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1999 - Concert Dates

Chris and Tad, The Tycoons, and Subset shows.





1999-01-01 Sit n Spin, Seattle, WA

Setlist

Chris and Tad show?
1999-01-10 The Crocodile Cafe, Seattle, WA

Setlist

The show is listed as HOWE GELB from Giant Sand, CHRIS BALLEW, from the Tycoons EDDIE SPAGHETTI from the Supersuckers EAN HERNANDEZ from Sicko
1999-01-12 Location?

Setlist

Chris and Tad show
1999-01-22 29 live, Seattle, WA

Everything's Turning Out Great (YouTube) / When I Come Home (YouTube) / X (YouTube)

""The Tycoons played one final show after this one, the next night on Live Room, KCMU FM 90.3 (now KEXP), then called it quits."

" Nearly a half hour of uninterrupted Tycoon-mania as the Tycoons performed on "29 Live" a show on the Public Access channel (Channel 29 in the Seattle Area)."

Free, if you pay for the outrageously over-priced and out-moded Seattle cable.
1999-01-23 Live Room, KCMU FM 90.3 (now KEXP), Seattle, WA

Setlist

The Tycoons played their last show

Saturday, January 23rd, 8:00pm.
Radio appearance on "The Live Room", KCMU, Seattle.
Listen in for a full hour of tunes and stuff, hanging with our home-slices Abe Beeson and Cheryl Waters.
Special guests? You bet. Odd surprises and random noodling? Of course.



Review:

This was my first show ever at the Live in KCMU, it was very intimate (ie. small), and they played a great set, Chris Ballew, and the guy from tube top, they cranked out songs the whole nite, kinda funnky, kinda poppy, and they ended the nite with let the good times roll or something, at the end, i picked up a set list and talked to ballew telling him how much he rocked, and having the band sign my set list - Otto
1999-01-30 Sub Pop Mega Mart, Seattle, WA

Setlist

Ken StringFellow and Chris Ballew

Another intimate location in pioneer square, I came to see Chris Ballew, and his drummer, doing a good set..talked to him again, saw my friends again, it was pretty cool, then Ken StringFellow played another inspired solo set (he was also at deck the hall ball), so it rocked simply and truly - Otto
1999-01-30 Sub Pop Mega Mart, Seattle, WA

Stay With Me / Clean Machine / Hurt a Fly / Poodle Mouth / Queen Of Eyes / Good Morning Tycoon / Suk or shine / Dream (When You're Feeling Blue) (Ella Fitzgerald cover) / G.R.E.A.T / Good Times (cut)

Chris And Tad Show

Audience Tape
1999-02-16 ?

Setlist

Chris And Tad Show

1999-05-05 The Crocodile Cafe, Seattle, WA

Setlist

Subset
1999-05-14 Public Library Downtown, Seattle, WA

Stay With Me / Hurt Of Fly / Suk Or Shine / Poodle Mouth / ??? / Rot In The Sun / I Got The Blue / Queen Of Eyes / "Tad's poem" / You can't Judge Book By The Cover / Dream


Review:

"Well I went to the show. I don't know what to say about it. Both Chris and Tad make me smile. I don't know which one to watch. They did a few cover songs, played some of their own songs, made everyone laugh. nothing too amazing. just a cool show bye by bye" - Robin
1999-06-06 Fremont Fair, Seattle, WA

Setlist

Chris and Tad show
1999-06-26 The Crocodile Cafe, Seattle, WA

We Can't Stop Us

Incomplete setlist

First official Subset show.

Review:

Subset - the new Sir Mix-a-Lot meets the Presidents of the United States of America project - made a smashing debut at the Croc on Saturday. The rock-hop outfit unveiled surprisingly polished new material for a hyped-up crowd.

While "We Can't Stop Us" is a potential radio hit, a pornographic set closer is not likely to make the airwaves (even the title is risqué).

Commercial prospects aside, this is a fun, funky new act.

Press:

"At the Crodocile Cafe, hip hop meets pop rock on Saturday ($8, 10 p.m.): The band is Subset, the new Mix-a-Lot/Presidents project.

