YTSEJAM Digest 4521
Today's Topics:
1) Re: Death Metal/Kevin Bloody Wilson
by Graham Boyle <icarus@sydney.net>
2) Re Taprex
by AyameYuki@aol.com
3) Echosilence/Tony Fredianelli
by DYER <dyer@taunet.net.au>
4) xmas death
by "Trevor W. Hoit" <TrevorW@ms.kallback.com>
5) Van der Graaf Generator
by "Mc-Merc" <b.pulgar@rocketmail.com>
6) Re: xmas death
by Rogerio Brito <rbrito@ime.usp.br>
7) XMas CD Question
by "Suplizio, Jim" <Jim.Suplizio@GSC.GTE.Com>
8) Re: Echosilence/Tony Fredianelli
by Rogerio Brito <rbrito@ime.usp.br>
9) Christmas CD
by "Eric Clasen" <eclasen@hotmail.com>
10) Re:KX in Columbia
by schnapster@juno.com (Dale R Newberry)
11) Xmas CD
by Graham Boyle <icarus@sydney.net>
12) Re: XMas CD Question
by Syrinx <syrinx@erotomania.org>
13) Re: Christmas CD
by Syrinx <syrinx@erotomania.org>
14) Re: Xmas CD
by Syrinx <syrinx@erotomania.org>
15) Gordian Knot/Sega Game
by Mark Bredius <bredius@globalxs.nl>
16) Buckethead In SF - A Review
by "Dave Thomas" <dthomas@best.com>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1998 15:16:43 +1100
From: Graham Boyle <icarus@sydney.net>
To: ytsejam@axnet.net
Subject: Re: Death Metal/Kevin Bloody Wilson
Message-ID: <36806EAB.B66E2610@sydney.net>
DYER wrote:
> >Hey people, I just need some music suggestions:
> > Ive been getting into some death metal lately, and I wanted some input on
> >some good bands to get into. So far, I really dig:
> >
> >Cynic
> >Death
> >Enchantment<---these guys rule!
Dimmu Borgir, brilliant death, black/metal, with great keyboards, almost
hummable melodies
Children Of Bodom - again brilliant music, lots of ball'n'chunk, keyboards
catchy d/m at it's best.
GaZ
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1998 00:11:14 EST
From: AyameYuki@aol.com
To: ytsejam@axnet.net
Subject: Re Taprex
Message-ID: <d6394260.36807b72@aol.com>
i agree 100%. Did ya notice ? that taprex person hasnt said a thing in the
last 3 digests..i think he's gone! whohoo!
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1998 15:01:09 +1000
From: DYER <dyer@taunet.net.au>
To: ytsejam@axnet.net
Subject: Echosilence/Tony Fredianelli
Message-ID: <1297697227-83708954@smtp.octa4.net.au>
Rogerio wrote:
>Well, if you like Cynic, then you might like Echosilence, even
>though Echosilence doesn't have any vocals and, so, aren't death metal.
Would Rogerio or anyone else even be able to give me some info on this band??
ie, album titles, where to get them online etc...
Also i want Tony Fredianelli's 'Breakneck Speed' - apparently it has been
deleted...anyone have any suggestions on where to get it??
Cheers
Paul D.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1998 01:00:57 -0800
From: "Trevor W. Hoit" <TrevorW@ms.kallback.com>
To: "'ytsejam@ax.com'" <ytsejam@axnet.net>
Subject: xmas death
Message-ID: <E04FDFCFDC87D21194D300A0C9D4BAFA0F38E2@ms.kallback.com>
> > but it has 12 tracks from the Paris(?) show, so if you put
> > it with OiaL you have almost the whole show.
> I haven't got mine yet, but looks like the same songs
> that are on my boot of the Rotterdam Fan Club show :)
There are tracks from both shows on it.
Ok, Rog, could you explain the basic different between black and death
metal?
I don't think I listen to either, but I'd like to know.
Trevor
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1998 22:09:04 +1100
From: "Mc-Merc" <b.pulgar@rocketmail.com>
To: "Knights of the Round List" <wakeman@southside.org>,
Subject: Van der Graaf Generator
Message-ID: <003701be2e64$d820fb40$06e658cb@ld-bp>
Greetings, folx!
