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big_galoof
= Cult of Ray =
USA
310 Posts |
 Posted - 11/10/2002 : 08:32:24
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Set list, complete and in order:
Gouge Away
Freedom Rock
Nadine
Hermaphroditos
Crackity Jones
Thallassocracy
I Want Rock And Rock
All My Ghosts
Steak 'N' Sabre
I've Seen Your Picture
Six-Sixty-Six
Black Letter Days
How You Went So Far
Bullet
Nimrod's Son
Southbound Bevy
California Bound
Robert Onion (minus the little instrumental coda)
Farewell Bend
Jumping Beans
Jane, The Queen Of Love
"It's A Beautiful Day.." (new)
Manitoba
Wave Of Mutilation (UK Surf version)
The Black Rider
encore:
Monkey Gone To Heaven (pedal steel version)
John The Revelator
Velvety
Whiskey In Your Shoes
Solid Gold
Sister Isabel
Review and comments:
David Lovering went on first tonight, repeating almost word-for-word the strange act I saw the night before in Northampton. It's a very carefully choreographed little show, with music cues and special effects. One funny detail - at one point he has a volunteer from the audience come up and play a game with him, with Lovering wagering actual green US currency that the volunteer can't fool him in a series of three guesses; in Northampton the wager was $50 for each guess and the woman won on the last guess (much to Lovering's surprise!) - at Saratoga Winners the next night, the wager was down to $20 a guess (and no winner either!)
Reid Paley played next - a set fraught with problems. Apparently his guitar wouldn't stay in tune from song to song, with Paley making elaborate apologies for the lengthy delays between songs. He rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath - at one point he said, "So tell your friends that you saw the Reid Paley Trio and they fuckin' sucked." It didn't sound bad to me - honestly, their style of music is sort of loose and out of tune to begin with - but I guess eveyone has a bad night from time to time.
The Bennies had the coveted slot just before FB & The Cs and they made the most of it. Very driving, straight-forward rock propelled by a juggernaut of a drummer. I spoke to Jeremy before the show and confirmed that it was *him* that made a certain unreleased FB album available in the Napster days of yore. Bow your heads and give thanks to Jeremy. Charles and most of the rest of the band watched the Bennies' set from behind the stage, clearly enjoying it.
FB's set was mammoth, spirited, and full of nice surprises. 31 songs. Farewell Bend, John The Revelator, Velvety, Sister Isabel. Charles wasn't too chatty - he thanked us demurely between songs, speaking at length maybe twice. After the song I refer to as "Beautiful Day", he said, "Sorry that you don't know these songs, they're new songs and we have to practice 'em!" There was a clear and evident mood of good cheer on stage, with big smiles and funny faces exchanged throughout the long set. Dave and Dave really get into it, strutting and posing in arena rock style. Dave P. was jumping up and down during the encore, while Rich did his best Pete Townshend windmill. Scott is wearing a fleecy-looking cowboy hat on this tour and everyone is in some kind of suit.
When Charles came back out for the encore, he had his suit jacket off and was drinking a beer (Amstel Light, for those keeping track!) He untucked his shirt and let it hang loose - literally. The version of "Monkey" had him smirking and waggling his finger to the beat during the chorus. I figure that he has to be really sick of playing that song.
Well, against my better judgement, I hung around after the incendiary show-closing "Isabel" and waited to have a word or two with Charles. I spoke to Rich and made the comment that they all seem to really enjoy what they do - his reply, "Most nights!" I also asked him about his trademarked hip-swiveling and pelvic-thrusting moves. He just smiled and shrugged his shoulders. I spoke to Dave P. while waiting as well. He's rolling his own cigarettes now (for those of you keeping track) and concurs with Rich about enjoying his job. He said it's tough being away from his wife (he reminded me that he is married when I brought up Zan's infatuation - he said he'd met her in Chicago, but he's married, um, stammer..) I asked if there were plans for a European tour and he said that he had no idea.
So when Charles finally did come out, be began packing his gear in earnest. I called to him and he made a move that said, "Give me a second." I said, "I have a gift for you - something for you" (I had burned a CD for him with special artwork which features a photo of me and him taken on the last tour.) He made his way over to the front of the stage, where I - the sycophantic loser fan - was waiting. I handed him the disc and he took it, saying listlessly, "Thanks, buddy" and then he chucked it in his bag. I said, "Open it up - there's a photo-" and he waved me off and said, "Later, later.." And that was it.
