YTSEJAM Digest 2880
Today's Topics:
1) beat <huh huh. you said...>
by Steve Zebrowski <szebro1@gl.umbc.edu>
2) Re: Dream Theater: A Commercial Success?
by ernie@pananet.com (Ernesto Schnack)
3) Re: Dt's ages
by ernie@pananet.com (Ernesto Schnack)
4) buying 'tage
by Uncle Dave <uncle.dave@asu.edu>
5) falling into infinity
by Edward Polzin <polzin@uiuc.edu>
6) Re: buying 'tage
by eckie@asu.edu
7) Fates in Michigan on August 14th
by JE78674@ltu.edu
8) To y'all 'Zonie Ytsejammers
by eckie@asu.edu
9) Precious Things and TDOW... finally!
by "D. Ryan Whitaker" <David_Whitaker@BAYLOR.EDU>
10) !!!VIDEO OF THE PETRUCCI CLINIC IN FLORIDA!!!
by Daus Studenberg <daus@metrolink.net>
11) Re: YTSEJAM digest 2879
by "Chairface" <Dale.R.Newberry@MO.NET>
12) Re: YTSEJAM digest 2877
by Dan <drussell@thunder.ocis.temple.edu>
13) FATES!!!
by Jason Nixon <dumont@net-link.net>
14) Steve Vai.
by "Vincent G. LuPone" <vgl@syspac.com>
15) Fates Review - Cleveland, OH - 8/15/97
by Pat Griffin <c675311@everest.cclabs.missouri.edu>
16) NDTC
by Dave <buster@ee.net>
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Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 23:33:59 -0400 (EDT)
From: Steve Zebrowski <szebro1@gl.umbc.edu>
To: ytsejam@ax.com
Subject: beat <huh huh. you said...>
Message-ID: <199708190333.XAA26104@umbc8.umbc.edu>
> Chris Oates wrote:
>
> > Okay, in four-four there are four beats as we know. Without
> > syncopation, you surmise correctly. Beats 1 and three are the
> > strongest, with one being stronger than three.
>
> What if 1 and 3 are quarter rests and 2 and 4 are triple forte quarter
> notes? I think this notion of beat strength needs to be elaborated
> upon. Chris?
Oh, yeah!?!?! Well, what if you have pianississimo <ppp> quarter notes on
1 and 3 and fortississimo <fff> quarter RESTS in 2 and 4? What then,
hmmm?
:)
Steve Z
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Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 22:38:18 -0400
From: ernie@pananet.com (Ernesto Schnack)
To: <ytsejam@ax.com>
Subject: Re: Dream Theater: A Commercial Success?
Message-ID: <19970819024834.AAB13855@sni.pananet.com>
> I remember seeing a special on Dateline NBC or something a few months
back
> going through the motions of the record industry. It was some pretty sad
> and pretty sick shit. Anyway, they covered the topic of money in
> comparison quite briefly, but they said that each band member receives
> $1.00 per every album sold. I don't know, it sounds kinda BS to me, but
> that's 6.25% on average.
yeah, most bands do get a measly percentage of sales. Of course, there are
also songwriting royalties.
On interesting thing I read once, was when Steve Vai mentioned what he got
from Flex-able. I don't remeber the exact figures, but since he made th CD
himself, he got a much higher percentage of the sales, and made a
considerable amount of dough. (I don't remember the amount, but I remember
being impressed)
Ernie
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 22:42:30 -0400
From: ernie@pananet.com (Ernesto Schnack)
To: <ytsejam@ax.com>
Subject: Re: Dt's ages
Message-ID: <19970819025055.AAA13914@sni.pananet.com>
> (imitating dana carvey doing johny carson) "'i didnt know that""
nonononono, it's "I did not know that"
nitpicking,
Ernie
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Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 20:53:06 -0700
From: Uncle Dave <uncle.dave@asu.edu>
To: ytsejam@ax.com
Subject: buying 'tage
Message-ID: <3.0.1.32.19970818205306.007ec250@imap2.asu.edu>
> Recently at a music store I was gonna buy some Fates Warning or Savatage
> when I realized that I have no clue what albums are worth buying by each
> and and which are only for the diehard fans. Can anyone recommend what
> would be good introductory albums by each band? Thanks in advance.
>I can answer the Savatage part:
>EDGE OF THORNS!!!! Damn fine album.
