What gig did you go to last night?

[Profpointy]

We went to see a performance of a local string orchestra who did the Vaughan Williams Tallis fantasia, one of the most achingly beautiful pieces ever written and Strauss's Metormorphosen which has 21 solo string parts, then an amazing performance of Britten's "Illuminations" a song cycle where the string band accompanied soprano Elizabeth Watts who was absolutely superb, and I'm not normally that keen on song-cycles. Oh, she also conducted whilst singing, and also conducted the VW tallis thing

I must confess I'd not heard of her before, but after looking up, she is a major soprano and has made a load of records with major orchestras

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Moving Pictures, in Carlisle Old Fire Station, last night. Fantastic Rush tribute band that I'd really recommend if you like them or not. They're all really good, but the lead guitarist and young female drummer stood out for me. Had never heard the first few songs as stopped listening to them after Power Windows. The playlist was really good for the old stuff, they included what I think are Rush's best tracks, the instrumental ones YYZ, La Villa Strangiato, and semi instrumental Overture - The Temples Of Syrinx. Xanadu was really good too, it was all top notch, would definitely go and see them again.

 

[Drago]

Moving Pictures, in Carlisle Old Fire Station, last night. Fantastic Rush tribute band that I'd really recommend if you like them or not. They're all really good, but the lead guitarist and young female drummer stood out for me. Had never heard the first few songs as stopped listening to them after Power Windows. The playlist was really good for the old stuff, they included what I think are Rush's best tracks, the instrumental ones YYZ, La Villa Strangiato, and semi instrumental Overture - The Temples Of Syrinx. Xanadu was really good too, it was all top notch, would definitely go and see them again.

Is the bassist any good? I've yet to see a Rush covers/tribute act where the clank plank man was a patch on the Progfather himself.

 

[MadMalx]

There can't be many places where Vaughan Williams get discussed between Radiohead and and Rush

 

[Profpointy]

There can't be many places where Vaughan Williams get discussed between Radiohead and and Rush

Someone other than me mentioned the Tallis Scholars and Josquin a few posts up as well

 

[StuAff]

Cabaret Voltaire in Brighton (well, University of Sussex, so just outside). Absolutely awesome. Excellent support from Microcorps, then CV were…amazing. Sound was terrific (they reconstructed all the old samples and effects digitally, sounded brand-new), great visuals. Hopefully I'll be able to catch them on the final tour last year.

 

[MontyVeda]

Top notch space rock and daft intergalactic techno from Gong and Henge.

I've seen both several times previously and both fall into the 'not as good as they used to be' category for me... but since they came to Lancaster i couldn't not go along.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Is the bassist any good? I've yet to see a Rush covers/tribute act where the clank plank man was a patch on the Progfather himself.

Honestly I thought he was great. He did a couple of solo parts and really seemed to have Geddy's tone nailed, the parts in YYZ were really good too, where just bass plays after the lead guitar. He also played a bit of electric 5 stringed violin for a track, and quite a lot of synthesiser. He couldn't quite hit the highs vocally that Geddy Lee can. Really talented band would really recommend going to see them if they ever play near where you live. It was all really authentic, must've spent a fortune on instruments. The lead guitarist had several guitars (Gibson's and maybe a PRS at a guess), and a double necked Gibson SG with a 6 string and 12 string that was used on Xanadu. The bassist also had a double necked Rickenbacker that he used at times and Fender Precision. They were all really good musicians, as you have to be to play that material very accurately. The playlist was very good, what you'd want (well me anyway), really complex tracks, apart from the newer stuff (but that's just me), and Closer To The Heart, but I guess they had to do that one. The tracks I knew were, YYZ, Overture Temples of Syrinx, La Villa Strangiato, Subdivisions, Working Man, Spirit of Radio, Tom Sawyer, Xanadu, Closer to the Heart, Cinderella Man and one off Power Windows that I can't remember the title. You'd have to see them and make you're own call though.

 

[Drago]

YYZ is hard work. I can p,ay the notes, but im nowhere near Geddy's technique and sound.