I think that's the last time I hang around to bother Charles - because I get the the feeling (after many, many - too many times) that it's exactly that - a bother. He proceeded to chat up a bunch of other folks at the front of the stage after blowing me off. Has anyone else had an experience like this - brushed off by Charles? I guess I have enough autographs to tide me over. I should just learn my lesson and realize that I freak him out, with my lyric-mouthing and my photo-taking, and my hulking-thirty-one-year-old-man-being.
Ah well, a learning experience. Anyway, I took two roll of photos, so we'll see how those come out. Also - I came away from Friday night's show with a tattered promo poster which now has four of five signatures on it (missing, you guessed it, Charles) - I've decided that I don't want it (that's how soured I am!) So it's up for grabs. Let me know by e-mail if you're interested - first to respond gets it: big(underscore)galoof(at)hotmail(dot)com.
John
The Big Galoof
P.S. I spoke to Scott on Friday night and confimed that he is Harris, but more importantly that Charles is Frankusblackus. His signature on the poster reads "Scott 'Harris' Boutier."
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Edited by - big_galoof on 11/22/2002 07:54:04 |
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mdisanto
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1140 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2002 : 09:17:33
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sounds like a pretty sweet show, i hope he plays sister isabel in philly. sucks about him blowing you off though, what exactly was the cd? he may have thought it was like your bands cd, and that when you said you have a present for him, it may have come off as though he like had some responsibility to open it and listen to it, which could be a bit off-putting. oh well, glad the show went well atleast. thanks for the review
-miked |
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Dave Noisy
Minister of Chaos
Canada
4496 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2002 : 09:44:45
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Hey John - nice to live vicariously through you folks through the shows!!
Bummer about the brush-off... I think i'd have a hard time if i was always being approached by people i didn't really know.. Doesn't hurt to be a little more friendly tho, Mr Black!! |
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Chip Away Boy
= Cult of Ray =
914 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2002 : 10:39:47
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32 songs...
quote:
Originally posted by big_galoof
Set list, complete and in order:
Gouge Away
Freedom Rock
Nadine
Hermaphroditos
Crackity Jones
Thallassocracy
I Want Rock And Rock
All my Ghosts
Steak 'N' Sabre
I've Seen Your Picture
Six-Sixty-Six
Black Letter Days
How You Went So Far
Bullet
Nimrod's Son
Southbound Bevy
California Bound
Robert Onion (minus the little instrumental coda)
Farewell Bend
Jumping Beans
Jane, The Queen Of Love
"It's A Beautiful Day.." (new)
Manitoba
Wave Of Mutilation (UK Surf version)
The Black Rider
encore:
Monkey Gone To Heaven (pedal steel version)
John The Revelator
Velvety
Whiskey In Your Shoes
Solid Gold
Sister Isabel
My 1st show, it was grrrrrrreat...yeah i got the same impression about monkey gone to heaven...that he has the type of mind set like "ahh here let me give them what they want".
Jane queen of love and Black rider were highlights for me. |
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mdisanto
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1140 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2002 : 10:41:28
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how much time did 32 songs translate into?
-miked |
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Chip Away Boy
= Cult of Ray =
914 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2002 : 10:44:59
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oh yeah...who was the dude messin with the lady in the front row???
i'm sure i'm wrong but she really looked like she could be related to frank, and when the guy pushed her he just was staring down while he was singing and then nodded for security to take the guy away.. |
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big_galoof
= Cult of Ray =
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2002 : 11:20:38
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thanks for catching that error in my setlist chip. i carefully wrote it down during the show (yeah, i'm that guy) and then mis-read it when i was typing it up this morning.
duh.
john |
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big_galoof
= Cult of Ray =
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2002 : 11:21:25
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oh yeah - i think they played about two hours, but i wasn't wearing a watch...
tbg |
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big_galoof
= Cult of Ray =
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2002 : 11:33:10
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the poster goes to zanni, btw. thanks for playing.
tbg |
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Thomas
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1615 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2002 : 14:24:08
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TBG you really made me cringe reading your after show happenings. Don't take it personal. The guy gets 'gifts' all the time and remember he ISN'T your best friend. Chipper up, I can feel the down ness in your posts. BRING BACK THE GALOOF!
