I assess the essence of the mess

CONCERT REVIEW: Mike Doughty
April 13, 2008
Mr. Small's Theatre, Pittsburgh

I recently gave Mike Doughty's Golden Delicious a mediocre review, but I can't stay mad at the guy. Onstage, the former Soul Coughing frontman just knows how to get it done.

Last night, Doughty's enthusiasm seemed a bit low, but he still delivered a solid performance. He avoided the trap of playing too many songs from his most recent album, offering a near-perfect mix of older tunes, new stuff from Golden Delicious, and Soul Coughing classics. "Fort Hood" and "I Just Want the Girl in the Blue Dress to Keep on Dancing" both sounded great. The only new song that misfired was "Navigating By the Stars at Night." I've found that song boring and repetitive from the moment I first heard it, and tonight was no different.

Doughty didn't seem to be in the best of spirits, stopping several times to ask fans for requests and then playing something else instead, with no explanation - though he did get a kick out of someone requesting "One Night in Bangkok." His band was focused and competent, serving up new arrangements of Soul Coughing favorites "Circles" and "St. Louise is Listening."

Exclusive:
MP3: Mike Doughty - I Just Want the Girl in the Blue Dress to Keep on Dancing (live 4-13-08)

Setlist:
Soft Serve
Busting up a Starbucks
I Just Want the Girl in the Blue Dress to Keep on Dancing
St. Louise is Listening
Tremendous Brunettes
Fort Hood
Navigating By the Stars at Night
Grey Ghost
I Hear the Bells
More Bacon Than the Pan Can Handle
Unsingable Name
Circles
Put it Down
Ossining
The Gambler
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27 Jennifers
Looking at the World From the Bottom of a Well