New Year's Eve 2000: The Ironhorse Cafe Northampton, Ma.

It had been a long time since I'd seen NRBQ play a New Year's Eve show so I was more than thrilled when I heard they would be playing the Ironhorse to celebrate the new milleneum. Unfortunately, the few weeks leading up to the show found me feeling down in the dumps. I was under a lot of pressure at work and was just not my usually cheerful self.

As the show date got closer and closer, I found myself really needing to be at this event. I needed to feel good and seeing the 'Q' always seems to do that for me. The weatherman was predicting some big snow so I was feeling apprehensive about driving up to NoHo alone. I knew my friends Donna and Peter would be traveling up there from CT as well, so I decided to call Donna and see what her plans were.

Funny how life has it's way of always working out perfectly, even if it doesn't seem so at the time. Turns out she and Peter were unable to get a reservation at the hotel and she wasn't sure what their ticket status was. I told them we could have a sleepover party and share my room. I told her my thoughts on driving up to the show solo and we arranged to travel together. All was well with the world!

When we arrived at the club, the place was just packed! We were lucky to even get in (it's good to have connections:-) but we were off to the side for the first show. The usual suspects (and unusual suspects:-) were there, happily awaiting the boys' arrival. The first set was fantastic: (Lists by Fred Boak)

First show:
Come On, Let's
Go Rain at the Drive-In
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
Batman
Blame it on the World
If I Don't Have You
Hey Baby
Crazy Girl
Designated Driver
Welcome Back
Green Lights
Next Stop, Brattleboro
Sail On, Sail On
Tired of Your Permanent
Christmas Wish
Ain't it Allright
Captain Lou
The One & Only
Ridin' in My Car
Beautiful Sunday
RC Cola
Little Floater
I Love Her, She Loves Me
Auld Lang Syne

encore: Get Rhythm
Magnet
Happy New Year
Time To Put That Guitar Down

We didn't really think it could get much better for the second show but we were wrong. after Eric had the place cleared out, we took our seats right up front, center. I dragged some of the usual suspects w/me . . .Donna, Pete, Maia, Fred, Lisa, Jeff, Michelle, Larry, Harriet, and Bob and we must not forget Maia's amazing mom, Carol and her Singapore Slings! When I went downstairs to use the ladies room, I noticed mom and Dot Wiggin. Hmmmmm. . . would the Shaggs be performing tonight?

Second Show:
Puddin' Truck
Wild Weekend
Keep Lookin' for Tumbleweeds, Danny
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes/Outta My Head
That's Neat, That's Nice
Be Here Now
You Didn't Have To Be So Nice
Housekeeping
Come On, Let's Go
Over Your Head
Just Ain't Fair
Mellow Yellow
Too Much
I Want You Bad
Evil California
If I Don't Have You
Twist & Shout
Me & the Boys

a 15 minute break to celebrate midnight

Happy New Year
Auld Lang Syne
Right String, Wrong Yo-Yo
Hold Me Tight
Satisfaction
11 Bar Blues
There's a Kind of Hush
I'm Henry the VIII, I Am -sung by Northampton mogul Eric Suher (but he'll always be "Eric-the t-shirt guy" to us ;-))
Sea Cruise
Daddy-O

encore2:
Shake, Rattle & Roll

No Shaggs performance:-(

It was just one of those amazing nights where you're with good people having a blast! I would up calling some of my long distance 'Q' friends from my cel at the show to give them a little taste. We went back to the hotel and a while later, we nodded out.

Went to breakfast at a cool little joint across the street form the hotel and when we came back to the car, Terry was jump starting Dot Wiggin's van so we got o have a nice circle chat with her and her family and Terry. Then we hit the road!

Happy 'Q' Year Everyone!!


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