I can't wait to hear what Phob, drac and Riff say about the show. The guys, to me, seemed extremely thrilled to be on stage at the Viper. The show was tight, bright, and yes - snappy. I was impressed that those energetic young women in front of us were singing along to every song. And I had to laugh at the rock-steadiness of Joey in the back of the stage as the other four at the front went nuts. And I love the Aladdin-Sane-ish make-up. Just a hint, an homage. And I'm thrilled () that I got spritzed with some JMJ H2O.

STD Dance definitely connects, and I admit it's a guilty pleasure, but I can't help but love Black Jettas.

More later. So, other Viper attendees...?

What a sweet set!

The guys have learned some new tricks on the road and have brought it back to their old stomping grounds for what was an energy packed show.

Right from the start Song#1 just got people going, you could really feel the energy and the band instantly communicated or demonstrated their excitement for playing back in Los Angeles. It appears the Dirty Life has found a new home in the number two spot on the set list.

Yeah, the chicks in front rule! I had a difficult time deciding if I should watch them kiss or watch the band; well it wasn’t that difficult, sorry guys I had to take my attention away from you while that was happening. What a sexy little show they put on for us! They’re tight with the band and have been at every L.A. show I’ve been at.

Highlights from the show:

STD Dance….the place exploded!
Alex using every part of the stage as a jungle gym
Alex climbing all over Oligee’s keyboards
JMJ’s backscratcher kick’in bass playing
Timmy the Terror’s air guitar supreme
Oliegee’s ability to play three instruments at once! Or as close to at once as possible
Joey just kicks ass on the drums. Is there a better drummer? No.
Everyone in the crowding asking for the old demos to be played!

It was awesome seeing the LA crowd and all the new and old .net’ers.

A set list will be posted today for those that like knowing what was played.

Don't forget the first known attempt, at least, by O.G. at vocals--I think it was in STD Dance, he got like one line in on the mic but that was it.

Pretty terrific stuff last night. I think it has a lot to do with everyone being so practiced by now that they're at the point they can add to the performance aspect of things. Tim and JMJ were most noticeably having a great time up there, and Tim's spasticity was at an all-time high. The guitar string break gave the classic moment of him playing air guitar but still being spastic! Highly entertaining.

Alex was all over the tiny stage, making use of any surface area available (including the keyboards--how the hell did he get up there, anyway? He was a little demon sprite, scampering about).

STD Dance was definitely the highlight song, that thing has already come so far since we first heard it at the Troubador last June.

Joey may have been using a different drum kit, or one that was not his own--it wasn't a TAMA, at least...anyhow, at the end of Dynomite he was playing while up on his feet, and at the end of the show, he was tossing the cymbal stands onto the stage. A ton of energy was coming from back there, and it was totally fueling the rest of the band. Definitely the best I've seen him with Ima Robot yet!

I love Hot Hot Heat, and there's no better band at warming up a crowd than Ima Robot, but it has GOT to be difficult going on after this band. The Hot Hot Heat fans are going to love them.

Drac - I didn't mean to imply by my "rock-steady" comment that there wasn't a fierceness coming from JW. He was definitely the underlying energy fueling Alex.

It should be mentioned about Alex's shirt antics. At first, his long-ssleeve, button-down shirt was fastened only at the collar, and with a large safety pin. About two-thirds of the way through the set, he grabbed at the collar, which flung open, and then he eventualy tore off the whole shirt, rock-star style. Hugely effective in a tiny venue. And yes, he can scamper, he can climb, he can perch, - after a while, he didn't even need to hang on to the valence - his balance got that good

Where were you guys?:o I missed everyone maybe because I was in back near the bar(:D). That has to go down as one of the best nights of my life. We pulled up to the corner, and my friend noticed Justin standing on the corner, so I rolled down the window, and yelled his name, and he started directing traffic for us. It was so great for my friend to see them live, because before that she only heard them digitally, and she was already in love. There were some variations to songs that I love. It's awesome to see that they're always branching out to new possibilities of sound. So lucky they let the will call people go first. :saint:



[Edited on 23-9-2003 by Neuwave]

I don't know how we missed you, Neu...but I think I speak for everyone in the entire venue when I say we were glad you finally were able to make it inside the Viper Room for an Ima Robot show.:D Considering it may be the last chance you'll get to see them play there, maybe at least until the 2040 reunion tour when they have Prince Michael Jackson filling in for Alex on lead vocals because he decided to retire while the rest continued to play--

Yeah, JJJ, it was even more amazing that Joey could give the appearance that he was letting go so much when in fact he was tightly holding the reins. That's what makes him such an awesome drummer, really.

If it weren't for my 5'7" stature I might have noticed more intricate details about appearance, but like a blind, and def man adapt, I zoned on the musique. :duh:

Fuck I gotta try to get tix for the Boston show, I completely forgot.

:o

Thanks for the reports!

Forgot to mention when parking was totally inundated with Black Jettas (well just 2). But I mean in a row in front of us, and a silver one behind.

[Edited on 23-9-2003 by Neuwave]

Crap! Neuwave - how could we have missed you?? Damn. We were looking around, too. It's because we weren't right next to that post - you know, the one we stood by when we saw Drizz. I would've liked to have said hello to you.

But glad you loved the show. It was really an amazing performance - so spirited, fun and unleashed. Alex really can have that sort of appealing spacey-old-Bowie look, like he might just pass out any second, but then instantly roars into action.

I brought along my roommate and my gal pal (who in turn brought along her two housemates) and everyone had a great time. One of the gf's roommates became instantly enamored with the band and vowed to buy the CD today. So yay -- a new recuit.

Such a change in energy level from the last Viper show! There was a moment during the show where I was looking around at all the people mouthing the lyrics and making song requests and I couldn't help but think "this is no longer mine".

In light of the fact that the album had been released just a few days before...perhaps the people who knew all the words were sharing this from the begining with you? Just a thought, but I see your worry.

-the col.

It did have the feel of a bon voyage party.