Warren Zevon Tribute

[mitchum]

Help

I have to play a Warren Zevon tribute show in a couple of weeks and I need a short setlist (5 songs) The configuration is female singer/guitarist and two guitarists using multi-effects, looping devices, steel guitar. I know that we will be playing "Charlie's Medicine" (have already recorded it for an unrelated release) and "Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School" (have a nice deconstruction worked out) I don't want to do any of the "rockers" since I'm not using a rhythm section (and there are plenty of bands on the bill who would rather do them)
Considering from the following:

"The Indifference of Heaven"
"Hasten Down The Wind"
"Carmelita"
"Mutineer"
"Splendid Isolation"
"Keep Me in Your Heart"
"Searching for a Heart"

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

thanks,
mitchum

[Whitacre D_WI]

1. I would actually go with a classic...

that folks haven't heard performed in the way you'll be performing it. Try "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" with no rhythm section. I bet you'd bring the house down.

[mitchum]

3. Nice suggestion...

I once saw him on a solo tour, and he threw "Dreidel, Dreidel" into "Roland"'s piano break. The sorta creepy thing is this will be taking place at the same theatre.
thanks

[Character Assassin]

2. Until you've heard 'The Sin' from Stand In The Fire, you haven't heard him

He was the business.

And I mean that in the truest sense of 'the business'.

[mitchum]

4. It is great

thanks

[leftofthedial]

5. no piano?

definitely "The Indifference of Heaven"
and "Keep Me in Your Heart"

How about "Accidentally Like a Martyr"?

[mitchum]

6. I don't want to touch "Accidentally Like a Martyr"...

It's my favorite Zevon song. And it's already exquisite (same for "Desperadoes Under The Eaves")
thanks

[GURUving]

7. don't miss this one from 2000

I had the shit till it all got smoked
I kept the promise till the vow got broke
I had to drink from the lovin' cup
I stood on the banks till the river rose up
I saw the bride in her wedding gown
I was in the house when the house burned down

I may be old and I may be bent
But I had the money till it all got spent
I had the money till they made me pay
Then I had the sense to be on my way
I had to stay in the underground
I was in the house when the house burned down

I was in the house when the house burned down
I met the man with the thorny crown
I helped Him carry his cross through town
I was in the house when the house burned down

I was in the house when the house burned down
I met the man with the thorny crown
I helped Him carry his cross through town
I was in the house when the house burned down

I had the shit till it all got smoked
I kept the promise till the vow got broke
I had to drink from the lovin' cup
I stood on the banks till the river rose up
I saw the bride in her wedding gown
I was in the house when the house burned down

[mitchum]

10. Ooh, that is a good one

thanks

[PDittie]

8. Carmelita, Hasten Down, and

Roland, as previously suggested.

Thanks for asking.

[mitchum]

11. all good ones

God, I hate making decisions

thanks

[DrWeird]

9. I always liked "Excitable Boy"

Reminds me of W.

Well, he went down to dinner in his Sunday best
Excitable boy, they all said
And he rubbed the pot roast all over his chest
Excitable boy, they all said
Well, he's just an excitable boy
He took in the four a.m. show at the Clark
Excitable boy, they all said
And he bit the usherette's leg in the dark
Excitable boy, they all said
Well, he's just an excitable boy
He took little Susie to the Junior Prom
Excitable boy, they all said
and he raped her and killed her, then he took her home
Excitable boy, they all said
Well, he's just an excitable boy
After ten long years they let him out of the Home
Excitable boy, they all said
And he dug up her grave and built a cage with her bones
Excitable boy, they all said
Well, he's just an excitable boy

[mitchum]

12. So do I...

but one of the "band" bands would probably be pissed for my snagging a song which really lends itself to "rocking out"

thanks

[Minstrel Boy]

13. my suggestion is relax, you can't go wrong.

The Zevon songbook is one of the strongest.

Though, since I can't help giving suggestions, from your list I think "Indifference of Heaven" and "Carmelita" would be especially interesting choices for your configuration.

Some others:

Veracruz
My Shit's Fucked Up
Tenderness on the Block
Boom Boom Mancini

[mitchum]

15. I could go wrong if I chose "Seminole Bingo"...

hard to believe that two very talented writers came up with that one!
It IS an incredibly strong songbook.
Thanks for "Tenderness on the Block" Never even occured to me (slapping the side of my head)

thanks

[mac56]

14. "Let Nothing Come Between You"

"For My Next Trick I'll Need A Volunteer"
And a second on "My Shit's Fucked Up"

[mitchum]

16. "Let Nothing Come Between You"

nice suggestion

thanks

[mitchum]

17. kick

and another great big THANK YOU for the suggestions

[peekaloo]

18. Mohammed's Radio

[mitchum]

19. But I would be letting the terrorists win!

That is a great song. I've always thought it was a fine example of Zevon's brilliance as a lyricist. The contemporary Mohammad (cabdriver? storeworker? never been able to tell) hearing the voices on the radio echoes The Prophet hearing Allah's voice coming from the cave. Stunning.
thanks

[mac56]

20. kick

Mitchum, have you determined a set list yet?

[mitchum]

23. Yeah, I think so

"Charlie's Medicine"
"Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner"
"Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School"
"The Indifference of Heaven"
"Keep Me in Your Heart"

and...
that Toby Keith song (just kidding)


but I'm still bad about changing my mind

thanks

[Bundbuster]

21. Lawyers, Guns, & Money

My alltime WZ fave..."the shit has hit the fan."

[mitchum]

22. But the rockers on the bill would kill me!

"Man, we're doing an awesome version of that, can't you just stick to the weird stuff?"
It is a great song, though

thanks

[KadeCarrion]

24. I'll send ZombyWoof on over here as soon as I see him

He's the one to ask!