Patterico's Pontifications

7/17/2009

Friday Music

Filed under: General,Judiciary — Patterico @ 7:32 am



The Insiders doing Ghost on the Beach, here. I actually prefer a song called “Memory Row” but can’t find it.

The epic Songs From the Wood, performed live with skill and panache. In a college modern music class, we were expected to introduce and perform a piece of modern music to the class. I taught myself this on the piano. I’m not sure what the professor thought of that.

The classic and short-lived collection of musical powerhouses known as The Grays, doing Friend of Mine. I’ve missed a lot of good concerts in my time, but at least I saw these guys at the House of Blues. One of the few things I have done right:

BONUS CONCERT (MINI-)REVIEWS

Saw Toad the Wet Sprocket at the Saratoga Winery last weekend. Good show, although guitarist Todd Nichols was clearly sulking about something, and it showed in his grouchy performance, especially at the end. The last time I saw a band getting along this badly, it was the Jayhawks at the Troubador — and they broke up shortly thereafter.

Saw Son Volt and the Cowboy Junkies at the Wiltern last night. Meh. Jay Farrar has to be the least charismatic performer in musical history, and the band’s music has been falling off in quality since their stellar rookie effort. However, the latest album (which I have listened to only once) has promise, and some of the newer songs sounded pretty decent in live performance. However, we were disappointed that the characteristic harmonies were almost totally inaudible — possibly a function of the band’s new lineup. As for the Cowboy Junkies, my repeated entreaties to leave were ignored by Mrs. P. I finally gave up and went to sleep.

BONUS MINI-QUOTE QUIZ:

1.

He’s chameleon, comedian, Corinthian in caricature.

2.

Though we didn’t have a lot
(But) one was quickly bought
Then we built upon this ground something we thought was sound
But in reality was silence

17 Responses to “Friday Music”

  1. “Toad the Wet Sprocket”, didn’t realize they were still together. Great band, great music, fantastic lyrics, one of my all time favorites.

    Thomas (b5d255)

  2. I didn’t realize the Insiders were still around -I think they’re originally from Chicago, which means you’re quite the afficionado of Midwest indie bands.

    Regarding Farrar – yeah, he’s almost comotose up there, the cigar store indian frontman par excellence. Although if you ever saw the Cars in their heydey, Ric Ocasek went one better on him – I saw them play their entire set once (over one and a half hours) and they never once acknowledged their audience.

    Dmac (e6d1c2)

  3. Toad had broken up for a while, but then they reformed (sorta); they’re not recording new stuff but they still tour together periodically.

    Glen Phillips had a fantastic tour with the members of Nickel Creek, back before Nickel Creek broke up.

    aphrael (9e8ccd)

  4. I’ve seen Tull at least a dozen times from the days of Barre/Evan/Hammond-Hammond/Palmer/Barlow up through the tours of the early ’00s, including the tour where Anderson was in a wheelchair. College poverty led me to miss the 1980 tour with Eddie Jobson (Roxy Music, Curved Air, Zappa, UK) in the band, who basically retired from live performance shortly thereafter but has recently been active again, announcing on his website:

    I would like to announce here, on my forum, the lineup for the first “Ultimate Zero” tour:

    Apart from Eddie Jobson – keys/violin (well I guess I have to show up…), my guests will include Greg Howe – guitar (Michael Jackson), Michael Bernier – stick (Stick Men), Marco Minnemann drums (UKZ), and Simon Phillips – drums (Jeff Beck, Pete Townsend, Toto etc.)

    I’ve always been disappointed in Tull for miming the backing vocals to Songs from the Wood using the multitracked vocals (all done by Anderson) rather than trying to pull it off for real.

    Dave (in MA) (037445)

  5. I used to get stoned and listen to Tull in College so much that just listening to “Songs from the Wood” just now made me feel high. Megaflashback!

    J. Raymond Wright (d83ab3)

  6. I’ve always been disappointed in Tull for miming the backing vocals to Songs from the Wood using the multitracked vocals (all done by Anderson) rather than trying to pull it off for real.

    I thought everyone was singing in this performance.

    Nobody is trying to get the quotes.

    Patterico (cc3b34)

  7. I have no clue who those quotes are from, and do not want to cheat by using google.

    Michael Jackson?

    Alf*ckingfranken?

    Imelda Marcos?

    Kermit the Frog?

    Kind of off topic, but I mentioned the BoDeans a couple weeks ago, and in Chicago, I saw that they are playing an acoustic set in a small symphony hall, and I was able to get a box. I am so jacked for that.

    JD (6dacf4)

  8. Bowie Cygnet Com

    Denver airport headed home

    harkin (1ee32e)

  9. Listen to the backing vocals as they repeat the lines that Ian Anderson sings around 1:05.

    “Dust you down from tip to toe
    (Dust you down from tip to toe)
    Show you how the garden grows
    (Show you how the garden grows…)”

    You hear a chorus of multitracked Ian Anderson voices repeating the lines as he steps back from the mic to take a breath after each line.

    Dave (in MA) (d51df8)

  10. harkin,

    Bowie is correct, but you have the wrong song. Partial credit.

    Dave (in MA),

    I can’t be sure of this, but I think the other members of the band are doing the backing vocals. True, it sounds like a multitracked Anderson, but have you ever heard Fairport Convention (one of whose members is Davey Pegg, a Tull bassist)? A bunch of English baritones who are actual musicians capable of hitting the right notes could replicate that sound pretty easily.

    Patterico (cc3b34)

  11. I saw Fairport when they opened for Tull in the A Little Light Music tour where Pegg and Mattacks were playing for both bands.

    It’s not simply a matter of hitting the right notes–that’s his voice.
    He’s even been known to joke about how they were about to perform that song with multi-part harmony almost indistinguishable from the tape playing backstage.

    Dave (in MA) (d51df8)

  12. I saw Fairport when they opened for Tull in the A Little Light Music tour where Pegg and Mattacks were playing for both bands.

    Me too. We had front row dead center seats in Dallas for that tour. Arguably the best concert I ever saw — although it has serious rivals.

    Patterico (cc3b34)

  13. “Bowie is correct, but you have the wrong song. Partial credit.”

    I was singing it in my head on the plane and came to the conclusion it was The Bewlay Brothers. Another great song from my high school days.

    Bowie was my musical hero in the early 70s. Saw him at the SM Civic.

    ps – regarding The Cygnet Committee – a great song and one of the best ever on how some revolutions can turn and feed on themselves.

    Never saw Fairport Conv but I did catch Richard and Linda Thompson at the Roxy in the late 70s; Just fantastic. also caught Richard solo after the breakup at McCabe’s (with I think Dave Mattacks on drums).

    If anyone could link a source for R&L doing Calvary Cross I’d appreciate. I found Down Where The Drunkards Roll but still looking for CC.

    harkin (3769c8)

  14. Son Volt – performing 25 mid-tempo, alt-country songs in a row is no way to impress a crowd.

    Brian Moore (feae43)

  15. I will gladly trade you … The next 2 concerts I will be attending are Hannah/Mylie and Tayor Swift. Ugh.

    JD (f52b33)

  16. Now I have Ghost on the Beach in my head. They closed their “Live at Fitzgerald’s” set with Memory Row. It’s available on iTunes. Fitzgerald’s is a real gem for live cajun, alt-country, indie rock, blues, etc.

    carlitos (ee9dcd)

  17. I was singing it in my head on the plane and came to the conclusion it was The Bewlay Brothers

    Full credit.

    What about the other quote?

    Patterico (cc3b34)


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