I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: December 12, 2021] Baroness: Your Baroness Tour

Back in 2017 I saw Strand of Oaks play Union Transfer.  Toward the end of the set Tim Showalter called John Baizley on stage.  I didn’t know who he was but I was taken by his look (bald with a big beard) and his terrific voice (and guitar playing).  Turns out he’s the main force behind Baroness (he draws/paints all of the cover art, too).  I got into Baroness and wanted to see them live.

Since then I’d had a few chances to see them, all of which were dashed or one reason or another.  I did get to see an acoustic performance when they put their last album out in 2019, but that’s not the same, obviously.

Finally, Baroness announced the Your Baroness tour–a tour of small clubs which would feature an all-request set.  And the three (!) Philly shows (where Baroness is based) would be at Kung Fu Necktie, a club I’d never been to but always wanted to check out.  (It has about 100 person capacity, so…intimate show!).

The first show was announced on Saturday, but I was busy.  When they announced the Sunday show I was lucky enough to grab a ticket before it sold out (even though I had a ticket to see bully that night).  When they announced a Monday show as well, I considering trading, but it seemed way too much work–especially since each show came with a special piece of art created by Baizley (it’s gorgeous).

I had never been to KFT before and when I showed up, there was a line around the corner.  It was a vax and ID line and it was slow (and it was COLD).  It took almost 30 minutes and when I walked in the band had just gone on stage.

I didn’t know the layout of the room or I would have pushed past the crowd to the side a bit.  Instead, I was right at the point where a ramp leads from the bar area to the concert area.  A dreadful place to be, especially since I was at the bottom of the ramp and two behemoths were at the top.

After a song or two, people shuffled and I was able to get to the top of the ramp which meant I could occasionally see the top of John’s head.  But the sound was outstanding and the crowd was super into it.

I didn’t bother submitting my requests for the show because I don’t know the song titles that well anyhow.  But I figured I’d just get a greatest hits type of show anyhow.  And that’s what it was like–chorus after chorus of songs that I liked from the various albums (the distribution was pretty evenly split among their records).   I actually know Purple and Yellow & Green best so I’m going to have to listen to their earlier stuff a bit more because it’s pretty terrific (I loved “The Birthing”–talk about drums!).

And now that he’s added the phenomenal Gina Gleason to the band, their dual lead guitar work sounds incredible.  I only wish I’d been able to see her better.  Nick Jost kept the low end perfectly, although it was really hard for me to see him (he was kind of in the dark).  And then way in the back, who I could see mostly from the sticks flying around, was drummer Sebastian Thomson.

I enjoyed hearing all of the songs but it was an especially wonderful treat to hear songs I loved like “Desperation Burns.”  Baroness is known for their heavier music, so it’s always a wonderful treat to hear something as pretty and melodic as “Green Theme” (especially with the two guitars) or “Swollen and Halo” (the intro at least–the rest rocks hard).

Sometime around here, the guy behind me passed out–fell backwards into a bunch of other people.  I’m sure it was heat and not drink, but who knows.  But things settled down for my favorite Baroness song “Shock Me,” which was awesome.

It was great hearing older songs like “Jake Leg” and “Eula” (such great riffing).

Then they took a break.  The first part was the songs that “you voted for.”  Its great to play a play more than one night but it’s especially great to finish up n Philly where Gina and live.  I’ve lived here for ten years, which is longer than I’ve lived anywhere.  He said they were trying to mix things up as much as possible from the night before since people were clearly at both (possibly all three) shows.

Then they strip things down for two acoustic songs.  John and Gina sounded amazing, but I was really surprised that people talked through the lovely quiet versions of “Cocainium” and “Foolsong.”  And yes Gina can shred on acoustic as well, of course.

Weird thing about learning a million song before a tour is sometimes you forget the words and sometimes you sing the wrong verse…who cares

That was the reintroduction of the band to the stage for part two (or three).  Baroness put out a new album this year and I’m sure they were excited to play songs from it.  So I felt a little bad that none of the songs made the requests list (although really, how could they when there’s so much back catalog).  So they used this part of the set to play new songs–although only three.

They also played “Eula” and I love the way it started quietly and when the band kicked in it felt like the place might fall over.

And just when I though they weren’t going to play any more older songs, they busted out another of my favorites, “Chlorine and Wine” which the whole crowd sang along to.

Before the last song Baizley talked about how grateful he was to everyone who came out.  When I talked to him at the acoustic show, he was a super nice guy and that was well confirmed tonight.

He started he lovely riff to “The Gnashing” and although some drunk guys talked loudly through it, the crowd clapping along drowned them out.

The played one encore (this is where Iearned that people nowadays shout “let’s go” as a sign of “good job” rather than impatience).  Before the song Baizley said that tonight felt very different from last night, which was cool.  Then they launched into “Morningstar,” yet another song I love.

It was a great night.  I can’t imagine any show where there are openers being as good as this one.

And someone videotaped the whole show:

1. Ogeechee Hymnal ß
2. Take My Bones Away ¥
3. The Birthing ®
4. A Horse Called Golgotha ß
5. Desperation Burns ¶ (with “Psalms Alive” tease)
6. Green Theme ¥
7. Swollen and Halo ß
8. Shock Me ¶
9. Rays on Pinion ®
10. Jake Leg ß
11. Isak ®
12. Cocainium ¥ (acoustic)
13. Foolsong  ¥ (acoustic)
14. Can Oscura Ø
15. I’m Already Gone Ø
16. Eula ¥
17. If I Have to Wake Up (Would You Stop the Rain?) / Fugue ¶
18. Seasons Ø
19. Chlorine & Wine ¶
20. The Gnashing ß
    encore
21. Morningstar ¶

®Red Album (2007)
ß Blue Record (2009)
¥ Yellow & Green (2012)
¶ Purple (2015)
Ø Gold & Gray (2019)

From the acoustic show in 2019 I heard these songs:

SETLIST

1. Foolsong ¥
2. Chlorine & Wine ¶
3. Cold-Blooded Angels Ø
4. Eula ¥
5. March to the Sea ¥

¥ = Yellow & Green (2012)
¶ = Purple (2015)
Ø = Gold & Grey (2019)