The two Seattle acts were suffering from post-platinum blues on their own, but sound quite excited to be mixing things up. "With this project, it's much different as far as (lyrical) subject matter - I can be very credible," says rapper Mix-a-Lot, who now lives in Auburn. "With my Mix stuff, `Baby Got Back' and `Posse on Broadway,' people wanted me to be . . . kind of gimmicky. I wanted to do something new."

Ditto for Chris Ballew. He grew so tired of singing hits like "Peaches" and "Lump" that he told his bandmates Dave Dederer and Jason Finn he was quitting, so the Presidents split up last January.

With Subset, "Dave, Jason and I get to play together, but the advantage is we don't have to look down and see that same set list we've done for years and years."

On songs like "We Can't Stop Us," Mix-a-Lot and Ballew share vocal leads. "We're totally on the same wave length," says the ex-President.

Subset will also play the 700 Club at the end of July and Pain in the Grass on Aug. 28. "

Subset
1999-07-11 Lizard Lounge, Boston, MA

Gone Again Gone

Ballew plays Gone again Gone at Sandman Tribute Show.
1999-07-25 Central Square, Boston, MA

Gone Again Gone

The first annual Mark Sandman Memorial Concert.

Moveable Bubble (feat. Chris Ballew)

Press:

The first annual Mark Sandman Memorial Concert. Chris Ballew will be playing at the afternoon open-air show at Boston's Central Square on Brookline St.

Ballew is set to play in what is presumably a one-off concert group named "Moveable Bubble". The band also includes Sandman's former band mates Dana Colley, Billy Conway as well as Billy Beard and Frank Swart. Chris is expected to play bass as well as supplying at least some of the vocals.

Moveable Bubble take to the stage at 4:40 pm. After the open-air show, "The Middle East Club" (the venue in which Ballew formally played with his group "Egg") will be open for friends and fans to share their thoughts on Sandman.

Review:

It was happy, sad, beautiful, bittersweet, cathartic, and a great tribute all wrapped up in one amazing show. Anything less just wouldn’t have seemed right for a Mark Sandman memorial concert.

Touching on all phases of Mark’s extraordinary career with Morphine, Treat Her Right, Supergroup, Hypnosonics, The Pale Brothers, and other assorted side projects, this concert was exactly what it should have been: a tribute by the local music community to one of its most beloved and influential members. It wasn’t always smooth or note-perfect or simple—but neither was Mark. That’s what made it so cool.

After a monsoon-like rain, the crowd slowly filtered onto Brookline Street as Mickey Bones & the Hot Tamales marched down the street and into and out of the Middle East to the strains of "When the Saints Go Marching In" and other jazzy band fare. Then the wraps came off the stage and the musicians ambled up.

I lost count at twelve people, but no matter, the folky/ bluesy singalong "Working on a Building" eased the growing crowd into the show and gradually built up to a fiery harp and flashy guitar conclusion. From there the Treat Her Right guys took over with help from The Bosstones’ Dicky Barret and Joe Gittleman on a ragged, heavy take of "I Think She Likes Me." No one cared that Dicky (among others later in the show) glanced at a lyric sheet or forgot some of the words because the inspiration was there. Plus, they really whipped it up at the end with help from Billy Conway’s sledgehammer drum work and Jim Fitting’s crazy harmonica runs.

Either/Orchestra followed with a Sandman favorite medley that incorporated an "Ethiopian groove" with "Golden Hits of the ’70s." Powered by bongos, clarinet, sax and keyboards (among other things), this instrumental rolled into a winding groove that was alternately loose, crazy, flat, and meandering. And somehow there was this definite ’70s feel to it.

Next up was Laurie Sargent with the Treat Her Right crew on a haunting yet beautiful song from the next Morphine album called (I think) "I Can’t Make It on My Own." It had a dark, rhythmic undertow that was absolutely hypnotic. A mixture of horns, cello, and soft percussion perfectly mixed in with Sargent’s voice to heighten the song’s effect.

Other highlights:The smoky, jazzy "Look Like Rain" with Sargent on vocals during a light rain with the sun waiting in the distance. It evoked perhaps the strongest communal feel of the day.