I just have a brief question for y'all:
I recently bought Van der Graaf Generator's Still Life. I'd like to
know how does it fare against otehr VdGG albums, how you rate it, etc.
Also, I'd like to know who are the musicians in it and who produced
that album. If you can, could you suggest me what to buy now from
them? I thought Still Life was a bit weak. There must be something a
bit more aggressive from them.
Any information would be greatly appreciated. You may write to these
lists, but please, e-mail me directly, because I'm really far behind
in my reading! Everytime I'm about to unsub from the lists to catch
up, I re-assess my decisions and fare enough, I find something useful
in the following e-mails (specially the 'Jam one).
One more question: has anybody heard the new Eloy album: Oceans 2-The
Answer? It's mind-blowing! The best from Eloy in years. I just can't
stop listening to it! I'll be forwarding a review soon (I hope) to the
'Jam.
Thanx a lot! Bye:
Bernardo
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1998 09:53:11 -0200 (EDT)
From: Rogerio Brito <rbrito@ime.usp.br>
To: Multiple recipients of list <ytsejam@axnet.net>
Subject: Re: xmas death
Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.4.02.9812230828120.6269-100000@jaca>
On Wed, 23 Dec 1998, Trevor W. Hoit wrote:
> Ok, Rog, could you explain the basic different between black and death
> metal? I don't think I listen to either, but I'd like to know.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Disclaimer: This post may be regarded as being offensive to religious
people. It is not my intention to start a talk about religion on this
mailing list, but only to provide a source of information to some
people that asked me what I wrote below. Again, it's not my intention
to start any Djihad here in this mailing list as I do not agree with
many of the religious points I stated below. They are only here to
show other's motivations in making different kinds of music. I hope you
respect my point of view in a mature way.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Well, it's my pleasure to talk about Death/Black Metal.
First of all, I'd like to make it clear that even though both
branches are referred to as "Extreme Metal", there are some
differences between the two, but they're often mixed by some bands,
which means that the dividing line between both genres may be a little
fuzzy at times.
When Death Metal began (at the mid-late 80s), it consisted
basically of a faster thrash metal, with the peculiar "cookie monster"
vocals or some harsh, abrasive screams and lyrics talking about death
and its various forms. I don't know very much about the first Death
Metal bands, because that's not what I appreciate the most, but I'll
give you one (and some may say THE) example of a band of this period:
Death.
Of course, as is the tendency of the 90s in many facets of
music, things got a little more complex with the come-back of
progressive music and bands started experimenting a bit more. The raw,
simple, fast and heavy guitars with gutural-only vocals were getting a
little less interesting and other things become influencing the sound,
like a more melodic approach, basically influenced by the Iron Maiden
type of compositions, with two guitars harmonizing and with songs a
bit more structured. This new trend of death metal started talking
about things different than your "death and 1000 ways to kill people"
to more poetical and social subjects. These bands were basically from
Northern Europe, mainly in Sweden (and this is the source of the "New
Wave of Swedish Death Metal" title, as a parody of "New Wave of
British Heavy Metal", started by Iron Maiden, among others).
The NWoSDM bands often mix acoustic passages with heavy
distorted guitar lines. Identifying a melodic heavy metal band coming
from Sweden is very easy: just listen to the songs and ask yourself:
"Does this seem like Iron Maiden with death metal vocals with some
ocasional acoustic passages and a bit of self indulgence?" :-))) If
yes, then you just recognized such a band. Examples of this kind of
band are: Dark Tranquillity (technical, melodic), In Flames (similar
to Dark Tranquillity, much more melodic, but less technical), Edge of
Sanity (their album "Crimson" is even a bit progressive, consisting of
only one song clocking in at 40:00 and mixing harsh vocals, clean
vocals, piano passages, acoustic interludes and, of course, fast
playing also).
Another tendency of the 90s is the Brutal Death Metal, with
bands coming mainly from the Southeast of the US. These bands are less
ecletic than their European counterparts and here the things are MUCH
faster with the cookie monster vocals predominating. Some bands come
to mind: Deicide, At the Gates (despite being Swedish, they are more
brutal than their Gothenburg friends).
