Cake at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT (Credit: Radio 104)
Waterbury, CT- I have been a huge fan of the band Cake ever since I first heard the album “Fashion Nugget” Back in 1996, so needless to say I was very excited to be able to see them live for the second time.
Billed as “An Evening with Cake”, there was no opener and the band played two sets (which was great because who goes to see an opener?). The set was simple with just the bands instruments, a disco ball , and a small tree (will get to that later).
The band came on stage to a huge applause and opened up with the song “Sad Songs and Waltzes”, which as you can imagine is one of their slower songs. The played through about twelve more songs old and new including “Frank Sinatra”, “Wheels” , and “Rock and Roll Lifestyle”, before getting the crowd to join in singing different parts of the chorus to “Sick of you” leading into a fifteen minute intermission.
Intermissions are great said singer John McRea , because “they allow you to take a break, stretch, and return to the enjoyment with renewed vigor”.
When the band returned on stage for the second half, they finally addressed the tiny tree they had on stage. At every stop of their tour they give out a tree to one person in the audience who promises to plant it and take care of it. They also agree to send in a picture of the tree every year so people can see how it grows. A woman named Janet was chosen in Waterbury to take on this sacred task.
Once the tree business was done they started the second set with an excellent cover of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs”. The second set ended with the hit “Never There”. The band left the stage to loud chants of “We Want Cake!” which went on for about five minutes before they returned for a brief but excellent encore. They ended it with arguably their biggest hit “Going the Distance”. All in all it was a great show and I highly recommend seeing Cake live if you get the chance.
Setlist
Sad Songs and Waltzes
Opera Singer
Frank Sinatra
Wheels
Shadow Stabbing
Mexico
Love you madly
Rock and Roll Lifestyle
Ruby Sees All
Long Time
Sick of You
INTERMISSION
War Pigs (Black Sabbath Cover)
Stick shifts and Safety belts
Mustache Man
Bound Away
Sheep go to Heaven
Comanche
Never There
ENCORE
Short Skirt, Long Jacket
Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps
Going the Distance