A 20-minute singalong of fun, lighthearted "French Fries with Pepper" with a different vocalist singing each verse. Cool horn fills between verses and the crowd singing as the musicians left the stage made for a welcome release.

Throttle’s blistering, hard-driving punk version of "Thursday," the last song Morphine ever played. Dana played a mean buzzsaw-like sax while Billy pounded the drums with extra fire.

"Hillbilly at Heart" by Wooden Leg/Pale Brothers with its soothing "Have patience, everything will be alright" verse. Jimmy Ryan’s mandolin and Catie Curtis’s acoustic guitar powered this folky/countryish tune.

Ray Corvair Trio’s swampy, feedback-drenched "The Other Side."

Chris Ballew’s sweet, somber acoustic number "Gone Again, Gone." Prescient lyrics ("…it did not work out for us just like we planned"), subtle fingerpicking and Dana’s haunting sax had the crowd stone silent.

Dinty Child and a bunch of kids ranging from six to thirteen years old playing all kinds of instruments, jumping around, and singing an upbeat, world music-style song powered by a big backbeat.

The grand finale—a messed up, loose, happy singalong version of "Cure for Pain" with everyone on stage.

This memorial concert was the first of what will be an annual event. I don’t know how future shows could surpass this one, but then again, who ever thought Mark Sandman could keep making incredible music for as long as he did?

[A Mark Sandman Music Education Fund to benefit music education programs in Cambridge public schools has been set up in Mark’s honor. Contributions should be mailed to: Morphine, Box 382085, Cambridge, MA 02138] (Mick Emmett)

1999-08-06 The Crocodile Cafe, Seattle, WA

Something Wicked / Beach Rats / Blood From A Stone / She Wants You / Skinning & Grinnin' / What The Hell / Cruisin' / We Can't Stop Us / Addicted To Fame / Farmer John / What Can I Lick? / Ribby Rib / Theme Below Subset / Movie Clip (aka La Grande)

Subset

Audience Tape

1999-08-07 The Crocodile Cafe, Seattle, WA

Setlist

Subset 

1999-08-13 The Showbox, Seattle, WA

Setlist

Subset

with Evil Tambourines, and Alien Crime Syndicate.
1999-08-28 700 Club, Pain In The Grass Festival, Seattle, WA

Theme From Below Subset / Something Wicked / Blood From A Stone / She Wants You / Beach Rats / What The Hell / Skinnin' & Grinnin' / We Can't Stop Us / Addicted To Fame / What Can I Lick? / Farmer John / Ribby Rib / Movie Clip / Cruisin'

Free show, All Ages

Subset

with Source of Labor


Press:

Free Festival Taps Some Of The Best Of Seattle's Rock

By Patrick Macdonald

Seattle Times Staff Critic

Wear sunscreen.

If there's one piece of advice I could give for Pain in the Grass 1999, it's wear sunscreen. Oh, and get there early, too.

Pain in the Grass, the annual free concert series at Seattle Center's Mural Amphitheatre, has in its nine years of existence turned into one of the premiere showcases for Seattle rock groups. Among notable bands that have played it in the past are Pearl Jam, Mudhoney and the Presidents of the United States of America.

Rock fans of all ages love the early-evening, summertime shows. The average attendance last year was 6,000 - that's two times the capacity of the Paramount. It's a good idea to get there early, because the lawn in front of the Mural Amphitheatre fills up fast.

Jeff Gilbert, who has booked the festival from the beginning, said he had to wade through more audition tapes than ever this year. "You wouldn't believe how many bands try to sound like Nirvana," he said. "They're the first to go. And for some reason, all these club bands are doing `Satisfaction' as a closer. That's scary."

But Gilbert - a nationally-known music critic who specializes in hard rock and heavy-metal - says his work has paid off. This year's lineup is one of the best ever, he says, because of the many promising new bands on the bill, a reunion of Seattle's most popular power-pop band of the early '80s, and an intriguing collaboration of some of the most famous musicians ever to come out of the Northwest.

