer named John Powhida. It's always such a bonus when the opening band is this good.
The Figgs have been a three piece band for some twenty years, since one of the original guitarists, Guy Lyons, quit the band, but tonight they announced a new member. It was Scott Janovitz on keyboards, who has played with the Figgs backing up Graham Parker. Although Scott was a great addition to the band, he was not destined to stay in the band much longer after these few gigs. I believe he decided that the organic unity of the three original members was so great that it was difficult for him to fit in. The Figgs are a perfectly balanced three-legged stool that doesn't need any more support. These guys are all friends and I am certain there were no hard feelings about Scott staying so briefly; it was just one of those good ideas that simply didn't work out.
The original Figgs are Mike Gent on guitar and lead vocals, Pete Donnelly on bass and lead vocals, and Pete Hayes on drums. Mike and Pete D. more or less take turns singing lead on (mainly) songs they wrote. Pete Hayes got to do one lead vocal, and hammed it up brilliantly at the front of the stage. The song was called "1000 People Grinning." Following up this song, Mike Gent performed the brilliant "Casino Hayes" (performed here for one of the first times ever). A hard rocking number, "Casino Hayes" is a scathing comment on someone who is addicted to gambling. Scott also got one lead vocal, the lovely "Mother Nature's Son," on which he sounded spot-on perfect.
We got quite a few good pictures so please do scroll through the photo gallery to the right.
I gave up on keeping a set list because although I have quite a few Figgs records, they often play songs I'm not familiar with, and I wind up with notations in my book like "unknown Mike." Fortunately the band themselves posted the set list on the Figgs Yahoo discussion group and I have copied it higher up on this page.
More Figgs
Here is a page with a handy list of links to all pages on this website with content relating to the Figgs.