"It's the Nexus of the Crisis"
BÖCswu |
Edited by - Thomas on 11/10/2002 14:24:44 |
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big_galoof
= Cult of Ray =
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2002 : 14:59:12
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thomas,
thanks for the pat on the back. I guess i needed it. hey - my photos came out pretty damn good, so that's a plus - eh?
gonna upload a show to the FTP, start scanning these here pix, movin' on.
thanks - everyone - for your support during this trying time... ;^P
john |
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Itchload
= Cult of Ray =
USA
891 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2002 : 15:36:53
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Hey, I've never even gotten to meet Frank! I'm way too scared. One time before a show he sort of caught me looking at him (this was my first show) and i was kind of giddy and talking to my friends, and I heard him say "I'll be he doesn't even know who I am" so that's my one Frank experience, ha.
Frank sort of has an "all business" aura to him on shows sometimes, I mean, this dates back to the Pixies right? I remember reading a review circa Pixies that mentioned Frank rarely "masks his contempt for the audience". I doubt it's true, but I mean, as every interview with him conveys, he thinks he's just an ordinary guy and it has to be weird that there are some people out there who think he's a genius. |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2002 : 16:34:28
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quote:
Originally posted by Itchload
Frank sort of has an "all business" aura to him on shows sometimes, I mean, this dates back to the Pixies right? I remember reading a review circa Pixies that mentioned Frank rarely "masks his contempt for the audience". I doubt it's true, but I mean, as every interview with him conveys, he thinks he's just an ordinary guy and it has to be weird that there are some people out there who think he's a genius.
i don't he has any contempt towards his audience.. i think he's just not the most outgoing person, like a lot of people.. yeah, he hams it up on stage sometimes and he is a performer and all, but i think he's kind of shy when it comes down to it..
and, as others have said, it must get tiring after a while.. as much as we all like to think we're his number one fan (i am though, really!!!) he gets people approaching him all the time and i'm sure that can get tiring..
it's all about timing i think.. and body language.. if he's like, lifting a heavy amp and concentrating on something i wouldn't ask for an autograph.. but then, you gotta take the opportunity when you can..
maybe instead of CD's you should try bringing Frank other gifts.. like, a platter of carne asada tacos or some ice cold Amstel Light. just a thought..
Floop |
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zanni67
= Bio Elf =
643 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2002 : 16:58:44
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quote:
Originally posted by big_galoof
the poster goes to zanni, btw. thanks for playing.
tbg
Thanks, G. And like I said, you can have it back if you ever decide you want it afterall. You may change your mind someday...
I agree with Thomas, don't let it get you down too much. But I know that's hard, and it's a darn shame that you had to go through that.
Zan
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tobymatt
- FB Fan -
USA
3 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2002 : 18:19:03
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Hey Big Galoof,
I am sorry that after I left you had a negative experience waiting for the band but it seems like you are okay with it. Thanks for making the show a lot more fun for me. It is nice being the second oldest guy at the show for once. (sorry that was ment as a joke- anyway the mom who pushed her way up to the front for her and her daughter probably had us beat). Anyway you were a fountain of Charles knowledge and it was much appreciated. Thanks for cluing me in to this message board and the set list.
toby |
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big_galoof
= Cult of Ray =
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2002 : 19:43:58
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thanks for the props, toby. nice meeting you too! i'll have something in the mail for you in the next week or so.
john
the big galoof |
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El Barto
= Song DB Master =
USA
4020 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2002 : 20:24:08
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It seems Charles could have been in a bad mood yesterday. I guess The Bennies were late playing or something along those lines (late to start? i don't know), but he told Jack (the bass player) to "just fucking play" apparently. I guess he apologized later, but yeah. I dunno.