The latter is called Subset, and you'll have to wait until the very last Pain in the Grass show, on Aug. 28, to see it.

Subset is the seemingly unlikely pairing of rapper Sir Mix-a-Lot and the members of the wacky Presidents of the United States of America, Chris Ballew, Dave Dederer and Jason Finn. Both Mix and the Presidents have been off the radar for years, the Presidents having played their last show two years ago, about the same time Mix was dropped from his record company. They had wanted to work together years ago, but both the Presidents and Mix had thriving international careers going. Now they have time to collaborate, with Mix writing lyrics for funky grooves created by the former Presidents. Subset has a show coming up June 26 at the Crocodile Cafe, and hopes to get a record contract. They're not just fooling around - Subset is the real deal, and maybe the next big thing to come out of Seattle.


Review:

A few months ago I saw the Prez's three songs with Mix at the Showbox, and enjoyed the new direction. However I think they are now combining the styles more fluidly. The show was very energetic and Sir Mix-A-Lot really has a charismatic onstage persona. At the Showbox, the ex-Prez's were very much in the background. Here they behaved like a group--with Mix as the frontman. Chris sang a little and addressed the crowd some. Dave and Jason laid low.

Most of the songs were energetic, more so than Tycoons or the earlier songs with Mr. A-Lot. For the most part Mix took vocals, rapping with his "pop," rather than more hard-core rap, style. The president's backed, usually with their strings--more than five--and drums. Chris played keyboards on 3 or 4 songs. On several songs the President's would sing chorus and some backing vocals. Though Chris sang on a couple which sounded like he had written by himself.

Most of the songs had a good blend of Mix's rapping and PUSA-style backing. They varied considerably as to whose influence was greater. Some tilted heavily towards Mix's rap or R&B style, and a couple heavily towards the President's. However most were just a good mix, pardon the pun. I never would have guessed the styles could be merged this well.

Rather than fun-loving, the show started out as sort of a gripe session. With a song about nasty promoters ("Something Wicked"), a song about the IRS, "Blood from a Stone," followed shortly after by a song about Santa Barbara "Rats....beach rats." I'm not complaining, and particularly liked the first of those.

There were a few raunchy bits, including a song about going after a farmers daughter and one with the frequent refrain "Where can I lick you to make you squeal?" or something fun like that. Evidently the promoters had told them to keep it clean and not use any bad words. They had a lot of fun with that. Mix came up with his own version of pig-Latin to introduce some of these songs.

Particularly good was a song "Fame," which tilted towards Mix's influences. I also particularly liked the song before it--the most PUSA-sounding song. Chris sang lead and it had many of Chris' witty, bouncy lyrics. Those lyrics, including the chorus, are completely failing me at the moment. Hopefully it will come back soon.

Overall I am excited about the collaboration. I'll rush out and get the CD if/when it is published. Will it be a hit? I couldn't even guess. I dragged many, many friends to see PUSA while they were playing in clubs. But I wrongly predicted they wouldn't be a radio hit with such light-hearted songs. So I'm not even going to try now. Selfishly, I'd prefer that they were able to stick to club shows.

Subset announced two free shows at the Crocodile, Oct 8 & 9. They said Seattle would never have to pay for one of their shows. I hope to see more!
--Allan Muchmore


Review #2:

Well, folks, it's safe to say that a legend was born this evening. Tell your friends you read it here first, because there is something big on the horizon. Subset, the newest and most rockingest band to come out of Seattle in years put on an amazing show at Pain In The Grass tonight.

I thought I knew what to expect when I went to this show. "Sure, it's gonna be Sir Mix-A-Lot rapping over 'Peaches.'" But this show was nothing like I could have ever expected.

The Presidents of the USA came along way back many years ago in a time when music needed a change. Everything on the radio was depressing and made me want to bang my head against the wall until I was dead, and then one day I hear "Lump" and it's like "whoa! wait a minute! what is this?" I mean, here were three dudes singing this upbeat stuff, jumping around on stage wearing kakhi shorts and bear costumes and bringing Christmas trees with them! They changed the dreary music scene, and it was incredible!