Regarding Black Metal, well, in its purest form, it's quite
different from Death Metal. But to understand Black Metal, one has to
know a bit about its ideology.
The first bands of "true" Black Metal come from Norway (I'm
not talking about Venom here, but about Mayhem and Burzum). It was
primarily a style of music dedicated to talk about Satan (even though
some Death Metal bands like Deicide also talk about Satan) with the
songs being EXTREMELY simple, often with very sloppy instrumentation,
extremely fast drumming, intentionally poor production and vocals
consisting of shrieks instead of deeper vocals like in Death
Metal. These bands were more interested in burning churchs and wearing
make up than in taking guitar lessons.
These two bands cited above, Mayhem and Burzum, consist of the
folklore of the genre, because, at first, they were both very
connected, with the leader of Burzum, Kristian Vikernes (aka Varg
Vikernes, aka Count Grishnack) being then the bass player for Mayhem
when he was younger. The Black Metal Scene consisted of Mayhem
basically with other lesser known bands and Euronymous (guitar player
for Mayhem) telling other people what to do. Since they wanted to get
back to their scandinavian roots, they felt that the Christian culture
was an obstacle (for the Christians had killed many people in their
region to spread Christianity) and the churches were one of the major
sign of the Catholic/Christianity culture. They, then, started burning
down some churches and got to newspapers.
Then, some time later, for some reason, Varg Vikernes realized
that if he wanted to do something against Christianity, he should not
divulge his music by the name of a Christian symbol, Satan and stopped
saying that his music was Satanic. These differences between Burzum's
Vikernes and Mayhem's Euronymous were getting bigger and bigger, until
Euronymous (who run a small label dedicated to "evil" records) refused
to release Burzum's album. For some other reasons not very clearly
known, Varg Vikernes killed Euronymous, stabbing him with a knife, in
a very cruel killing. He was convicted for murder and is now in jail
in Norway. For more information about this story, please go to:
<www.burzum.com>.
Ok, now, back to the music. One of the classic albums of this
first generation of Black Metal is Darkthrone's "Transylvanian
Hunger." It features the absolute poorest, rawest production (and
recording for that matters) that I've ever heard. The drumming is so
fuzzy that you can't really differentiate between a snare and a
cymbal. :-) Everything sounds (intentionally) like if the album were
recorded and then took a 10-generation copy with a type I tape with a
cheap boom box and then put onto CD. I mean it's really terrible. And
HEAVY.
The second generation of Black Metal has dropped many of the
elements of the first generation, like the bad production (they still
aren't crystal clear as the production of Death Metal albums), the
as-fast-as-I-can-play instrumentation and the satanic position. Other
things were incorporated, like lots of keyboards and also a more
symphonic approach. Bands from the second generation of Black Metal
are: Emperor (started in the 1st gen., but got more complex and their
last album is "symphonic"), Satyricon (still sloppy), Ulver, Arcturus,
Borknagar, Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth, Old Man's Child (these three
bands are considered the "commercial" Black Metal bands), Katatonia
(lately, more of a Doom Metal band, but still got some Black Metal
elements), Rotting Christ etc.
How to recognize the genres:
* if you listen to an "extreme" band and it has keyboards, then
it's probably a Black Metal band. If it's only based on the usual
thrash metal instruments, then it's probably a Death Metal bands;
* if the double bass is way too fast and not very precise,
then it's probably Black Metal;
* if it's technical, it's probably Death Metal;
* if the production is very bad, then it's probably from the
first generation of Black Metal; if the production is ok, then it's
probably from the sedond; and if it's crystal clear, it's probably
Death Metal;
* if the vocals are the cookie monster type, then it's almost
certain that it's Death Metal; If the vocals are very high shrieks,
then it can be Black Metal.
Then, there are some bands that defy categorization, like
Opeth (which would be best described like Death Metal meets 70s
technical Progressive Rock meets Iron Maiden meets Baroque) or Cynic
(Death Metal meets Jazz).
