Okay so how many times has everyone seen our lads in concert? My personal number is 5 (Lipscomb, NextGen, Dancin', Boro and Blue sky Court) and it will be bumped to six after tomorrow nite...but that nite hasn't happened yet it's still at five. Ever'one else?

The first time I saw them was when they opened for Reel Big Fish back in 1998 (?) at Main Street. We had never heard of them, but my girlfriend and I were HOOKED. We picked up the EP and wore it out. I was REALLY glad to see that they were still playing when I graduated from college and came back to Nashville in 1999. I can't remember the first show I saw when I came back, but I do remember a show at 12th and Porter where Underdog was played in the background. I was taken aback by how different they were compared to the first show I had seen, but I eventually came around to the new sound and now can honestly say that I'm really glad that they've evolved (even though the old stuff is still great!).

I saw them twice at DitD, once at Uptown Mix, countless times at 12th&Porter, once at the End (!?!), once recently at Blue Sky Court, once or twice at the Exit/In (r.i.p.), and at the 2nmc showcase at 328 Performance Hall (also r.i.p.). I have yet to travel far to see them and I feel a little guilty about that...

Same here. I should just skip some classes, spend a lot of money that I dont have, and drive on the interstate...I really really hope they have some sort of homecoming show in November. I don't want to go all of October without seeing them...

First show: Sebastian's (Murfreesboro) 1999
Last show: Blue Sky Court (Nashville) 9-20-2002
Furthest Away show: Blue Cats (Knoxville)
Best show: Monsters of Pop 2001 at the End or 1-12-02 at Blue Cats or 4-26-02 at the Exit/In
Worst show: One that was at 12th & Porter sometime in 2001. It was an off night. The ONLY real sub-par Features show I've ever seen.
Wierdest show: The first David Lipscomb show (10-18-01) or one at Club Hysteria at the Outer Limit (Nashville) in 1999 or 2000.

(Edited by jamiecarroll at 8:59 pm on Sep. 25, 2002)

First show: Lipscomb 10-18-01
Last show: Blue Sky Court (Nashville) 9-20-2002
Furthest Away show: I'm clueless about Nashville so mine is either Dancin in the District or Lipscomb.
Best show: The BlueSky Court show was amazing. Simply amazing. Every single time I've seen them they have gotten better (improving on greatness)
Worst show: Dancing in the District only because it was such a short set
Wierdest show: The Next Gen show was pretty weird. I was used to seeing really bad psuedo-punk-metal bands and kids I went to school with play there. Oh the horror. But the Features? It was really really good and I hope they educated the mini-masses.

Good call, Digsy. That should probably go on my 'wierdest' list, too. That was a strange one.

JC, is that the famous show that inspired "Discotheque?" I think it would've been around Sept. 17, 1999.

And I'll play the game, too...
First Show: 12th & Porter, Nashville; They played between Lifeboy and Glossary at the latter's record release party.
Last Show: 2002-09-20, Blue Sky Court, Nashville; (This show requires no further comment.)
Furthest Show: 2002-07-26, Echo Lounge, Atlanta; I drove down to see the guys play with Character and the Moto-Litas. Then I went to Six Flags. The Mindbender rules!
Best Show: 2002-08-30, Blue Cats, Knoxville; Just read the setlist. You'll wish you had gone. And the venue sounds really great. And a very funny band opened for them. And I talked some cool people. And I finally met smee.
Worst Show: I've repressed that memory.
Weirdest Show: The time I went to see them at the Boro and the Cheeksters... yes, the FREAKIN' CHEEKSTERS opened for them. How weird is that?!?

(Edited by Tom Foolery at 5:29 pm on Sep. 25, 2002)

Too bad there was no 30+ shows category : )

First Show: Exit-In benefit for WRVU in Nov 2000. Viva Voce & Venus Hum also played
Last Show: 8/24/02 @ 12th & Porter
Furthest Show: Many ATL shows. Soon to be Chicago
Best Show: 3/15/01 at the Boro which included Don't Lie to Me & Temporary Blues & Heard it Through the Grapevine & Hungry Like the Wolf. 4/26/02 @ the Exit-in comes a close second.
Worst Show: Some show at The End in 2001- I actually don't like the End much & the sound guy started playing house music almost before they even finished their set.
Weirdest Show: Christmas 2000 @ the Boro, in a good way

how about adding a slot for 100+, then we'll talk.
by the way, discotheque was written before the infamous outer limit show, as i remember pelham saying "this song is about a place like this." i think the connection or the jungle nigth have been the inspiration behind that one. i also remember the cheesy dj announcing fl. oz. announcing liguid oxygen that night. absolutely classic.

