Spirits in the Sky 2009-08-31

August 31, 2009 – Los Angeles, CA, US
Live performance by Spirits in the Sky
Spirits in the Sky tour
Date	August 31, 2009
Venue	The Hotel Cafe
Coordinates	34°6′2″N 118°19′48″W
Location	Los Angeles, CA, US
Venue type	Club
Capacity	200
Personnel	Billy Corgan, Mike Byrne, Dave Navarro, Kerry Brown, Linda Strawberry, Mark Tulin, Mark Weitz, Ysanne Spevack, Kevin Dippold, Sierra Swan
Order of bands	Spirits in the Sky
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August 31, 2009 was the final Spirits in the Sky show, which was in tribute to Sky Saxon of The Seeds, who died on June 25, 2009 of heart and renal failure. A costume contest MCed by Billy Corgan takes place after the acoustic portion of the set.

Guest Sierra Swan sings and plays piano on "Willingly".

Setlist

Soundcheck

1. "Circular Change" 
2. "Can't Seem to Make You Mine" [The Seeds] 
3. "Emerald Green is the Colour" 
4. "Lucifer Sam" [Pink Floyd] 
5. "The Trip" 
6. "Caroline, Yes" 
7. "A Stitch in Time" 

Set

1. "Can't Seem to Make You Mine" [The Seeds] (acoustic) (final performance)
2. "Circular Change" (acoustic) (final performance)
3. "Emerald Green is the Colour" (acoustic) (final performance)
4. "Widow Wake My Mind" (abandoned) (acoustic) 
5. "Widow Wake My Mind" (acoustic) 
6. "West Coast" (acoustic) (final performance)
7. "Freak" (acoustic) 
8. "Morning Dew" [Bonnie Dobson] (acoustic) (final performance)
9. "The Fellowship" (acoustic) 
10. "Willingly" [Willie Nelson / Shirley Collie] (acoustic) (only performance)
11. "A Stitch in Time" (abandoned) (acoustic) 
12. "A Stitch in Time" (acoustic) 
13. "Caroline, Yes" (acoustic) (final performance)
14. "A Song for a Son" (acoustic) 
15. (costume contest)
16. "The Trip" (final performance)
17. "Astral Planes" 
18. "Femme Fatale" [The Velvet Underground] (final performance)
19. "Lucifer Sam" [Pink Floyd] (final performance)

Encore

20. "A New Day Yesterday" [Jethro Tull] (final performance)

