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Omer
= Cult of Ray =
275 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2003 : 10:54:02
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This is a response to many posts I've seen in reply to my 'The Eat Your Guts Thread: Best Concerts You've seen'. I noticed that many fans were very high on the 98-99 concerts. Now, no disrespect for those concert, which were great (The first time I ever saw Frank Black was in his 1999 stop in Hamburg, Germany. That was a day to remember). But it seems obvious, that, with the addition of the fifth Catholic (innitially Eric Drew Feldman and later David Philips) The shows became, much, much better:
1. Much more varied set lists - I saw two concerts in the 1999 tour. The only difference was that instead of 'Bad Harmony' 'Western Star' and 'I Love Your Brain', Frank played 'Speedy Marie' and 'Heahache'. The 1998 and 1999 set lists were very similar every night. On the other hand, the 2001/2002 shows showed much more diverse song selection.
2. LONGER sets - in the 1999 concert in Hamburg, Frank Black played 24 songs, including an encore of 'Sister Isabel'. When I saw him in Brussels the same year, it was 23 songs. When I saw Frank and the boys in 2001, they played a 34 song set, with 1 4 song encore.
3. Alternative Versions - the 1999 tour pretty much played the songs as they were recorded. There were differences - a long drum intro to 'Wave of Mutalation', somewhat different 'Big Red'(with Frank singing half a a line each time instead of two), etc. But for the most part they were identical to the album versions. With the 2001 tour, it was COMPLETELY different. the long, majestic version of 'Gauge Away', the experimental 'Six sixty Six', the country 'Fiddle Riddle', the hard Rocking 'Bullet', the classic rock version of 'Headache' - all brilliant surprises.
4. More Instrumets, fuller sound - With the 1999 tour, all we had was two guitars, bass drums. And they all played on all songs. Now, we get that, and also peddal steel guitars and keyboards! And sometimes we get only part of those - like the legendary version of Monkey Gone to Heaven with only Peddal Steel Guitars (haven't heard it yet... but I'm aching for it).
5. Dave Philips - isn't he just such a great guitar player? And now we have him AND Rich Gilbert! I think we're really fortunate.
So Rock on, Frank - there are great things ahead!
(Am I now officially 'obssesive'?)
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JamesM
= Cult of Ray =
308 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2003 : 13:49:17
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I don't believe the people in the thread mentioned (myself included) meant any disrespect to the 2001 tour, which in itself was awesome, I saw them during that tour as well - I also prefer the 2001 bootlegs to the '99 tour bootlegs. HOWEVER, the show that I saw them at on the '99 tour was fucking ON. The crowd was into it, Frank and the boys were into it, and this is a totally hackeneyed expression, but here it is, anyway: electricity was in the fucking air, man. The 2001 show was nothing short of RADTACULAR, but the '99 show was un-fucking-believable.
-Jimmy M. |
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Arm Arm Arm
* Dog in the Sand *
1037 Posts |
Posted - 02/19/2003 : 18:32:53
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So far I've only seen them once, in 2001 and it was amazing. Easily the best concert I've ever seen. Since then, scanning setlists, reading reviews, it seems as if they've gotten much better live.
I agree with a lot of what Omer's saying. I love that they play sans setlist and that they don't just deliver rote performances of songs. I love the longer versions, I love the intro's and outro's, the new versions of songs, etc.
I don't expect them to make every song into a nine minute opus but I love how they've altered songs and jam/improv onstage. I hope this continues.
cheers |
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Stuart
- The Clopser -
China
2291 Posts |
Posted - 02/20/2003 : 05:34:37
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How come I always miss the 3 hour long sets???? I'd love to see Frank play 30+ songs, especially the new stuff. The gigs that I went to on the 2001 tour were about an hour and a half each and were excellent but I was always hoping for an extended set...
