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page update: 1/31/10

The MK/BFD Tour Chronology 1996    

January 12 1996 - Bourbon Square, Van Nuys CA
other bands playing: unknown, Blackbird Sky, Speed Limit (who's drummer...)
personnel: MK, BB, TP
setlist: Intro/Career/Quimby, Skunk/I'm So Glad..., Top of Stove Melting, Vent, Power to Love, Apple Pie, Dhen Tin, We're Rockin' All Night...., Them Dolphins is Smart, Snowcow, Sweating in School, Day of the Cow 1, My Dilemma, Dolphins, The Car Song, Day of the Cow 2, Performing Miracles
MK comments: The whole band played like rabid hogs, it was superb.
note: This is the "Bryan takes swing at asshole drummer from next band." Read more about this from Bryan and Rich in LOB Act V.
tapes: audio exists, video exists (is it in Soap Scum?) - I've seen it; it's great stuff! The LAPD incident was also on that video. "I am the Marlboro Man."

NAMM

January 18 1996 - NAMM, Hilton, Anaheim CA
(Rivera booth)
personnel: MK, BB, TP (with Satnam Ramgotra on tablas)
setlist: Career Politicians/Lightnin' Roy/Skunk/Thorax/Top Of Stove Melting/I Will/Dhen Tin/My Dilemma/ Spoon Guy/Uglytown/Spearmint Pup/Day Of The Day 1/Them Dolphins Is Smart (Live version)/The Immigrant Song/Blameless/Cause Of Breakfast/Cheddar/Snowcow/S.I.S./Snowcow Reprise/Aglow/Scotch/The Desired Effect/Assholes/Power Of Love/Vulture Fun/Gypsy Queen/Rosemary Girl
MK comments: "It was a great show."
BB comments: "...we settled down and played a fun, effective show, if not the tightest one we've ever done."
BB comments (2001): We played for 90 minutes and, with all humility, destroyed the room.
tapes: video exists

January 18 1996 - NAMM, Hilton, Anaheim CA
(Rivera booth)
personnel: MK, BB
setlist: Lightnin' Roy/I Can't Stop/Cheddar-Snowcow
tapes: video exists

January 19 1996 - NAMM, Hilton, Anaheim CA
(Taylor booth)
personnel: MK, BB
setlists: a.o. Skunk, 1988, Inca Roads
tapes: video exists

January 19 1996 - NAMM, Hilton, Anaheim CA
(Rivera booth)
personnel: MK, BB
setlist: Lightnin' Roy/I Can't Stop/Cheddar-Snowcow
tapes: video exists

January 20 1996 - NAMM, Hilton, Anaheim CA
(Rivera booth)
personnel: MK, BB
setlist: Lightnin' Roy/I Can't Stop/Cheddar-Snowcow
tapes: video exists

February 2 1996 - Bourbon Square, Van Nuys CA
personnel: MK, BB, TP
setlist: unknown
MK comments: Toss was admittedly not in utterly prime form [...] but I thought it was a smoking gig.
tapes: -

February 22 1996 - Musicians' Institute, Hollywood CA
personnel: MK, BB, TP
setlist: Dot-Da-Da-Dot-Dot-Dot-Dot-Daaahhhh/Dhen Tin/Cheddar/The Car Song/Top Of Stove Melting/Aglow/ Lightnin' Roy/Blameless/Power To Love/Bad Dolphins/Immigrant Song/Spoon Guy/Uglytown/Career Politicians/ Performing Miracles/Love Theme From Vulture Fun/Scotch
MK comments: The MI show [...] was an utter triumph.
BB comments (in 2002): Shortly before the show, Toss informed Mike and I that he was withdrawing from full-time membership in Beer For Dolphins, which gave the show and edge unlike most others.
tapes: video (pro) and audio (DAT) exist (MK)
note: This is cd 2 of the MK-BFD 'Half Alive In Hollywood"-2cd.