Opeth is, as most of you know, my preferred band and if you're
interested in them, then you migh find more information on my
homepage: <http://www.ime.usp.br/~rbrito/opeth/>.
If you like Cynic, but don't appreciate the death metal
vocals, then you might like to check Echosilence, which is an
instrumental version of Cynic.
Well, hope that this helps, Roger...
P.S.: I'd like to mention that some of these points are
controversial... I'm not the holder of the truth and I'm open to
discussions. And I didn't even cite the Grindcore trend (which is part
of the Death Metal trend, IMO), from which both Carcass and Napalm
Death are part (whose Barney Greenway covered, together with Dream
Theater, Metallica's "Damage, Inc").
-- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Rogerio Brito - rbrito@ime.usp.br - http://www.ime.usp.br/~rbrito Undergraduate Computer Science Student - "Windows? Linux and X!" Bootleg/trade page: http://www.ime.usp.br/~rbrito/bootleg.html =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1998 06:54:24 -0500 From: "Suplizio, Jim" <Jim.Suplizio@GSC.GTE.Com> To: "'ytsejam@ax.com'" <ytsejam@axnet.net> Subject: XMas CD Question Message-ID: <C5B7060FE2DCD011A8730060B01A62447A142C@mail.rtp.gtegsc.com>
Ok, can I still send in the cash to get the X-Mas CD or am I too late? (This is what I get for having a shitty job that keeps me on travel!) Also, I forget, is the address on the UACM site? (Feel free to email me privately)
thanks, Jim
"What reward is a banquet of red wine and bread, when you hunger for life but on death you are fed?" - M. Walkyer - The Best of Enemies (Wulf's Tale)
Jim Suplizio
jim.suplizio@gsc.gte.com 919-549-7927
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1998 11:17:46 -0200 (EDT) From: Rogerio Brito <rbrito@ime.usp.br> To: Multiple recipients of list <ytsejam@axnet.net> Subject: Re: Echosilence/Tony Fredianelli Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.4.02.9812230954370.9695-100000@jaca>
On Tue, 22 Dec 1998, DYER wrote:
> Rogerio wrote: > > >Well, if you like Cynic, then you might like Echosilence, even > >though Echosilence doesn't have any vocals and, so, aren't death metal. > > Would Rogerio or anyone else even be able to give me some info on this > band?? ie, album titles, where to get them online etc...
Well, unfortunately, Echosilence isn't signed to any label yet, having only recorded a 4 song demo. On the good side, they have put their entire demo on MP3 format on:
<http://www.estnet.ee/karu/cgi-bin/echoindex.cgi>. Grab them. You'll like them, since you already like Cynic.
> Also i want Tony Fredianelli's 'Breakneck Speed' - apparently it has been > deleted...anyone have any suggestions on where to get it??
Unfortunately, I don't know who Tony Fredianelli is.
Hope this helps, Roger...
-- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Rogerio Brito - rbrito@ime.usp.br - http://www.ime.usp.br/~rbrito Undergraduate Computer Science Student - "Windows? Linux and X!" Bootleg/trade page: http://www.ime.usp.br/~rbrito/bootleg.html =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1998 09:34:23 PST From: "Eric Clasen" <eclasen@hotmail.com> To: ytsejam@axnet.net Subject: Christmas CD Message-ID: <19981223173423.24023.qmail@hotmail.com>
Am I too late if I want to try to get the Christmas CD?
______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1998 11:58:02 -0600 From: schnapster@juno.com (Dale R Newberry) To: ytsejam@axnet.net Subject: Re:KX in Columbia Message-ID: <19981223.120117.9350.5.schnapster@juno.com>
Hey, I can't rememebr what the date that was posted for the King's X show in Ciolumbia, MO (The Blue Note) was, but I saw a date on the front of the club the other day for Jan. 28. I think that was different than the posted date. Speaking of which, I finally got Tape Head yesterday. Kicks ass ;).
Dale R. Newberry
___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1998 06:00:43 +1100 From: Graham Boyle <icarus@sydney.net> To: ytsejam@axnet.net Subject: Xmas CD Message-ID: <36813DDB.2B4E856C@sydney.net>
All those asking if they still can get the CD, my guess is NO, this is what's writen onpage 2 of Fanzine #18.
