I'm really surprised no one's touched this yet. I suppose we've all become that dependent upon the beloved JamieCarroll. Here's my stab at it:

Hopefully a more ordered setlist it coming, but I will say they played the standards (See You Through, Leave it all Behind, The Beginning, Walk You Home, Two By Two, Circus, GSRnR), some older stuff (Darkroom, Temp. Blues, Thursday), some semi-newer stuff (TTWIMTB, Me and the Skirts, Look Out below, Harder to Ignore) and newer stuff (Mosis Ptosis, Love is Golden). They did not play Someway, Somehow and they are keeping the Blow It Out streak alive.

I have to admit it took me a longer than normal amount of time to start "feeling it" last night. Starting the set with the new Mosis Ptosis seemed to disorient many of the die-hard fans. For some reason, though, playing The Beginning mid-set greatly enhanced my appreciation for the song.

I was ready to declare that this show marked the end of an era when they ended their standard set without Thursday and opted for Circus instead(which was outstanding), but they returned after a short break to end with the classic closer.

The opener was Simon Brawl. They weren't anything special, but I thought they were pretty good. The sound was good, but it seemed really quiet for The Features. Did anyone else notice this, or am I just growing deafer? (I was standing a few feet from the left front speaker) I think the Inferno is a great venue if you can get past the cheeze factor (I can). Plus, a two dollar 20oz draft of AmberBock ain't too shabby.

I think Blow It Out and Moonlight are headed for retirement. The Features have quite a catalog but I'm not seeing as much variability in their setlists as I'd like. I would have hoped that the "all request" show would have inspired them to start playing some older songs. I'm a big fan of "Don't Lie To Me" but I don't expect to hear it anytime soon, if ever.

I think that show may have restored Temporary Blues (although I guess they were messing around with it at a few previous shows) and 2X2 (unfortunately). But I TOTALLY AGREE about Don't Lie To Me. I also wouldn't mind hearing Armani a little more often.

Anyway, the show was good last night. I kind of hung back for this one as opposed to my usual front row rushing. I can't get quite as into the music from afar, but it seemed like a good show. They definitely seem ready for Europe.

i thought hearing harold was also excellent. ah well. we'll always have our memories.

I wouldn't be surprised if we start hearing Blow It Out a little more in the future. Unfortunately, Moonlight has been wavering for quite awhile.

I, too, am disappointed by the lack of variability in their sets as of late, but you have to consider a few things. This show and tomorrow's show are the last before they leave for England. I think the strategy now is to devise a very strong set that will win over completely new fans. This will be even moreso the case when their album is released and they begin to promote it. Unfortunately for us, this results in a much more focussed set. Of course, I'm sure you'll agree that we all want what's best for the band right now.

I viewed the "all request" show as the opposite. It was a chance for them to once and for all lay a few old favorites to rest. To me, that makes the fact that they would have such a show all the more awesome. Of course, it would have been nice if they hadn't had the f*&^ing show when I was out of town.

(Edited by carligula at 4:33 pm on Jan. 23, 2004)

Good call. I have a newfound love for this song as a result.

I'll start off by saying that the free stickers made my night! The UK tour shirts are also very nice!

I too, saw this show as a way to prepare for the UK. As the features begin to gain popularity and perhaps play "home shows" less frequently, I'm sure we'll get to hear more oldies than we did last night. They would have to be a welcome break in routine as we would most likely be the only ones who know the older stuff.

This was also the first time I had heard mosis ptosis, and I can't decide if I like it or not. Carl was right, it was a weird opener. I wanted to here "Chemical Head" but other than that (and the unusually short encore which i completely understand) I thought it was another great show.

Simon Brawl is the reason I dislike opening bands. One of their songs was ok, but I could have lived without hearing the rest of them; and the crowd, or lack therof didn't help them out much either.

I enjoyed the show last night.. I wasn't feelin' Simon Brawl... I can't believe I stood through it all... I really tend to dislike bands that spit drinks on what few people who actually came to the front to see them play. I wasn't happy about that. But once Features were on I quickly for got about it.

I videotaped the show last night, so I have the setlist. Here it be...

Thursday, January 22, 2004
Inferno Bar - Murfreesboro, TN
Opening act: Simon Brawl
___________________________

Mosis Ptosis
Exhibit A
Temporary Blues
The Way It's Meant To Be
Look Out Below
Me & The Skirts
See You Thru
Exorcising Demons
Love Is Golden
God Save Rock & Roll
2 x 2
The Beginning (Week One)
Walk You Home
Dark Room
Leave It All Behind
Harder To Ignore
Circus

Encore:
Thursday

Great show, great energy from Matt (falling backwards into the amps, slamming into Roger multiple times). I'm very glad that "Temporary Blues" is back in rotation again. That's a comeback that I never saw coming. Unfortunately, I don't think that "Failed Attempt" and "Chemical Head" will be coming back, even though they are amazing songs (and arguably better than "Love is Golden" and "Mosis Ptosis"). "Mosis Ptosis" is turning out to be a great song and Matt clearly enjoys playing it.