I have always heard that Discotheque was written about a trip to The Connection.

My comments on "Discotheque" are based on a story Matt tells on the recording of the 9/18/1999 show, which was available for download from the old Spongebath website.

Here's my poor transcription of the dialog:
Matt: "I just wanna let everybody know that we played at a place last night called The Outer Limits."
Roger: "Very scary."
Matt: "...and... what I want to let you know is: Don't go there because it really, really..."
Roger: "Sucks."
Matt: "That's what that last song was about. We wrote it today from our experience last night."
Then Matt goes on to mention that they stole "Kari Anne" from the Beach Boys. Anyway, the Outer Limits story may have been a joke, but that's what he said.

On another note, I really miss the band's little comments and stories between songs. They used to do it a lot; now they never talk to us. Does silence come with maturity?

Wait a second......Digsy Slattery has almost 500 posts and has seen the Features ONLY 5 TIMES!!!!!! What in the world are you posting about?

If I had to guess, I'd say I've seen the Features about 50 times.

First show: Dancin' in the District '98 (I think it was 98)
Last show: Blue Sky Court the other night
Furthest show: The Pilot Light in Knoxville
Best show: Monsters of Pop at The End (JC says it was in 2001, but it seems like its been longer than that)
Honerable Mention: New Year's Eve. The Features were far from their best, but seeing them with Joe Marc's Brother, my other favorite band, was something I didn't ever think I'd see.
Worst show: Some shows are weaker than others, but nothing stands out.

(Edited by Keith at 12:44 am on Apr. 27, 2004)

I believe the true answer to this question is due to M.B.A. (Message Board Addiction). It's a disease which i believe that most of the people who post here suffer from. Digsy is a dedicated fan, and he almost always comes up with relevant and interesting things to say...

It might have been 2000. The more I think about it, the less sure I am that it was 2001.

Yeah carligula! I was beginning to think I was the only fan here that was around for the earlier days. I don't feel too bad though since I'm the same age as most of the band members. I was at the show with Reel Big Fish and a few shows before that. One was at the Boro, another at The End w/ the Katies in '98 I think and I can't remember before that. Tomorrow night is a much anticipated return for me as I haven't been to a show in about two years. Yikes!

My first show had to be at the end of 1995 at the Spongebath New Years show. Great night of music that was. Self was the closer, if I remember, and I knew nothing about the Features and, sadly I must say, I wasn't blown away (mainly this was because I was so waiting to see Self and the Features suffered from the 'opening band' syndrome many of us have). I saw the band again in 1996 and this time they were headlining and this time I was there to see them and enjoyed it greatly. I've been a fan ever since.

Oh yeah-- I forgot about a show at the Boro ('97 maybe) with Fluid Oz. I think that was my first time.

I've only been a fan for 11 months now but darnit, I love them just as much as someone who has seen them 40 times. As of tonite the grand tally will be at 6.

I must also add that my Features CDs have not left my car in about...3 weeks. That's all I've listened to.

Now, don't you mean that WE went? And, yes, The Mindebender is pretty awesome, and the wait for The Batman is hell on earth. Whoever came up with having people wait in line inside of a huge metal "sewer" was an idiot. How about some ventilation?

Now, as for my listings...

My first show was at The Boro in April. I loved it so much I came back for the May 2nd show with my roommate.

My favorite show has not yet been determined. I have honestly enjoyed each one. The one last week was great, needless to say. And, the show on May 2nd stands out quite a bit as well.

My furthest show was the Atlanta one with TF at the Echo Lounge.

You still post here? I thought you retired.

First Show-August '97 with Reel Big Fish at 527 mainstreet. It's crazy to think back to a time when you hear "Thursday" for the first time and you really really want to hear it again.
Last Show-The Boro last month
Furthest Show-Echo Lounge
Best Show-4/26/02 at exit/in
Weirdest-definitely nxt generation. oh god.

I always wondered what Tom Foolery looked like. Now we know... he's that guy who's always in the What Do You Think? section of the Onion.

