I saw Silversun Pickups after the Pandemic a few years back at The Sylvee
Silversun Pickup – The Sylvee – 11/2/2021
and it was amazing, so the notion of seeing them at The Majestic, a smaller more intimate venue was very exciting.
Note. All my pictures and Youtube video ended up with the wrong date. The show was 2/26 but I think I labelled them all 2/28. Ah well.
I figured, if I get there early and can get down front… amazing, but if I get there and there is a huge line, then up to the balcony for comfy padded bench. I allowed this notion since I have seen them before, but as the day grew closer… I knew if there was any way to get down front… that’s where I’d be.
When I arrived in Madison and parked and walked to The Majestic, you can see in my marquee shot, there was a line in BOTH directions. From the entrance door AND the side door for what must have been a VIP line. Ugh.
I think I was about 20th in line by the entrance door, and I had a suspicion that I would be on the couches. When it was just before doors, the VIP line disappeared. Then the doors opened and we filed in.
To my surprise, the people at the front of the stage were not packed and so I made my way down there. There was an incredibly tall man standing back from the stage a bit in front of the only remaining space at the rail. After it seemed clear that he had no intention of closing the gap, I politely asked if I could slide up into the spot. He said sure and that he wouldn’t have any problem seeing over me… which was in fact true. Anyway, thanks tall guy!
Otis and Bea and Amy got in and made their way down and eventually filled in near me and mugged for a shot. You can see how packed it was behind us for the sold out show!
None of us knew who the openers were (though it IS on the tour poster) and so when they came out we had no idea what to expect.
Turns out they were called “Hello Mary” and they turned out to be really good.
I couldn’t hear the lyrics very well due to the tradeoff of being stage front (with speakers above and beside me, but the vibe was good and the music was great. There was a nice mix of fast and slow jams and they killed it.
Brian and Joe were in one of the reserved spots watching as Hello Mary did their thing.
When their set was over, the crew kicked in and started breaking down the stage and swapping equipment for Silversun.
Right in front of me was the setlist for the bass player (who is not the original bass player but was great!) and no one seemed to be picking it up and so I used my phone to extend my reach and hauled it in.
Then the stage was set and we were waiting for the Silversun pickups!
A setlist was taped down near me so I got a pic. Some don’t like seeing the setlist before the show, but I do.
The packed (but respectful) crowd went nuts when they came out and launched into “Growing Old Is Getting Old” under a horrible full red light.
But soon the lighting changed to a little less aggressive.
Brian was wearing his tuxedo pants and I was glad to be down front for some great pics. Nikki was on the opposite side. Joe was to my left a bit behind a bank of keyboards.
The show was amazing and I was right to think that being in a more intimate venue would be fantastic. At one point, Brian came to the edge of the stage right in front of me and used one hand to lean on my shoulder for a moment. That’s close. At first I thought maybe he was falling or off balance, but no, he was just connecting.
Close.
I have to say I enjoyed the live playing of the new songs that they peppered in with all the classics.
The Hello Mary girls were in the audience near us and digging the show too.
The played through Nighlight and then left the stage for a bit then came back to launch into “Three Seed” and we were off.
As we approached “Lazy Eye” I decide to record to add a video in here. This was the last song and they did the typical walk off at the end.
You can see in the video (almost) my getting a fist bump from Nikki as she walk out. I was bummed we were at the last song, but the show was really good and I am so glad I got there early enough to be down front.
As Otis, Bea and Amy regrouped and talked about the show there was a frenzy for set lists and the one in front of me was ripped into pieces by a short woman who basically climbed onstage to get it.
As the crowd wandered away and the crew were breaking things down one guy came from the drum kit with a set list in his hand. I was the only one looking so I reached out and he gave it to me. Score!
Then it was off to the Merch table were I bought the “Hello Mary” vinyl. All 3 of the ladies in the band were there and signed in silver sharpie which is hard to see.
Later I (and Otis who also bought a copy) puzzled over the names that were signed. The bass player on the album was a Mikeala, but that was NOT the signature we saw. Upon some internet searching it seems Mikeala is no longer in the band. So I asked the new bass player to sign the album she wasn’t even on. Sorry! Thanks for signing anyway. Still trying to find out who she is!
I said so long to the Otis clan and headed to the parking garage some blocks away.
When I got there though and got out my wallet to pay the parking lot fee at the machine… uh, where was my card? O M G. I hotfooted it back to the venue imagining someone already buying a shopping spree with my card, but when they let me back in grudgingly it was laying on the floor in front of the Merch table. Whew!
A mere hour and a half drive back to Belmont and I was home safe.
Great night!!
The Aural Retentive 