Doug Gillard residency - Pianos NYC

(Pic NOT from last night's gig)

Even though I'm no longer physically living in NYC, I still keep tabs on rock fun at old haunts through old pals, bloggers and miscreants. One of these is either the Keith or the Hernandez (can never remember which) over at I'm Keith Hernandez. In any case, my pal went to see the opening show in a four-week residency at Pianos of Doug Gillard, the former Guided by Voices and Death of Samantha guitarist-songwriter. Doug (who's now a living Brooklynite) was supported by Jason Narducy's new band Regal Standard and musician-producer Graham Smith.

Bits of my pal's emailed report of last night's show puts you right in the action - Let's go to the tape!

"Graham was first. I haven't seen him play in years, and this was easily the best show ever. Solo on acoustic, his voice has become so much stronger, and his songs are as clever and well-written as ever. Also, his banter knows no bounds. Admitting he had no tuner or tuning skills, he mutters "I have a tuner on my iPhone but Steve Jobs is dying." He has an incredible song about Arliss which we need to get our hands on for a future IKH post.

Jason Narducy's band went next. Jason has played with both Bobs (Mould & Pollard). Two acoustic guitars and a bass, no drums. Jason had a great singer in tow, and their harmonies were beautiful--nice, tight set, and easily the best sounding one I've ever heard at Pianos. Jason proceeds to move to the main room to get shitfaced.

Doug takes the stage with a full band. It takes a while for the ears to adjust, but I have to admit, I've never heard better sound at Pianos. No one makes music like Doug Gillard does, and I appreciated hearing his new songs live a lot more than I probably would on record. There's a lot of great moments in his set, and he was clearly psyched, so everyone was having a good time. And then...

Halfway through the set Doug calls a now drunken Jason and JONNY WURSTER up on stage and they rip through Pop Zeus! And just like that, gone. Poof!

Doug calls out to the soundman for time left, and Zack, bless his heart, is stationed front and center, right next to Graham and answers "as long as you want." Doug plays another 20-25 minutes, including a Jill Hives b-side he wrote? (I didn't recognize it). At some point I request 'In A Gadda Da Vida'. Doug says he's the only guy in the band old enough to know that song.

For his last song, he starts calling out for Jason and Jon again. I walk out the door, see Jason who is now smashed, tell him that Doug wants him. He walks in, stares at the stage, frowns and walks back out. Doug plays 'I am A Tree'. It is beautiful.

Encore calls come up. 20 minutes in, I spot Jonny Wurster on his own. I run up to him braying "You've gotta play a Stooges song!" He affably tells me that '1969' is somewhere in the setlist. I let him be.

10 minutes later, Doug successfully calls Jason & Jonny back up to the stage. Jon is getting behind the drum kit, wearing his coat and scarf as he sits down at the kit, and I yell out, "Jonny, you're going to wanna lose that scarf!" He agrees and takes it off, and a shit-faced Jason Narducy immediately picks it up and puts it on. And out of nowhere, they rip through a note-perfect version of 'Back of a Car' by BIG STAR with Jason on lead vocals, Doug on perfect harmonies, and Jonny Wurster playing every Jody Stephens drum fill 9 feet away from me. Ooh la la.

Next? Last? Stooges! Incredible version of 1969, all the way through, with Doug playing all of Ron Asheton's parts flawlessly. Song ends, Jason stumbles off the stage. I get in his ear and yell "You're the first man to ever cover a Stooges song while wearing a scarf!" He agrees."

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Great post Keith Hernandez, well played.