>~Eckie thinks Mike Bahr would agree
OH HELL YES!!! BUY NOW BUY NOW! dont forget to get handful of rain and
dead winter dead. i have all three: recently if one isnt in the spinner,
one of the other two are. i dont think there is a bad 'tage album yet. i
like everything i've heard by them. im pretty sure ya cant go wrong with
fates either.
same goes for the spice girls. im sure the eckster would back me on THIS one.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rick McMahon * College of Business * Arizona State University * YtseJammer
Member Html Writer's Guild * A Nice Guy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
~~~ D R E A M T H E A T E R ~~~
"The label rep says to me, 'nobody's gonna pay $100 for the new
(7-10 cd box set) album. So I slam his face into the desk and say
'you make this (frigging) album or i'll break your (frigging) head!
Yeah, I think that got their attention."
--John Petrucci, the Jerky Boy
"THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME TO LIVE" -- #1 YtseJammer Song by DT
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 22:46:48 -0500
From: Edward Polzin <polzin@uiuc.edu>
To: ytsejam@ax.com
Subject: falling into infinity
Message-ID: <33F91728.DE8ADE17@uiuc.edu>
Can anyone is willing to get me a copy of the japanese cd with bonus
cd? Of course, that's when it comes out.
-- later. Ed------------------------------------------------------------ Bootlegs: http://www.cen.uiuc.edu/~polzin/boots/larr.html Patricia: http://www.students.uiuc.edu/~polzin/updates.html ------------------------------------------------------------
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Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 21:18:14 -0700 (MST) From: eckie@asu.edu To: ytsejam@ax.com Cc: Multiple recipients of list <ytsejam@ax.com> Subject: Re: buying 'tage Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.970818211637.27794B-100000@general1.asu.edu>
> one of the other two are. i dont think there is a bad 'tage album yet. i > like everything i've heard by them. im pretty sure ya cant go wrong with > fates either. > > > same goes for the spice girls. im sure the eckster would back me on THIS one.
*cackle* Oh, now look what ya got me into! Must I remind you...
I only watch the videos.... >;) ~Eckie still thinks Posh Spice could kick Baby Spice's ass in a mud wrestling contest
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Date: Tue, 19 Aug 1997 00:18:20 -0400 (EDT) From: JE78674@ltu.edu To: YTSEJAM@ax.com Subject: Fates in Michigan on August 14th Message-ID: <01IMLRA2AMN6984MZU@LTU.EDU>
Hi Jammers, I'll keep this breif as many of you are tired of seeing Fates reviews....
Bottom line, they did a wonderful job playing. They went on 2 hours late though and only allowed 1 opening band to go on. They were called MotherLoad, a Detroit band who sucked. The lead singer sounded like ButtHead doing his ooh's and ahh's when watching a video. Anyway, the band apparently had a little Pow-Wow according to the tour manager. So, Ray and Mark were the only two to come out of the bus after and sign stuff and take pictures. Too bad, I was looking forward to meeting them all.
The keyboardist's name was Ed Roth....had hair like Mike Portnoy, but not as cool. Anyone ever hear of this Roth guy before?
Also met a couple of Michigan Jammers and A LOT of prog fans. Hey Partha, where the hell were you?! =]
Later,
Jeff E.
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Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 21:27:00 -0700 (MST) From: eckie@asu.edu To: Ytsejam Mailing List <ytsejam@ax.com> Subject: To y'all 'Zonie Ytsejammers Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.970818211835.27794C-100000@general1.asu.edu>
NDTC, I juss have to do this 'cuz I don't have a nifty mail program like da rest of ya'all. I'm still using PINE! *gasp*
Anyhoo, I'm in the market for an ISP. A REAL one, not this email/telnet only crap ASU provides. If any of ya in the Phoenix metro/Maricopa county, etc. areas (ah hell, anything within the 602 area code) could give me recommendations and some phone numbers, I would be much happy gairrunteeeeed. :)
And if I start getting emails to subscribe to AOL or CompuServe, I'LL be sending dead bodies through the postal service...
>:)
"Oh shit, it's Eckie! He's found an IRC client!" "Quick, lock the doors, shut the gates! Hide the hatchets and bury the women, Eckie's here!" "Oh, wait...that's not Eckie. That's Ernie!" "Are you sure?" "Yeah, look at the sig!"
~Eckie's voices in his head get a little too loud sometimes..."Turn that racket down up there!"
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Date: Tue, 19 Aug 1997 00:04:22 +0000 From: "D. Ryan Whitaker" <David_Whitaker@BAYLOR.EDU> To: ytsejam@ax.com Subject: Precious Things and TDOW... finally! Message-ID: <9708190458.AA20213@ccis01.baylor.edu>
YES! I finally got my PT and TDOW discs. Comments around the board:
1) Kind of disappointed that I paid $25 and didn't get the CD label, which was supposed to be dropped on the $20 discs. Oh well.
