Last night in Seattle, former R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck played his first-ever solo show — after conducting, as he noted from the stage, his first-ever solo soundcheck — he debuted his new backing band Richard M. Nixon as the opening act for the first of two Young Fresh Fellows album-release shows at The Sunset.
Buck and his new band — featuring ex-R.E.M. sidemen Scott McCaughey, who fronts the headliners, and Bill Rieflin, a onetime Ministry drummer — played a nine song set previewing his forthcoming, vinyl-only solo LP (including a performance of the one track that has been released so far, “10 Million BC”). Thanks to YouTube uploader OllieOllie55, you can watch the full set, plus the one-song soundcheck, below.
And, as you’ll see, it’s the debut of Buck on lead vocals.
Richard M. Nixon will open for Young Fresh Fellows again tonight at The Sunset.
Setlist: Richard M. Nixon, The Sunset, Seattle, WA, 9/21/12
Soundcheck: “Johnny”
1. “Johnny”
2. “Alright”
3. “Wig”
4. “New Song”
5. “10 Million BC”
6. “Vaso”
7. “Hard Old”
8. “Outta the House”
9. “Alive”
VIDEO: Richard M. Nixton, “Johnny” (Soundcheck), The Sunset, Seattle, WA, 9/21/12
VIDEO: Richard M. Nixton, “Johnny,” The Sunset, Seattle, WA, 9/21/12
VIDEO: Richard M. Nixton, “Alright,” The Sunset, Seattle, WA, 9/21/12
VIDEO: Richard M. Nixton, “Wig,” The Sunset, Seattle, WA, 9/21/12
VIDEO: Richard M. Nixton, “New Song,” The Sunset, Seattle, WA, 9/21/12
VIDEO: Richard M. Nixton, “10 Million BC,” The Sunset, Seattle, WA, 9/21/12
VIDEO: Richard M. Nixton, “Vaso,” The Sunset, Seattle, WA, 9/21/12
VIDEO: Richard M. Nixton, “Hard Old,” The Sunset, Seattle, WA, 9/21/12
VIDEO: Richard M. Nixton, “Outta the House,” The Sunset, Seattle, WA, 9/21/12
VIDEO: Richard M. Nixton, “Alive,” The Sunset, Seattle, WA, 9/21/12
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Honestly, Mike Mills was the R.E.M. member I most wanted to see put out a solo album.
well, he can’t sing, I think that is pretty obvious.
His voice and the music are utterly suited. This is not pop. Maybe you need to change the dial.
Note: That would be Mr. Kurt Bloch of Seattle’s legendary Fastbacks on second guitar.
No REM covers? Lame. REM really should have done one more farewell concert last year, to just say it’s over with no tour or anything was a big F.U. to the fans.
Of course there weren’t any REM covers. After all this time do you not see they’re not crowd-pleasing, nostalgia-oriented Showbiz-types? That said, this is shite. And no amount of dial-changing alters the fact that Buck can’t sing, not even in an ironic, Beat Farmers comedy-growl-type way. Bring on that Mike Mills solo project!
@ gonzaxHis voice and the music are utterly suited. This is not pop. Maybe you need to change the dial.
I’ve seen a couple of Peter Bucks projects. Great to see him singing! Maybe we’ll be lucky enough to see a small tour out of this :) Sounds great