And now, after being pretty much undercover for the past couple years, are back just in time to aide an ailing music scene, bringing with them, none other than, Sir Mix-A-Lot!!!

There isn't a person in the world who doesn't know Mix-A-Lot! He revolutionized the rap industry! People started rapping like him, imitating his smoothness. Men wanted to be like him, women wanted to be with him!

Anyway, this show was amazing. Subset brought an energy to the stage tonight that I had forgotten existed. Mix-A-Lot was all over the place, and Chris and Dave were jumping all over the place inserting their wit with a most impressive comedic timing.

And the music!!! That's what makes this band!!! A complete original band, with totally incredible songs!!! I would never in a million years know how to start a band that does what they do!!

All in all, what I witnessed earlier tonight was the birth of an era, with Subset at the helm. One can only guess where these musical masterminds will go. So just sit back and enjoy the rizzide.
--Alex Clark


Review #3:

Wow. This was, without any doubt, the finest Pain In The Grass show this year. Source of Labor (another local hip-hop band) played first and got the crowd going. The lead singer (or do I say, "lead rapper"? I've never reviewed hip-hop before) got the crowd standing up and clapping along. This was just a taste of things to come however, because by 3 songs into Subset's set, everyone was standing, cheering, and packed in as closely as possible to the stage. I've never seen a band take control of an audience at a Pain In The Grass show the way Subset did.

To begin, Chris, Dave and Jason (the Presidents) got up on stage and played an instrumental intro. As soon as that song finished, Mix-A-Lot got up on stage and the crowd went crazy. Subset took no time at all to start rocking out, with songs Chris and Dave singing and Mix-A-Lot and Mike Singleton rapping. The two styles totally blended together. To add to that, the personalities of the four people up front (Jason rules, don't get me wrong, but he didn't sing or say anything) totally completed each other. Chris and Mix-A-Lot were joking around on stage and everyone was having a great time!

After eight or nine songs, Subset left the stage, and then came back for two more songs, which they claimed were written the night before. They still were amazing, of course, and not a note was missed.

And the most surprising thing: The crowd enjoyed Subset so much, I didn't hear one audience member yell a request for any PUSA or Mix-A-Lot song. Which is great, because in my opinion these songs are the best work any of these guys have ever done.
--Anthony Schmidt
1999-09-17 Breakroom, Seattle, WA

Setlist

Chris and Tad Show

Press:

Tim Gripe hates them, but Club Watch is quite amused by the Chris and Tad Show. As Tad Hutchison (of the Young Fresh Fellows) bangs away on toy drums, Chris Ballew - from the Presidents of the United States of America and, more recently, Sir Mix-a-Lot's Subset - plays kiddie keys and sings "I've Got the Blue" (not even the blues). This whimsical, oddly wonderful duo plays the Breakroom on Friday (10 p.m., $7). The Chris and Tad Show opens for Gardener, the fine minimalist rock band fronted by Seaweed's Aaron Stauffer.

1999-10-08 The Crocodile Cafe, Seattle, WA

Setlist

Benefit show

Subset


Press:

Northwest Harvest and the South Shore Middle School YMCA Program for Families.

there's no cover charge, but an item of fall or winter clothing (sweater, coat, flannel shirt, etc.) or blanket in good condition is required for admission


Former Presidents will do their part at benefit shows

Friday, October 8, 1999

By Peter Blackstock
Special To The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Often it falls upon the Presidents of the United States to allocate relief to people in need. This weekend, three former Presidents, along with another local dignitary, do their part for the cause.

Subset -- the much-talked-about new band teaming rap star Sir Mix-A-Lot with the rock trio formerly known as the Presidents of the United States of America (Chris Ballew, Dave Dederer and Jason Finn) -- headlines shows tonight and tomorrow night at the Crocodile Cafe to benefit Northwest Harvest and the South Shore Middle School YMCA Program for Families.

The benefit is geared specifically toward collecting clothing for needy families as the winter months approach. To that end, a coat, sweater or blanket in good condition is required for admission. There is no formal monetary admission charge (though donations will be accepted).

