The main takeaway from this show is that I now have to see Greep again so that I can actually hear more than 2-4 songs with him shredding his guitar.
A good friend in North Carolina saw Geordie Greep play months ago on this tour and said this man was the future of guitar-based music. I think he compared Greep’s sound and visions as “Zappa meets Steely Dan meets King Crimson.” Maybe that’s what I thought after a first listen to Greep’s “The New Sound”.
I didn’t know what to think after a first listen. The disparate styles did not appeal to my ears, but I couldn’t get the music out of my head. Greep’s album confused me and left me unsettled. But my NC amigo insisted that I see him live if he came to San Francisco. The tour did have a date here in SF, but the early-May date was already sold out months in advance. I relistened to “The New Sound” and the songs, with surreal lyrics, strange singing, and poly beats eventually sank in. I got it, and decided to see the live show.
Since I had to buy a ticket in the second-hand market, I was doing it only at face value. My friend Adam here in SF says that the day of the show is the best time to pick up tickets for face. Hell, he even shows up when doors open and usually scores a cheaper/face value ticket for cash. I like to have the tickets months in advance, but was going to go for it for the Geordie Greep show at the Great American Music Hall.
On the day of the show, I got a ticket at face value no problem on StubHub. It was on! Going solo, I decided to text highlights to my amigo in NC, but that was distracting and annoying. And he would be asleep by then. Instead, I took notes.
This show turned out to be a mess for Greep. He said that his shows in SF were cursed, that the amp he bought in New Orleans on this tour, to replace the one that was blown that first show in the US, was cursed. He was angry with Guitar Center.
SFGate covered it here (scroll down a bit for the Greep story) and here at last are my notes of what went down. Here is the setlist for the night. For my notes below, I have cleaned things up a bit, but left what I heard and saw intact. Whether or not it was Eddie or Andy who brought his personal amp to the show for Greep to finally play the last few songs, he was indeed an angel!
My Notes from the Geordie Greep Show at The Great American Music Hall, May 6, 2025
Left house as Es listened to Zappa’s “Valley Girl”. A no-problem 15 minute to walk to GAMH.
Younger crowd here. Not a total sausage party. The person at the box office said “an Evening With” on the marquee means no opening act for the night. 8:00pm and setlist just dropped at mics.
8:16 start. Greep already messing with gear. Mostly has back to audience. Roadie is on stage. Greep takes guitar off. Band still jamming.
Narration about Guitar Center and blown amps. Plural. Saying that there’s a curse on the tour. This blown amp replaced a blown amp in New Orleans on the first night of tour. And he blew another amp in SF in the past.
Greep singing as show goes on. Guitar back on. Sounds like crap. More amp narration. Greep comparing this house amp to one he used to play in garage as a kid. He takes guitar off again.
Greep on percussion during bad-ass bass solo. There is jamming. Greep just put setlist in coat pocket. Ending the show early? No guitar means not following setlist?
Kids digging this one [I cannot remember which song]. Scatting solo. “Cazy days and wild nights in San Francisco “.
Roadie back on stage. Looks like he’s setting up amp #3? Greep is dancing. Bass player just hopped onto floor to dance with people.
Guitar is back! Mosh pit to 70s blues rock sounding tune.
Greep thanking guy who brought the amp. “He’s an angel”. Making up song for him. The guy is in balcony just above stage left. He takes a few bows and we all applaud him.
Type 1 jamming lol. Heading into second hour.
Amazing solo facing crowd. Crazy chords. Audience is rapt for piano solo. Over at 10:40. Encore? No. Greep thanking Andy again for amp.