mjm0606:These guys need to come to Tampa, FL! I went up to Atlanta to see them back in July at the Variety Playhouse but was disappointed when I didn't hear about 4 songs that are my favorites. Smokers, Nineteen, Streets of Where I'm From, and Victoria they DID NOT PLAY! I can't believe I waited for 2 months to drive up to Atlanta from Tampa to see them and didn't hear any of my favorite songs.
There's good news and bad news. The good news is next time you see them, there's an *excellent* chance you'll hear Smokers and Victoria, and maybe even Streets.
The bad news is that I don't think they've played Nineteen live since 2000 or maybe even 1999. The long-rumored story is that one or more Elektra execs demanded that song be included in Fight Songs over the band's objection. At least one Dallas paper reported at the time that it was going to get a huge push as the album's second single (after Murder), that is until someone at Elektra finally noticed the lack of enthusiasm from the band. I've heard it said that while they consider it a great tune, it's just too poppy for an Old 97's song, and that its high-gloss production that made it even more so. Even though I've always liked "Nineteen," you gotta admit it is by far the poppiest thing ever to appear on an Old 97's album.
The other bad news is that I've heard that, for whatever reason, the 97's have never drawn as well in Florida as elsewhere. They've gotten some love from some newspaper types in Miami, Orlando, and Tampa, but that's about it. So they rarely head that way. Sorry :-(
Having spent lots of time in Florida over the past few years, I've always wondered if it had something to do with radio there. Maybe I'm just missing something, but I'll be d****d if I can ever find a decent station in Florida.