The Feelies were on fire at Night 2 of their Rough Trade run (review, setlists, video)

There was a point during The Feelies second set on Saturday night (5/4), maybe around “Too Far Gone” or “Away,” when I wondered if there was a better show happening anywhere in the world at that exact moment than what I was seeing. Some 40 years into their career, Glenn Mercer, Bill Million, Brenda Sauter, Stanley Demeski and Dave Weckerman are still capable of real magic and heat. They were truly on fire, and having a lot of fun, during that second set of revved-up classics, and the Rough Trade crowd (which include which included people who flew in from other countries to see them as the band doesn’t really tour) was right there with them.

This was the second night of their now–annual three-show spring run at Brooklyn’s Rough Trade, and they eased into things with a first set of some of their more laid-back songs like “Time Will Tell,” “Higher Ground” and “The High Road,” which still featured some blistering solos from Mercer and percussionist Weckerman’s endless bag of tricks, including castanets, tambourines, woodblocks, bells, old keyboards and more. It was mellow enough to lull you into forgetting the burners they still had in their pocket, which they would unleash in that second set.

The Feelies are known for their marathon sets, but on Saturday night they really went the extra mile, playing four encores — which included covers of Wire’s “The 15th,” The Velvet Underground’s “All Tomorrow’s Parties” (with Brenda on lead), and a final encore of The Beatles’ “She Said” and Rolling Stones’ “Paint it Black.” What a great show.

The Feelies wrap up their Rough Trade run tonight (5/5) and, as it’s a Sunday, they’re starting earlier tonight with an 8 PM set time. Tickets are still available and you should go if you’re in town. They’ll also play Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival in June.

I don’t have the exact setlist from Saturday, but it differed quite a bit from Night 1. Friday’s setlist and a few videos from Friday and Saturday, are below.

UPDATE: Saturday’s setlist is below.

SETLIST: The Feelies @ Rough Trade 5/4/2019
first set:
When Company Comes
Recognition
The Undertow
Time Will Tell
For Now
Invitation
Let’s Go
The High Road
Here Before (live debut)
Should Be Gone
Nobody Knows
On The Roof
Original Love

second set:
On And On
Too Much
Deep Fascination
Higher Ground
Two Rooms
The Final Word
Away
Time Is Right
Forces at Work
Doin’ It Again
Too Far Gone
Raised Eyebrows
Crazy Rhythms

Encore:
The 15th (Wire cover)
Slipping (Into Something)

Encore 2:
All Tomorrow’s Parties (The Velvet Underground cover)
Fa Ce-La

Encore 3:
Gone, Gone, Gone
Loveless Love

Encore 4:
She Said She Said (The Beatles cover)
Paint It Black (The Rolling Stones cover)

SETLIST: The Feelies @ Rough Trade 5/3/2019 (via)
Set 1:
When Company Comes
Recognition
Egyptian Reggae (Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers cover)
The Undertow
It’s Only Life
For Now
Pass the Time
Original Love
Should Be Gone
On the Roof

Set 2:
Gone, Gone, Gone
Too Much
Deep Fascination
Higher Ground
The Final Word
Away
Loveless Love
Doin’ It Again
Sooner or Later
Too Far Gone
Forces at Work
Raised Eyebrows
Crazy Rhythms

Encore:
All Tomorrow’s Parties (The Velvet Underground cover)
Fa Ce-La
Funtime (Françoise Hardy & Iggy Pop cover) (tribute to Susan Springfield)
I Wanna Be Your Dog (The Stooges cover)
In Between (Reprise)