Anton Newcombe, Grog Shop, 2/3/2007

The Anton Newcombe show was great. Just what I’d expected. Anton engaged the crowd throughout the show, responding to the hecklers, threatening to kick ass and playing some great songs. Onstage, were Anton, his girlfriend whose name I don’t know and another guitar player, again, unknown. They were good. A little tambourine, a little poetry reading…Anton went off on the war in Iraq…stopped and restarted songs. He didn’t look or seem high, though I reckon he could have been.

I shouldn’t forget to mention he hopped on stage during a song by The Volta Sound and accompanied the flutist with a little tin-flute action. More of a stunt than anything really amazing.

Another fun aspect of the show was seeing all of the Anton worshippers and haters. Most of the haters were girls, the worshippers young 20-something dudes wearing funny hats. I guess that was kind of the theme for that night…funny hats. It was a cold mother fuckin’ night for one. Anton was wearing a sherpa cap, the thing with the little puff ball on top and the hanging ear flaps with the long dangles…I can’t remember the names of these fucking hats…and a girl standing in front of me as I was waiting to get in was in full Dr. Zhivago Siberian Hussy gear, big furry white papal hat, ankle length double-breasted high collared woolen coat matching white cashmere gloves, high heeled jack boots…it was really splendid. Of course, I saw her later without the coat and she was wearing jeans and a T-shirt or something like that…I guess I expected some kind of Russian gypsy outfit under there.

I hope to see The Apples in Stereo next Saturday, and intend to drink much less…