Phranc and Peter Case at California Plaza, 8-20-11

Phranc and Peter Case performed on August 20th, 2011 at California Plaza as part of the Grand Performances series. When I've seen concerts at this venue in the past, the stage has been set up across a small pool, so the audience can't really get close to the stage (which I don't care for). But for this show, they set the stage up in a different area, so that the water was behind the stage. It was a much more intimate set-up, and worked much better (at least for me).

Phranc is someone I've listened to for decades, but for one reason or another never got the chance to see in concert. When I was working as a radio DJ in Oregon, I used to play her stuff quite a bit. She's a folksinger with punk sensibilities and a great sense of humor.

Peter Case is also someone I've wanted to see in concert for a long time. He was actually a replacement for Exene, who was double-booked and decided to do the Seattle gig instead of this one. He put on a great show, having fun even when the cord came out of his guitar pedal - he joked that it was like playing in a hotel room.

Phranc's Set List

1. Yer The One
2. Amazons
3. Bulldagger Swagger
4. The Handsome Cabin Boy
5. Handicapped
   
6. All Roads Lead To Boyle Heights (title?)
   
7. Tzena, Tzena
8. Ozzie and Harriet
9. Griffith Park Pony
10. Everywhere I Go (I Hear The Go Go's)
11. Mrs. Brown, You've Got A Lovely Daughter
12. If You Don't Want To See What's Going Down, Don't Look Up (title?)
    
13. Hillary's Eyebrows
14. Hey, Michelle (title?)
15. The Bell That They Call Liberty (title?)
    
16. It's Cool To Get Old
    

Encore:

1. I Enjoy Being A Girl
2. Lifelover
   

Phranc played ukulele on "Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter" and "If You Don't Want To See What's Going Down, Don't Look Up." "I Enjoy Being A Girl" was performed acappella.

Peter Case's Set List

1. This Town's A Riot
2. Underneath The Stars
3. Million Dollars Bail
   
4. The House Rent Jump
   
5. Entella Hotel
   
6. Bumble Bee
7. House Rent Party
   
8. Words In Red
   
9. Thirty Days In The Workhouse
   
10. Ain't Gonna Worry No More
    
11. First Light
    

Encore:

1. Space Monkey

"Bumble Bee" is a Memphis Minnie song. "Space Monkey" is a John Prine song.

This concert was free, as are all Grand Performance shows. These concerts are held at 350 S. Grand Ave. in Los Angeles.