Mike Doughty - Seattle

Traveling the short distance from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. is the least a Canadian should do to see Mike Doughty. For $13 (mind the exchange rate), you get to see one of the truly unique artists of the last decade perform close enough to where you’re standing that he can hear exactly what you’re saying. The ramblin’ man, the guy with the funky voice, the always jazzy and one and only Boy Du Jour as proclaimed by Bust magazine at a tiny club in Seattle one night only? You better believe we were there to cover that show.

Admittedly, I was, *gulp, late for the show. At about 8:15 with doors at 8:00 I was just discovering that East Pike street, and Pike street were totally separate entities, and my photographer and I had parked a considerable distance away. But we had already paid for parking, and the show wouldn’t start until at least 9:00 anyway. So no hurry, we walk.

When we get to the block where Neumos club is in Seattle, there’s a mob of people on the street. Not a line up, no organized mass here, from far away it looks like a bunch of people standing together. Then it dawns on us.

Mike Doughty, the legendary voice from Soul Coughing now turned solo artist was just performing in the street.

Armed with only an acoustic guitar, he was outside before the show with about 150 – 200 fans singing along and taking pictures. Many of you have yet to hear of Doughty, but here he is among many, many, friends. His soundman stood in front of him with a recording device for the whole impromptu performance, one that will not be forgotten by fans and newcomers alike.

Once inside, this club that supposedly holds less than 600 people must have been holding more that 1000. I’ve never felt like such a sardine at a show before, there literally wasn’t room for anyone else.

Kelly Buchanan the opener was all right, but the crowd was clearly there to see Doughty. She played inspired renditions of the Pixies “Where Is My Mind,” and the Misfits “Skull.” Alone on her own, Buchanan is a solid performer. Her lyrics are extremely poignant, and it’s always cool to see the honesty in a low-key performer.

As soon as Doughty hit the stage the place went dead quiet to listen. He opened with “Bustin’ Up A Starbux,” from his latest album Haughty Melodic. He even had a keyboardist with him, a one Handsome Dan from Canada, who really filled out songs like “American Car,” and “White Lexus,” making them stand out amongst others.

He likes to interact with the audience and his responses are quick witted. His presence on stage is totally received by an audience that truly loves his material. He’ll ask what song he should play, and then tell you honestly, “No, not playing that,” or “Yeah maybe later tonight. But ultimately it should be left up to me cause I’m the Boy Du Jour.”

His set list was very impressive, including songs from his days in Soul Coughing, like “True Dreams of Wichita,” “Soft Serve,” and “St. Louise Is Listening.” Other songs from Haughty Melodic included “Unsingable Name,” “Madeline And Nine,” “Looking at the World From the Bottom of a Well,” “Grey Ghost,” and “Sunken eyed Girl.” Other songs of note were “27 Jennifers” and his encore cover of “The Gambler.”

He must have had a full day of being a musical hero. He proclaimed early in the show, against the background victory sounds from Handsome Dan, the days of “Small Rock” are over, and the time for “Medium Rock” has come. Any person attending the Seattle show could only assume whatever “Large Rock” would be to Doughty could only be a musical concept we probably couldn’t even grasp.

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