@soundcaresser reflects on march 2006
We spend a lot of time around here focusing on the present and planning for the future, which means we don't always have time to reflect. Putting together a UMLive sale always brings back poignant memories of shows gone by and allows us to ponder some of those evenings past. Today, I want to share a few march memories that have stuck with me over the years.
03/10/06 Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL
If you've ever stepped foot inside the Chicago Theatre you understand just how magnificent a place this is. Playing this room was a big deal to us. The stage has been graced by many of the greatest acts of all time and to join their company was truly an honor. It was a particularly special evening for me as I was joined by pal & audio legend Jim Gamble*, who built (by hand) the soundboard I was mixing on. No pressure there. Fortunately enough, it was just one of those nights where everything clicked. The band played magnificently, the room was dialed in tight, and my hero was standing over my shoulder rockin' out all night. It was a complete and total affirmation of why we do what we do. A few acoustic tunes kicked off the evening but the band never looked back as they crushed prog staples like Out of Order & The Fussy Dutchman yet seamlessly wandered through upbeat, exploratory territory in Triplewide & JaJunk. And the debut of Liquid capped off a night that I'm not soon to forget. Listen closely for various audio samples that both Farag & I sprinkled throughout the evening. Ear candy makes the world go round.
Liquid debut (having just finished mixing Safety in Numbers with long time UM partner Manny Sanchez, I felt compelled to add much of the sonic weirdness that you hear around 2:45-4:00)
As amazing as the Chicago Theatre show was, we were only getting started. The following morning we headed to O'hare and flew south to Florida for two (2) shows at Langarado in one (1) day. And less than twelve hours after the last note in Florida, we were airborne to Europe for seven shows in ten days in five countries. We didn't sleep much in our twenties.
Each show on our European tour was incredibly memorable for a smattering of reasons....
03/14/06 Mean Fiddler, London, England
As we prepared for the release of Safety in Numbers, we were honored that Storm Thorgerson (you may remember him from such album covers as Dark Side of the Moon, In Through the Out Door, Slip Stich & Pass) had contributed his talents by designing the artwork for the album. Storm came to the show & regaled us with tales that told me I was in the presence of a life well lived. Jake's solo at the end of a stretched out Syncopated stil makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.
Team UM with Storm Thorgerson
03/15/06 Transilvania Club, Milan, Italy
We were officially exhausted upon our arrival in Italy. Nonstop travel amidst rock shows had taken it's toll. After arriving at the frigid (read: freezing cold) venue hours before any local crew would show, we all scattered throughout the club trying to find a couple of nap worthy square feet. In comically short supply, we crashed on cold linoleum floors, wooden church pews & stiff upright throne style chairs. After a delerious sound check the local promoter took us on a lengthy stroll through a dark neighborhood until we popped into an unmarked, empty Italian restaurant. Without speaking a word, the proprietor proceeded to bring us enormous bowls of salad, antipasto, homemade pastas, freshly baked loaves & never ending bottles of chianti. Life has a funny way of reminding you that it's all going to work out. Salute!
Young & hungry
The show ended up being full of 40 something German men who were clearly there for prog rock. I think it's safe to say they were both throughly entertained and totally confused. #5, Moccassins, & Morning Song satiated that demand, but were soon followed by the metal tinged Snucka, jazz laden Kat's Tune & pop leaning 2nd self. Who the hell are these strange American kids?
03/16/06 La Boule Noir, Paris, France
Show of the tour. By a landslide.
At some point you just have to stop worrying about gear not working, adaptors frying electronics, and being awake for days. Paris is a magical place, even its shitty clubs have panache. La Boule Noir was proof of concept. Stuffed with about 200 folks (192 from the good old USA), you just knew it was going to speicial from the moment the guys walked on stage. Kris welcomed the crowd and introduced the band in well accented French before the guys launched into a Hurt Birth Bath you absolutely must hear. From the Bitches Brew-esque patient opening notes, you could just sense it was going places. 32 minutes later, it proved to be the start of an incredible evening. It's still one of my favorites. Bright Lights & Resolution improvs are must listens as well. If you only buy one show from this March Madness sale, buy this one. I promise.
These three nights in Amsterdam are worthy of a full wrap up on their own. Sour Diesel, Northern Lights, White Widdow....I could tell you but the list goes on and on. When in Rome right?
03/23/06 Knust, Hamburg, Germany
Bottom Half, All Things Ninja, Eat, Believe The Lie, Water, White Man's Moccassins, YYZ, Get In The Van, Plunger...yeah, it was pretty much all dudes. And you gotta give those German chaps what they want, right? We actually have this show on DVD as an eager Frenchman insisted on filming. It was a perfect way to wrap up as memorable a tour as any.
YYZ from Knust
March has been good to us over the years. With many Amsterdam visits & more than a couple First Ave. residencies, there is plenty to choose from for this week's march madness sale. Thanks for being the best fans in the business.
Kevin
*Note this iconic moment in rock 'n roll history that features Jim Gamble risking himself to save the microphones. As Pete Townshend smashes his guitar at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, Gamble (far left) rushes on stage to keep him from destroying his precious mics. Think Pete would have smashed all those guitars if he had to fix them?
