[briguy]

Ok, first as you may or may not notice, this is my third review of a Club Paragon April Show, Aint I somthin?

The phrase of the night was "at the Club" as I am sure Mr. Brueger will attest to having been seen "at the Club" with the likes of me...

If you did not get your CD from Pipe pre-show, shame on you, you are not as dedicated as I hoped you would be.... Billy and myself and a few others got theirs, which was a bonus once the show started...

Alot of great tunes, with a good percentage off the new CD-- ?my review of the new CD will appear later after others have had a chance for listening and can accurately respond to the truthfulness of a review..

But as for the show, great and a stand out as always at Paragon, even got to hear "Modern Day Miracle" despite the non-apearance of Chip and Sarah--- Laurie however, made it to the show...Did I mention Billy B.?

There were a few others including Dave (Cartman) and some others who I don't know the names (if you were there name yourselves so we can identify with you)

One thing worth a mention, Pat has done wonders with the modifications and additions to "Ruin My Life" that just adds an A+++ to that song. If he retired it now, it would be I feel at the pinicle of the songs maturity.

Other oldies were played, and the two Common every show songs had interesting twists which made you just stop and laugh.

Pat's political positions may have offended some, but they were very forgiving in the fact he still entertains despite the leanings...

And alas, we still get "Sex And Beer" at the end of the show, which is ok, and I am not ranting or raving at all. Oh, and a new number, ?72-- Sports, you gotta love it!

Cya all next time at the Paragon...

[sweetepie]

Ok, my other post is gone..... ?

Yes, most enjoyable. Minus Ya-Ya, Chip, Lip, Patty, and a few more regulars.... it felt lonely for a while... but only for a little!! LOL

I got a slow dance cuz I told Pat I loved him (you had to be there)!! Tom the Butcher.... you ROCK!!!
I saw one of my classmates there with her b/f (her b/f was the one that yelled out WEED for a country song topic)!! She said he's OBSESSED with Pat. Royally! I thought that was so cute!

Anyway, I hope you'll be there May 11th. I plan to if finals go well. (My third graders are throwing me a party!! Awwww.)

[Mr. Teeny]

LONG time listener; first time caller.  I?ve been a fan of Pat?s music for many years, have seen more shows than can possibly be healthy, and enjoy this message board absolutely every day?and have never posted until now.  Something happened this week which I wanted to share with all y?all.

My wife and I consider Club Paragon our ?regular spot? for Pat shows these days, and we always look forward to being able to hear something rare or some blasts from the past surfacing in the set list.  Pat knows I really dig on Confidentials stuff, and am all over every opportunity to hear an old classic.  We freaked out reading that ?Romance Will Never Die? made an appearance at Shank, and wanted to capitalize on the situation knowing that it should be (relatively) fresh in his mind.  All praise the message board for letting us know what we truly did miss that night.  

So, we brought it up to Pat during the intermission, and expressed what a beautiful song we thought it was, and how excited we were to hear that he dusted it off-- even for a night.  His comment to us was, "At least there are two people out there who think so.?  Having heard that, we hoped our request might make it into the Paragon mini-medley, at best.  As it turns out, Pat closed the show with it, prior to "Sex and Beer".  And I?d like to add that Pat r-o-c-k-e-d  it.  He did it nice? and rough.  Frankly, it made up for everything that had seemed shitty during the entire week.  Without advocating what anybody should or shouldn?t groove on, I?d argue that you haven?t really heard the song unless you?ve heard it live lately.  Maybe even try to give it some momentum, if you?re so inclined.

Now, here?s what on my mind.  Initially we felt all cool that Pat would take a chance on the obscure song, even for two people (which I know is hardly the case).  Later on, though, Pat?s comment has come to bother me overly, and actually makes me quite sad to think that he would feel like no one was ?hearing? something outside the 'Greatest Hits' package. How many songs and requests fail to make it into a show when Pat feels like this?  And I?d like to know what the hell to do about it.  I?d be very interested in hearing of some similar experiences, as well as your thoughts and feelings.  Now I don?t want to get off a rant here, but I am well aware of which songs pay the bills and which don?t, and I always consider the venue and context.  We also got to hear ?I don?t come from no Monkey?, ?Key of G? as the sing-along, and even ?Please Lock the Door?.  I think ?Romance? fit right in and went over extremely well.  Can anyone in attendance either back me up or set me straight on this?  Was it not well received at Shank?

