Some memorable moments from Iggy & the Stooges concert at the Michigan Theater
With the ears still ringing from Tuesday night's Iggy and the Stooges concert at the Michigan Theater—a tribute to the band's original guitarist, the late Ron Asheton—here are some stray memorable moments on the morning after:
• Steve Mackay’s tender saxophone solo as security tried to clear the stage after dancers took it over the first time was a the musical highlight. Mackay, who continues to play in his own free-jazz collective, hit just the right whiskery tone to bring some calm to a frenzied scene.
&bull, Late in the show, as Iggy Pop reflected on Asheton and his talent, he characterized Ann Arbor as a “great, weird little town.”
Space Age Toasters open the show Tuesday.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
• Special mention to the Space Age Toasters, the local punk band who got the opening slot on Tuesday's bill. It's clear the future of punk is in good hands. And they can always say they got to open for Iggy and the Stooges. How cool is that?
• Although some of his stage moves may be choreographed these days, that certainly wasn't the case with the face-first fall that Iggy Pop took after he became tangled in Deniz Tek’s guitar cable. Pop appeared momentarily dazed and stayed down for several moments although, no stranger to such incidents during his career, he didn’t miss a single phrase of the song.
• It was a little tentative and he didn't get very far, but it's encouraging to see Iggy still crowd surfing after all these years.
• Ron Asheton wasn't the first Stooge to pass away. And in all fitting the remembrances to Asheton on Tuesday, no one mentioned original bassist Dave Alexander, who died in 1974, after leaving the band. So it was nice to see a young man — someone who certainly wasn't yet born when Alexander died — in the crowd wearing a T-shirt with Alexander's likeness.
• The first of several times that Iggy called for the house lights to be brought up, he gazed out at the crowd and said "Nice to see you" ... and it seemed quite sincere.
— by Will Stewart, Bob Needham and Roger LeLievre
What's your memorable moment? Let us know by posting a comment below:
Comments
pat rapp
Thu, Apr 21, 2011 : 11:59 a.m.
Hey, Gabe, Thanks for posting the set list. The touching speech about Ron came right before "Ron's Tune" - the requiem Iggy and James played acoustically. I recorded it and will post a link once I get it on youtube. Also, the crowd was on stage for Shake Appeal and No Fun. I was able to get up there for Shake Appeal andit was a blast! It was such an incredible show!
timjbd
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 11:46 p.m.
"Pop appeared momentarily dazed and stayed down for several moments although, no stranger to such incidents during his career, he didn't miss a single phrase of the song." One of those 'incidents' happened at one of the two Second Chance shows I attended a hundred years ago. He had a bartender tending bar on stage with him and during one song he did a high kick using the mic stand as a vaulting pole but on the way down he caught his foot on top of the bar and came down hard flat on his back. Stayed on his back for the rest of the song and didn't miss a beat.
Jim Clarkson
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 11:46 p.m.
DwightSchrute at 12:03 PM on April 20, 2011 This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore DwightSchrute. Show DetailsHide Details Iggy sarcastically mocking the presenter of the city's key was classic. "Hey, you look REALLY good in that business suit!" And then non-chalantly throws the key back stage. This show definitely goes into my top 5 best conserts I have seen.
Gabe
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 10:57 p.m.
Setlist for Entire Show: Loose - Space Age Toasters 1969 - Space Age Toasters Little Doll - Space Age Toasters Down on the Street - Space Age Toasters Henry thanks the Space Age Toasters and gives a brief intro about the evening and introduce Scott Asheton (and thank Cathy Asheton) for the assisting in making a special memorial video for Ron. Overture - Orchestra while the video memorial is shown (approximately 5 minutes) Monologue and Touching Speech about Ron and the Stooges from Henry Rollins (15-25m) I Gotta Right - Henry on vocals, backed by Watt, Scott and James (Williamson) Henry leaves stage right - Iggy enters stage left to massive applause Raw Power Search and Destroy Gimme Danger Shake Appeal 1970 LA Blues/Night Theme Beyond the Law Fun House Open Up and Bleed Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell I Wanna Be Your Dog - w/Orchestra ------ Encore TV Eye - w/Deniz & Orch (INTRO) Loose - w/Deniz & Orch Dirt - w/Deniz & Orch (INTRO) Real Cool Time - w/Deniz & Orch Acoustic Performance of a Tribute Song to Ron - Iggy and James ------- Presentation from Mayor's Office of the Key of the City of Ann Arbor to Iggy and the Stooges (not given by the actual mayor, but a Junior High friend of Iggy's and Lee Berry, manager of the Michigan Theater). A point is made to note that the key's end is actually also a bottle opener. ------- Henry comes back to thank everyone, and invites the Space Age Toasters back to the stage. No Fun - everyone I can't personally recall when, but late in the show Iggy gave a very touching speech about Ron and his love of Ann Arbor. If someone remembers at what point that actually happened, let me know. Also, I don't recall during which songs the crowd rushed the stage (the first time invited by Iggy, the second for unknown reasons), but it is worth noting because I agree that Steve Mackay's improvisation after the first rush belongs on the actual set list as a result. His performance was outstanding.
Foodie01
Thu, Apr 21, 2011 : 5:09 a.m.
Wow, thanks, Gabe, this is great!
recordhound
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 9:43 p.m.
Good call on Steve Mackay's improvising during the long crowd exit, by far the highlight for me. I was somewhat underwhelmed by James Williamson's guitar playing, though it was nice to see him after all these years. Deniz Tek tore it up. All in all the band was rough sounding, far less tight than the band that played Pine Knob with Ron on guitar. All in all, it was still a fun night.
Eric
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 7:59 p.m.
"Ron Asheton wasn't the first Stooge to pass away. And in all fitting the remembrances to Asheton on Tuesday, no one mentioned original bassist Dave Alexander" As I recall, Henry Rollins did in fact talk about Dave Alexander and how the reformed Stooges would not have worked if they didn't get the right guy to play bass for them.
Foodie01
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 4:36 p.m.
Hey, how about a set list?
DwightSchrute
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 4:03 p.m.
Iggy sarcastically mocking the presenter of the city's key was classic. "Hey, you look REALLY good in that business suit!"