www.thebennies.com |
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Chip Away Boy
= Cult of Ray =
914 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2002 : 20:38:09
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| when did he tell him to just fucking play? |
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Ten Percenter
- FB Enquirer -
United Kingdom
1733 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2002 : 02:05:53
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| Thanks for the review Big Galoof. I don't think I will ever try to meet Charles - I embarrassed myself enough when I decided to have a word with Chuck Prophet (ex-Green on Red) after a gig in May (my wife told me afterwards that I shouldn't be allowed out by myself anymore). As Charles is my main musical hero I would be rendered speechless. Maybe it is best not to meet your heroes? |
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mdisanto
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1140 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2002 : 03:21:30
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i see hes not playing san antonio tx on this tour:(
-miked |
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Solidgld
- FB Fan -
USA
104 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2002 : 03:26:23
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| First I'll say this if I met anyone famous it really wouldn't mean anything. Why you say? Because I am as regular as anyone I work a job where people come to enjoy themselves. I have met so many people I treat them like anyone else. Well twice I have met Frank, Charles whom ever you want to call him. My first time was after a show he was very nice while I was trilled. He was a great person to someone who really didn't know that much about him. The second time I met him on the outside and he really wanted to be left alone while he did sign my FB&TC CD he was short. Now let me say this we think we know him but, he doesn't even know our names. In every town every state every country there is someone like you or me. I got CD's,posters(which are really to hard to find) shirts also to rare but at the end of the day it means nothing. Frank really pissed me off so much I say screw it I was mad I said I never buy a new CD. Also at that time he was playing 3 shows in my town I didn't go while my friends still say how great those shows were. I wiped my huge ego off and realize its not all about me. So now when I see him he may see me but, that'sit he's just a man like all of us. You know were all crazy about this guy. If I had to deal with me in every town I went I would go postal. So remember he just finish a show 32 songs man I am tired just looking at the set it wasn't personal. |
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El Barto
= Song DB Master =
USA
4020 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2002 : 05:01:36
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Chip, sometime backstage...I guess before The Bennies played.
www.thebennies.com |
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citizen30
- FB Fan -
USA
54 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2002 : 06:36:34
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| As the old addage goes, "Don't stand too close to your heroes." Having met him myself once or twice, I realize he can be a bit short with words. But again, he's just a guy, sometimes overworked and such. Chalk it up to experience and move on, give him the finger the next time he takes stage or something, it will at least make you feel better! |
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Broken Face
-= Forum Pistolero =-
USA
5155 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2002 : 08:15:51
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i think meeting your heroes is always a really sad experience for the most part because even though we know they are just like us, they feel like they should be on another plane of existance. of all of the musical heroes of mine i've communicated with, mike watt was by and far the coolest. watt really tries to be overly friendly to everyone and after doing an interview with him for my college radio station, he put me on his personal email list, so i get cool fwds from him all the time. i have yet to meet charles, but when i see him at warsaw in brooklyn i'm going to procede with caution and try and treat him just as a normal guy and hopefully he'll be in a good mood that night. the thing that i think we have to remember too is that frank black sings the songs, charles thompson is the man himself, and that even if we have a bad experience with charles, frank's songs are still there, and they are no less great because charles was grumpy one night.
wow, i rambled
-brian
RAWK! |
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mdisanto
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1140 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2002 : 12:52:38
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i wonder what frank would think of you implying that he has multiple personalities, haha joking
-miked |
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Chip Away Boy
= Cult of Ray =
914 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2002 : 13:33:52
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| good words brian, see you at warsaw! |
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Chip Away Boy
= Cult of Ray =
914 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2002 : 13:40:36
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| DID anyone take any pictures of this show?? ANYWAY I COULD GET MY HANDS ON EM IF THEY DID??? THANKS!!! |
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big_galoof
= Cult of Ray =
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2002 : 14:48:56
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i took a whole bunch of pix. i'm still using *film* so I need to scan them and clean them and call them george. and then dave noisy is going to find a place to put them.
give me till the end of this week.
john |
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Chip Away Boy
= Cult of Ray =
914 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2002 : 16:02:22
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| john, your super duper...how many pics we gonna be blessed with? |
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Thomas
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1615 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2002 : 17:41:11
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Hey John, how close were you. Did they not mind the flash bulb? (remember those)
I was thinking about taking my digital camera.
Click the link to see some pictures I took the last time I was at the Bowery Ballroom.