March 20 1996 - Luna Park, Los Angeles CA
(opening for Gong)
personnel: MK, BB, TP
setlist: unknown
tapes: video exists

March 22 1996 - Bourbon Square, Van Nuys CA
with The Raging Honkies (w/Michael Landau)
personnel: MK, BB, Joe Travers
setlist: Spearmint Pup/Land Of Broken Dreams/Good Morning Sunshine/Don't Play Luna Park (embryonic version of Frozen Beef)/Power To Love, rest unknown
MK comments: It was fun. Shaky at times.
tapes: -

March 29 1996 - Badlands, Lakeside CA
personnel: MK, BB, Frank Briggs
setlist: There Have Been Bad Moments, Skunk, Open Up!, Rosemary Girl, Dolphins, Performing Miracles, Good Morning Sometime, 'Cause of Breakfast, My Dilemma, Spoon Guy, Scotch, Career/Quimby, I Can't Stop, Immigrant Song, Weekend, Day of the Cow 1, Inca Roads
MK comments: It was fun. Shaky at times.
BB comments: (beautifully described in the latest "Mike Types To You"...a truly scary joint at which the overhead mike for the drums was draped over a wooden fish hanging from the ceiling, or something)
tapes: audio

personnel: MK, BB, Frank Briggs
Rich Lewis, Michael Harrison (videographer, visual performer)

Mike's Tales From The Tour.

April 10 1996 - The Saint, Asbury Park NJ
with Ray & Joe (Ray Ashley and Joe D'Andrea) and Project/Object
setlist: Career/Quimby/I Can't Stop, Top of Stove Melting, Skunk, Dolphins, My Dilemma, Spoon Guy/Uglytown, Andy (w/Project Object), Apple Pie, Spearmint Pup, Cowlogy, I Will, 'Cause of Breakfast, Rosemary Girl
MK comments: "Yay, the first gig is a success"
tapes: DAT exists, guerilla audio exists (soundcheck and show)

April 12 1996 - Red Square North, Nashua NH
with Jaye Foucher & band and the Jon Finn Band
setlist: A Little Background/Nashua, Career/Quimby/I Can't Stop, Top of Stove Melting, Aglow, Lightnin' Roy, I Will, Performing Miracles, Good Morning Sometime, Dolphins, My Dilemma, Spoon Guy/Uglytown, The Car Song, 'Cause of Breakfast, Cowlogy
MK comments: "The suckiest show of the tour"
tapes: DAT exists, guerilla DAT exists

April 15 1996 - Club Metronome, Burlington VT
setlist: Spearmint Pup > Cowology, Open Up, Skunk, Weekend, Drum Solo > Good Morning Sometime, Bad Moments, Lightnin' Roy, Apple Pie, The Car Song, Aglow, My Dilemma, Spoon Guy, Uglytown, Top Of Stove Melting, Rosemary Girl, Dolphins (this is from the dolphin trilogy, not sure what to call it, it's either one of them, or some combination-I can't tell), Immigrant Song, I Will, Cause Of Breakfast
tapes: guerilla video exists, guerilla audio exists

April 17 1996 - Berklee College Of Music, Boston MA
setlist: unknown
tapes:

April 18 1996 - The Bottom Line, New York City NY
opening for the Ed Palermo Big Band (2 shows)
setlist:
1. Career-Quimby/I Can't Stop/Top Of Stove Melting/Cowlogy/My Dilemma/Spoon Guy/ Uglytown/I Will/Cause Of Breakfast
and
2. Career-Quimby/Rosemary Girl/Lightnin' Roy/Top Of Stove Melting/Aglow/My Dilemma/Spoon Guy/ Uglytown (feat.There Have Been Bad Moments)/Apple Pie/Immigrant Song/Cause Of Breakfast
tapes: guerilla audio exists (230min)

April 21 1996 - Palookaville, Santa Cruz CA
also The Mistakes
setlist: unknown
BB comments: Most tired show.
tapes: the Mistakes: guerilla audio exists

April 22 1996 - Rasputin Records, Berkeley CA
MK,BB
setlist: unknown
tapes: some guerilla audio exists (10 min.)

