M Ward played a free show @ the World Trade Center

I was at 3 of the shows at the WTC and was severely disappointed by the M.Ward show. You mention the two drummers - to me this was the downfall of the show. Matt is a fantastic songwriter and vocalist and the two drummers were overkill. They offered nothing to the songs, and only made them cluttered and unnecessarily loud. Not to mention the female drummer was consistently late. The sound was definitely too bassy as well. I agree - the bassist/guitarist was fantastic. A real pro. Matt - please ditch the two drummers, you're too good and have no need for two. Hold Steady and Old 97s were great.

M. Ward looked drunk and the playing was sloppy. Not a bad deal for a free show, though.

to clarify, it wasn't bv that mentioned the two drummers, so I think that first comment should be for the other blogger.

i loved the two drummers, the girl was late? i didnt notice that. I think they were better than Allman Brothers even. I thought they had a fantastic sound. M.Ward he made a lot of new fans with that show.

should add, victoria williams was the second band and she opened with a prayer for the 9/11 and commented how hard it was to play there for her considering what happened or words to that effect. I thought it was a nice touch.

When she did "Crazy Mary" i couldnt help it, fucking tears just came, that song just hits me in the heart.

I thought the show was great. Loved the two drummers, and the girl never seemed late to me. When I saw that two kits were set-up, I fully expected it to be a mistake, but it worked. Added a lot to the show, actually.

I don't think Matt was drunk. I've seen him before, and that's just sort of how he moves. He seemed pretty tight to me.

Anybody else seeing Craig Finn sitting in the VIP section, reading a fucking book during the set? If he wanted to read a book, he could have stayed home. Nobody was making him be there.

Also, I recognize the bassist from somewhere as well. Anybody know who he is?

The girl drummer is Rachel Blumberg, who also plays in Bright Eyes and Norfolk & Western and used to drum for the Decemberists. She wasn't late once.

Matt wasn't drunk, I know this for a fact. (he might have been later that night though)

Craig Finn was sitting behind me in the VIP section and I was totally annoyed by the book reading.

The older looking bassist/guitarist is Mike Coykendall, a fantastic musician from Portland who fronts his own eponymous band.

The other one is Adam Selzer, a well-known producer in Portland, operator of Type Foundry Studios, who also fronts the band Norfolk & Western.

thanks for that info, i saw the finn look-alike in the vip and thought it cannot be true...

and to reiterate M. Ward pulled off a great show. people were walking away with nothing but positive things to say.

dont know what the hell you guys are talking about. by far the worst m. ward show i've seen. every other musician on the stage subtracted from his sound. he needs to stay solo or get a band (with less than 2 drummers) that isnt trying to "rock out" on every song.

It was my favorite M. Ward show yet, and I've seen a LOT of them.

I didn't know she was the Bright Eyes drummer - I saw them the first night at Town Hall - and I thought the two drummers were awful there too. That show was terrible except for Lou Reed. Besides the lateness point - I can be a little perfectionist in that area - there is NO reason for two drummers except to show people "hey look! I have two drummers." 3/4ths of the time they were playing the same beat - so wtf is the point of having two? Love Matt with a band - just not 2 drummers.

i don't have a problem with 2 drummers (but really don't see the point for m. ward), but rachel blumberg's drumming just bums me out. I've seen her with m. ward and bright eyes this year, and each time she just wails on the drums- no dynamic range at all, no matter what the song she just plays LOUD. i'm sure she is a lovely woman but it really put a damper on these shows for me.

exactly - well put j pa. Totally distracting/annoying.

i thought she was the best part of the band, couldnt take my eyes off of her. she had touch too, drums are one of the main things i listen for in a show and she was really rolling with it. she had subtlety AND power. a lot better then most pop band drummers out there. i wont name names.

name the names!!

what book was craig finn reading?

Setlist:

Poison Cup
Four Hours in Washington
Cosmopolitan Pap
To Go Home
Post War
You Still Believe In Me
Chinese Translation
Bean Vine Blues #2 (John Fahey)
Magic Trick
Right in the Head
Flaming Heart
Spoonful (Howlin Wolf)
Helicopter
e:
Big Boat

I'm pretty sure Spoonful was the Howlin Wolf cover. He introduced it as a Howlin Wolf cover and I know he played that one on his most recent toru, but I'm not positive. There was also an jam after Flaming Heart that I'm not sure if it was an extended ending or another instrumental. Overall I thought it was a great show. The sound outside was a little off at time, typical for an outdoor show, but i thought everyone sounded great overall. I had a lot of fun.

I thought M. looked like he didn't want to be there...

How positive are you about that setlist? I could have sworn it was Duet #3 instead of You Still Believe In Me and I thought he played Neptune's Net as well.

I was at the show, and it certainly sounded like "You Still Believe In Me" to me.

if you want good sound there id suggest getting to about that spot on the curb close to the middle. It was pretty freaking loud too, both nights. Id suggest ear plugs for sure if you plan to be closer than the sound board.

Finn appeared to be reading a book called "Rat Pack."

To the dude that thinks Rachel has no feel - I'm astonished. I think there are lots of drummers out there that are better than she on a purely technical level, but few that can match the feel and dynamic range she puts into her drumming. I realize that I made a slight mistake above - Rachel played percussion for Bright Eyes, and Janet Weiss was doing the main drumming (now SHE is a loud one!).

Anyway, the sound at 7WTC was just LOUD all around too.

I wrote down the setlist in my cellphone notes as it went along. I'm pretty postitive he played You Still Believe in Me and def positive he didn't play Duet. Neptune's Net I'm not sure sure about. Maybe that's the jam I was thinking of?

Anyone out there get a setlist?

Yes on "Still Believe," no on "Neptune."

Thanks, I stand corrected. Wish I had the covers so I could throw the whole thing into a playlist.

Does anyone know what the CD was they played before M. came on? I think it was Blind Willie McTell - it was great.

Fahey cover is on a tribute album. It's available on ITUNES.

i am the "blogger" who's comments were used in this article. i
thought the two drummers were a nice touch, but again i'm a sucker for
drums. i did notice the female drummer being a bit late at times, but
she certainly added to the show. it wasn't the best show i've seen by
any means, but it was one of the better free shows. matt did look as
if he didn't want to be there. he did run to the bus after the set
(and probably only came back out because the annoying announcer guy
kept saying 'doing you want to see another song.') but...seeing Mike
Coykendall play and watching the suits walk out of their building with
looks of bewilderment made it totally worth it.

by the way, i rode the train back to brooklyn with craig finn. used
to think he was a cool guy. who does that?

maybe m. ward's music makes a really great soundtrack to whatever his book was? maybe craig's seen him before a few times? so quick to judge...

then listen to it at home. don't go to a show and read a fuckin' book in the vip section. just sayin.

I bet it was Shawn Levy's "Rat Pack Confidential."

http://www.amazon.com/Rat-Pack-Confidential-Frank-Sammy/dp/0385495765/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-5801150-0351349?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190263362&sr=1-1

maybe it was a really good book?

and btw the "annoying announcer guy" was Michael Dorf, just fyi, here is his resume: http://www.michaeldorf.com/

I believe the Howlin' Wolf cover was "Howlin' For My Darlin.'"

I htink you are right about Howlin. Thanks!