2) Mike's laser printer sure is good. I'm surprised the liners turned out this nice.
3) I must have a post-Cox debacle edition of TDOW, because it thanks Brian Cox on the inside.
4) What's this about "If you were charged in excess of $25 for this record, please do not accept it." Is this saying that every disc Bahr (the collective entity known as Mike and Melissa =) produces from now on will be 'blocked' from being sold for more than $25? I'm proud of the fact that I own Acoustic Dreams, and it's worth a fair amount, which is a large part of getting collectibles.
5) Sound quality is EXCELLENT on most tracks. I've had the Birch Hill tapes for awhile, and I had no idea the originals could sound so freaking crisp. I guess that means I'm thanking Brian Cox (as well as whoever mastered it).
6) Overall, these two discs are excellent and well worth the money, even at the original $25. I'm slightly disappointed in the transition to CDR media (the old stuff looked so much more professional) but for the means produced it's great.
7) Go buy these discs, people. They're cool.
latah Ryan
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 19 Aug 1997 01:53:38 -0400 From: Daus Studenberg <daus@metrolink.net> To: "'ytsejam@ax.com'" <ytsejam@ax.com> Subject: !!!VIDEO OF THE PETRUCCI CLINIC IN FLORIDA!!! Message-ID: <01BCAC43.175A2020@mlb2101.metrolink.net>
ATTENTION JAMMERS!
I recently had the opportunity to watch the John Petrucci clinic in = Orlando, Florida (8/18/97). Let me tell you that it was one of the most = amazing clinics that I have ever seen. The reason that I liked it was = because it was not like a guitar class, but more like a CONCERT. He = played songs from the NEW album, with the studio tracks as back-up and = they sounded great! He played some solo work from a SEGA game that he = wrote background tracks for and that's not all! He also jammed to = Prince's "Purple Rain" and turned that rain into sunshine! Best of all, = I got it all on video tape! If you would like a copy of this video = tape, please e-mail me at daus@metrolink.net for details.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 19 Aug 1997 01:15:50 +0000 From: "Chairface" <Dale.R.Newberry@MO.NET> To: ytsejam@ax.com Subject: Re: YTSEJAM digest 2879 Message-ID: <199708190614.BAA27604@Walden.MO.NET>
> > Personally - I remember when Iron Maiden was HUGE, and got no MTV or > > radio support. That was before the brainwashing of the U.S. music > > listener was complete. Now, I'm pretty sure that this kind of thing > > would be impossible. Then again, it was supposed to be impossible when > > Maiden did it... Bruce Dickinson does a nice rant about the state of music on the Live After Death video, mentioning MTV and such :). Of course, I do remember seeing him host the Halloween edition of the Headbangers Ball once, so they did have at least a minute amount of support then.
Dale R. Newberry
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Date: Tue, 19 Aug 1997 02:17:57 -0400 (EDT) From: Dan <drussell@thunder.ocis.temple.edu> To: ytsejam@ax.com Subject: Re: YTSEJAM digest 2877 Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.970819021711.9920A-100000@thunder.ocis.temple.edu>
I am interested in purchasing some boots off of people out there. Either DT, FW or Queensryche. Please email me in private with a response thanks!!
Dan
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Date: Tue, 19 Aug 1997 02:30:58 -0400 From: Jason Nixon <dumont@net-link.net> To: ytsejam@ax.com Subject: FATES!!! Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.19970819063058.006bfd40@serv01.net-link.net>
Well, another review, but I mention things that have been neglected to be mentioned about the House of Blues show on Sunday.
First, I missed the first opening band ,"Systems Rebourn" except for like 3 songs. They sounded ok, actually, but not really opening for Fates. The next band, Captain Crush was dumb as hell. These guys were like 40+ and rocking out some kind of death/thrash metal. The bassist was the huge, overweight old man that frightened me, and the singer/guitarist was seriously balding. I could NOT take these guys seriously. Oh, and the drummer looked like someone straight out of "The Brady Bunch". I mean, I know it isn't fair to judge them on that, but you needed to see these guys...
Then when Fates came on, I almost blew my wad. It was great, what I had been waiting for, what I traveled from Kalamazoo, MI for. Then I saw the band for the first time.. cool. I couldn't help but notice though how much the keyboardist resembled Kramer from Seinfeld (Michael Richards). Does anyone else share that opinion?