I?m convinced that there?s damn sure more than only two people at any given show ready to really ?hear? something...  Testify.  Of course, that?s just my opinion; I could be wrong.

[briguy]

Most often when you request a obscure song you hear
Pat say "I can't remember that" or, "that ones too hard" which was the case when I requested "About Me". I have to believe the man.

We did get to hear a great live version of Modern Day Miricle Sunday, But I would love to hear more of that melodic, talented, classic McCurdy I like ever so much so suggestions are welcome...

[Mr. Teeny]

Most often when you request a obscure song you hear
Pat say "I can't remember that" or, "that ones too hard" which was the case when I requested "About Me". I have to believe the man.

We did get to hear a great live version of Modern Day Miricle Sunday, But I would love to hear more of that melodic, talented, classic McCurdy I like ever so much so suggestions are welcome...

Briguy, is this all I can get out of you on the topic?  I'm disappointed-- I've read more speculation in postings regarding whether Pat wears boxers or briefs!

Sure, Pat can't be expected to keep track of every song; he's more prolific than Prince on a crystal-meth and latte binge.  I learned once that he keeps a "bible" of his material dating way back that includes lyrics, chords, and upgrades which he reviews and uses during practice to keep the catalogue sharp or to resurrect an oldie every now and again.  Man, what I wouldn't give to get a peek at that.

I've read quite a bit of commentary here over the years as to "how and how not to get a request played" and "who's cooler or sexier" because their requests made it into a show.  I wonder how much is simply based on the song, Pat's fondess for it, and and how the request is pitched to him.

[briguy]

I've read quite a bit of commentary here over the years as to "how and how not to get a request played" and "who's cooler or sexier" because their requests made it into a show. ?

Why wait till now to jump in to the topical discussions?

[disastergirl]

I have known Pat for over 20 years and if he doesn't play a song regularly, he truly does forget it. If there is a particular song that you like, ask for it, he may just not have thought of it in a long time.  As you say, he is very prolific. It's possible it may make it back into the "rotation." He does have the bible that you speak of, but the new CD and Julian has taken up a lot of his time lately.  Keep asking for the song, it may get a whole new audience!  I know that it has happened a few times in the last few years.  

[Paul]

I think a lot of the problem is that 80% of the requests he gets are for either Screw You or Sex & Beer.  He just doesn't get many requests for the obscure stuff from more than about 10 of us, so he assumes that it won't get over.  Also, after 30+ years in the business he has a very good feel for what a particular audience will be into.

I stopped requesting songs for the most part before I left town because it got to the point where I knew he probably wasn't going to play the stuff that I wanted to hear anyway.  However, if you get on him enough he may just go back and resurrect the song.  It's definitely worth a shot.  The more people who request the obscure stuff the more he'll believe that there really IS an audience for it, and he won't lose his crowd if he doesn't play one more song about sex (irony included free of charge).

It's good to see somebody else interested in having an intelligent conversation about the subject.  (That may be the first time I have complimented anyone one this board other than Mark, who is my hero in a non-Bette Midler sort of way.)

Oh, and for the record, Chip is cooler, but I'm definitely sexier.

[briguy]

On this subject, one thing I would like to bring up is Matty's 2002 where we heard Pat play "Long Goodbye" as far as I know unprovoked.

I am going to have to agree with Paul in the fact the audience present *does* make a difference as to what is played. For instance, your most likely never going to hear one more song about sex at Summerfest (I also can discover irony).

My un-played request happens to be "About Me" which I have not heard Pat play since Christmas of 2000. When asked to play it, he first changes the title and corrects you, which is ok, then states "thats too hard, I don't remember how it goes", and singing a few bars doesn't jog the memory. Thats just my personal story however, do not take it as what will happen everytime you request something odd or obscure.

I personally stopped requesting because it really harshes my buzz to think of cool songs for Pat to play, and because typically the show has some good stuff in it that I never would have thought to ask for. Thats my two cents, hope that satisfies my fans here on the board...

[Mark Lippert]

Also, I'd like to point out that when Pat says, "I don't remember how it goes," he probably is NOT bullshitting you just to get out of playing your request.  A few weeks ago, I saw him forget the words to Somebody Else For Awhile, a song I've seen him play flawlessly hundreds of times in the past.  The problem was that he just hasn't played it regularly for some time.

Not to mention the fact that every once in a while he asks me if I have a copy of a certain song.  If you think he's "acting" forgetful, he's really milking the part.