"It's the Nexus of the Crisis"
BÖCswu |
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big_galoof
= Cult of Ray =
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2002 : 19:07:27
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i took some with the flash, some without. they don't seem to mind the flash - at least they didn't have me hauled away like the guy behind us. i have to sort through them, but i probably have ten or fifteen decent shots - including pics of "scientific phenomenalist" david lovering.
I used to have a proverbial *shitload* of photos from the last tour up at martin moeller's 8th day site, but now that seems to have dissolved... anyone have more info on martin's situation?
john |
Edited by - big_galoof on 11/11/2002 19:08:12 |
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El Barto
= Song DB Master =
USA
4020 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2002 : 19:53:32
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Woopity doo, photos of Dave's set...my sister got video of it ;) He didn't mind...she asked if she could. She was there to tape The Bennies...i guess she got some backstage footage as well (she's on the road with them from last Saturday till Tuesday's show). However, no Frank Black set...sorry folks. Apparently Scott said if he saw the camera he'd smash it. Not cool.
www.thebennies.com |
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realmeanmotorscutor
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1764 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2002 : 10:16:32
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Hey all. I thought the show was so-so. The sound was terrible most notably the bass. Anyone else here agree. I was the first one in the door but I had to move way back just to be able to distinguish between the instruments.
I kinda liked the first band - the trio. The singer had a real bad attitude though. The second band was just filler, I thought and I also thought that Frank was laughing at them backstage, not enjoying it.
Hey Galoof, were you the guy up front who had seen the show the night before and guessed "meteorite"? I was the kid with the girl who went onstage with Lovering.
Anyhoo, I thought the band did especially well on their newer songs and not so well on the older stuff. Rich Gilbert is an amazing player but he seemed to be doing whatever the hell he pleased. Frank needs to smile more; he looks like a prick up there. Overall, I enjoyed it but only because I new all of the songs and what to listen for. I was with a girl who new very few of his songs and the show was torture for her - again, the sound couldn't have been much worse.
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realmeanmotorscutor
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1764 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2002 : 10:18:43
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| I'll also say that 666 would have been a great opener but being as slow as it was and in the middle of the set just ruined what effect it could have had and made it boring. I kept waiting for them to bust out with the rest of the song but they did the entire thing slow. |
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big_galoof
= Cult of Ray =
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2002 : 10:35:36
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hey 'scutor - that, in fact, was me who guessed "meteorite!" the only reason i knew is that i had been to the show the night before. so you were the young-looking kid with curly dark hair and a Canon SLR? if so, i have a decent photo of your friend and DL - which i'll post in due time. if you were the clean-cut guy with short brown hair then i have no pictures for you.
nice to see the young folks getting out to see the big man. and i don't mean Clarence Clemons..
john
the big galoof
p.s. i'm feeling better about getting burned and spurned saturday night. thanks for all the love! |
Edited by - big_galoof on 11/12/2002 10:39:34 |
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eebee
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
104 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2002 : 11:18:38
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I was at the show and have to say i was pretty disappointed. Firstly though what is up with the frikkin I-87-theres two of them-i spent an hour going down to the wrong exit-i realise this would have took me several hour but grr-anyway i was pissed about that-but as fate would have it i arrived just as dave lovering came on stage.
Having seen frank once up close in a small england club in middlesborough and live at the leeds festival saratoga winners had pretty shitty sound-as fitting as the barn atomosphere was-dont get me wrong its a nice place- they really didnt have much co-ordination. I think there maybe a difference in franks fans here and in england. Back home there would always be a barrier between the audience and frank-people really let themself go-not wanker moshpit style but definately with more atmosphere.
As much as i love frank- trust me i own everything-am i weird in believeing that his set is actually too long-much like the release of BLD and DW-that it could be condensed into having more impact-I mean leave the audience stunned-i would have been happy without the encore or if he had added songs from it in replacement of steak n'sabre or nimrods son[i believe bullet is the better song]
I guess after the magnificent ending of seeing 4,000 people sing along to where is my mind at the end of the set at leeds [Frank was actually beaming as he stood there admired by all] sister isabell is bound to pale in comparison.
hats off to the bennies though-the drummer blew me away
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