 

[briantrumpet]

Played 3rd trumpet in Bach's Mass in B Minor in Babbacombe last night. First time I've played that part in over 40 years, as I've made a bit of speciality in playing the first part, but for one or two reasons I opted to play 3rd, and it was lovely to have a relatively easy concert.

Also rather splendidly, the tenor soloist was once a trumpeter in various ensembles I directed, since becoming one of the go-to soloists in Bach & Handel around the globe. (He and his parents are also very good friends of mine.) You'll see him doing the first "Cum sanctu spiritu" interjection in the excerpt, when he recorded it a few years ago. I don't think you need to be religious or a classical music lover to get the joy out of this. Some of the best trumpet parts ever written too.

 

[Svendo]

Warehouse project Haçienda night, Justin Stephenson on early but still a stand out DJ for me. Groove Armada dj set was fun. Popped in to see PrimalScream but didn’t stay as the venue and PA didn’t really suit a band and it was for me a mess sonically.

 

[johnblack]

O2 Academy Boscombe Bournemouth, Friday night, Heaven 17, ace as usual, it's a great venue. Only problem is that there is not a great deal of decent pubs nearby.

 

[VinSumRox]

Doors Rising - tribute band from Liverpool, bit of a shaky start but once they got going they were pretty good!

 

[Profpointy]

John Otway and his band at the Thunderbolt in Bristol, a small pub-like music venue in Bristol

Absolutely superb gig !

He mercilessly mocked the band, "merely musicians" whilst he himself was "the star" (and by implication not a musician). They have had the same line-up for 33 years (with a 33-1/3 tour soon), and
it was clearly in good spirit else they'd have moved on. He chided his lead guitar player for making the wrong choice by playing a side gig in Barcelona with a band with more hits than them "which wouldn't be difficult" as the guitar player riposted.

The band were spot on musically, Otway himself is a superb showman and his enthusiasm and sense of fun was clearly genuine rather than an act and it was nice to see him chatting, pint in hand, with members of the audience (most of whom he seemed to know) during the break.

Perhaps a novelty act in some ways, and clearly didn't take himself at all seriously, yet a super professional show which was pure joy from start to finish. If he comes round your way you simply must go. We nearly booked a night away specially to see him in Gloucester before we spotted he was playing this gig walking distance from our house.

Another snippet was a BBC poll for the best song lyrics. Otway came out above all of Bob Dylan and just pipped for 7th place by Paul McCartney with "Yesterday".

 

[raleighnut]

John Otway and his band at the Thunderbolt in Bristol, a small pub-like music venue in Bristol

Absolutely superb gig !

He mercilessly mocked the band, "merely musicians" whilst he himself was "the star" (and by implication not a musician). They have had the same line-up for 33 years (with a 33-1/3 tour soon), and
it was clearly in good spirit else they'd have moved on. He chided his lead guitar player for making the wrong choice by playing a side gig in Barcelona with a band with more hits than them "which wouldn't be difficult" as the guitar player riposted.

The band were spot on musically, Otway himself is a superb showman and his enthusiasm and sense of fun was clearly genuine rather than an act and it was nice to see him chatting, pint in hand, with members of the audience (most of whom he seemed to know) during the break.

Perhaps a novelty act in some ways, and clearly didn't take himself at all seriously, yet a super professional show which was pure joy from start to finish. If he comes round your way you simply must go. We nearly booked a night away specially to see him in Gloucester before we spotted he was playing this gig walking distance from our house.

Another snippet was a BBC poll for the best song lyrics. Otway came out above all of Bob Dylan and just pipped for 7th place by Paul McCartney with "Yesterday".

Otway is a star but so is Richard.....................they've been 'bouncing' off each other for over 30 years

One of the funniest lines I've heard is.................."what's the difference between a lead guitarist and a backing guitarist...............About £40 quipped Richard
I've seen John with Willy (Barret), with Richard, (Holgarth) with the 'Big Band' and solo