Grant Lee Buffalo - Royal Festival Hall

Went with Justin to catch one of a handful of Grant Lee Buffalo reformation gigs. Having seen lead-singer Grant Lee Phillips live a number of times (including a fantastic show at Bush Hall last November), I didn’t have massively high expectations for this one. I was excited to see one of my old-favorite bands playing together - but I figured I'd just get to hear a few more oldies in the set, but the show would be pretty much like Grant Lee solo.

I was very wrong and the trio of Grant Lee Phillips, bassist/keyboards Paul Kimble and drummer Joey Peters clearly comprise far more than the sums of their individual parts.

Although things started slowly with 'The Shining Hour' and 'Wish You Well', by the third song - a blistering 'Jupiter and Teardrop' the show really began to take flight.

The sound the trio got was incredible with Phillips using a bank of effects pedals to conjure blistering guitar solos from his acoustic. It was also interesting to see the dynamic between the band members, with bassist Kimble clearly leading the ensemble and calling song changes during a few songs.

As expected the show was very strong on material from their stunning 1993 debut 'Fuzzy' (8 of the albums 11 songs got played), there was also a lot from their second album 'Mighty Joe Moon', with just a couple from '1996's 'Copperopolis'. Disappointingly (although perhaps understandably given it's the only album made after the departure of bassist Paul Kimble) no material from the fantastic final Grant Lee Buffalo album 'Jubilee' was performed.

Full Setlist:
The Shining Hour
Wish You Well
Jupiter and Teardrop
Demon Called Deception
Lady Godiva and Me
Soft Wolf Tread
Stars n' Stripes
Bethlehem Steel
Honey Don't Think
Mockingbirds
Happiness
Sing Along
Drag
America Snoring
Fuzzy
Encore:
The Hook
Homespun
Mighty Joe Moon