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Nate in the PDX
- FB Fan -
USA
145 Posts |
 Posted - 04/03/2009 : 18:51:27
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No surprise that the WOW Hall is the venue for this hometown gig.
Show is listed on the WOW site, tix on sale ($13 a pop) now.
http://www.wowhall.org/events.php
I'm excited about this. |
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Nate in the PDX
- FB Fan -
USA
145 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2009 : 16:08:55
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LOVED this show. I was very impressed.
I've been offline since the show last night and assumed some of the other Fans in the crowd -- and they were plentiful -- would have provided news and reviews by now. If not pictures; there was a guy next to me shooting pix through the show. I've got to put the kids to bed but will be back online soon to post whatever I can remember.
In brief: a packed house at the WOW Hall, no surprise given that this was for all intents and purposes a hometown show... they played every song from the album, though I wasn't making notes and won't try to guess.. "Come On Over" was the opener, "Volcano!" was the closer. Aside from the album tracks, I *think* the only others were "Ma Carrefour" and "A Strange Day."
There was no encore, which I think is a good thing, though it occurred to me that they may have played all the songs in the band's repertoire by that point!
Okay, back in a bit to post some more... |
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Daisy Girl
~ Abstract Brain ~
Belize
5305 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2009 : 17:24:44
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| Hey Nate! Thanks for checking in. I can't wait to read the full scoop. You rock! |
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Nate in the PDX
- FB Fan -
USA
145 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2009 : 05:07:32
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Okay, here goes nothin'.
It would probably help frame this if I noted that during the drive from Portland to Eugene I listened to "Petit Fours" a couple of times and finally had it "click"... that magic moment when the album as a whole starts to make sense to me, and when each song establishes a toehold. I will confess this has been a part of my BFB listening experience for some time, certainly for the less accessible (ahem) or stylistically divergent albums. So I welcomed this little Grand Duchy epiphany on the road to Eugene.
The opening bands seemed to be of the local scene and didn't pique my interest. I explored the cool little old venue -- my first visit to the WOW Hall -- and perused the merch table, which here was offering the two GD tee shirts described by shineoftheever on the Bellingham thread, as well as "Petit Fours" CDs and the two autographed "Violet" art posters which are offered on the BF.net store.
I saw Charles Normal in the loo and asked him if he would be playing with the band. (I awarded myself a pat on the back for remembering his credit for guitar playing on "Black Suit," which rendered it at least a not wholly stupid question.) He seemed surprised to be recognized and said I must be a Frank Black fan! And said he wouldn't be playing, though the rest of his band would be. Terrifically nice fellow, this Normal, even when engaged in conversation whilst peeing.
A lot of tuning up ensued after the final opener, including I think three bass guitars for Violet (maybe it was just two) and one bass guitar for the keyboard player. Both Violet and Silver would later play bass during... ah, hell, I can't remember which song it was. [Did I mention that I was a little stoned? Hence my hope that someone else would post here and provide a play-by-play, set list etc. so I could just provide color commentary. Ahem.] Jason also had a laptop and some kind of electronic drum pad affixed to his drum kit... I won't guess at what purpose they served during the show.
The band came on and ripped through a terrific set. There was tons of chatter from them between songs. During the intro to "Ma Carrefours," which was I think the second song in the set, Violet asked the crowd if anyone could name the song. No response. I think she did that again as one of the later songs started and got a correct answer from a fellow to my right, to which she gaily responded "See me after the show!" It would be an understatement to say that Violet is enjoying all this. Between songs several times she affected a vaguely European-ish accent which I assume is part of the playful "Grand Duchy/Duke and Duchess" conceit. The accent shtick was, to me, cute but silly, and hopefully to be retired soon.
One of the songs that really broke through for me was "Ermesinde." My appreciation for this song is in no small part thanks to the vocoder wizardry of Gil Mantera's Party Dream. But it's just a terrific song, and I'm a sucker for the lyric "You belong to me" and that kick-ass refrain. Truly great hearing this live.
