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Peter Gabriel in Columbus - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Discussion in 'Bassists [BG]' started by Ian Perge, Jul 2, 2003.

  1. Jul 2, 2003 #1
    Ian Perge

    Ian Perge

    May 11, 2001
    Evansville, Indiana
    The Good
    • Perhaps the best live sound mix I've ever experienced - certainly the best open-air mix. Not at all a drum-heavy mix (as is today's standard), every instrument was balanced and clear. Hell, the most prominent musician was Tony Levin, which pleased me to no end.
    • A great setlist that balanced his latest album "Up" with some greatest hits and lesser known songs.
    • You expect a great stageshow from PG, but it was more theatrical (in a good way) than I'd expected for a shed tour.
    • The musicianship? Tighter than a insert your own tasteless joke *here*. [;)]
    • Did I mention Tony Levin? The Man was spot on, and showcased his formidable talents on five-string bass, electric upright and keyboard bass. We even got some tasty Chapman Stick on "Shock the Monkey".
    • The fact that professionally mixed soundboard 2-disc sets will be available about three weeks after the show.
    The Bad
    • It's been five years since I've been to an outdoor show, but I was amazed at the large amount of people who were chatting, talking on cell phones... simply not into the show. It's not even as if they were bored with the set and decided to occupy themselves - it was almost as if they wanted to buy overpriced watered-down beer with Peter Gabriel as background music. Perhaps I've been attending too many progs shows with people who are there to count the number of notes played, but I'm used to people being interested. No more lawn seats, prices be damned.
    • The vast amount of advertising and squeezing the customer for every last penny. I can semi-understand limiting food and beverages, but you can't even bring your own lawn chair - however, they're happy to rent you one.
    • The guy sitting right next to us who lit up a cigar. Cigarettes I can stand, but cigars are simply stanky. J.P. Morgan, you're not a captain of industry so how about you stash it?
    The Ugly
    • Large people wearing far-too-tight clothing. I'm all about people being comfortable with their self-image, but spandex pants and tube tops aren't attractive with rolls of fat squeezed inbetween. [:O]
    The verdict? Absolutely worth it to see someone I'd consider a living legend. It's very good when you can say the Dream Theater/Queensryche double bill isn't even the best show I'll be at this week. [:D]
     
  2. Jul 3, 2003 #2
    TRU

    TRU

    Apr 12, 2002
    Northern Europe
    I saw Peter in Stockholm earlier this year and I must agree with you. Great set list, superb musicianship (do I even need to mention the show?). Since you saw him outdoors, the sound quality must have been better. Bass and large halls don't mix well. I really dug Ged Lynch, he's a really powerful groover. More straight forward than Manu Katche, in a good way.

    And what I didn't like: the audience. The globe was half empty and people we're like they were in Rolling Stones concert or some other publicity event. Some folks even left before the end of the show!

    I have ordered the CD's of the second US concert.
     
  3. Jul 3, 2003 #3
    James Hart

    James Hart

    Feb 1, 2002
    Beemerville.nj.us
    I recently reviewed the Holmdel, NJ show (June 20th)

    Great Show!!! If I had the cash I'd have gone to Camden the next night to see it again!

    I've got the boot from Holmdel ordered too :cool: I can't wait to hear it... again.
     
  4. Jul 3, 2003 #4
    James Hart

    James Hart

    Feb 1, 2002
    Beemerville.nj.us
    here is my post

    What did you think of Sevara? Being a gamer and watcher of Anime... I was very impressed. She and her band put on a great show!
     
  5. Jul 3, 2003 #5
    jerry

    jerry Too old for a hiptrip Gold Supporting Member

    Dec 13, 1999
    I f&cking hate people who yap yap through concerts!!:mad:
     
  6. Jul 3, 2003 #6
    James Hart

    James Hart

    Feb 1, 2002
    Beemerville.nj.us
    this was the Mrs's first show besides seeing me play. She couldn't believe how rude people were.
     
  7. Jul 4, 2003 #7
    corinpills

    corinpills

    Nov 19, 2000
    Boston, MA
    It's a really harsh realization that, for a lot of people, music is not very important and it's just another lifestyle acoutrement. They get their culture from People Magazine and it's literally just something to say to everyone at work on Monday: "I went to the Gabriel concert this weekend, Chad.' "Cool, I love "Sledgehammer", I went rafting." "Sweet."

    Not to be ageist (as I'm verging on complete geezerhood myself), but this is especially apparant at stadium shows of older classic rock acts. I just can't bring mydelf to go because it's so damn ugly. I'd actually like to see some of these bands, but I know it'll drive me mental. I sat at an REM show about 8 years ago and listened to two yuppies talk about what paneling they were going to put in their rec room for the entire show, and taht was it, I can't go anymore.

    For the majority of people, music is something that they are into through college, and then they move onto homes, families, investments, etc. and they simply don't care about muisc at all anymore. They buy one or two CDs each year- like, they'll notice that Norah Jones has won 8 grammys and think "I like that, it's kind of jazzy- like the music I hear at Starbucks, I'll pick that up".
     
  8. Jul 4, 2003 #8
    jerry

    jerry Too old for a hiptrip Gold Supporting Member

    Dec 13, 1999
    I don't think yuppies doing gaggers of blow helps the chit-chat level either:eek:
     
  9. Jul 4, 2003 #9
    Eric Moesle

    Eric Moesle

    Sep 21, 2001
    Columbus OH
    I was at the Columbus show, sitting in the 4th row, left side of stage, right in front of Pete himself. I got those tix to get close to Levin, but hey, who's to complain?!?!?! Probably the best concert I've seen in my lifetime, and WAY better than Gabriel's "UP" tour I saw last fall in Cleveland.

    Sevara was cool. Was that Gedd Lynch, Gabriel's drummer playing with her as well? Looked like him, but its sooooo hard to tell when everyone's bald. Regardless, her drummer was smokin'.
     
  10. Jul 5, 2003 #10
    cheezewiz

    cheezewiz

    Mar 27, 2002
    Ohio
    I agree with the entire post, except the cigar part. Im a cigar smoker, so I guess I am biased.
    The thing that annoys me to NO END, is morons that have to smoke dope at concerts. I always want to yell..."HEY DUMBASS, I CAN BE DRUG TESTED AND FIRED FOR STANDING NEAR YOU. GO DO YOUR DRUGS IN YOUR OWN HOUSE, NOT IN PUBLIC!"