Notes

• "Willingly" with Sierra Swan on vocals and piano

Banter

BC: Good evening.
Can’t Seem to Make You Mine
Circular Change
Emerald Green is the Colour
BC: Thank you very much, thank you. Now this is our sixth and final gig tonight. And uh, at all the other esteemed venues that we’ve played at, the audience has been incredibly quiet, respectful. I’m lying, of course, because, um, no audience is respectful. Anyway, you’ll get there, just give me some time. Anyway, so uh, we like to do some audience participation at this particular moment. And uh, if you can’t do this...it goes like this. (demonstrates the oh’s) That’s really lame singing, come on.
Widow Wake My Mind (abandoned 16 seconds after band kicks in)
BC: Oh wait, sorry. (band stops) Okay, wait. I rade a -– I made a rare mistake. And I thought we should note that.
Tulin: I thought I gave him false information.
BC: Is it three times with the crowd, is that...? Is it four times with the crowd is lame and three times with the crowd is into it?
Tulin: Right!
BC: Right, okay.
Tulin: Four times if the crowd [unintelligible].
BC: So you’re gonna determine the outcome of this event? One more time! (audience starts the oh’s) With me.
Widow Wake My Mind
BC: Ladies and gentlemen, Mark Tulin, Electric Prunes on the bass. Mark was just, uh, Mark was noting that usually when I take off the hat at some point, I get a cheer and there was no cheer tonight, he was very disappointed. It happens. (testing guitar) Oh boy, oh boy. (more testing guitar) Oh, there’s the problem. How are you all doing, you okay? As many of you know, we have a costume contest coming up later. Little show of hands, who’s in the costume contest tonight? It’s gonna be a brutal death style elimination chamber match.
Linda: [unintelligible].
BC: Oh, you better have brought your costume...and attitude....
Linda: And love.
BC: And love.
Dippold: And blood?
BC: I heard blood and blood.
Tulin: [unintelligible].
Linda: [unintelligible].
BC: No, no blood, just happy Halloween. Uh, this song called The West Coast, it’s about your beautiful west coast...and all it represents, you know, the end of the world, you know, world on fire, Sodom and Gomorrah, world depravity, uh, lots of hot chicks.
West Coast
BC: Thank you very much, thank you. Appreciate it. Yes. This next song –- if I can get it together.... A song called Freak (audience claps) that um -– oh, thank you –- I wrote it about you. Heh. And uh, exactly. And uh, this uh, this ensemble is here because of our brother Sky Saxon from the Seeds. And uh, this song has a lot to do with Sky’s belief in good things: love, life, laughter, puppies. He was big on his puppies, so this is for Sky.
Freak
Morning Dew
BC: The costume contest, coming up soon. (laughing) You’ve never seen anything like it. This is a new new new new song, it is called The Fellowship.
The Fellowship
BC: Thank you. Are the Lunds here? Dawny?
Dawny: (off mic) Yes?
BC: Oh good. Just wanna make sure I didn’t forget to put you on the guest list...in a total paranoid, in a total paranoid moment there.
Guy in crowd: We’re with you, Billy!
BC: You’re with me in paranoia? Great, awesome. It’s a paranoid time. What song are we doing here? I’d like to bring up to the stage, one of my favorite singers on the planet, from the Valley. (crowd cheers) Yeah. Ms. Sierra Swan. Did I put Sierra on the guest list? Oh, there she is. Heh heh heh. Oh, yeah, somebody needs to help with the microphone. ... Do you know who wrote this song or is it...?
Sierra: (off mic) I don’t know.
BC: ...is it Willie Nelson who wrote the song?
Sierra: (off mic) I don’t think so.
BC: It’s a song covered by Willie Nelson. You mighta heard of him.
Sierra: Do my homework.
BC: Everyone hear Willie Nelson?
Sierra: [unintelligible word].
BC: How do you feel about Willie Nelson?
Sierra: He’s a great man.
BC: Well, you’re gonna like this one, heh. Okay, ready when you are.
Sierra: Alright. Ready?
BC: Yep.
Willingly (Billy acoustic w/Sierra Swan on vocals and piano)
BC: Sierra Swan. Thank you very much, thank you for that. Is anyone else dry throated?
Many people in crowd: Yes!
BC: The winds of Hades.
Guy in crowd: 4:20.
BC: 4:20? More like ten to twenty, buddy...‘cause when you mess with the weed....
A Stitch in Time (abandoned after 5 seconds)
