The Church’s tour behind their latest record Untitled #23 made it’s fourth stop last night in Seattle, and from my perspective, they were firing on all cylinders. They played at one of the city’s premier venues, The Triple Door. Upscale as the venue was, nothing could get between the band and their rabid fans.
The opening song, “Tantalized” set the tone for the evening. After an extended introduction, they locked in, and the crowd went nuts. For two solid hours The Church played “hits,” near hits, and tracks from Untitled # 23 to a sold out house filled with rapturous fans.
The Church have been incredibly prolific over the past 30 years, and have a huge amount of catalog to choose from. Which is why the set list at this show was so impressive. Pulling out the obscurities made fans like myself very happy indeed.
I have always been a huge Steve Kilbey fan. His solo album The Slow Crack remains one of my all time favorites. But Marty Willson-Piper’s guitar work absolutely stole the show last night. Usually a person’s attention is riveted to the vocalist, but I could not take my eyes off of Piper.
He found an opportunity on literally every song to show off his amazing guitar skills. It was never about showboating though. The sounds emanating from his guitar were simply riveting.
And I have to mention the fact that Piper hung out at the merch table for a couple of hours before the concert, happily meeting and greeting fans. I saw a lot of cell phone pix taken, and it was pretty damned cool.
Adam Franklin opened, and did a great job. While I really enjoy his latest Spent Bullets album, somehow things seemed a little slow live. Until he pulled out an amazing cover of Roxy Music’s “Pyjamarama,” that is. His band absolutely turned my head with their version of this classic song.
Article comments
1 - Lord Harginer
Hi Greg,in fact they didn't play anything
from Priest=Aura or Gold Afternoon Fix.
2 - I was there.
I was there.
Church was in rare form.
I really like them electric. Saw them acoustic the last time. (Crocodile Cafe)
No Priest = Aura, au contraire, however, they sounded really really good.
It is a treat to be able to experience a band so polished in an intimate venue a la porte triple.
3 - Glen Boyd
Corrections noted and made. Thanks to both of you for pointing them out. -ED.
4 - ClintJCL
A full setlist would be really helpful to those of us wondering which songs to study before future dates (like the one I'm going to June 30th!)
5 - Larry
What happened to the live video feed from Seattle to synclive.com? I sat there watching and waiting and all I got was some loser band from Chicago.
6 - RonG from DC
Set List
The Triple Door
Seattle, WA, USA
June 15, 2009
Tantalized
Block
Day 5
North South East and West
Happenstance
After Everything
Almost With You
A Month Of Sundays
Deadman's Hand
Pangaea
You Took
Operetta
Under The Milky Way
Reptile
Encore 1:
An Interlude
Space Saviour
Encore 2:
Hotel Womb
7 - eeeek
Im so jealous, i want to see them again. I can't get to the show around me tho...i wish they played Boston proper instead of the burbs..oh well, they always rock hypnotic
8 - Eric M
Thanks for the setlist of the Seattle '09 show. I'd like to make a CD of it, though I wish I had a good recording of that show! One of the best concerts I've ever seen.