I'm off to catch the Flecktones!

[tZer]

And now for my annual dose of Bela Fleck and The Flecktones!

I have my camera - my friend is surely bringing his recording gear - looking forward to some pints and riffs! Gotta get down there early to get the prime seating - General admission has its advantages and draw-backs...

If my they come out ok there will be pics here soon!

[Sundogue]

Originally Posted by tZer

And now for my annual dose of Bela Fleck and The Flecktones!

I have my camera - my friend is surely bringing his recording gear - looking forward to some pints and riffs! Gotta get down there early to get the prime seating - General admission has its advantages and draw-backs...

If my they come out ok there will be pics here soon!

Cool. Enjoy.

(looking for the envy emoticon...)

[tZer]

Belá Fleck and The Flecktones - February 5, 2007 - The Pageant in St. Louis, MO

Victor Pictures

Apparently there were ghosts in the audience - this one shows Vic getting mugged by an orb...



Vic in action...


more...


Vic takes a bow...


Playing with Photoshop Filters...


Belá doing what Belá does best...


Belá politely tollerating the St. Louis crowd...


Ok... now my rant...

What is with you Flecktone fans? Man, oh, man... You'd think you were all raised in a flippin' barn!

OK... maybe that was a little harsh... on the whole, most folks at a Flecktones show are pretty well-behaved and really good folk - but it is really amazing how a few uncouth voices can really make an otherwise stellar evening so embarassing.

Hey, I am all about a good outburst here and there when the moment is right, but some people just have no clue...

Last night's tale of woe:
I got to the show nice and early, got in and found a fantastic seat with my friends where we could watch and really enjoy the show. Seated directly to my right were a couple of gents who seemed nice enough and I really do believe they were genuinely good people, but they definitely could have used a refresher course in "Flecktone show etiquette".

It's one thing to do the typical, cowboy, "YEEEHAW!" to show your appreciation as the rest of the crowd cheers - sure... a little redneck, but hey... everyone is cheering - let 'er rip! - "YEEEE-HAWWWW!"...

It is quite another when Vic is well into his solo and brings it down to a really dynamically soft and subtle place... eyes closed, channeling the vibe, really into it... and suddenly, at full-out "yeehaw" volume erupts...

"JACO AIN'T GOT NOTHIN' ON YOU VICTOR! YOUR THE GREATEST! YEEEEEHAW!!!"

Oh, Nooooo... Not now! Come on man... come on! You could see Vic react... You could tell it bumped his groove like a drunken dancer too close to the turntable...

And it gets worse...

Then his buddy has to outdo him - again, Vic is still at the nice, quite, soft part... the rest of the room right there with him enjoying the lush, gentle moment...

"COME VIC! SLAP THAT THING! STOP TEASING US! YEEEHAAAWWWW!!!"

"YEAH! COME ON VIC! SLAP THAT THING!!!"

This went on the entire night... Holy crap! This isn't Lynyrd Skynyrd, fellas - get a freakin' grip!!

I left my prime seat and went to the back of the room where I could enjoy the show away from these knuckleheads...

Don't they know? Can't they tell? I was so ashamed...

I cannot help but believe that outbursts like that do nothing but take a way from the band's vibe. I know they're pros and they are used to this sort of thing, but a bump to the turntable always causes the record to skip, so I have to believe that inappropriate outbursts like that cannot HELP the show along any...

Otherwise - another stellar performance by the group inspite of the poor etiquette of some of the audience members.

Way to go, Flecktones! Way to go, Belá! Way to go, knuckleheads... Next time save your loud-ass commentary for your next night out cow-tippin'!

[superbassman2000]

very cool!
i remember when i caught Bela and the Flecktones in Steven's Point a few years ago and they were nothing short of amazing!

[bassist15]

Just a quick question. Does Victor play more fingerstyle grooves with the flecktones that his solo stuff. Im interested in going to a show and wanted to knwo if he's up there slappin most of the time or what . Thanks

[tZer]

He does a healthy dose of both - He does do a lot of finger style groovin' with the Flecktones. I don't know if it is more than his solo stuff, but he is not thumbin', slappin' and tappin' all night - very well-rounded Wooten.

[dls59]

tZer, you were upstairs then? I think the redneck was just to our left. Thre was a drunk nut in overalls near stage left, in the balcony, making a jackass of himself. He was about a dozen feet to my left.

I'm with you about the idiots yelling at inappropriate moments in Vic's solos. Stupid.

I think he does less slap with the Flecktones than on his own. Really, Vic is featured as much as Bela is, with respect to solos. These guys are top shelf in terms of professionalism and musicianship. All aspects of the show were great. Bela's solo banjo near the end was a bit long for me, as was Futureman's "whatever it was" coming out of the intermission. All in all, a great show.

[Lazylion]

Originally Posted by tZer

Way to go, knuckleheads... Next time save your loud-ass commentary for your next night out cow-tippin'!

What?? And wake up the cows??

[tZer]

Originally Posted by dls59

tZer, you were upstairs then?

Nope... bummer that there were more loud-mouthed morons than just the ones near me...

I was right in front of the mixer - right behind the floor. Couldn't ask for a better seat except for the fact that I had those "gents" who don't know how to express their exuberance right there too... LOL

Seriously... It's a blessing and a curse that the Flecktones draw such an interesting cross-section of people. You have the "jazzers" who really appreciate the eloquence and virtuosity (they politely applaud after solos and at the end of songs), the jam-band devotees who douse themselves in patchouli and swirl like dirvishes (they applaud after they pick themselves up offa the floor and exhale), and the rednecks who think it's ok to hoot and holler no matter what the musical mood dictates - and they hoot and holler whenever the mood strikes 'em... And boy, I'd sure like to strike them - if I weren't such a peace-lovin' kinda guy! LOL

Love it! Hate it! Ah, but what'r ya gonna do?