BC: What’s wrong with you, K-Dog? He just goes crazy, that’s why we call him K-Dog. Show ‘em what you’re made of. It takes a man to play the mandolin.
A Stitch in Time (Billy acoustic / Spevack violin / Dippold mandolin)
BC: While I’m tuning, does anyone have any questions about the costume contest? One -– one at a time. Well, our last count, we had 50 con -– uh, costumes here, so in fairness to all, everyone gets to participate that’s here in a costume if you so choose.
Girl in crowd: If we show shoes?
BC: No, if you so choose. If you show shoes, that’s different. I don’t think the crowd will give you any bonus for that. And uh, in the interest of time and entertainment, uh, you’ll line up and three people at a time will come on stage and the audience will choose the winner of that round. And then, when we’ve achieved, you know, whateverness...we go into a sudden elimination death round, two at a time, and then we should have a, you know, four or five, six there and then we’ll find a winner.
Guy in crowd: Serenade the winner!
BC: Serenade the winner? Only if it’s a female. If you’re a dude, you ain’t gettin’ shit. You got plenty from me.
Guy #2 in crowd: Hey, what if there’s four people in a group?
BC: That’s so complicated. Okay, if there’s four people in a group, their con -– their costume would cost, uh, qualify as one costume.
Guy #3 in crowd: What’s your costume?
BC: My costume is a guy who fucking hates you. It’s a little weak but I hope you can feel it. I dedicate this song to you. Johnny Cash had a song called A Boy Named Sue, this is for you, a boy named Caroline. Here we go.
Caroline, Yes (Billy acoustic / Spevack violin / Dippold mandolin)
BC: Thank you for listening, I really appreciate it. I’ve played L.A. before, I know how it goes. A-plus, thank you. Of course you didn’t achieve A super extra plus status. We’ll see how the rest of the show goes. I don’t want you to get cocky at this early stage of the concert.
A Song for a Son (Billy acoustic / Spevack violin / Dippold mandolin)
BC: Thank you. Alright, I believe it’s time for the costume contest. Just try not –- try not to knock shit over, okay. Okay, hey, can we unmute this, someone? Alright. I don’t hear the buzz in the room for the costume contest. You may have diminished expectations, but I don’t. Alright, let’s take this off. Remember, you have to vote, it’s very important. Let’s bring up our contestants. I’m sorry, they need come over here and form a line on the right side. It’s also a good time to pee, it’s a preliminary round. All the way to the far right wall and come up the side. K.B. will be judging whether you’re worthy to even come on stage. Okay, here’s our first contestant. Right there, my friend, thank you very much. Okay, our next contestant, here she comes. Right there. Oh, I see your -– is this one costume? Alright, I think, I think we can vote them into the next round, what do you think? I don’t know, that didn’t sound very enthusiastic. Come on...from your heart, is this a real –- are you believing this or not? Ready? I don’t think the crowd’s with you, you’re out, get out. Done. Go back to the yellow brick road and keep on walking. Heh. Hey, I didn’t hear that cheer, you know, I need that (imitating crowd roar), not (imitates mic feedback). Okay, let’s bring up some more contestants, we’re still in our preliminary round. Don’t doubt me now. This one, heh, this is a big wish fulfillment at the end. Here you go, right there, my friend. Right, right. Okay. Okay, awesome, no no, no no, don’t get boundary challenged right now. Are you guys together or you’re separate?
Girl: (off mic) Yeah, we’re engaged.
BC: Oh, I saw some emotional distance there. Heh. Whatever you got going on, it’s not going to work. Okay, ready, we’re gonna vote? (crowd cheering) Heh heh heh. I think you’re out. And I think, thank you for carrying my baby tonight. You’ve made it to the next round and that is [2 unintelligible words], thank you my friend, hope you had a good time. You can, uh, follow the yellow brick road too. Alright, let’s bring up our next contestants. It was such a good show (laughing) until this point. You know, I was really -– it really had a -– and I decided I wanted to fuck it all up, here we go! Heh heh. Here come our next contestants. Are you a naughty teacher? You’re a wizard. Look more like –- I’d work the