2002 World Air Guitar Champion |
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leokearse
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
203 Posts |
Posted - 02/28/2003 : 10:17:14
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I have to say, the 2001 tour (I saw him in Vancouver) was amazing, best gig I've ever been to by a long way. I saw the him at the Glasgow Garage on the Cult of Ray tour (round about 95-96) and though it was great, it wasn't as great. Hate to mention the P word, but the Pixies tunes he dropped into the set blew me (and everyone else present) away, particularly "Gouge Away". And it was in a theatre, so we could sit down during the slow songs (important for a 3+ hour set!).
- Leo |
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Omer
= Cult of Ray =
275 Posts |
Posted - 02/28/2003 : 11:52:17
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To Sit at a Frank Black concert? Blashphamy!!! |
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astroman
- FB Fan -
Portugal
84 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2003 : 00:18:08
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Yes, so sadly true, when I saw the man in march 1991 at Lisbon, it was in a theatre too, I tink they must be more carefull with the choosing places...Itīs ridiculous to see FB staying in seats. |
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leokearse
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
203 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2003 : 04:50:27
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You've got to understand that a whole bunch of FB+C fans are over 30 so need to sit down during the long sets. (I'm only 26 but lazy for my height so need the same treatment). While this romantic idea of a bunch of 35 year olds jumping up and down all night is a nice one, it just isn't going to happen. Incidentally, I saw Belle and Sebastian last year at the big round concert hall in Edinburgh - it was standing and by the end of it I was just like "My back hurts". The next concert I go see will be in a hammock factory.
- Leo |
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astroman
- FB Fan -
Portugal
84 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2003 : 05:13:12
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ahahah...so if you are overheight itīs better that you jump many times you can...and I thing itīs nothing to do with age. Iīm 33 and hope still jumping for the MAN many years.Oh yeah, I feel like a Jumping bean:-) |
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Omer
= Cult of Ray =
275 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2003 : 08:58:23
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well, if Frank can do it, you have NO EXCUSES! Plus, if you're too old to stand up, your place is in the back with the rest of the dead ringers:-) |
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leokearse
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
203 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2003 : 03:46:38
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But Frank can't do it. Sitting down the front, I saw the wires, corset and upholstery.
I think if he's going to play to standing room only, he should finish his tours with a gig in a floatation tank and bus local Sciatica Sufferers Clubs in to it.
- Leo |
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misterwoe
= Cult of Ray =
Greece
675 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2003 : 09:36:11
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????????????
Sitting down at an FB concert? You don't have to jump around, just stand there... as close as you can get. Man, I'm one of first people standing in front of the stage to insure a great spot. A spot in which I will stand for however many hours the man wants to play!! Oh yeah, David Philips is awesome. I saw him and talked to him at this last show. He is great. |
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leokearse
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
203 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2003 : 09:33:23
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Oh yeah can't beat a good stand can you? Gotta love standing. While I appreciate your love of standing, I can't stand standing.
NB I notice you SAT while you talked to David Phillips. So 3 1/2 hours of standing got to your lower back too, did it?
- Leo |
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misterwoe
= Cult of Ray =
Greece
675 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2003 : 14:27:45
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Man, had I known you were such sensitive person I wouldn't have been so sarcastic. I'm sorry. I guess I need to remember how serious some people are about these message boards.
Signatures are for wusses...yeah, that's right...wusses. |
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mereubu
= FB QuizMistress =
USA
2677 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2003 : 14:59:09
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leokearse, you are a man after my own spine. The show before last, I stood with the sheeple and got a stiff neck and a sore foot from the idiot that pogoed on my instep. Last time I sat on a nice little platform overlooking everything and had a drink and wrote down the setlist at my leisure. Ah, that's better. (I did hit the floor for Jumping Beans, though--what can you do?) |
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leokearse
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
203 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2003 : 05:10:47
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misterwoe, I'm guessing you're american from your own grasp of sarcasm and irony. That and the fact it says USA next to your name. Perhaps I should have appended my post with the words "and by the way in case you can't tell I'M BEING SARCASTIC".