Everything was absolutely awesome! UNTIL... These 2 slobs come up RIGHT next to me near center stage and are screaming their heads off!!! I could not even hear the band! I was surprised the band could hear the themselves! THese guys during the quiet slow parts (when you should be quiet and standing in awe) are screaming (and I mean screaming, the guys in the fucking balcony could hear these fuckers) "JIMMY!!!!", and "JOEY!!!!", and MARK ZONDER KICKS ASS!!!!!!!!. Especially during that quiet acoustic part of APSOG with just keys and guitar (I was so amazed by that BTW). Someone said to these guys "Show some respect". Both of teh guys turned around and were like, "Who said that". The other guy responded, "Let's kick their ass!", and they are both like, "Yeah, let's get in a fight man, let's kick that guys ass!". It was so fucking ridiculous man. Then the guys quickly forgot and got into the music (unfortunately). THE REALLY funny part was when one of the guys started screaming "Silent Cries, play SIlent Cries", like halfway through APSOG. CMON!!!!! Liek they are going to stop and go, "Ok, now lets play silent cries!". Did anyone notice these fuckers?? They totally fucked things up.
ABout the tour bus and meeting Fates... The bus was under the venue! I looked down under one of the grates and could see it. Me and my friends tried to get down there but failed. We went around back and there was like a stairway going down there, but the gate was locked and their was a barb wire fence!! Can you believe that?? I would guess because they have such big name artists there that they do that for security purposes. Oh well, it was fucking cool to see Fates at such a nice venue. The HOB kicked ass. The balcony was all like glow in the dark when Fates came on it was so cool. THe lighting and just the atmosphere was great. A real nice turn out too!!!
After the show on my way out I looked for a place to buy like a tour tshirt but I couldnt find one. I thought it was incredibly dumb that the HOB sold its own merchandise. Like "I went to a Fates Warning show and got this awesome House Of Blues tshirt dude!" GOd, gag me with that shit. Also, on the way out, I saw a HUGE line of grungy, punky, alternafreaks lined up outside. Does anyone know what the hell that was all about? A lot of the people didn't even look 18!
Lastly, I saw so many people who I thought could be online jammers, but I wasn't sure. I was the dude with long blonde hair and the DT Awake "Waking up the world tour tshirt". I was wearing sorts and was with two of my friends, one with a Fear Factory shirt I think, and one with a Van Halen shirt. I saw some dude with an ANgra shirt with his girlfriend, and a bucnh of people with Fix for 96 shirts, so if anyone on here went, mail me at dumont@net-link.net.
Well, not much more to add... except that maybe I was kinda down about Jim's guitar sound. He only really had like about 3 sounds. Two differennt heavy's and one clean. He didn't really even attempt at using the variety that is on the record. Zonder and Vera were great, and I noticed how fucking electronic Zonders kit was. Half the time he wasn't even playing on real drums, but it was still so goddamn cool!
I won't mention the keyboardist, enough has already been said about him...
FATES WARNING KICKS ASS!!!!
Jason
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Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 23:50:49 -0600 From: "Vincent G. LuPone" <vgl@syspac.com> To: ytsejam@ax.com Subject: Steve Vai. Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970818235040.0082d300@postoffice.syspac.com>
At 08:56 PM 8/18/97 -0700, Ernie wrote: >On interesting thing I read once, was when Steve Vai mentioned what he got >from Flex-able. I don't remeber the exact figures, but since he made th CD >himself, he got a much higher percentage of the sales, and made a >considerable amount of dough. (I don't remember the amount, but I remember >being impressed)
I remember this too. He said he made $10 off of each copy of the CD, and he sold 100,000. Anyone hear anything about his upcoming Christmas CD? This I gotta hear! :)
Peace and love, and good happiness stuff, ~Vince
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= | http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palms/6933 | -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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Date: Tue, 19 Aug 1997 02:23:14 -0500 (CDT) From: Pat Griffin <c675311@everest.cclabs.missouri.edu> To: ThE NuGgeTjAm <ytsejam@ax.com> Subject: Fates Review - Cleveland, OH - 8/15/97 Message-ID: <Pine.SGI.3.95.970819014012.2894A-100000@sgi8.phlab.missouri.edu>
Hey, everyone. I'm up in Michigan visiting Irene, and we wanted to post here about the Fates Warning concert we attended on Friday in Cleveland.