April 22 1996 - The Great American Music Hall, San Francisco CA
THE MISTAKES:
personnel: Mike Keneally, Andy West, Prairie Prince, Henry Kaiser, Diana Mangano, Bucket Head
setlist: unknown
tapes: guerilla audio exists, video exists
Apparently the audio and video are no trade items.

April 22 1996 - The Great American Music Hall, San Francisco CA
setlist: unknown
BB comments: "Best played gig. BFD put it all together this night."
tapes: guerilla audio exists, video exists

April 26 1996 - Berkeley Square, Berkeley CA
setlist: unknown
tapes: -

April 28 1996 - The Jambalaya, Arcata CA
setlist: a.o. Scotch, My Dilemma, Immigrant Song, Dolphins Suite [info by Mike Emerson}
tapes: -

April 29 1996 - Berbati's Pan, Portland OR
setlist:
Set One -- Career-Quimby/I Can't Stop, Top Of Stove Melting, Aglow/Lightnin' Roy, Scotch, Cowlogy, I Will, Cause Of Breakfast
Set Two -- Apple Pie/Rosemary Girl, Good Morning Sometime, Weekend, Dolphins/Performing Miracles, Spearmint Pup/Spoon Guy/Uglytown, Skunk (tiny guitar version), My Dilemma/Spunk/Immigrant Song/The Car Song
[setlist info: Bill Carter]
A shot in the video reveals the "The Desired Effect" was written on the setlist between "Lightnin' Roy" and "Scotch" but wasn't played for some reason.
tapes: video exists

May 2 1996 - The Backstage, Seattle WA
(opening for a band with Michael Manring in it)
setlist: Career-Quimby/I Can't Stop/Top Of Stove Melting/The Car Song/Cowlogy/Skunk/Apple Pie/ My Dilemma/Spoon Guy/Uglytown (Inca Roads-variant)/Dolphins/Immigrant Song/Wienerschnitzel/ I Will/Cause Of Breakfast/Lightnin' Roy/Baby Blues
tapes: guerilla audio exists, guerilla video exists
note: my tape copy says May 1, but according to the itinerary the gig happened on May 2, Jesse's birthday (Baby Blues), so May 2 it is.

May 3 1996 - The Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver BC
(Music West Festival ?)
setlists:
The "clinic"
[Rosemary Girl & Day of the Cow 2 soundcheck; not really part of show I guess] Career/Quimby/I Can't Stop, Top of Stove Melting, Skunk, Lightnin' Roy, My Dilemma, Spoon Guy/Uglytown, The Car Song
The "show"
Career/Quimby/I Can't Stop, Top of Stove Melting, My Dilemma, Spoon Guy/Uglytown, The Cowlogy, I Will/'Cause of Breakfast
BB comments: "Most wired show. A very large venue (over 1500 people) filled with a willing audience."
tapes: guerilla audio exists, guerilla video exists
notes:
According to Drew's list, there also is a video of something that happened at the Tommy Lee Guitar Store (probably a clinic**)
**Ron says: `It was a Rivera-sponsored appearance...I don't know the exact name of the place, but there's a big sign behind them that reads "TOM LEE".'
More info from Ron:
`Some additional info is that the audio in circulation is probably my dub from video, and (on the strictly amusing and not at all important side) there was, during the show, a big sign far above and behind them, reading "Mike Keneally and Beer For Dolphins", and it was upside-down for some reason. I don't know if any of that is relevant, but there you go anyway.'