Opening for Subset tonight are Peter Parker and Sanford Arms; tomorrow night's opening acts are The Band That Made Milwaukee Famous and the Briefs. Both shows begin at 10.
1999-10-09 Seattle, WA

Setlist

All ages free show for Tad's art opening

Chris and Tad
1999-10-09 The Crocodile Cafe, Seattle, WA

Setlist

Free benefit show

Subset
1999-12-08 The Crocodile Cafe, Seattle, WA

Setlist

Starter Kit, Chris and Tad Show, Woop! It seems that the Seattle duo with Chris Ballew and Tad Hutchinson have yet another new name. At their last show on December 8th at the Crocodile Cafe, they played under the band name "Woop".
1999-11-18 Arena Of Brains, Crocodile Cafe, Seattle, WA

Arena Of Brains - Sir Mix-A-Lot - Jason Finn

Setlist

Subset's Jason Finn and Sir Mix-A-Lot took part in a charity fund raiser, the "Arena of Brains" challenge with The Fastback's Kim Warnick and three mortal contestants. All proceeds were donated to "King Co. Feral Cat Spay & Neuter Project".
1999-12-18 The Fenix, Seattle, WA

Setlist

Subset


Review #1:

The Subset show at the Fenix tonight was killer! They started the show with "Something Wicked" and "Beach Rats". I don't remember what other songs were all included, but they did play "Addicted to fame" and "Skinin and grinin". They came back for one encore (2 or 3 songs). They really had the crowd moving. In the 20 or shows I've seen there, I've never seen the audience get into the music and band as much as they did tonight. Unfortunately, I was halfway to Seattle when I realized that I forgot my camera, but at least I was able to pick up a shirt (a mere $10 investment). Better than nothing I guess."
- Stigmata Martyr


Review #2:

Smelly cab ride to show: $6

Tickets at the door from surly hostess: $15

Cheap beer from not-so-surly waitress: $3.75

Seeing Chris Ballew crowd surf for the first time: Priceless

Every time I see Subset (3 now), they seem to get tighter and tighter on the tunes and their energy level just seems to increase exponentially. As some background, I am not a big fan of the Fenix (at least as a live music venue). They tend to bring in some good acts, but in general the crowds are relatively, um, lame. Not an issue with Subset, though--the crowd was bouncing/jumping/moving throughout the entire set, and Chris, Mix, and Mike worked them like a dream.

Unfortunately, I didn't take notes on their set lineup (so don't quote me), but they started out with some of their more high energy numbers: "Something Wicked (Mix appears to opening rif), "Beach Rats", and "Skinnin' and Grinnin". Then they went to Chris on the organ and the more subdued tune "What the Hell". Then, one of my personal favorites, "Farmer John", a cover of a Neil Young song, I believe, which really got the crowd going--or maybe it was just me.

Mix then introed "She Wants You", with a little personal note about a Fenix waitress who was getting married--something about him trying to mack her before the show, obviously. Mix also added a little personal introduction to "Addicted to the Fame": "This song is about a drug I was addicted to, and as you can see from this , it wasn't cocaine". Heh.

At this point in the evening, enough $3.75 beers had been consumed to make my recollection a bit foggy, but the aforementioned crowd surfing occurred either in one of the last few songs, or during the encore. The encore set included, "Ribby Rib", "Cruisin'", and one other song I hadn't heard before, but I can't remember the lyrics/title.

Although I only lucky enough to see the Presidents once (sad, so very, very sad), they have brought their energy into this band, and Mix is right there with them. Mike Singleton, if possible, may be the craziest of the bunch--he seems to be loving every minute that he's on stage. Just a great night in good ol' Seatown...hope to see y'all at the next show...
--Mike Peterson


Press:

(Fenix Aboveground) If the pairing of Seattle's own Sir Mix-A-Lot with Seattle's own Dave Dederer and Chris Ballew of the Presidents of the United States of America seems frighteningly unnatural, you need look no further than their mutual love of all things "round and juicy" for convincing, if you know what I mean. And in case you don't, I'm talking about asses and peaches. (JASON PAGANO / The Stranger)