red lights

Funky Little Club

Tom Tom Club
The Abbey Pub
Chicago, IL
Sept. 9, 2003

Tina Weymouth
Tina Weymouth
Tina Weymouth
Tina Weymouth

Review and photos by Mike Houlihan

Last Tuesday the Abbey Pub in Chicago became the latest venue transformed into Club Tom Tom. On the road in support of their October 2002 release Live @ The Clubhouse - an album recorded live in front of a very small audience at Tom Tom Club's own studio in Cock Island CT - the intimate basement setting was the perfect meeting place for the band and 300 or so of their most spirited fans.
After battling through a minor sound problem on the first two numbers, ex-Talking Heads (and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class of 2002 members) Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth - the latter dressed in red fishnet stockings, SHORT black mini skirt, and black boots - led the band and audience through a 90 minute floor shaking bump and grind. Weymouth coolly energized the crowd during "Punk Lolita" and "Who Feelin' It," before turning the microphone over to Jamaican born percussionist / vocalist Mystic Bowie for a sensual version of "She's Dangerous."
Back in front of the mic, Tina called attention to her tattered Ramones shirt and reflected about the early days in 1977 at CBGB's by calling out each Ramone by name as if trying to connect with a lost relative. The tempo increased and the room began to move again as "Time To Bounce," "The Man With The 4-Way Hips" and their 1981 hit "Genius of Love" turned the hardwood floor into Jell-O. A jarring cover of Hot Chocolate's "You Sexy Thing," "Holy Water" and the fun "Wordy Rappinghood" finished out the set and left the friendly crowd more than satisfied. After a brief break, the band returned for "As Above so Below," and when Tina asked the crowd to "say a little prayer for The Talking Heads" the rhythms of "Take Me To The River" indicated the show's finale. As the band took their final bows, they invited all to stick around for an impromptu autograph session in the back corner, prolonging a fun night of hanging out with The Club.

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