May 5 1996 - University Of Maine, Farmington MA
setlist: unknown
tapes:
MK comments: "Potato" was written in Farmington, Maine, at the end of the tour with Frank Briggs earlier in the year. It was at the Farmington show that the killer winds (we were playing outside) blew away Briggs' charts at the end of "Day Of The Cow," leaving Bryan and I as a very confused duo for the final flourish.

May 18 1996 - venue unknown, Denver CO
setlist: unknown
tapes:

May 1996 - Wikiup Cafe, San Diego CA
personnel: MK, BB, FB
setlist: unknown
tapes: -

May 18 1996 - Rockley Music, Lakewood CO
personnel: MK, BB, FB
setlist: unknown
MK comments: "Still we had fun as we always do."
tapes: -

May 24 1996 - Bourbon Square, Van Nuys CA
personnel: MK, BB, FB
setlist: Career/Quimby, I Can't Stop, Top of Stove Melting, Dolphins, Rosemary Girl, Desired Effect, My Dilemma, Cowlogy, I Will, 'Cause of Breakfast, Shadow Self (a tribute to Kevin Gilbert), Performing Miracles
MK comments: Several long-time MK-afficionados dubbed it as one of our tightest shows ever.
tapes: audio exists (according to Dave Foster, 5/24/96 is THE GRAIL)

June 12 1996 - Winston's, Ocean Beach CA
personnel: MK, BB, FB, JT
setlist: encore: Dhen Tin, Cheddar, Andy, Inca Roads (all w/JT), rest unknown
MK comments: The first set was a near-total loss [as a result of strings going kaput-aa]. Second set rocked, though.
tapes: -

July 3 1996 - Bourbon Square, Van Nuys CA
(also featuring The Raging Honkies)
personnel: MK, BB, FB
setlist: Dhen Tin, We're Rockin' All Night..., Top of Stove Melting, Lightning Roy, ...how fuckin' awesome I am, Weekend, the luckiest man in the world, Day of the Cow 1, Spoonguy, Uglytown, Skunk/I'm so Glad..., the Car Song, Deep Fried Skinks.., 'Cause of Breakfast, The Bryan Beller 10" fund, I Can't Stop
tapes: audio exists
note: Apparently some tapes of this gig mislabel it as being an 8/9/96 show. The setlist for the 8/9/96 was provided by Dave Foster, who I can not thank enough.
Additional info is delivered by Da9ve who quotes an e-mail, ironically sent to Dave F. (are you still with me, class?):
"However, I think you've got the 08-09-96 set mis-labeled - I think it's actually the July 3, 1996 set from Bourbon Square, listed thusly on Tal's site:
July 3 1996 - Bourbon Square, Van Nuys CA
(also featuring The Raging Honkies)
I don't know if this happened.
[note AA: since then info was added]
Several reasons: 1) Frank Briggs is drumming, not Joe Travers, as listed on Tal's site for the Aug 9 set:
August 9 1996 - venue unknown, Los Angeles CA
personnel: MK, BB, JT
2) it's an opening gig for the Raging Honkies, as mentioned by MK and by the emcee, which is what the 7-3 show is listed as; 3) MK says, "Happy 3rd of July, everybody" at the end of 'Car Song.'"

August 30 1996 - Brick By Brick, San Diego CA
opening for the Tony MacAlpine Band (+ 2 other bands were playing)
personnel: MK, BB, FB
setlist: unknown
BB comments: "Frank awoke in time to play a hell of a show."
tapes: -

September 12 1996 - Genghis Cohen, West Hollywood CA
personnel: MK, BB (acoustic)
setlist: a.o. The Cowlogy, I Can't Stop, Skunk, Lightnin' Ror
MK comments: "...from the first note I felt imbued with a self-assurance I've never felt at an acoustic performance before, and at precious few electric ones. I'm convinced that this experience [MK is talking about the Vai-tour -aa] will exert nothing but positive influence on my solo work."
BB comments: "... played with the urgency that accompanied the knowledge that this was to be our last gig for as many as six months. [...] the Beller/Keneally chemistry was in full gear ..."
tapes: -

personnel: MK, BB, TP
Ed Lucas (the one-man crew)
note: MK-BFD played 28 cities in 34 days, touring the US (opening for Steve Vai.) To make things even more interesting, MK also was part of the Steve Vai band.