I videotaped the show and the picture quality is, basically, just like being there in the front row with all of us Elitist Blockade Snobs. The audio leaves a lot to be desired, though, so if anyone bootlegged the show I'd be glad to arrange some sort of swap for the audio. If anyone wants a copy of the show on DVD, just PM me and I'll see if I can work something out. As of now, my computer isn't letting me edit the footage, so that's an obstacle to overcome.

Anywho, great show and good luck in the UK.

(Edited by DigsySlattery at 11:03 pm on Jan. 23, 2004)

This show was really awesome. I hadn't seen The Features since they played Wall Street, so I guess I was going through withdrawl. All I can say is that the whole thing made me really happy.

I did think the sound seemed quiter than usual. I don't mean it as a criticism, it just seemed like it wasn't as loud as usual. I was standing next to a Features virgin, and he commented on how energetic they were - so I told him that they're usually even BIGGER (sound-wise).

I couldn't believe how much Pelham's fingers were bleeding...there was so much blood on his hand and on the guitar!

For some reason, one of my favorite new ones is Love Is Golden. I don't see that song getting a lot of run on this board so maybe I'm just going nuts. Oh well, good song or not, love is definitely golden. Wait......that was cheesy. I hate myself.

I really want to see this in person sometime...it sounds horrifying and pitiable but very cool and rock'n'roll at the same time.

It is awesome that he rocks so hard - but it's really scary to see all of that bright red blood all over his hand and splattered on the guitar (which is off-white anyway). Maybe I was over-imagining, but I thought I could see blood dripping off of the guitar...

Kudos to Genius Girl for having a band-aid! (Which could be some horrible pun, I just realized. "Band-aid", get it?...Okay, I'm going to bed now...)

And I really like "Mosis Ptosis" upon hearing it again.

I believe this satisfies the definition of "hardcore." Whatta guy, that Matt...

i'll just leave it at this: great show.

and that all the "love is golden" nay-sayers should have had that opinion rocked right out of them at this show.

also, the pictures that i took at this show seemed to capture the band members just when they were making hilarious faces. but i'm pretty sure at least one of sadie's has me beat, hilarity-wise. features photography is one of my favorite hobbies.

I can see your take on the "All Request Funeral Show" as a chance to lay certain songs to rest. Still, I think some of the older material has viability and they showed us that at that show. Sometimes it's nice though for certain songs to fade away, only to be resurrected years later. I'm a huge Pearl Jam nut and they are known for bringing back a few oldies that haven't been played in years (on this tour it was "Why Go?" off Ten, "Blood" and "Glorified G" from Vs.). "Why Go?" hadn't been played in about 8 years I think. It will be interesting to see if The Features, down the road, dig up "Paid To Think" or "Serious" or some other "rarity." I doubt it though because these songs are special to the early fans and will likely never make an album. Nirvana had lots of songs early in their career that were left behind once they made it big. I guess that's the way it's meant to be...

Jeremy

No where near as many as The Features do...perhaps about a 1/3. Then again, it didn't take them something like 8 years to release an album...

Oh well. As long as I eventually manage to nab the old sessions on CD-R I'll be happy.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Love Is Golden kicks ass.

Chemical Head isn't that great.

(Edited by richarddawson at 6:36 pm on Jan. 24, 2004)

I agree about Love Is Golden...However, "Chemical Head" kicks even more ass to me. I'm very sad they have not been performing it.

But, yeah, the show was very nice. On one hand, I like the Inferno Bar as a venue; on the other hand, the atmosphere sucks. I can do without Simon Brawl.

(Edited by Sexy Sadie at 11:26 am on Jan. 26, 2004)

hated simon brawl. the fact that they played for almost an hour didnt help very much either. there is a definite lack of good bands who can open up for the features.

the features were amazing as always. this show was definitley the best out of the two shows that they played last week. granted, the 12th and porter show was good, but the inferno was better.

(Edited by ray davies at 1:37 pm on Jan. 26, 2004)

I am not surprised that it has fallen to the wayside.

It's all your fault. What have you done with "Failed Attempt"?

I told you not to get attached to them. I threw them into the same dusty corner as Willie & the Willigers and Burma.

Burma amazes me because if it just had full lyrics and a title, it'd be such an azming song, and unlike some of the other oldies, one that fits in the current lineup rather nicely. Your Smile I understand simply no longer has a place in the band's ouvre, but Burma and Don't Lie to Me really could.

Will

They could, but they don't. Harold should have stayed around, too.

i still have medium to mildly high hopes for that one. it's one of my favorite (if not my favorite) features songs.

but if it is gone for good, its spirit will live on through the happy little fins of my fish (which was named after the song). and we all know that fish are known for their astonishingly long lifespans...

I liked it at the October Inferno Bar show with the impromptu "Don't Lie To Me" lines, but it lost a lot of luster after that. I expect the failed attempt song to reappear eventually. It was too good to completely shelf. I think that it maybe just got put away, because they might have had trouble finding a way to finish the rest of the song; and they had other songs to distract them during practice (Love Is Golden, Mosis Ptosis & that other song at Wall Street that has yet to arise again). Thus, it just got forgotten, I think.