naughty teacher, you might have a better chance of making it to the next round. Alright, you’ve gotta go over here please, sorry. “Do pirates go to heaven?” You’re a living tweet? She’s a living tweet. Okay, let’s uh, vote. Heh heh, heh heh, here we go! Wow, how many people did you bring with you? You probably would’ve been better off rocking a Dave Navarro tweet, you know? You woulda had a better chance. Nope! White angel man, hermaphrodite fiancé, you’re gonna move into the next round, okay. Thank you very much, hon, you can move wherever you want, just not on this stage, thank you. I love you too, I’ll see you after the show, okay! Heh. Let’s go to the next round, heh. Are you feeling this?! This is what happens when you don’t have a wife, you think these things up. Okay. Right there, you [1-2 unintelligible words] lady, right there. One over here, thank you very much. I don’t know what you’re –- what are you?
Guy: I’m a rock and roll ghost, man.
BC: Heh heh. I’m voting for you right around now. Okay, hear everyone’s vote. (cheering) Hot cheerleader? Dee Snider?! Okay, it’s pretty close between rock and roll ghost and Dee Snider. Are you ready? (cheering) Back to Jersey, Dee, hit the bricks. You’re moving to the next round, rock and roll ghost. Don’t disappear on me, I need you in that [unintelligible word]. Okay! Ladies and gentlemen, this is called art. I’ve made a living for 20 years: art. Come on up! Alright, right there, right there. You look like a Smashing Pumpkins fan if I were to [1-2 unintelligible words]. Bad attitude and uh, what else?
Guy: 21st birthday!
BC: Alright then. Okay. Pink poodle lady, okay. Are you guys together, are you working like a kilts androgyny thing? Here we go! It’s gonna be a long night. (cheering) His head is now shaved, I think that’s a little disqualifier in there. Alright, we got a tie here, hold on, you’ll make the difference. (cheering) Kilt man, going on! Good luck, kilt man. God bless. (laughing) How many more contestants are there? Whoa, heh. It’s a good thing I’m not, uh, writing TV right now. Come on up. Sky Saxon. Come on up. Come on up. Let’s get this thing over with, keep going, heh heh. Young miss. What are you?
Girl: Uh, Lord of the Rings elf.
BC: No one likes that movie. [unintelligible]. (cheering) Heh heh. Sorry Sky, back to heaven. Heh, Slash, you’re moving on, but you knew that already. Don’t mess with Saul and his guitar. Alright, are we running out of contestants yet, hopefully? How many more, K.B.?
K.B.: Uh, looks like a few.
BC: Okay, we got a few more. Alright. Come on over here, right there. Don’t touch Mr. Navarro’s pedals. Okay. You are?
Girl: The Pumpkins. Ginger.
BC: Ginger.
Girl: Reyes-Cooley.
BC: Wrong name, sorry, you’re automatically disqualified, it’s Ginger Pooley. She’s married now and she’s expecting and you haven’t done that either, you’re outta here. Okay? You’re of course a gay sailor, got that, and...?
Guy: [unintelligible word] leprechaun.
BC: Gay leprechaun or just a leprechaun?
Guy: [unintelligible word or two].
BC: There’s a little bit of androgyny with leprechaunism. Okay, well, oh, you’re disqualified. Straight A people. We’re moving on, Mr. Leprechaun! Oh my god, heh heh heh, heh, this just goes on and on. One more of four and then we’re gonna move on to the next round. Feel the energy. Oh yeah, you know we, heh heh, we were expecting like seven contestants, you know? Heh heh. That’s how I know the new costumes are good, lots of costumes. That’s right. It’s my own Nielsen rating. Come on up. Groupie. Oh sorry, sit right there. Are you ladies together? All three or just...? Okay, heh heh. You are?
Girl: A naughty schoolgirl.
BC: That’s original.
Different girl: I’m Chablis and you broke my heart.
BC: You’re what?
Girl: I’m Chablis and you broke my heart.
BC: Ah, so I’ll see you at the police station later. And, you are a...? What are you?
Girl #3: Walking down a street.
BC: You are a painted lady? What is with your painted lady friend?
Girl #3: (stammers)
BC: You killed another prostitute, is that what –- I don’t get this costume at all. Alright. Naughty schoolgirl? (small crowd cheer) Heh, whatever the fuck you are. (crowd cheers) Yeah, woo! Knock it in. Back to the streets, lady. Ladies. You’re now moving onto the next round. You might wanna adjust the costume, just for.... Okay, you stay here ‘cause you’re making the next round. Right there. We’re gonna go a little more in depth, like American Idol, now. What’s your name?
