edwinhurwitz
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Tony, Tony, Tony! (Levin)
- Thread starter Bassamatic
- Start date
Right from the lineup was announced Steve Vai seemed like a very odd choice for this job to me.
I mean he is obviously an amazing guitarist, but stylistically it seemed very far off.
By what you say though it sounds like he actually pulled it off amazingly well.
Danny Carey seems like a much more obvious choice for the job behind the drums.
I mean he is obviously an amazing guitarist, but stylistically it seemed very far off.
By what you say though it sounds like he actually pulled it off amazingly well.
Danny Carey seems like a much more obvious choice for the job behind the drums.
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I missed out getting a ticket for the 1 Austin show at the Paramount which sold out in record time.
I just got home (Albuquerque NM) from taking my 17yr old son to see the show in Phoenix last night. Absolutely mind blowing! The show was at Celebrity Theater and featured a rotating stage, giving everyone a "front row" seat, so to speak. I'm still processing everything as it was a LOT of virtuosity to process. I don't mean than in an unmusical or busy way, but each player was just so strong in their own right during the entire show. I'd seen everyone except Vai together on stage about 13yrs ago during a Stickmen/AB Power Trio show where Danny Carey subbed, but this was on another level.
And for those wondering, Vai did a fantastic job in staying as true to Fripp's original parts as anyone could be expected to stay without being a direct clone. I can't imagine another guitarist who could pull that off the way Vai did. His stage presence was matched by Adrian, Tony, and Danny, meaning he was an integral part of the band and not the star of the show. Likewise, Danny Carey did Bill Bruford justice, IMO.
If you can go, I highly recommend it! They are coming through Albuquerque in December. I bought my tickets before the ABQ show was announced, thus the trip to Phoenix. My son and I may go see them again when they come through.
And for those wondering, Vai did a fantastic job in staying as true to Fripp's original parts as anyone could be expected to stay without being a direct clone. I can't imagine another guitarist who could pull that off the way Vai did. His stage presence was matched by Adrian, Tony, and Danny, meaning he was an integral part of the band and not the star of the show. Likewise, Danny Carey did Bill Bruford justice, IMO.
If you can go, I highly recommend it! They are coming through Albuquerque in December. I bought my tickets before the ABQ show was announced, thus the trip to Phoenix. My son and I may go see them again when they come through.
Thread Drift: Just as a thought-experiment I wondered the same thing back when I first heard about the BEAT tour. The very short list of names I could come up with were:
Guthrie Govan
Alex Machacek
Greg Howe
maybe Matteo Mancuso (although the more I think about it, the more I suspect he's too young to possess the discipline required to be true to Fripp's vision)
That's all I got.
Definitely psyched to hear Vai in this context, and thrilled to hear that he's embraced the role with such commitment!
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I'd agree with that short list, and I might've had a similar conclusion if I'd thought about it more. I'm not a big Steve Vai as Steve Vai fan, but I don't discount his artistry or abilities as a highly disciplined guitarist and musician.
Regardless, the whole band seemed very happy and appeared to be enjoying themselves and each other. The packed crowd certain did, too!
Just so as not to open a new thread - more TL fan-boi-ing:
They only showed the bassist from the back at first - tall thin bald guy swaying in a black overcoat - and that GLORIOUS MM TONE! I KNEW IT! It's Tony!! Just grooving along, playing chords with 3rds, on a 5 string, with funk fingers, and sway dancing like it was all just so easy!!
That man's just GOOD.
They only showed the bassist from the back at first - tall thin bald guy swaying in a black overcoat - and that GLORIOUS MM TONE! I KNEW IT! It's Tony!! Just grooving along, playing chords with 3rds, on a 5 string, with funk fingers, and sway dancing like it was all just so easy!!
That man's just GOOD.
Has there ever been (in the last 50 years) someone OTHER than Tony playing bass for Peter Gabriel?
I don't actually know, but I'm not aware of it if there has.
John Giblin played bass on Gabriel's 3rd album.
Nathan East played bass on Gabriel's Passion album & soundtrack.
Richard Evans played bass on one or two tracks from Gabriel's Long Walk Home soundtrack.
Pino Paladino played bass with Gabriel when he performed at the Rock'nRoll Hall Of Fame Awards a number of years ago...presumably that was a one-off show.
I also have this vague recollection of John Paul Jones appearing on some Gabriel tracks, but he might have played keyboards? [edit: Found it, JPJ played bass on the tune "Fourteen Black Paintings" from Gabriel's US album.]
[edit #2: apparently Darryl Jones was Gabriel's bassist for the Human Rights Now! tour in 1988.]
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Perhaps I should've clarified that what I meant was who else has toured with PG. Edit #2 addresses that - and I'm surprised, but not really, that it was Daryl Jones. Of course, that was post-Miles and Sting, and pre-Stones. That would've been cool to see.
Ah, gotcha. I read somewhere that for decades Peter and Tony have had an agreement that they will arrange their touring schedules such that Peter never has to use anyone else on bass, and Tony can do all his other projects when Peter's not on the road.
Nice job security!