[sweetepie]

On this subject, one thing I would like to bring up is Matty's 2002 where we heard Pat play "Long Goodbye" as far as I know unprovoked.

Yeah, he played that though because Paul was leaving! That's the perfect song for the occasion. (I wasn't there, I had the flu then, but I know that was Paul's last show before heading to Boston Mass!)

I have to agree, he does say, "that's too hard..." I've gotten that before, as Sarah has too I think. Chip knows all to well about not getting his request played!! Modern Day Miracle. Of course the last 2 shows Chip wasn't at, Pat played it!  

Myslef, Becky and Tish LOVE Girls Get in Trouble, and that too is a rare-ity!!

Agreed with Paul. If more obscure songs are requested more frequently, then I think Pat will be open to playing them more.
You'd be surprised what I hear him singing every so often at the house! He'll sing when Jools and I are playing and doing something. Generally older songs. It's so great!!

Paul, when are you coming back to visit us?  

[briguy]

Thats true, I have seen him forget the words to a song he played the night before.

Puts a human touch on the genius as far as I am concerned.

[sweetepie]

Also, I'd like to point out that when Pat says, "I don't remember how it goes," he probably is NOT bullshitting you just to get out of playing your request. ?A few weeks ago, I saw him forget the words to Somebody Else For Awhile, a song I've seen him play flawlessly hundreds of times in the past. ?The problem was that he just hasn't played it regularly for some time.

Ahhh. yes. Sarah and I have thrown in a verse or two at a show where he draws a blank at times! But think about it--over 700 songs; you're bound to go blank at times!

[sweetepie]

Thats true, I have seen him forget the words to a song he played the night before.

Puts a human touch on the genius as far as I am concerned.

Yeah he also forgets (as does DJ PJ) what new verse he thought up for Imagine a Picture from the night before too! LOL

Everytime I see him or hear him play, I just sit in awe thinking of how talented a person he is. To think of all the time and energy he has put into his music over the last 35 years or so.
ALso to think about his schedule--yearly! My god!! And people complain because they don't get summers off like teachers do. Think about Pat, think about the time he and DJ PJ get off a year. It just amazes me sometimes of all the talent and all the tunes that can come out of an instrument like that. (I played piano for 11 years and flute for 3 years, it still amazes me what I can do on those things too!!)

It's definitely a privelage to know him personally, and to know that his only born son loves me to death! ? (Even though some mornings he's not all opt to seeing me after he just wakes up and knows mommy's leaving for work!!)

Pat McCurdy, the man of many talents! (Faces)  

[Chip]

Time to throw my 2 or 3 cents into the ring.
If there's one simple rule to getting an obsure request played, it's this: Just keep on requesting it.
As people have pointed out, I had to request Modern Day Miracle (the song that everyone seems to associate with me for some reason) for about 6 months before he started playing it again. I thought this to be wierd since it's on PIP2 which really is not all that old to begin with.
So when Pat tells you he doesn't remember the song He's not kidding. He started playing MDM once at paragon and then got about two lines in and then stopped. ?But at least I knew that it was lodged in his mind and that sooner or later he would play it again.

Here's what I think happens. He gets requests for old stuff that he needs to practice or polish up, and then he busts out many of them at an Intimate Pat show. Unfortunately, with the festival season rapidly approaching, I doubt we'll get another Intimate show until around October. My advice, seek these out when they happen and attend them at whatever cost.

Another example: Anyone else besides Mark remember "Over The Weekend"?
Once I had Sarah request it for me and his reply was something like, "That's so old! ?Where does he come up with these requests?" But after three or four times asking for it, It did get played.

Another thing: Mr. Teeny, You said that Club Paragon is your "regular spot" for seeing Pat. (For those who may want to see a bit different set than the norm) That's a good place to start. I've seen a Chicago and a Madison show only one time each, so I can only speak for Milwaukee area venues. But it seems like your best bet to hear some of the oldies, (aside from an Intimate show) is in fact Club Paragon.

Side note: As previously discussed, you can just forget about hearing anything obscure played at summerfest, which is always geared more towards the drunken masses rather than for the intellectual sophisticates who come here, but most of us already knew that.

Finally, it also wouldn't hurt to show your face at some different places once in a while. Believe me, Pat recognises people he hasn't seen for years, so the more often he sees someones face and the same request attached to it, the better shot you have of hearing him play it for you.


And for the record, Paul is indeed sexy, though in a Dainty sort of way.