Las Vegas Weekly

Shellac live: Some thoughts and a setlist

(From left) Albini, Trainer and Weston, in the flesh in Las Vegas.

Photo: Spencer Patterson

Notes from Beauty Bar, Wednesday, October 19:

* Alice Cooper’s “Desperado” is still playing in the background when Steve Albini, Bob Weston and Todd Trainer launch into first song “Ghosts” without warning at 11:09 p.m. Best no-nonsense start to a show ever.

* The sound at Beauty Bar is better than it’s been at the last few “backyard” shows I’ve seen here. Albini’s guitar and Weston’s bass are spot-on. Wish Trainer’s drumming was louder. The other four times I’ve seen Shellac, his primal beats have been the overarching anchor. Tonight, they’re kinda muffled.

* Not particularly down with the new “pants” lyrics at the end of “Prayer to God.” That cut’s about as brutal as they come, so to finish it off by joking around about belt loops and across-the-ass lettering feels totally wrong. Which is exactly why Albini’s been doing it, I’m sure.

* It’s said jazz pianist Thelonious Monk played “between the keys.” That comes to mind as I listen to Shellac perform new tune “Riding Bikes.” At times, it seems there’s as much emphasis on the space between the notes as on those heavy notes themselves. I dig that.

* Albini complains of a Downtown “poop” smell on several occasions throughout the show. (I’m not noticing it ... does that mean I’ve lived here too long?) Overall, though, it seems he’ll leave feeling good about his “minimalist-rock” trio’s first-ever Vegas appearance. “It’s been very nice playing for you guys. You’re actually a very nice crowd,” he says. “We had no idea what to expect playing a show in Las Vegas ... I didn’t expect it to smell this much like poop.”

* Line of the night also goes to Albini, during one of the band’s between-song audience Q&A sessions. Q: “What’s the tall cymbal for?” A: It makes a noise if you hit it with a stick—just like you.”

* Of Shellac’s 17 performed tunes, four—including the fantastic “Dude, Incredible,” which begins with Albini playing an Eastern-sounding guitar lead—postdate most recent album Excellent Italian Greyhound, released in June 2007. How about a new LP, guys? Not like you don’t have easy access to some recording equipment ...

Shellac setlist:

“Ghosts”

“My Black Ass”

“You Came in Me” [new]

“Canada”

“Steady as She Goes”

“Compliant”

“Prayer to God”

“Riding Bikes” [new]

“Boycott”

“A Minute”

“Dude, Incredible”

“Squirrel Song”

“Killers”

“Porno Star

“The End of Radio”

“Copper”

“Spoke”