Chablis: Chablis.
BC: Like the –- like the wine? Is this uh, what happened when you were conceived or...?
Chablis: Yeah, pretty much! Actually, quarter French, it’s a common French name.
BC: It’s a good thing your name ain’t Jack Daniels. Two, it’s a death round. Okay, just two, hold on, rock and roll ghost. Alright, what’s your name?
Ike: Ike.
BC: Ike?
Ike: Ike [unintelligible word].
BC: And your name is?
Beth: Beth.
BC: Hi, Beth. You guys ready to do the on? I think you might wanna encourage the audience. Alright, here we go, sudden death round. (cheering) You settle down. (louder cheering) Slash. Always gettin’ it done. Slash, you’re movin’ on. Maybe just stay right there, Slash. Okay, sorry, back to wherever you came from. Alright. Entertainment, people. Two, sudden death. Sudden death, we’re gonna get this over with. Alright, ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll ghost. Well, you need to sing me a song.
Rock and roll ghost: (ghostly moaning).
BC: Kilt man, you gotta bring it now, right, you...if this were reality TV, you gotta bring it, elimination round.
Kilt man: Hello.
BC: Yeah. You remind me of a certain ex-band mate right about there. I’ll let you figure that one out. Okay, sudden death, Rock and roll ghost! Kilt man. Get outta here, kilt man. Alright, rock and roll ghost, stand next to Slash and his lovely bride-to-be. Come on. Lepre-can [sic]. Like Obama, lepre-can. Superchrist man, ready? You’re both eliminated, get the fuck out. Go on. You got no juice, you got no future. You’re done in this town, keep walkin’. You’re gone, gone. Gone! Gone. Here comes the knife. How many more people are there, K.B.? One more! Okay, so we’re just gonna –- this is the costume. (cheering) Alright, I hadn’t planned this far.
Guy in crowd: What the hell are you!?
BC: What are you? (Billy holds the mic up to an apparently pregnant girl wearing a space helmet and she recoils from it) She refuses to talk.
Guy in crowd: Then she’s out!
BC: Alright.
Girl in crowd: Unless you give birth to an alien.
BC: I think we need a little performance art. There better be some action. And Slash, you better not go to the well on the guitar again, alright, ‘cause I’ll eliminate you. Alright. What you got?: go! (the pregnant girl just stares at Billy silently)
Guy in crowd: Drop the kid!
BC: Heh heh heh. I think they want you to have the baby, that’s your only shot. That’s your only shot, you might wanna rock it. (the girl crouches down, removes what looks like a clay pot from under her dress and hands it to Billy) Just what I wanted. Oh, that’s cool, your driver’s license is in there, awesome. (he hands the pot back) Pretty good, stay right there. Rock and roll ghost, what do you got? (wearing a patterned sheet and sunglasses, the ghost dances in place for a moment and makes spooky noises) We gotta get a little crowd participation, go. (he holds the mic up to the ghost)
Ghost: Woooooh.
BC: Obviously the rock and roll ghost has been smoking. Works for Slash, not for you. Slash, what do you got? ("Slash", with top hat and cigarette, makes out with the girl next to him dressed as a guitar) That’s so lame. Slash would not be making out with her. He would’ve bent her over.... Okay, you’re a little out of character. I think we know who the winner is. The rock and roll ghost is the winner! Congratulations, rock and roll ghost, we will see you after the show. Where Dave Navarro will personally tweet about you. That’s a promise, okay, let’s get back to the show ‘cause it’s gonna be great now. Let’s bring the band back up for some hot rockin’.
The Trip
Astral Planes
BC: You know, Dave lost his guitar there for a minute. Curse of the rock and roll ghost. But I was thinking the whole time, “Why did I let that guy win?” Sky shoulda won.
Femme Fatale
BC: Oh, we’ve reached the end of the show. Yeah, yes, it’s true. Thank you very much. This guy, the rock and roll ghost.
Lucifer Sam
BC: Thank you very much, thank you! [unintelligible].
Tulin: Thank you, thank you.
[encore break, house music plays during]
Guy in crowd: Play a loud one!
BC: Alright. You axed for it.
A New Day Yesterday
BC: Thank you very much, thank you!