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How Was the Show?An open thread for reports about last night’s Cinematic Titanic show in Seattle.
24 Replies to “How Was the Show?”Commenting at Satellite News
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I went to the 6pm show – War of the Insects. GREAT riffing. Probably the best riffing I’ve seen so far. They really do just keep getting better. Gruber (and Josh and a bit of Frank) opened and it was hilarious.
The venue, however, was amazingly horrible. It’s typically a venue for smaller bands (ones that attract 500ish people). It wasn’t in any stretch of the imagination set up to be a theater. It was just an open floor with folding chairs lined up.
This, of course, made it pretty much impossible for me (and most folks) to see what was going on. I could see about half of the screen and sometimes Joel and Mary Jo. Trace was hidden behind them and Josh and Frank were eclipsed by the woman in front of me. It was frustrating.
I hope they come back to Seattle soon, but please not there. Great venue for bands, horrible venue for CT.
I was at the second show, Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World. It was pretty good, but not quite great, I thought.
Mainly I have to agree with Eric that the Showbox was an absolutely terrible venue for them. The setup was not good, and really, 2+ hours in those plastic folding chairs gets pretty uncomfortable, especially when they’re packed so tightly you can’t even move. I think I might have enjoyed the show more if I hadn’t been in such discomfort. Despite that, I had a good time overall.
It was like that at Royal Oak, MI also- but, for the price I thought it was a good show. I’ve spent many hours in uncomfortable chairs in school, so it wasn’t all that bad. That said, I’m 53, a bit of a paunch, decent back and all that. I could see an older person really struggling with this, thankfully, I’m not one of them.
I was at the 2nd show too. Yeah, those chairs were annoying. It was also bothersome that they started an hour late.
But, I had a great time, and laughed my ass off.
I’m gonna get booed for this, but I was probably the only one who laughed at, “Geez, it didn’t take this long to bury Michael Jackson.” Everyone went OHHHHHHHH! :P
I actually nearly ran into Trace while coming out of the bathroom. He was talking to a woman (his wife?), and I had the AUDACITY to interrupt him and say I loved the show. I felt like a jerk afterwards. Trace didn’t really seemed bothered by it, but there was a nearby stagehand who seemed pissed at me. Trace, if you’re reading this and you were annoyed by me, I’M SORRY!!!! You can beat me up if we meet again.
I had each of them sign one of the 5 lobby cards I brought. I spoke with Mary Jo briefly, and Trace said he liked my Crow shirt. Joel asked me if he wanted me to sign all my lobby cards, and I said, no just one. I didn’t say a word to Frank or Josh. I wish I had spoken more to them, and not been so damn nervous. My hands were actually shaking, as I met them, I was gushing all over, perhaps moreso than the other fans. Man, I must have looked like an idiot.
Met them at Scarecrow video for an autograph session Thursday in which Joel said I couldn’t possibly be old enough to have been with them from the beginning. Last night at the Showbox, got into the VIP Green Room and didn’t have to wait in line (Am I slick smooth pimp daddy or what). Trace commented that he admired my shalaylee. We got to sit in the front row. It was a good day. ;)
Oh yeah, I forgot, I got Frank’s cooties! :lol: If any one asked about the adhesive strips on Frank’s hand then you will know what I’m talking about, he does! Yeah the chairs sucked, my ass was numb by the end and I was almost glad it was over. New venue next time HIGHLY recommended. Oh yeah, I’m the guy who got Gruber to do ” AAAAAYYYYYYY’ with his thumbs. He got that cue from me if anyone cares. :roll:
Superb. I went with my BF to the second showing, which was Samson and the Seven Miracles. It was a perfect choice of material, so much more entertaining than the usual run of dreary monster movies that the Cinematic Titanic crew seems to have an unfortunate weakness for. You have to admire the shamelessness of the Italian movie industry back then. Lesser hacks–American hacks–would have wasted an hour trying to explain just why their hero was wandering around China. Instead, this movie doesn’t even bother. Samson is just…there. No questions asked. Works for me! I genuinely, honestly wish that more movies would take the same approach.
There were a couple of riffs that went down flat, along with at least one from Frank Conniff that I “got” but didn’t really get. He referred to “Powell and Pressburger” in one scene, obviously referring to Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, but it wasn’t at all clear from the scene what had reminded Frank of them. Presumably there was something reminiscent of the movie Black Narcissus which I know about but haven’t seen.
And, yeah, everything started way too late. We were drunk enough by then so it didn’t matter too much but I really do wonder what the delay was for. It took Joel &c. a few minutes to warm up, too, once the movie got started, but after that they never flagged.
@brandon:
Brandon, it probably was his wife, as she was at the venue with him. And don’t worry about being nervous and interrupting. They are very appreciative of their fans, and would never snub anyone knowingly.
And I’ll tell you right now, NO, you DIDN’T look like an idiot. It’s funny that a lot of people don’t know how to approach the most approachable people in the world: the Titans!
Glad you had a good time, let’s hope for a better venue next time!
I don’t know what RAD looks like, but I’ve read he was the one showing off the new DVD and the bag, like a model on a runway. Rad, if that was you, that was hilarious!
Agree. Wonderful show. TERRIBLE venue. Just awful. I could not see the screen and my neck hurt from straining to look over the head of a guy with a particularly tall mohawk.
