Patti and Lenny at the Troubador 11/15

[braeniac]

Hello Babbling and Eternal Listers,

Well, it's the morning after. Patti and Lenny and Flea and Jessie, along with tech guy Jordan (?) spent 2 1/2 delirious hours keeping us spellbound at the legendary and tiny Troubador (maybe 300 people tops) in L.A. last night. I met Jenny Lens in line. She was handing out pictures of Patti and others that she had taken. I was looking for other listers, but didn't recognize any. Anyone else there?

I picked up a signed copy of the new poetry book, which came with a postcard and a "Horses Changed My Life" button. There was no other merchandise. I was wearing my black "People Have the Power" t-shirt. My wife and I were 3 people back, about 10 feet from Patti, dead center, for the whole show. Patti was dressed in a black jacket and jeans, white t-shirt with a mirror image R motif (for rock 'n' roll?) and black boots. She wore a crucifix and what looked like a small peace medallion around her neck.

The setlist was very similar to the San Fran show from the night before, balanced with poetry and music. Patti was in great spirits, joking and bantering with the appreciative and adoring crowd. She opened with a reading of Piss Factory, followed by the poem Gloria in Excelsis Dio, the original inspiration for the song, written in 1970. She spent alot of the night reflecting on the past 30 years and talking about playing the Whiskey and the Roxy back in the '70s. Lenny joined her for an acoustic duo on Southern Cross and Blakean Year. The interplay between the 2 of  them was great to watch. She mentioned that she's also celebrating her 35th anniversary with Lenny. There was a real feeling of loving interaction between them all night. What followed were various combinations of Patti, Lenny, Jessie and Flea (who Patti told us had just had a baby girl with his wife. They named her Sunny Bebop!). The tech guy played bass on a couple of songs also. There was a wonderful improvisational version of Gandhi, a shredding Birdland with Lenny really getting into the outer reaches with his guitar. Flea also tore it up on Bass. Lots of songs from Horses. Everything except Break It Up, Land and Elegie. There was a reading of Dylan's Dog followed by a sing-along version of Like A Rolling Stone. Only Patti could have pulled this off. A unique moment. The crowd was absolutely united on this, and really everything else. they also did Ghost Dance, Dancing Barefoot, People Have the Power and closed with Rock and Roll Nigger. They also did a free jazz version of Seven Ways of Going, with Patti going demonic on Clarinet and really improvising on the lyrics. My only regret is that she didn't do any song (except for Rolling Stone) that I hadn't seen her do live before. I was really hoping for some unusual song choices, though with Patti this is a very small complaint.

It was crowded and uncomfortable. We really stood without a break for almost 5 1/2 hours including the waiting in line and inside the club. My wife said that there were very few artists that she would endure that for, Patti being one and Dylan and Tom Waits being the others. Our feet were killing us, but it was a good pain, well worth the discomfort. I'm still sore today. 

I kept looking at her hands, so expressive and beautiful. It was hypnotic. I've seen Patti many times over the years and every show is different. This one was ragged, but charming and real. There isn't any ounce of phoniness or pretention here, really refreshing in the musical environment of today. She had us all in the palm of her hand and she knew it. It felt like family. The warmth coming from and going to the stage is unlike any I've ever experienced with any other artist. It was a wonderful evening.

Phil