Colleen and I went to see Warm Beer Cold Women at the Guthrie’s Dowling Theater this weekend. The theater was set up the exact reverse way from when we saw Phil Callen in Pen this fall, which threw me off at first.

I’ve liked Tom Waits for a long time, but realized I’m not much of a Waits expert. This show had lots of songs I’d never heard before, but we still had a good time. Katy Hays was our favorite performer, but Dennis Curley had his moments and Robert Berdahl (who also wrote, directed and produced) did an admirable job with his torn Achilles and crutches.

The musicians were very strong and we really liked Dan Chouinard on keyboards and Mark Stillman on accordion (his entrance at the beginning of Rain Dogs was a highlight of the evening).

Complete list of songs from the program after the jump.

Warm Beer Cold Woman

• New Coat of Paint (1974)
• Ice Cream Man (1973)
• Fumblin’ with the Blues (1974)
• I Want You (1973)
• I Never Talk to Strangers (1977)
• Warm Beer Cold Women (1976)
• The Tango (1982)
• Ruby’s Arms (1980)
• Xmas Card from a Hooker in Mpls (1978)
• Picking Up After You (1982)
• Broken Bicycles (1982)
• Take Me Home (1982)
• Rain Dogs (1985)
• Tango ‘Til They’re Sore (1985)
• Frank’s Wild Years (1983)
• Jockey Full of Bourbon (1985)
• Yesterday is Here (1987)
• Bend Down the Branches (1998)
• Temptation (1987)
• Johnsburg, Illinois (1983)
• Telephone Call from Istanbul (1987)
• Time (1985)
• It’s Over (1999)
• I’ll Never Let Go of Your Hand (1992)
• Reeperbahn (2002)
• Mr. Henry (1981)
• Down There by the Train (1994)
• Buzz Fledderjon (1999)
• Walk Away (1995)
• That’s the Way (1993)
• The Briar and the Rose (1993)

Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis, Minnesota
January 31st – February 17th, 2008