![An Evening with "Cake" - The Ritz, Manchester [Live]](http://hangout.altsounds.com/geek/gars/images/2/1/5/7/0/cake_by_divagation.jpg)
![An Evening with "Cake" - The Ritz, Manchester [Live]](http://hangout.altsounds.com/altthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fhangout.altsounds.com%2Fgeek%2Fgars%2Fimages%2F2%2F1%2F5%2F7%2F0%2Fcake_by_divagation.jpg&w=500&h=500&zc=1&q=70){kind=small}
Spread the Social Love:
An evening of country folk, blues rock and funk. An evening of cars and women. An evening of comedy and music. An Evening With Cake.
This week the Sacramento C.A. alternative rock ensemble were dishing out their fine blend of country folk and funky rock at The Ritz, Manchester, to a packed-out crowed all hungry for Cake. Thankfully the sound quality of The Ritz has drastically improved since it's refurbishment which kept those funky bass licks reverberating all the way through it's famously spring loaded dance floor. The band had with them no support act and instead played a two part set with an intermission between the two. The first set saw more tracks from the new record Showroom of Compassion while the second half we were exposed to the more rootinist-tootinist shit-kicker tracks from the far side of Atlantic Ocean.
Opening the show was an ostentatious three - four minute intro of synth that really only belongs at the start of 80's T.V. game shows or, evidently, as the preamble for a Cake show. Although it did prove confusing for some in crowd but most seemed to understand the jest of it all. Kicking off the set, once the stage had been graced by the band, was trumpet player Vince DiFiore's introduction to "Sad Songs and Waltzes" from the Fashion Nugget album of 1996, followed by the funky "Opera Singer". Then to massive applause, from the Prolonging The Magic album (probably their most famous record) lead-singer John McCrea introduced in his characteristic sarcasm and wit "Satan is My Motor" to where he and the crowd sang the chorus harmonising between himself and the crowd. Continuing with motor references, Satan was followed with a county jazz gem "Stick Shifts and Safety Belts" which saw a few people lashing out the Boot Scooting Baby dance.
Before the intermission Cake went on to play four tracks in a row from the new album. The volume of such new tracks being played in a four part block was little heavy to bear even for the seasoned Cake fan and it appeared to loose a few of the more fair-weather fans in the fray. But this said, the new tracks appear heavier than what had proceeded it with more rock and funk than country or blues but still shake it up Cake style. "Mustache Man (Wasted)" in particular proved quite the crowd pleaser.
Opening the second part of the set with the beautiful folk classic "Mexico", ears throughout the crowd perked up for this another cracker from the Prolonging The Magic album which was soon followed by the sing-a-long "Guitar" from the same album. We were then treated to a short arboreal lecture and a competition to win the dyeing plum tree, that's right, a plum tree that sat on stage beside guitarist Xan McCurdy. Now in the final throws of the show Cake hit us with "Ruby Sees All" from their debut 1994 record Motorcade of Generosity and ending on their heaviest weighing contender from the Prolonging album "Never There". As soon as those first words were spoken, “I need your arms around me, I need to feel your touch”, the crowd erupted and were not so much singing this song but screaming it.
The three track encore began with "War Pigs". Regrettably, the crowd did not warm to this heavy rock song as much as their more funk numbers like "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" which followed. A real crowd pleaser, a funky as funk sarcastic homage to women everywhere in Short Skirts and Long Jackets who try just a little too hard. Finally ending the whole show with "The Distance", a heavy funk track that spans the genre spectrum from country rock to hip-hop with an almost Rage Against the Machine feel to it. Hell of an ender.
A flawless show from exceedingly talented musicians and song writers. Ditching the support for the sake of a two part set worked perfectly as the first half saw to warm us up and then be blown over by comedy and music all served so well balanced with immaculate execution. Everyday should end with An Evening With Cake.
This week the Sacramento C.A. alternative rock ensemble were dishing out their fine blend of country folk and funky rock at The Ritz, Manchester, to a packed-out crowed all hungry for Cake. Thankfully the sound quality of The Ritz has drastically improved since it's refurbishment which kept those funky bass licks reverberating all the way through it's famously spring loaded dance floor. The band had with them no support act and instead played a two part set with an intermission between the two. The first set saw more tracks from the new record Showroom of Compassion while the second half we were exposed to the more rootinist-tootinist shit-kicker tracks from the far side of Atlantic Ocean.
Opening the show was an ostentatious three - four minute intro of synth that really only belongs at the start of 80's T.V. game shows or, evidently, as the preamble for a Cake show. Although it did prove confusing for some in crowd but most seemed to understand the jest of it all. Kicking off the set, once the stage had been graced by the band, was trumpet player Vince DiFiore's introduction to "Sad Songs and Waltzes" from the Fashion Nugget album of 1996, followed by the funky "Opera Singer". Then to massive applause, from the Prolonging The Magic album (probably their most famous record) lead-singer John McCrea introduced in his characteristic sarcasm and wit "Satan is My Motor" to where he and the crowd sang the chorus harmonising between himself and the crowd. Continuing with motor references, Satan was followed with a county jazz gem "Stick Shifts and Safety Belts" which saw a few people lashing out the Boot Scooting Baby dance.
Before the intermission Cake went on to play four tracks in a row from the new album. The volume of such new tracks being played in a four part block was little heavy to bear even for the seasoned Cake fan and it appeared to loose a few of the more fair-weather fans in the fray. But this said, the new tracks appear heavier than what had proceeded it with more rock and funk than country or blues but still shake it up Cake style. "Mustache Man (Wasted)" in particular proved quite the crowd pleaser.
Opening the second part of the set with the beautiful folk classic "Mexico", ears throughout the crowd perked up for this another cracker from the Prolonging The Magic album which was soon followed by the sing-a-long "Guitar" from the same album. We were then treated to a short arboreal lecture and a competition to win the dyeing plum tree, that's right, a plum tree that sat on stage beside guitarist Xan McCurdy. Now in the final throws of the show Cake hit us with "Ruby Sees All" from their debut 1994 record Motorcade of Generosity and ending on their heaviest weighing contender from the Prolonging album "Never There". As soon as those first words were spoken, “I need your arms around me, I need to feel your touch”, the crowd erupted and were not so much singing this song but screaming it.
WATCH: 'THE DISTANCE'
The three track encore began with "War Pigs". Regrettably, the crowd did not warm to this heavy rock song as much as their more funk numbers like "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" which followed. A real crowd pleaser, a funky as funk sarcastic homage to women everywhere in Short Skirts and Long Jackets who try just a little too hard. Finally ending the whole show with "The Distance", a heavy funk track that spans the genre spectrum from country rock to hip-hop with an almost Rage Against the Machine feel to it. Hell of an ender.
Everyday should end with An Evening With Cake.
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