Show Review: Tom Gabel | Knitting Factory, NYC | 11/20/08
All photos by Marisa Abaza
Tom Gabel finished his latest solo tour at NYC’s Knitting Factory last night. Going into it, I really just expected the Against Me! leader to play most of his new solo EP Heart Burns, with some AM! songs thrown in for good measure. In fact, I didn’t think I was going to make the show to begin with. I would have been very pissed off if that was the case, because this show proved to be incredible and totally went beyond my expectations.
When I arrived at the Knitting Factory, a drum set was set up on stage, so I immediately knew something was up. Maybe he was playing with a backing band? I would find out soon.
The first half of the set was the standard affair and consisted of a new song, which he wrote days before about a dream he had involving Bob Dylan. Gabel also played “Random Hearts,” “Amputations,” “Anna Is A Stool Pigeon,” “Harsh Realms,” Dylan’s “Wagon Wheel” and AM!’s “Joy.”
Then, it got really interesting. Granted, the set was going really well, but to have original AM! drummer Kevin Mahon join Tom on stage was something special. “This is the first time we’ve shared a stage in seven years,” Gabel stated as his former bandmate joined him. “We are Against Me!.” Then they were off.
It seemed a bit rigid at first, but soon, things were flying, including the audience. Gabel noted that the set was better than how they played back in the early days.
They hammered out the entirety of the Crime EP, along with the beloved “Shit Stroll” and a few others thrown in. This was the setlist many Against Me! fans have been waiting to see for quite some time. An amazing show. I really hope somebody filmed it because it needs to be seen.
More pictures and setlist after the jump.
Setlist from November 20th, 2008 at The Knitting Factory
“Untitled” - new song
“Random Hearts”
“Amputations”
“Joy”
“Harsh Realms”
“Anna is a Stool Pigeon”
“Wagon Wheel”
“Jordan’s First Choice”
“Tonight We’re Gonna Give It 35%”
“Walking is Still Honest”
“What We Worked For”
“Those Anarcho Punks Are Mysterious…”
“I Still Love You Julie”
“Shit Stroll”
“Impact”
“Ya’ll Don’t Wanna Step To Dis”
“Burn”
“We Did It All for Don”
“8 Full Hours of Sleep”
“Sink, Florida, Sink”
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I’m a huge fan of AM but i’m also one of the people who hasn’t loved (although hasn’t hated either) the last two records. I did however really like heart burns. I also think TG could have handles his recent decision about singing to a major better. Perhaps I feel this way because of the first show I saw after New Wave came out (AM with Cursive and Mastadon) where I was punched in the face by some Douchebag Jock for “bumping into his girl”
That being said, last night was the best AM show i’ve ever seen, and i’ve seen a few. Everytime i see them play I yell for them to play We did it all for Don, it never happens. It happened last night. The energy and the crowd was just amazing fans old and new really were in the spirit and it was a great time. Mischeif Brew was also great.
btw, nice site, check out mine (it’s not as good)
http://www.computersavage.net