I also saw them earlier when the played at the Troubadour. That was supposed to be their first LA show (first US show maybe) but they had played a night or two earlier at a surprise show at the Whiskey. I tried to get tickets for the Troubadour show but they were sold out. I assumed they had been given away to record company execs because no one I knew had ever heard of them. I came across their CD by chance while working in a used CD shop in Atlanta and a label rep came in to sell us his remainders. When I got out to LA, I saw they were going to be in town so I went down to the Troubadour itself to see if there were any unclaimed tickets for the show that night. Gomez were just taking a break and all walked out onto the sidewalk. I waited until one or two drifted apart to have a cigarette and casually walked up to Ollie and enquired about the show. He said they had already played at the Whiskey but it was packed with music industry people. I said I was hoping to go to the show that night but tickets were gone. He told me to wait a second, went inside, and came back out and said he put me on their guest list. I thanked him and they went back inside.

This show was later in the year and it was a great outdoor venue. Gomez still were unknown by everyone except a handful of people. I think tickets circulated around the record company again because I met a girl who said she had been given a dozen or so tickets and didn't know who the group was. To make matters worse, a record company guy got up on stage and played a little with them. I felt heartbroken that they had to endure that. This was before The Killers, before The Strokes, before the new wave of edgy alt rock bands. I don't think a guy could have insisted on getting up in his khaki shorts and polo shirt and playing his guitar a little had this been ten years down the line.

This show was fun nonetheless and had a great version of Not Fade Away as well as most of the tunes on Bring It On. This is a nice clear copy. It's good to relive that night, but it's sort of all backseat to the nice exchange I had with the band back at the Troubadour.

I hadn't yet seen them live at this point. Great to hear this excellent set featuring songs from Liquid Skin when it was new. It is good reference point when listening to how these songs have evolved over the years, too.

An excellent show with excellent sq.

Well worth the download.

forgot to mention

the recording quality is excellent A+

Great set list and awesome sound on an early show! I loved it! I hope we can get some more of these early shows on here!