Robyn Hitchcock & The Minus 3, 03 Mar 06, Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, OR setlist: (solo acoustic) The President / Visions Of Johanna (Bob Dylan) / Alright Yeah / Never Stop Bleeding / The Speed Of Things / Long Long Long (George Harrison) / (enter Minus 3, switch to electric) If You Were A Priest / Acid Bird / Madonna Of The Wasps / Ole Tarantula / Adventure Rocket Ship / Flesh Number 1 (Beatle Denis) / Chinese Bones / Somewhere Apart / Creeped Out American Girl / Sally Was A Legend / Underground Sun / Beautiful Queen // Driving Aloud / Cigarettes, Coffee, & Booze / Beware Of Darkness (George Harrison) / 8 Miles High (The Byrds) / I Wanna Destroy You /// Listening To The Higsons

In 1953, Robyn Hitchcock was born. He turned 53 today.

I have to laugh when I see Robyn forced to endure mundane things. He’s won a legion of fans by painting alternate realities for them in song; how funny would it be to see him at the gym running on the treadmill whilst watching Oprah?? Tonight’s banal event was getting a huge bunch of balloons for his birthday. Peter Buck tied them to Robyn’s guitar strap during the encore; Robyn had to break the uncomfortable reality of it by referring to them as “alien eggs”.

But that’s all the fun I can poke at Mssr. Hitchcock. Musically, they stunned. Catching Robyn & The Minus 3 on the penultimate night of a two-month tour could’ve meant that they were worn out and tired; instead we got tight and smokin’. The night benefitted greatly from surprise guest Sean Nelson (of Harvey Danger) on harmonies. And The Doug Fir was an excellent choice of venue. The Aladdin Theater (Robyn’s usual venue of choice) is much too majestic for the Supergroup that wants to be a Bar Band.

Here are some fave moments of the evening; thanks to the taper and to dimeadozen for hosting!

Minus 5 - Lies Of The Living Dead (live)

Robyn Hitchcock & The Minus 3 - Eight Miles High (live)

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