First show-- 3/7/97 Mercury Thater (rip) in Knoxville
Last show-- Blue Sky Court the other night
Furthest show-- I don't consider Knoxville shows that far since my family lives near there
Best show-- This is still unfathomable to me.
Worst show-- 11/10/99 at Exit/In. They had no sound check. The 15 people there were scoffing loud enough for them to hear, and that hurt things. "See You Thru" debuted that night, though.
Weirdest show-- 7/14/00 Long Branch Saloon in Knoxville. I counted 12 people there. They were late getting there, and I volunteered to help them carry their gear up the stairs to get them started. I was a roadie for the Features! A girl with one arm was dancing in front of them. Great pictures turned out from this as the back of the stage included a velvet Elvis and that "dogs playing poker" picture.

My current count is just above 40 for times seeing the Features, and I hope to do 40 more at least.



I was thinking with the "every Features song ever" thread how I would like to get together with all of you who have documented your every Features outing into a tour list. It'd be hard to complete since most of us didn't get into them until after "the great split" with Don and Jason, but it would be something neat to start as the band is growing so much. Every one could contribute what they remember about shows, and maybe we could scan set lists people have swiped and posts any we have written down.

(Edited by YaDaDaDa at 7:58 pm on Sep. 26, 2002)

I'm all about that. I'm so geeky that I've been seriously considering making an excel chart documenting what songs they've played at all the shows since JamieCarroll started doing the setlists on the board.

Since you all have been to so many shows, has anyone ever taken any pictures? The picture section on the website is pretty paltry, and I would love to have a really cool blurred picture of Rollum mid-rhythm during something like "The Beginning" for my desktop wallpaper. I noticed at the Blue Cats show that he taped up his hands before the set. Does he do that all the time?

Though I've only seen one show so far, I plan on seeing them every time they come to knoxville, since the gods left me without a car and I can't very well hitch-hike to middle Tennessee.

I've swiped all the setlists from all the Andrew Bird shows I've been to, so I know what you all mean when it comes to being obsessed.

I usually take pictures at the shows, but I've been slacking off lately. I only took two last night because there were too many people in the way. I build a crappy little web page to post pictures I took at a couple of shows this summer. I'll look through my stuff to see if I can find any blurry Rollum photos.

Rollum doesn't usually tape up, but he needs to. He's hurt his hands at, like, four of the last five shows that I've seen. Maybe he needs gloves like drummers in 80's hair bands used to wear.

Nice pix, TF! I especially liked the last one from the first show. It's a great shot of (Verde/Lifeboy) Keith's ass. Sweet.

Yeah, that was my goal with that picture.

I have a few pictures from a few years ago when I made an effort to get some, but I have no scanner.

I have been able to see the features 7 times so far.

The first time I saw the features was at the end in 2000. I think it was the mosters of pop.. it was around Oct/Nov I think.

The last time I saw them was Sept 26 at the boro.

My favorite show would have to be blue sky court on Sept 20. That was an amazing show.

I don't really have a least favorite show, but I guess it would have to be dancing in the district over the summer since it was so short.

If everything goes okay, I'll be seeing them in Johnson City in October and that'll be the farthest I've traveled to see them.

Seems to be I remember there being several of Rollum in blurred-out action on the pictures page. Resolution isn't the best because we have to conserve space for other stuff.

man, that's hot.

as for my features adventure, it all began somewhere in april-ish of 2002 before i moved to nashville. i came to visit carligula and we went to a show at 12th and porter-- i was hooked. since then i've seen them about 5 times or so, the last one being at blue sky court 9.20.02.

Why am I such a midget? I need to stop standing next to JamieCarroll.

Just have to add my two cents worth..
Not trying to brag, in fact, its probably a bit sad, but i think i've seen the features more than anyone other than maybe Rory. JamieCarrol will vouch for me.

First Show: September '99 at The Boro. Can't remember who they played with. Opened with Pay to Think. I've been a fan ever since.

Best show: The Monsters of Pop Show, definitely. It was 2000 cause the 2001 show was at 328.

Best show as a roadie that no one else saw: I seem to remember a Smith's Olde Bar show going pretty well.

Most sparse crowd i've ever seen on the road: The Star Bar sometime in 2000. Played to the other band and two bartenders.

Luke, you are full of shit. Welcome back.

That's probably true. Maybe even more than Rory. I mean...even Rory didn't get put on the cover of the friggin' EP.

My favorite features concert "memory" is the show they played at tucker theater (mtsu) in 1997. during the build up intro of the first song, the curtain rose. that's when i realized they were bona-fide rockstars! now they need to go ahead and take-over the freakin' world. and hey, this is like totally my first post here. this whole internet thing still scares me but i'm workin on-it.

my first show was that reel big fish show at main street. it seems like they made a lot of fans at that show. i was very happy when i found out they were local. armani & your smile were my favorites. not many people remember their days of synchronized dancing. roger was chubby too. oh...and welcome to the board ben slack.

