There are a bunch of shows that seem to happen every year or almost every year at SF Sketchfest. Many of these things are nightclub acts that happen regularly in other markets, or are live podcast recordings. Almost all of them exist somewhere outside of Sketchfest. One of the few shows that don’t fit this mold is “Wheels Off with Rhett Miller.” Rhett Miller is the lead singer of The Old 97’s, and generally does about 200 shows a year if you combine his full band gigs and solo shows. However, with all of that criss-crossing the country, SF is the only place where we get this very unique show.
(Editor’s Note: At the time of publication we didn’t know that Miller was going to start doing Wheels Off as a podcast. Now you can enjoy this from the comfort of your own headphones)
This also means there isn’t much in terms of documented history of this show. When I walked into the venue, all I knew was that it was a variety show hosted by Rhett Miller. My expectation was something akin to the classic “The Johnny Cash Show,” where the focus is music, but there are some sketches and a few stand up sets. When I sat down, all I saw on stage was three microphones and two guitars. Now I’m just thinking we were getting music, and only music. In the end, it was somewhere in between.
Miller came out, thanked the crowd, and played the Old 97’s song “Wheels Off,” which I’m assuming doubles as the show’s theme. Instead of doing any sort of monologue, he put down the guitar and introduced the only other performer listed for the show, the great Dave Hill.
Hill is a master stand up, and knows how to gear his material to the crowd. Obviously, since the headliner is a musician, he managed to devote the beginning of his set to Guitar Center jokes. SO MANY AND SO GOOD! Even if you’ve never been to a musical instrument store in your life, the Guitar Center jokes were relatable. Genius act, but even more surprising was his final bit. In this, he basically retold the story of Jesus “Feeding The Multitudes,” better known as the time Jesus made bread, fish, and wine appear for hungry people watching his sermon. I was crying.
Miller came back out and did three Old 97’s bangers, including a sing along of “Big Brown Eyes.” I’ve seen him play with his band several times, but haven’t seen him solo in many years. It’s surprising how much energy and enthusiasm he gives these songs when playing as just voice and guitar. It’s clear that he started out playing in punk bands, because even with just voice and guitar, he plays with the intensity of a hardcore band. Only with hooks.
The next guest was not listed, which makes for a legit surprise guest. It was Thrilling Adventure Hour’s Ben Acker. He’s a story teller, and opened up his iPad to read a story he wrote about a ghost hitchhiker. The story had so much rich, deep detail. So much detail that the detail oriented nature of the story was what made it so funny. This wasn’t the surprise guest we were expecting, but he was so good it didn’t matter.
Miller came out and did a few more solo songs, including a version of “Question” with a verse in French, which Dave Hill described as being so sexy “it really flooded the basement. Then he brought out Sketchfest co-founder Janet Varney to sing a couple of duets. This was the next big surprise… Not so much that Varney was there, but her voice is amazing. When they sang “Firefly,” she sang with such amazing range and power that I experienced literal chills.
Miller brought back out Acker to tell another story… This one was an epic love story about a ribbon that may or may not have almost caused me to spit-take on the neck of the person sitting in front of me. Miller then came back and played a few more songs, thanking the audience for coming out in the rain, and taking actual requests from the audience.
The closing set brought Hill back on stage, where he strapped on his electric guitar, and played lead for Miller. And by “played,” I really mean melted the faces clean off with his shredding. He finger tapped, Eddie Van Halen style (but better) a blistering solo on “Most Messed Up.” Hill stuck around for a cover of Tom Petty’s “American Girl” before closing up with Old 97’s signature cowpunk rave up, “Timebomb,” where, at the end, Hill shouted “AGAIN!” and played the opening riff one more time, only to stop and laugh, but Miller kept going and they jammed out a bit more.
Miller bid his adieus by telling us that this was his “favorite show he does all year.” I have to concur… This show was fantastic, possibly the best show I’ve been to this far this year. It’s going to be a tough one to beat!
Setlist
Wheels Off
Big Brown Eyes
I Don’t Wanna Die in This Town
The Human Condition
I Used to Write in Notebooks
Good with God
Most In the Summertime (w/ Janet Varney)
Fireflies (w/ Janet Varney)
Question
You Were a Stranger
Total Disaster
Let’s Get Drunk and Get It On
The El (audience request)
Melt Show (audience request)
Rollerskate Skinny
Doreen
Encore w/ Dave Hill on Guitar:
Most Messed Up
American Girl
Timebomb