"All existing fan club members at the time of release of #18 (Early December 98) will recieve a copy of the disc with this issue. There will be no spare copies avalaible, as production is strictley dictated by membership numbers and production costs"
Looks like the horse has bolted, everyone has had plenty of time to join
and we all suspected that this years CD would be quite brilliant...:)
It certainly is exactley what any DT wanted, lot's of those 'rare' songs. Thanks to Mike Portnoy for his time and effort putting the CD together and Neil Elliott for getting the CD here before Xmas.
GaZ
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1998 16:05:21 -0500 (EST) From: Syrinx <syrinx@erotomania.org> To: "Suplizio, Jim" <Jim.Suplizio@GSC.GTE.Com> Subject: Re: XMas CD Question Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.96.981223160451.97A-100000@tempest.ocis.temple.edu>
> Ok, can I still send in the cash to get the X-Mas CD or am I too late? > (This is what I get for having a shitty job that keeps me on travel!) Also, > I forget, is the address on the UACM site? (Feel free to email me > privately)
the cutoff date for me to receive them is 1/1/99.
- mike, dtifc.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= erotomania! - http://www.erotomania.org -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1998 16:06:01 -0500 (EST) From: Syrinx <syrinx@erotomania.org> To: Eric Clasen <eclasen@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: Christmas CD Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.96.981223160530.97B-100000@tempest.ocis.temple.edu>
> Am I too late if I want to try to get the Christmas CD? You better hurry. We don't accept any more for the '98 disc after 1/1/99.
- mike, dtifc.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= erotomania! - http://www.erotomania.org -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1998 16:07:16 -0500 (EST) From: Syrinx <syrinx@erotomania.org> To: Graham Boyle <icarus@sydney.net> Subject: Re: Xmas CD Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.96.981223160611.97C-100000@tempest.ocis.temple.edu>
> "All existing fan club members at the time of release of #18 > (Early December 98) will recieve a copy of the disc with this issue. > There will be no spare copies avalaible, as production is strictley > dictated by > membership numbers and production costs" This is kinda true... ...but kinda false. I had Neil extend he offer to 1/1/99 - so that people who had it "lost in the Christmas mail" would be ok. So, I better get your cash before 1/1/99 or you're, for lack of a better term, shit outta luck. :)
- mike, dtifc.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= erotomania! - http://www.erotomania.org -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1998 22:03:32 +0100 From: Mark Bredius <bredius@globalxs.nl> To: "'Ytsejam'" <ytsejam@axnet.net> Subject: Gordian Knot/Sega Game Message-ID: <01BE2EC8.C5A340E0@158.153.dialin.mxs.nl>
Paul D. wrote :
> Does anyone know if Gordian Knot has actually been released in > Japan yet and if so where can I get it either here in Australia > (Graham?) or online??
Yup... Gordian Knot was released in Japan on November 21st on Avalon (part of Marquee) with a bonus track ("Unquity Road").
> If it's not released yet when will it be released in Japan and > the US???
The release date for Europe and the US is January 19th, 1999. According to the packaging, this version will only appear to have 9 tracks... But there will be a so called "hidden track" called "Grace" at the end.
> Also if anyone has already heard it....is it good?? :)
Yeah, it's amazing! I'm not a big fan of instrumental albums, but I really love this one. There are already plans for a 2nd Gordian Knot album. Can't wait to hear it. :)
For those of you who have no idea what Gordian Knot is, check out the biography in the "Articles" section of "Under A Cyber Moon" (Side projects)... The album has John Myung on Stick on two tracks.
David Van Glabeke asked :
> I'd like to know the name of the SEGA Game John Petrucci wrote > the music for..
The game is called "Necromonicon". I wished Pat Griffin would put that in the FAQ along with some of those other Frequently Asked Questions I almost get on a daily basis through UACM...