For a band that had played their first gig just a week prior, I thought they were awfully strong. Violet was to me the wild card, just because I'd never seen her do anything but sing backup on the "Bluefinger" tour, and she was a pleasant surprise. Solid bass playing and capable vocals. With the unenviable task of standing next to a legend, she absolutely held her own, and she also serves as this doe-eyed, delightfully charismatic counterpoint to her man, who was wearing black sunglasses and being characteristically coy. Jason and Silver were very good in their supporting roles, taking care of business and letting the stars be stars.
Since, you know, it's all about ME, my biggest concern was how I'd react to seeing BFB relegated to second fiddle on the songs where Violet had the lead vocal. It's twenty years now I've been listening to his music, and it's HIS VOICE that is the common thread through it all. It's his voice singing on the imaginary soundtrack of my life. So my initial discomfort with Grand Duchy had to do with my need to make peace with his decision to step back a bit, to the extent that he's singing backup or not at all on half the tracks. It was a strange feeling watching him step back from the mic and just play his guitar. But it worked... it really worked. What makes it work is that he's so obviously in love with the woman across the stage from him. And that he's so obviously into the music, this strange new/old sound that is so different from most of what he's done. There's a real beauty watching all that come together on stage.
Yeah, of course I fuckin' miss the Catholics, one of the best bands I'll ever see, and I even miss the Nashville era. But having seen Grand Duchy come to life, I'm fully reconciled to and supportive of this new direction. |
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trobrianders
> Teenager of the Year <
Papua New Guinea
3302 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2009 : 05:28:13
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Who cares about the setlist. Great color commenatry Nate. It's really good to hear they're winning people over with the live shows.
_______________
Ed is the hoo hoo |
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fumanbru
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1462 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2009 : 06:52:25
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that's a great first hand account. hopefully i'll be able to check out one of their shows someday.
 "I joined the Cult of Frank/ cause I'm a real go-getter!"...long live snitz!! |
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Skatealex1
* Dog in the Sand *
1670 Posts |
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Skatealex1
* Dog in the Sand *
1670 Posts |
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Daisy Girl
~ Abstract Brain ~
Belize
5305 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 14:44:10
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| I agree with everyone- what a great write up! |
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Nate in the PDX
- FB Fan -
USA
145 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2009 : 12:31:19
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Thanks, you guys, it's my pleasure. I see a terrific review over on the Oakland thread. Grand Duchy getting the conversation flowing...
To think it's only going to get better the more they play out... hope they'll meet with terrific success in Europe, get some buzz building, and come back to play a triumphant tour of the US of America.
And then there's "Der Golem"... so much to be excited about these days. |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
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fbc
-= Modulator =-
United Kingdom
4903 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2009 : 10:42:09
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quote:
Originally posted by Nate in the PDX
Since, you know, it's all about ME, my biggest concern was how I'd react to seeing BFB relegated to second fiddle on the songs where Violet had the lead vocal. It's twenty years now I've been listening to his music, and it's HIS VOICE that is the common thread through it all. It's his voice singing on the imaginary soundtrack of my life. So my initial discomfort with Grand Duchy had to do with my need to make peace with his decision to step back a bit, to the extent that he's singing backup or not at all on half the tracks. It was a strange feeling watching him step back from the mic and just play his guitar. But it worked... it really worked. What makes it work is that he's so obviously in love with the woman across the stage from him. And that he's so obviously into the music, this strange new/old sound that is so different from most of what he's done. There's a real beauty watching all that come together on stage.
I've thought about this a little, recently. I'm still reminding myself this isn't Frank Black and his band. This is Grand Duchy. A force all of it's own regardless of one band members past (but what a f**kin' past, yeah=)
I wonder if VC shoots FB the look when he cocks up a chord  Roll on European Tour. |
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Arm Arm Arm
* Dog in the Sand *
1037 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2009 : 11:41:53
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Thanks for the review...a bit odd for me as I haven't heard the album yet, but still interesting.
I think it's amazingly surreal that Violet went from being in the audience at a FB & the C's show to being Frank's wife, mother of his child (is it children?)and playing onstage with him. That's pretty incredible!
I like her voice, based on the youtube clip.
c'est tout |
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Grand Duchy - 3 May 09 - Eugene, OR