Lots of stuff from the tour on keneally.com.

November 19 1996 - Ventura Theater, Ventura CA
setlist:
tapes: -

November 20 1996 - Bimbo's, San Francisco CA
setlist:
tapes: -

November 21 1996 - The Edge, Palo Alto CA
setlist:
BB comments: "Best Crowd"-award (a tie with the House Of Blues, Chicago)
tapes: -

November 22 1996 - The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas NE
setlist: a.o. Bryan Beller Fanfare/Instrumental/Rosemary Girl/Cheddar/The Car Song/Immigrant Song/The Cowlogy
BB comments: "Best Monitor (on stage) Sound"-award
tapes: -

November 24 1996 - Fox Theater, Boulder CO
setlist:
tapes: -

November 26 1996 - The Diamond Ballroom, Oklahoma City OK
setlist: a.o. Rosemary Girl
tapes: -
note: The day after the Vai tour bus went down in flames.

November 27 1996 - Cain's Ballroom, Tulsa OK
setlist:
BB comments: "loudest venue"
tapes: -

November 29 1996 - Caravan Of Dreams, Fort Worth TX
setlist: a.o. Ground Zero/Power To Love/Lightnin' Roy
TP comments: "Worst Monitor Sound"-award, and "I hate this shit...I've got a big boner right now...lick my balls" (Toss spoke these words when offered a microphone by MK)
BB comments: "Worst Played Show"-award
tapes: -

November 30 1996 - Cardie's, Houston TX
setlist:
BB comments: "Worst Overall Sound Crew"-award (a tie with Graffitti, Pittsburgh), "Best Played Show"-award.
tapes: -

December 1 1996 - The House Of Blues, New Orleans LA
setlist:
BB comments: "Best Overall Venue"-award
tapes: -

December 3 1996 - The Ranch Bowl, Omaha NE
setlist:
BB comments: "Buddy Miles [...] showed up in Omaha NE, his hometown" and "Coolest Venue Perk."
tapes: -

December 5 1996 - First Avenue/Seventh Street Entry Club, Minneapolis MI
setlist: a.o. Instrumental (Fucking Ed)/Cause Of Breakfast/The Cowlogy (w/Purple Rain)/Ground Zero/Scotch/Rosemary Girl/Gypsy Queen
BB comments: "House DJ With The Biggest Ears"-award
tapes:

December 6 1996 - The Rave, Milwaukee
setlist: Open Up!, My Dilemma, Lightnin' Roy, Skunk, Fuckin' Ed [Ron says: "I have yet to check this tape to make sure this list (or the show itself) is complete"]
tapes: guerilla audio exists

December 7 1996 - The House Of Blues, Chicago IL
setlist:
BB comments: "Best MC Of A Show"-award, "Best Crowd"-award (a tie with the Edge, Palo Alto)
tapes: -

December 8 1996 - Mississippi Nights, St. Louis MO
setlist: Instrumental/Dhen Tin/My Dilemma/The Cowlogy/Vent/The Car Song/Power To Love/Cause Of Breakfast
BB comments: runner up for "Best Played Show"-award
tapes: -

December 9 1996 - The Vogue, Indianapolis IN
setlist: Career-Quimby/I Can't Stop/Ground Zero/Vent/I'm So Tired/Uglytown/Lightnin' Roy/Immigrant Song/Cause Of Breakfast
MK comments: Favorite show, "...the show of immense anger. It was ironic because the day before that particular display Steve and I had spent most of a three hour car ride talking about positive vs. negative energy in popular music"
BB comments: "Worst Monitor Sound"-award, "Angriest Show"-award
tapes: -
Note: earlier that day, the MK-BFD tour-Expo was broken into, with damages around a 1,000 dollars.