(Edited by exliontamer at 8:54 am on Oct. 8, 2002)

Wow, Ben Slack comes to the board and immediately after that, we get a post from the mysterious exliontamer. Maybe the glory days aren't over!

Don't forget the return of Roadie.

I think this board has been through some slower days in recent months, especially compared to its exciting beginning, but I think it has been much more pleasant and worth reading in very recent times.

Yeah, i suppose "school is back in session"... or something like that...

it was the NEA back then. and i, too, was there.

Man, I'm getting corrected left and right here! Thanks for keeping me humble, sina.

That show was pretty great, though, because Fluid Oz. played right before them. Also, Matt kept breaking strings and eventually he had to rely on the crowd to fill in with the proper claps, etc.

(Edited by carligula at 12:18 pm on Oct. 9, 2002)

Actually, Carl, if you're referring to the show that happened in October of 2001 (last year), it WAS called 2NMC, and you are correct. Last year was the first year that it was called 2NMC. The show was October 12, 2001 at 328 Performance Hall. The lineup was Fluid Ounces/the Features/Self. The whole night kicked serious ass. Here is a thread about that night.

I'm not sure when the first time I saw them was...it was a long time ago. I think it was spring of '95. It was at the coffee shop/record store above the bike shop in murfreesboro (the coffee shop closed soon thereafter due to supposedly deviant and illegal goings-on). Does anyone remember the name of that place?? Chameleion Cafe maybe?? Initially, I thought they were, um, ok. But I could tell that there was something different and cool about them. I saw them a couple of months later at the boro and I decided I didn't like the band too much. Nothing really to do with talent but because all the girls in the place were right up front gushing over the band and it really hindered me from getting laid. Alas, I saw them again and couldn't hide the excitement of seeing a great band emerging.

Weirdest Show: '98(i think) at Graham Central Station
Coolest show: saw them open for Spoon in Austin, TX. i was there representin' wmts and mtsu paid for my trip! the bartender found out that we were from the same town as the Features and gave me and my friends free drinks the rest of the night because he loved the band so much.

Wow.

What year was that?

So the mysterious you finally joins our little conversations...

Strangely enough, you have joined us and only gone up 10 points on the mysterious scale.

Thank you ms. carroll. It feels good to be right every once in awhile.

When I first started seeing the Features, I noticed the overwhelming ratio of chicks to guys. I was always impressed. I think it had to do with Matt and Rollum's strong appeal to the fairer sex. Lately, though, guys seem to outnumber the girls at the shows. Maybe they can "sense" that Matt's married now so they don't bother coming out.

I will agree whole-heartedly that Matt and Rollum are very very attractive men, but I must profess my love for Parrish. He's always the highlight of the show and his fahion is on the up and up. Snappy shirts are the way to my heart.

It is true that I have come to the realization that Matt is married and has children. This has not effected my love for him, though. Just because I can't have him doesn't mean I can't love him.
It should be noted that my love for him isn't what brings me to shows. What gets me there is my love for their music as well as their great performances.

yes yes! and dont forget roger! reoooww! these are just some damn fine sexy men. but i realize they are attached and i respect and like their women so i will back down now. i justed wanted to include the other sexy men of the band.

rowwwr indeed. lest we forget roger.

roger is hot, but leaves something lacking in the sack. rollum on the other hand-LOOK OUT!-he's a fucking minx. whips, leather gloves, gags, you get it.

i am in total agreement with you, iwantelvis. parrish definitely holds the KEY to my heart... ! but then again, there is something about those crazy eyes of matt's that i just can't ignore... and you can't you wrong with a little R & R. heck, just color me indecisive.

(Edited by HaveSomeSoma at 9:37 pm on Oct. 10, 2002)

Maybe the number of males has increased because there are a growing number of young men like me whose homo-erotic fantasies are played out in seeing Matthew Pelham.

Oh yeah--I like the new avatar, iwantelvis. Mike Mills is another man to whom I have a strange attraction, but I can't see REM as much as the Features.

I was just going to ask: "Is that post-Bill Berry Mike Mills or Dana Carvey as Garth Algar?"

Mike Mills: one of the most relevant bass players EVER.

(Edited by jamiecarroll at 8:43 am on Oct. 12, 2002)

Yes he is.

My Mike Mills? story...

I've always wanted to meet a member of REM in person, and I always would've preferred it to be Mike or Pete.

