BOTTLE ROCKETS (aka LOOKOUT JOE)
Cicero's Basement Bar, St. Louis, MO
January 26, 1993
*From the Doug Morris Archives*

Source: soundboard cassette master
Transfer (2007): Nakamichi 700ii (azimuth adjusted) > Tascam DA-20 (A:D conversion only) > M-Audio Audiophile USB > PC > Wavelab 5.0 (small edits, minor noise reduction) > CD Wave Editor (tracking) > TLH > FLAC (level 8)

Taped by Doug Morris
Transferred by mrpember

01- introduction
02- Gas Girl
03- Baby, Let Me Follow You Down [Bob Dylan cover]
04- Farmer John [The Premieres cover]
05- Hey Moon

Total time: 14:14

Lineup:

Brian Henneman: guitar, vocals
Tom Parr: guitar
Tom Ray: Flying V bass
Mark Ortmann: drums

NOTES

Doug Morris was a legendary St. Louis character, taper, late night DJ on community radio station KDHX (his show was called High Anxiety), and man-about-town. After Doug passed away his voluminous cassette collection went to his brother Gary, who very generously made it available to a few of us in 2006. Gary recently passed away as well, which reminded us that it is well past time to get some of Doug's recordings out for folks to enjoy.

Before there was the Bottle Rockets there was Chicken Truck, who were around from approximately 1985-1990. After that band broke up, Brian worked with Uncle Tupelo for a few years, taking care of the guitars and selling merch. He was always too much of a monster talent to not have his own band, and finally in late '92 / early '93 he stopped working with Uncle Tupelo and got the old band back together, with a new bass player (Tom Ray from Chicago).

I remember finding this tape when going through the box of stuff I was sent from Doug's collection, wondering who Lookout Joe was, and being floored at what I heard. It is the very first "gig" by the Bottle Rockets, a few songs on a late night at Cicero's under what I guess was their interim name at the time. The tape was labeled January 23 but on that date Brian was playing with Uncle Tupelo on Mountain Stage in Charleston, WV, and he says it is a Tuesday night so I'm guessing it was the next Tuesday which was January 26, 1993.

I'm posting this today because Brian announced his retirement which means that after nearly 30 years the mighty Bottle Rockets are no more. RIP to one of the best rock and roll bands of all time.

mrpember, March 2, 2021