December 10 1996 - Bogart's, Cincinnati, OH
setlist: Cause of Breakfast/Open Up/My Dilemma/Lightin' Roy/Rosemary Girl/Power To Love/The Cowlogy
BB comments: "Quitest Crowd"-award
tapes: -

December 11 1996 - St. Andrews Hall, Detroit MI
setlist: intro, Career/Quimby, I Can't Stop (w/a little Cat Scratch Fever), Top of Stove Melting, The Car Song (St. Louis story), Land of Broken Dreams, Dolphins, Immigrant Song, Performing Miracles, Love Theme From Vulture Fun, Gypsy Queen, 'Cause of Breakfast [setlist provided by Ron Spiegelhalter]
tapes: guerilla audio exists

December 12 1996 - The Odeon, Cleveland OH
setlist: Starfish Enterprise, Dhen Tin, My Dilemma, I'm So Tired, Vent, Dolphins, Rosemary Girl, Power to Love, 'Cause of Breakfast, Inca Roads
BB comments: "Most Unfriendly Venue Production Crew"-award
note: Joe Travers sat in for Inca Roads
tapes: guerilla audio exists

December 13 1996 - Graffitti, Pittsburgh PA
setlist: Career-Quimby/I Can't Stop/Open Up!/Skunk/Top of Stove Melting/Lightnin' Roy/Immigrant Song/'Cause for Breakfast
BB comments: "Worst Overall Sound Crew"-award (a tie with Cardi's in Houston)
tapes: -
note: soundcheck took a while.

December 14 1996 - Ogden Street Concert Hall, Buffalo NY
setlist:
BB comments: "Best Overall Venue Crew"-award
tapes: -

December 15 1996 - Tommy Knockers, Farmingdale Long Island NY
setlist: Career-Quimby/I Can't Stop/Open Up/My Dilemma/Spoon Guy/Uglytown/I'm So Tired/Dolphins/The Car Song/Cause of Breakfast
BB comments: "Most Women At One Show ... I think there were 16 women there."
tapes: -

December 17 1996 - Tuxedo Junction, Danbury CT
setlist:
tapes: guerilla audio exists

December 18 1996 - Axis, Boston MA
setlist:
tapes:

December 19 1996 - The Strand Theatre, Providence RI
setlist:
BB comments: "Most Acts Of Kindness Towards BFD At One Gig"-award
tapes: -

December 20 1996 - Irving Plaza, New York City NY
additional personnel: Colin LaMastra (vocal)
setlist: Improvisation/Dhen Tin/My Dilemma/Top Of Stove Melting/Lightnin' Roy/Weekend/ Deep-Fried Skinks Are Go!/I'm So Tired/Vent/Dolphins/Power To Love/Happy Birthday, Mr.President/ Cause Of Breakfast
BB comments: "Psychotic Fan-award. I think I can say with some degree of certainty that Colin, a lifelong friend of Steve Vai's, is probably the biggest freak I've ever met in my whole life. In a good way, of course." and "Best Sounding Venue, Front Of House"-award
tapes: guerilla audio exists

December 21 1996 - Birch Hill, Old Bridge NJ
setlist: Career-Quimby/Rosemary Girl/The Desired Effect/Love Theme From Vulture Fun/Gypsy Queen/Aglow/ The Cowlogy/Apple Pie/Cause Of Breakfast/Inca Roads
BB comments: "Worst Sounding Venue, Front Of House"-award and "Worst Overall Venue"-award. "I can't believe my grandparents came to this hole."
tapes: guerilla audio exists
Note: from the reports from both BB and Brian Lagerman this definitely is not a nice place to be. On top of everything else, outside of the venue a girl was sexually assaulted.

December 22 1996 - The Bayou, Washington DC
setlist: -
tapes: -