Common Rotation will opening for the Indigo Girls at these venues:

07.11.09
Gay & Lesbian Alliance of the Central Coast - Central Coast Pride Week
San Luis Obispo CA
http://www.slopride.com

07.12.09
Humphreys Concerts by the Bay
San Diego CA
Tickets
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0a004277e25c3125?artistid=735326

07.20.09
The Fillmore
San Francisco CA
Tickets
http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/407208

07.21.09
The Fillmore
San Francisco CA
Tickets
http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/407209

I'm gonna have to post a full report later, but short version is, it was just gorgeous. Line-up was Adam, Eric, Jordan, Mark McConville, with guest visits by Rana Lahiri (sitar), John DiMaggio, Amber Benson and Indigo Girl Amy Ray (back-up vocals).

The Indigo Girls brought Jordan on to play trumpet on one of their songs, and then brought Adam, Eric, Jordan, Mark and John to perform on the last two numbers with them, even giving Adam and Eric each a verse on the final encore, "Closer to Fine."

Beautiful open-air venue next to a harbor -- you could see lights in the houses on the hill on the other side of the water, and the air was clear enough to see stars when you looked up.

Great evening.

Shapenew

sounds divine looking forward to the girls in London, shame they can't bring their guests!

The sitar player's name is Ronobir.

Did anyone manage to capture their set list at Humphrey's (San Diego, CA)?

Sorry - no can help... but

can tell the Union Maid Fight Song (and also Get On The Idol? ) were on the SLO setlist though

Live recording is up on Union Maid Archive now for the listening and downloading and the passing on of:

http://theunionmaid.com/?p=1729

luvvverly!

Hi folks -- sorry this took so long. Again, a very hectic week.

Humphrey's is a big open-air venue, with a bar at the back. Management obviously realized the crowd was going to be largely female, because they'd turned the men's bathroom behind the bar into a second women's bathroom. (No idea where they were sending the men, but I didn't see any guys hopping from foot to foot with discomfort, so I'm guessing it was nearby.) Like I said, the ambience is beautiful -- one side of the venue is against the harbor waters, and when it gets dark, there are twinkling lights in the houses across the bay and the air is clear enough to see constellations overhead.

The venue is also very timely. Common Rotation was scheduled to go on at 7:30 PM and, no kidding, they went on at 7:31. Lineup for the evening was Adam, Eric, Jordan and Mark McConville, with some special guests throughout.

The band opened with "Union Maid Fight Song" (aka "Union Maid)," with Jordan on banjo, switching to trumpet for the outtro, Adam on harmonica, Mark on pedal steel and of course Eric on acoustic guitar and vocals. There were some microphone issues during the number, which were resolved for the rest of the set.

Eric introduced "On the Idol," which he sang lead on. Adam was on harmonica, Jordan on banjo, with both providing back-up vocals, and Mark was on pedal steel again.

I think the next song is called "Surround Face" ...? Adam directed various sections of the audience in some audience participation, inviting people to provide whatever vocal counterpoint struck their fancy when he pointed at their section. Mostly, people felt like cheering, so he'd point, and people would yell, "Yay!" It was very energetic, with a bit of calypso feel.

"Lesson Learned" was next, with Mark on electric guitar and Jordan on trumpet. The harmonies between Eric and Adam were beautiful and the group created a slight wall-of-sound chiming effect.

Jordan went back to the banjo for "Trumpet." Mark stayed on electric guitar and Eric sang back-up. The bridge was very punchy and they all took the world's longest pause after Adam sang "prize."

"No Love at All" had Jordan on banjo and Mark on pedal steel. Adam and Eric gave strong vocal performances.

Adam then told the audience that the first live music he'd ever heard had been at this very venue -- he was too young to attend the concert in question, but his family was on vacation in the hotel that overlooks Humphrey's, so he got to sit on the balcony and listen.

Ronabir Lahiri came onstage to play sitar for "Auctioneer," which was thrilling, with Eric's guitar and the sitar racing along as they were strummed. Jordan was on trumpet and Mark was on electric guitar. The harmonies of course were fantastic.

For "Sittin' on a Train," John DiMaggio came onstage to provide train noises, which were very entertaining. Ronabir played sitar again, Mark played electric guitar, and Eric and Adam both sang leads.

For "Bitter Honey," the group was joined by Amber Benson and the Indigo Girls' Amy Ray on backup vocals. Jordan played banjo, Mark played electric guitar and Adam played harmonica.

Despite the size and acoustics of the outdoor venue, Common Rotation gamely followed tradition and played an off-mike number, "You Always Hurt the One You Love," with Jordan on banjo and Mark and John DiMaggio on finger snaps. I was seated with two friends pretty far back, but it was still audible, even without microphones, which is pretty impressive.

Although the Common Rotation set was over, the band members weren't done for the night. The Indigo Girls first brought Jordan up to play trumpet on "Hide Yourself." Then, when the Indigo Girls played two encores, they brought Adam, Eric -- with no guitar! -- and Jordan (with banjo) to play and sing with them. Adam got a harmonica spotlight on the first song, and on the finale, "Closer to Fine," Adam and Eric each got his own segment to sing solo.

It was a wonderful evening.

Shapenew

Me and my friend were there! came a little late so we missed some of the boys set but we made it. Both concerts were awesome. & since I always deliver...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmtJAEqwCkI -Enjoy!

-also if anyone is interested, my band did a cover of Offstage Lines and is up on our profile at www.myspace.com/frankierufus.