In 2000 I was in Knoxville at a Sonic Youth show, and there was a man standing at the lip of the stage during Sonic Youth show, and he looked just like Mike Mills. I kept looking at this guy during the whole performance and then started thinking, "Well, SY and REM are friends and have collaborated on several projects. He lives just down a ways in Athens. Why wouldn't it be Mills?" I became more sure the more I watched this guy.

After the show I build up courage and walk down to the front of the Tennessee Theater to see for sure. The guy is still standing there. I talk to him about the show and ask him about the video he was making. As a gigantic roadie for SY is telling me to leave that area, I ask,

"So, has anyone ever told you you look like Mike Mills?"

He shrugged and said a few times.

I turned away and heard him and the guy with him cackling.

I'll never know for sure.

Mike Mills Story #2:

My sister's boyfriend lives in Athens. He used to install cable modems. He went to a house to install one. Upon entering, he sees a beautiful piano (Elton John's) and various other rock artifacts. He goes in to meet the guy. It's MIke Mills. He installs the modem. Mike invites him to stay for awhile. They end up playing video games. He has the servive invoice framed on his wall. I was insanly jeaous. He's my favorite and him and Bill are the only members I would ever want to encounter. Just thought I'd share. And Mike Mills will always be relevant.

I would be terrified to meet Peter Buck. He seems very intimidating, and like he might be an asshole to you if you even slightly interrupted him. Any other members of REM seem like they'd be nice guys, though.

thelawnwrangler met Mike Mills. I'm jealous of anyone that has met Mike Mills.

There is that side of Peter Buck that seems a bit intimidating....who knows? He might get drunk and beat the crap out of you on an airplane.

He's the one who does the most interviews though, and he always seems like a wealth of info and seems quite personable. For some reason, because they're not just ultra ultra famous, I could imagine myself just walking through the streets of downtown Nashville and running into Mills or Buck.

No one has mentioned wanting to meet Michael Stipe. Stipe says he can be very personable to fans if an actual fan walks up and not someone who just recognizes somebody famous. The trouble for him is discerning the difference.

i've only seen them twice, because they don't like to come to memphis.

i should move to naish-vull.......

phil-welcome. is that sam ashworth on your avatar?

i did meet mike mills at a posies show in nashville. he was the person who inspired me to play bass a young teen. i felt honored to pass on such information to him. however, i think smee has a better mike mills story. didn't he ask you where he could score some blow or ecstacy? perhaps it was someone else, though i think it was you .

no, actually that is a picture of myself. if you go to my website (below) you can see the picture in more detail. i actually hadn't heard of mr. ashworth.

A friend of mine was in line at a Starbucks in a New York airport and he thinks he sees Michael Stipe in front of him. He finally goes up to him and asks, "Hey, do you listen to REM?" Michael is really surprised at this question and kind of shrugs and says "yeah." Then my friend says "So... you're that guy from REM, aren't you?" And he said that he was and signed my friend's receipt. True story.

Will

For me this is because he told Rolling Stone that the Beatles were irrelevant back in the early 90s - pompous ass.

My friend back home ... his mom used to date Mike Mills.

That's funny, LW...it really does look like him.

(Edited by jamiecarroll at 1:29 am on Oct. 14, 2002)

LW...wasn't there a quote by Seth Timbs in the 2000 or so Musician's Atlas that said something to the effect of, "You seem to meet a drunk woman in every bar in the south who 'used to date Bill Berry.'"?

Hlarious! I love that man. What is this 'musician's atlas' of which you speak, and how can I see/acquire one, or at least see the Seth Timbs quotes???

The Musician's Atlas is a publication put out every year with information for bands - club addresses, music festival info, radio station contact info, etc, for the entire US. It also has some "special interest" pieces thrown in - little interviews with bands and whatnot. They sell it at bookstores, and it costs about $20. I don't have the one with the FlOz piece in it any more, it must have been the 1999 or 2000 edition. The piece was just Seth talking about the nuances of touring America's bars and clubs.

yeah jc, that was funny stuff. what's sad is that it's probably true. i heard that jim henson studios offered bill berry's eyebrows their own show on pbs, perhaps just a rumor though.

eyebrowS? as in plural? He has two?

The brow caused the aneurism.
The brow caused Bill to leave the band.

I heard something along the line of offering the brow its own PBS show, but they mainly wanted Bill Berry to join Sesame Street and play Bert. He was holding out for his own show last I heard...

Bill Berry is a hay farmer....sorry that is just too funny to me. But I ride the short bus