Mark Bredius _______________________________________________________ Under A Cyber Moon - The Official Dream Theater Website http://www.dreamtheater.net/ E-mail: itchy@dreamt.org *** Join the FREE weekly Dream Theater newsletter ! *** Send email to <uacm-subscribe@egroups.com> to subscribe
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1998 14:20:12 -0800 From: "Dave Thomas" <dthomas@best.com> To: <ytsejam@axnet.net> Subject: Buckethead In SF - A Review Message-ID: <002d01be2ec2$68383600$de4756ce@p5-150>
So last Sunday night Buckethead played here in SF. The show was billed under the unique name of Phonosycograph, which I suppose is another of the many Buckethead side projects. In any event, this was my first exposure to some live Buckethead. I had heard of this guitarist many years ago, but never actually heard any of his music until Rick Audet played some of it on Ytseradio and for me in person. I was intrigued by the inventiveness of the music (which I really cannot categorize for you, it's something you really need to hear for yourself, as the music can cross several genre boundaries in the space of a song), and decided to see a live show when I got a chance.
We arrived at the club (Slims) after the doors opened, but were able to pick a spot right by the stage. Normally, I don't stand this close, due to the rudeness of many concertgoers (more on this in a bit), but the crowd seemed pretty subdued. Shortly after 9pm, we were treated to the opening act: Raji, I Am The King. This act reminded me of something you would see on bad Kareoke night in the worst dive in Morocco. When it first started, it seemed annoying, but about thirty seconds after the guy launches into a Pearl Jam song with all the talent of a wedding singer, I started laughing at the joke. It was an amusing act, though it probably would have become annoying had it gone on any longer than it did.
After what seemed like a long wait (made more bothersome by the inexplicable choice of Christmas music to entertain the crowd while the gear was set up), Buckethead and his fellow musicians took the stage. Now, for those that have no idea who Buckethead is, here's a quick description: He's a very, very tall man that wears a white mask and a KFC bucket on top of his head. He's also an amazing guitarist, and may be one of the best guitar players that I've ever seen live. On stage with him were Brain (drums), DJ Disk (turntables) and a bass player whose name I didn't catch. For much of the set, the band was joined by bassist Les Claypool (Primus), who really added some severe bottom end to the sound. Musically, the band cannot really be pegged down, as the music wondered all over from metal to funk to random noise to punk to almost everything else you can think of (and perhaps a few styles you never thought of). All of the musicians on stage were impressive, but I have to single out two people. First, I'm usually not a fan of turntable "scratching," but watching DJ Disk perform was amazing. This man coaxed sounds out a set of turntables that you would not have thought possible. The other standout was, of course, Buckethead. This man can coax almost any sound out of a guitar, and can shred with the best of them. His solos were amazing, and he made them look like the easiest pieces of music ever invented. At one point, he put on a thick winter glove, and then ripped through a solo as normal. When he wasn't playing, Buckethead played with toys, tormented a rubber puppet, and generally did all sorts of wacky moves that meant you constantly had to keep your eyes on him, just to see what he was going to do next.
The crowd was well behaved, except for two drunk morons that had to push their way to the front of the stage and start dancing and shoving people around. This was not a mosh-pit type show (the crowd pretty much seemed to want to stand and watch the musicians play), so this type of behavior was really irritating. There needs to be a law passed that anyone that makes a pest of themselves at a show can be impaled on spikes in front of the club. I know people want to have a good time, but shoving people that are not in the mood is not my definition of fun. If you really want to shove people around, go out in the alley and beat the hell out of each other.
Other than that, this was a great show. It wasn't the best show I've seen this year (that still easily goes to the Enchant/Spock's Beard show a few months back), but it was a blast. Sometimes the music got a little tedious when it ventured into noise territory, and I would have liked to have heard even more guitar, but overall it was very, very cool. If you see that Buckethead or one of his million or so side projects is playing in your area, and you have an adventurous musical outlook, go. His next appearance in SF is January 29, 1999. Be there if you can.
Dave Thomas - Editor Pixel Planet - Reviews of Books, Games, Comics, CDs, Movies, CG Software, Programming Tools And More! http://www.pixelplanet.com
------------------------------
End of YTSEJAM Digest 4521 **************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Thu Apr 01 2004 - 18:09:36 EST