In case you can't tell, I'm still being sarcastic.
As Meurebu points out, there are few finer pleasures than sitting through a gig. One of the best gigs I've been to was Jim White on the Renfrew Ferry in Glasgow - not only could we sit at a table and cry into our beers, but when we hollered, they brought chickenwings.
- Leo |
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misterwoe
= Cult of Ray =
Greece
675 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2003 : 05:27:28
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Leo, I was also being sarcastic. But who cares? Lets not fight. I think people should enjoy live music however they want to. We are both Frank Black fans, and we both like to smoke the same illegal substance...what more does one need in life?
Well...there is chronic masterbation, but that is just me.
Signatures are for wusses...yeah, that's right...wusses. |
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leokearse
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
203 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2003 : 08:53:10
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who's fighting, dude? It's a pleasure to meet a fellow crackhead and insatiable onanist.
- Leo |
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Omer
= Cult of Ray =
275 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2003 : 23:45:28
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I still say death to the sitters! Go back to the Elton John revivals, where thee belong! |
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astroman
- FB Fan -
Portugal
84 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2003 : 00:12:56
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I second that..unless you have no legs, and I said legs, if you have one you got no excuse. |
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leokearse
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
203 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2003 : 03:37:50
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I hope you're both STANDING while you type that...
Another reason for me not standing is that I'm tall (6 foot 5) so I get the full blast of noise right in my ears - there isn't a sea of other people's heads between my ears and the speaker. While this isn't such a problem at the Elton John revivals, when I go to noisier gigs (the Bee Gees, Billy Joel, Sheena Easton) my ears get totally knackered.
As Ivor Cutler said, "Sitting is fantastic. The best kind of sitting is sitting down. When you're a kid, everyone tells you to sit up. That is stupid"
- Leo |
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Omer
= Cult of Ray =
275 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2003 : 05:18:14
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Hi, I'm 6'4! It doesn't stop me from standing! |
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astroman
- FB Fan -
Portugal
84 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2003 : 05:51:36
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Sheena Easton...a noisier gig!!!!THE sheena easton? Are you serious? |
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Stuart
- The Clopser -
China
2291 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2003 : 06:18:30
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I'm more of a stander at Frank Black gigs. I remember trying to sit down at the London Astoria gig, but then gouge away came on and I had to jump into the audience. I reckon its a bit like a toilet situation, some people stand up and wipe their arse and some people sit down......
International Air Guitar Hitman |
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leokearse
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
203 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2003 : 09:27:17
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Omer, an inch is a huge distance at ear height. It could mean the difference between somebody's afro soaking up the white noise of Sheena Easton trashing her glockenspiel and me going deaf.
Astroman, you've obviously never heard Sheena's latest album "Night of the Living Shred", or her forays into extreme noise terror with the Rotterdam Fuckstep Krew.
Incidentally, I stood at the FB gig at the Glasgow Garage. At the start of the gig I was walking around with a pint looking for my mates when I totally missed this step between the bar and the dancefloor. It's just one step down - like the bar and dancefloor are on slightly different levels - to catch people out who aren't staring at the ground. Anyway I threw my pint all over myself and nearly chipped a tooth on the glass. This wouldn't have happened if I'd been sitting down.
- Leo |
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misterwoe
= Cult of Ray =
Greece
675 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2003 : 09:33:13
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I don't do crack.
Signatures are for wusses...yeah, that's right...wusses. |
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darwin
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
5454 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2003 : 10:02:46
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quote: Originally posted by astroman
Sheena Easton...a noisier gig!!!!THE sheena easton? Are you serious?
You sure you didn't mean Sheila E? Now she's loud!
I wonder if there's a correlation between standing and not wearing ear plugs. The whole macho, " I can stand and enjoy the ringing in my ears for 2 days." Also, I would say for me standing is far worse on the back than jumping around/dancing/moshing. |
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