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• Set list for: Post Historic at the Red Herring

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Red Herring Coffeehouse »
Address: 1209 W. Oregon Urbana, IL 61801
Phone: (217) 367-2340
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Post Historic, a campus mainstay for the past two years, played an intimate farewell show last week on Thursday, Sept. 17 at The Red Herring. After many late nights headlining in the cave-like Canopy Club lobby, going out at twilight in a brightly-lit basement with cafeteria-style seating was surreal, but the band rose to the occasion. The surprise appearance of sometimes bassist Patrick Mangan rearranged the set list but enriched the overall sound.

1. Coyote Scream

A gentle version of “Coyote Scream” kicked off the set, tempered by the crackle of technical difficulties and explosive drumming by Zach Benkowski at the end. Once comfortable, Post Historic alternated between leisurely introduction and total immersion in four-to-six-minute soundscapes.

2. Delugeons

The set was heavy on material from the album Memory Banks of Blue, starting with “Delugeons” and seeing singer-guitarist Jesse Johnson make more use of the stage.

3. Jennifer Green

Post Historic specialized in story songs such as “Jennifer Green,” a never released violin rocker about a 1930s cyanide murderess and “the silent art of saying goodbye.” Johnson’s vocals rose and fell with piston precision here, and acoustics were kind.

4. Burned by the Sea

Violinist Yoo Soo Kim then took over as singer-guitarist for “Burned by the Sea,” a Scottish-sounding song with a meat-and-potatoes bridge.

5. Serotonin

Next was “Serotonin,” the standout track from the album at almost seven minutes long. This was a lively version, closer to six minutes and identified as the first song Johnson and Kim had played together.

6. Dark Passenger

Even better was “Dark Passenger,” another never released song again with Kim on lead. It interspersed falsetto singing like tightrope walking with a nitroglycerin refrain.

7. Memory Banks of Blue

The set ended with the strident harmonies of the title track from Memory Banks of Blue, not initially included on the set list.

Post Historic is kaput, at least for now, but Johnson and Mangan soldier on with a new band — Jet W. Lee, which debuts locally Thursday, Sept. 24 at the Courtyard Café.