We got our tickets last week and left on Friday afternoon for the long drive from Detroit, MI to Cleveland, OH. Traffic was a bitch (we went about 4 miles in a half hour) for most of I-75, but cleared up and we were lucky enough to get to Cleveland and meet up with George (fellow jammer) around 7:00 or so.
While we were at George's house, he checked the ad in the paper and I found out that Iced Earth was opening for Fates. I about shit when I heard that news, because IE is one of my favorite bands, and I had missed their show the night before in Detroit.
Well, we get to the show, and wouldn't you know it, there's a sign that says IE had canceled for the night's show. I was disappointed, but there were a couple of people who had driven there from *Connecticut* just to see Iced Earth - that must have seriously sucked for them.
Anyway, the doors opened at 8:00, and we headed in and talked to Fates' merchandise guy / bus driver (don't ask me...) for a while. I ended up buying a shirt and a copy of Warlord (Zonder's previous band). I bought Jim Matheos' First Impressions the day before the show, but they did have copies of that, APSoG, and Joey Vera's solo CD on sale as well. Irene and George both got tour shirts. There's a grey one (it's a very pleasant shade too) for $20, and a long sleeve black one for $30. One sleeve of the long one has a logo on it that says Fates and looks like the Ford emblem. Both have the Umbrella / Brain graphic on the front left breast.
The show started off with an Ohio based band called Tempo Tantrum. These guys were amazing. It's a five man band: drummer, bass, singer, and dual guitars. The drummer is great... great rhythms and fills, the bassist and guitarists laid down some very progressive music with heavy influences from Dream Theater, Savatage, Fates, and Cacophony. The singer was great as well, kind of a combination of James LaBrie and Geoff Tate. He has a great range, and I didn't hear his voice crack or waiver once. During the soundcheck before the show, he saw us up front with our DT shirts and started singing The Killing Hand accapella (sp?). He has a singing style very similar to James. Irene and I got their CD after their set and we hung out with the band for the rest of the show and afterwards. They're great guys, and incredible musicians. I'll post some contact info for the list as soon as I get it, but once I do, I strongly urge you to check them out.
I'm not going to waste a lot of space on the next two opening acts, because they were both horrendous. The second band - Arena - was bad, and their stage show consisted of the frontman changing into different costumes (inmate, blind man, alien, etc...) between songs, kicking a full glass of god knows what into the audience, and using a pair of handcuffs like nunchaku until the chain snapped and one half flew into the crowd. One highlight was when George managed to smack the singer in the head with a mic stand. :)
The third band - R.A.M.M (and I'm afraid to ask what that stands for) - call themselves 'The Most Pissed Off Band In Cleveland.' That's understandable; if I sucked that bad, I'd be pretty pissed off too. It's a three person band with the bassist screaming insanely, and the guitarist growling in a demonic voice to heavy, toneless music. For anyone at the show, when the bassist was screaming 'Do you believe' repeatedly, I'm the guy that screamed out "I believe you SUCK!" from the middle of the crowd. :)
Anyway, Fates finally took the stage, and Irene and I were right up in front. They started with a recording of Part I, and took the stage during it, then started playing on Part II. Jim Matheos played a great show, despite the fact that his father died that day. He seemed to be taking it in stride, but he did take off right after the show to head home. Ray was fantastic as usual, and sang great, even though he ducked off-stage for a cigarette at every break. Joey Vera did a great job with APSoG, and with the older songs as well. He seems to fit in well, and you could tell he was getting into his playing. The keyboardist they had on tour "Ed Something" (Was it Reed? Roth?) was good as well, although he seemed to have Kevin Moore syndrome - didn't seem to be enjoying it, was only there to play, etc... Zonder... Wow. Watching him just pissed me off immensely, because I'm a part time drummer (I play keys primarily), and he just made it look so easy. The show was phenomenal, and close to flawless. They played APSoG, Life in Still Water, 11th Hour, and We Only Say Goodbye, and played Monument as an encore.
My only complaints were the heat and the stupidity. (oh yeah, and Arena and R.A.M.M. :) There were a few morons in the crowd screaming at inopportune times and jumping around, and a few trying to start a mosh pit. The place was ungodly hot, despite claims of having both AC's going and the fans on full. Even Ray kept making comments about the heat. Being in the front row had the added bonus of Ray whipping his hair about a foot in front of us (and even hitting us with it once) and cooling us off a little. :)
After show, we headed outside and hung out with Tempo Tantrum at the tour bus until Ray, Joey, and Ed came out. We got pictures with both bands and autographs. I talked with Ray for a few minutes and Joey for a while about various things. They're really cool guys. The funny thing is, they look too normal. Joey and Zonder both walked right by us several times before the show, and I had no clue who they were. Zonder looks like a roadie. :) And Joey Vera looks like Antonio from Wings. :) Ray walked by us a few times, but at least I remembered what he looked like from when I saw them with Dream Theater in 94. The guys are very cool, and seem sincere about meeting the fans. If you have the chance to see Fates on this tour (in CA), DO IT, and if you hear of any shows with Tempo Tantrum, for God's sake, check them out, it's worth it!