Still, I was laughing my ass off at the 10:30 show. I usually don’t like the sword-and-sandal epics, because they’re usually just dull and treated that way, but they really ripped into this one nicely.
I saw the second showing, and it was my first time seeing anything by CT ever. It exceeded my expectations and it was absolutely hilarious. I sat next to a woman who had flown up from Sacramento and had fun chatting about the show to kill the waiting time. It was a blast! I also met them the night before at Scarecrow for the meet and greet. I was amazed at how easy to talk to they all were and how genuinely nice each of them are. The last 2 days have been amazing for me, and I hope they return for more shows in the Seattle area.
Oh, and I’m glad I’m not the only one who was annoyed that the show was late. I thought it was just me and this was normal.
I think Frank needs to find some new lyrics to “Convoluted Man.” It’s a premise which seems like it would reward with more lyrical ideas.
Last years venue in Seattle, King Kat Theatre is waaay better.
@Brandon… Yes, that was me! Thanks for the kind words. I have to give the credit to Gruber, though. Is he not hilarious?!?
RAD
Have to agree with everyone about the venue. Nice place, but really not set up for a show like this. (Most actual movie theaters have staggered seating so you’re not staring DIRECTLY at the head of the person in front of you.) I was at the early show, and while we were told the doors opened at six, they kept us waiting for at least fifteen minutes after that. Not the biggest deal in the world, except we’d been waiting for almost an hour by that point.
Complaints aside, the show was awesome. The movie was a total downer, with some great riff fodder, and everyone seemed to be in top form. I can’t wait for them to come back.
@Chuck : I have to agree with how approachable and just plan NICE these people are. I was at the Scarecrow signing on Thursday night, and while I was too shy to say much at first, I finally got up the nerve to ask Joel for a photo once the line had cleared out. Just an awesome experience all around.
I have a few photos from the show and signing up on my TwitPics page if anyone’s so inclined.
Didn’t like the theater either. But the show started exactly on time – 9:30 was the door time, the show time was 10:30.
The Showbox setup was not helped by the giant banks of speakers that probably cut off the view for 25% of the audience at the outside “aisles” for the seating. While showing the movie on the few TVs around the bar areas helped, it still was nowhere close to an ideal setting; they almost needed two similarly large screens as the main ones and duplicated the movie on that. (I don’t believe any of the stand-up pre-show stuff was affected by this part).
Absolutely no fault of the CT crew itself, just a very limited venue.
Shows frequently start 45 min- 1hr after the doors are open. It really only felt like the Titans came on late because of the incredible pain everyone was enduring from the awful, awful seats.
The show itself was wonderful. The movie was terrible and the riffing was as sharp as ever. But man, what a terrible venue for a screening.
I was at their show in Royal Oak, Michigan and it sounds very similar. Horrible venue there with folding chairs as well. Also, the same two films were riffed. Also, the second show was supposed to start at ten but didn’t start until 11. Is this common for all of their double features? I’ve got tickets for their double feature in Ann Arbor on July 2nd. They are advertising that the second show is starting at ten. I told my friends that I don’t think it will start until eleven. Two of them insist that it will start at ten because the Michigan theater ‘never runs anything past midnight.’ Has anybody been to any other double features besides Royal Oak or Seattle? Do they ever REALLY start at ten?
Attended both shows. The Showbox was a very crappy venue. Cramped seats, obstructed views, and they made you stand in line outside the theater for 45 minutes (if you wanted a halfway decent seat). And it’s situated on a rather sketchy corner. When not standing next to a band of street performers with horrendous body odor, people were being hassled to sign a petition to get marijuana legalization on the ballot. I know it’s right across the street from a major tourist attraction, but that corner does not attract great people. King Kat is on a much quieter street corner, and the seating was far and away better. The second show did start late, but then the first show ended only 20 minutes or so before the doors opened for the second show.
That said both shows were absolutely great. Considering he wasn’t there for the prime of the show, J. Elvis is really at the top of his game. He makes me wish he stayed on longer. And I only wish him continued success in ripping on Dane Cook. I’d also like to let Joel know that I got the “Peter Max by T.J. Maxx” joke. It really is like they never stopped making the show.
It certainly washed out the horrid taste of Stephen Merrit’s horribly lazy and unfunny lampooning of the 1916 20000 Leagues Under the Sea at the Paramount earlier in the week.
I went to Scarecrow as well. I was more shy and nervous than I care to admit, but they were very friendly. I wish I could have had longer one-on-ones with each of them. I naturally progressed through the entire cast pretty quickly and tended to talk more with J. Elvis and Joel at the ends. It’s hard when all five are right there in front of you. Again, though, they treat their fans really well.
Re: “When not standing next to a band of street performers with horrendous body odor, people were being hassled to sign a petition to get marijuana legalization on the ballot.”
And, ironically enough there was a crazy old woman on goofballs going through the line asking for change.
Maybe she should get aquatinted with Chester A. Bum.
Also, I have some photos of the show on my Facebook wall.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=60455&id=1347653457&ref=pb
I was at the second show… the riffing was all right, not some of the Titans best. Sounds like the first show was the one to be at. One thing that seems to be true about both shows… the venue sucked!
body odor is nasty that is why i always take a bath twice a day.–.