Well, thanks for reading, I guess we'll get back to the 100+ jams we're behind on. :)
Later all... Pat and Irene.
h t t p : / / w w w . m i s s o u r i . e d u / ~ c 6 7 5 3 1 1 / | Pat Griffin Irene Raceu | | c675311@showme.missouri.edu majesty@voyager.net | I r e n e d o e s n ' t h a v e a w e b p a g e . : )
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Date: Tue, 19 Aug 1997 05:15:46 -0400 From: Dave <buster@ee.net> To: ytsejam@ax.com Subject: NDTC Message-ID: <3.0.1.32.19970819051546.0068ce88@ee.net>
Ernie Wrote: >Hmm, well, correct me if I'm wrong, but both Pantera and Tool have achieved >a lot of success w/o much MTV support.
I'm not trying to point out a right or wrong, I just seem to remember seeing the video "Sober" every night way back when I used to watch MTV. (for those who dont know, Sober is a song by Tool) It was heavily promoted for a while at night, but I dont recall them playing anything else by Tool. ........
As for the Geoff Tate comments of late: I'm a big Ryche fan, and I keep in touch with people very close to the band. I've been in contact with many many many people who have seen several of the live shows since the beginning of the tour. While I will agree that HitNF kind of sucks, it is NOT true that Geoff has been doing bad at the shows. I have email from many people reviewing every show thus far and all have comments like "fucking awesome show!" in them, as well as good words about Geoff.
I was AT the Columbus Ohio show when Geoff got sick. In fact, I was standing there backstage before the show with Michael Wilton and Chris DeGarmo and I said "where's Geoff?" and Chris said "he's in the trailer with his head over a humidifier.. he's feeling pretty sick". My reply was, "well I know the tour can wear down on you, eating fast food, sweating under the lights in outdoor amphitheaters.." and Chris came back with "well even on a bad night Geoff is pretty good so we'll see what happens". He smiled and looked hopeful. (i'll have some photo's of Chris/Me/Michael on my site soon at http://www.dhpc.com/ryche/ in case anyone here looks for that kinda stuff)
When the band finally took the stage it was obvious that Geoff WAS really SICK, and not suffering from cigarettes. The guy had a very nasty head cold. He could barely talk into the mic, but he managed to belt out 5 songs before finally approaching the mic and offering his apology for not being able to continue, sipping hot tea between practically every breath.
Whats my point? MAYBE, just MAYBE the man really has been sick, and the people spreading UNFOUNDED RUMORS about his vocals and tobacco theories could very possibly not know what they are talking about. Think about it folks, if you were a very very wealthy singer who did not need to tour anymore, and you knew your voice was messed up from smoking, would you put yourself through the pain and embarrassment of a tour? NO. You wouldnt risk the consequences. Geoff is an intelligent man who would not hurt himself in such a way. The guy caught a really bad head cold, and had a couple of rough nights. Outside of that, every performance has been reviewed as nothing less than stellar.
On the lighter side, if you REALLY want to see what Geoff can do, get the "Building Empires" video and watch the last 2 songs. They are "unplugged" acoustic versions of "I will remember" and "Della Brown" and they are phenomonal. With nothing to cover up his amazing talent, and no amps or effects, Geoff demonstrates "first take" emotion and range. Incredible. You can order the video for like $16 at www.cdnow.com , and it goes through the QR history of videos right back to the "hairspray" 80's. Well worth it!
I love the 'Jam, but I get sick of the fucking criticism around this place sometimes. This is probably the only place on Earth that takes the top 10 rock vocalists and picks them apart piece by piece on a regular basis. By posting this I'm not saying that people don't have the right to critique, I'm just inclined to voice the other side of the coin and try to balance things out. Fuck, if I took all of the vocalist reviews in here as gospel, I wouldn't think there were any good singers.
buster <insert dazzling 100k sig file here> http://www.dhpc.com/ryche/ http://users1.ee.net/buster/
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End of YTSEJAM Digest 2880 **************************
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