Lots of gear on stage tonight. There were a lot of bands on the late bill, and the stage was like a Surrey pawnshop.
As for the show....where's the Mule when you need him? I'm sure he'd be able to give a pithy summary of the evening.
The thing with these kinds of blogs is that you want to be positive, but at some point it comes across as smileyfaced PR. Maybe it was just me, but there was a bit of a Team-Canada-playing-Switzerland-in-Turin vibe in the air.
21TR were drummerless, and though the formula has worked in the past, it seemed a bit laboured tonight. Shockk is pretty much indestructible in any guise, including Interior Design, which he offered up on this occasion. There was a jam at the end with A. Rojas on bass, Shockk on guitar, a Pronger-like WB on 2nd guitar, and Super on drums and vocals.
I've never been completely sold on drummers as vocalists. Ringo Starr would belt out the odd tune in the Beatlemania days, a gimmick that was reprised by Peter Criss and Kiss (although I think he generally stepped out from the kit for his balladeering). Then there was Don Henley, Triumph, and of course the guy from Night Ranger. I think Levon Helm pulled it off okay with the Band.
Of course the greatest vocal performance by a drummer took place a few years back at Cafe Du Soleil, when a black-fingernailed R. Hughes, playing in a trio called 'Restore' with Super and the Shockker, belted out his suburban anthem 'Fort' ("You couldn't find it, asshole, even if you tried!").
We could've used a bit of that tonight.
ACM.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Earl Parrish recalls
It's always hard to play a show on the same day that Canada gets eliminated from the men's Olympic hockey tournament. It makes for strange feelings. The lone good thing is that we can no longer say that head coach Pat Quinn is the greatest coach in the world, which is something that has been painfully obvious for about 4 years.
Anyway this is a supper show blog... so let's get on with this dog.
Great crowd tonight
No drummer for 21tr this evening but onstage was enough gear to sink an ocean liner. A few touring bands were in town and so their gear was up on stage lined all around the perimeter. This made a more intimate environment, S Robertson brought the damn drum kit anyway... just in case.
21TR played a fine set that perhaps was a bit too quiet and somber for a large crowd of depressed hockey fans.
Next up was Interior design who also was a bit thrown off by the kayos of the day. Fortunately it is impossible for Interior design to play badly.
To finish off the night S Robertson jumped on the drums with Alvaro on bass and Willingdon Black and Shockk on Dual guitars. The moment was to expand on the concept of Dave P. you can't always be like Dave P. but every once in a while you have got to think like him. The music was fantastic... they were excellent!
One of Dave P.'s Goals is to become the I world record holder for indoor rowing. The concept being that thinking along those lines is possibly a little extreme. It's a noble cause for higher beings which is great, and it's not for everybody, but that doesn't mean you have to sit in front of the TV and eat a box of bugles.
The night ended and we all went home still a little unsure of what the hell happened that day.
Anyway this is a supper show blog... so let's get on with this dog.
Great crowd tonight
No drummer for 21tr this evening but onstage was enough gear to sink an ocean liner. A few touring bands were in town and so their gear was up on stage lined all around the perimeter. This made a more intimate environment, S Robertson brought the damn drum kit anyway... just in case.
21TR played a fine set that perhaps was a bit too quiet and somber for a large crowd of depressed hockey fans.
Next up was Interior design who also was a bit thrown off by the kayos of the day. Fortunately it is impossible for Interior design to play badly.
To finish off the night S Robertson jumped on the drums with Alvaro on bass and Willingdon Black and Shockk on Dual guitars. The moment was to expand on the concept of Dave P. you can't always be like Dave P. but every once in a while you have got to think like him. The music was fantastic... they were excellent!
One of Dave P.'s Goals is to become the I world record holder for indoor rowing. The concept being that thinking along those lines is possibly a little extreme. It's a noble cause for higher beings which is great, and it's not for everybody, but that doesn't mean you have to sit in front of the TV and eat a box of bugles.
The night ended and we all went home still a little unsure of what the hell happened that day.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Mule-Eye View
I arrived shortly after the Supper Show began last night, and the music I heard drifting down the stairwell of the Railway Club was hi-fi in the extreme. 21 Tandem Repeats' sound has really taken a leap forward now that Alvaro Rojas has joined on bass and eventually, I hope, Chapman Stick. The set featured a new song called “-----oma,” with a cool riff/refrain that definitely got under my skin, and a 21 TR version of Supersimian’s “On Frozen Pond,” a number well suited to the clear, cool weather we’ve been enjoying when we’re not inside following the Olympic exploits of our nation's hockey teams or wincing at the succession of awesome spills on the luge track.
Yes, everything seems to be falling into place for 21 TR, save for a Super-approved nickname for their new recruit. Super solicited suggestions from the audience, but come on—the guy’s name is Alvaro Rojas. How can you possibly spice up, augment, or otherwise improve on that handle, except by pronouncing it with rolled Rs in the manner of Ricardo Montalban? The name outshines even Aljoz Mulej, one of WB’s former alter-egos. Hey Super—leave that name alone!
After 21 TR’s set everyone had to scramble for the last scraps of stage time, resulting in a typical Supper Show grab bag to round off the evening. Speaking of grab bags, someone left a stack of free CDs on the bar, from which I scored a copy of A Certain Trigger by Maximo Park. You can bet I left a satisfied customer.
TRH
Yes, everything seems to be falling into place for 21 TR, save for a Super-approved nickname for their new recruit. Super solicited suggestions from the audience, but come on—the guy’s name is Alvaro Rojas. How can you possibly spice up, augment, or otherwise improve on that handle, except by pronouncing it with rolled Rs in the manner of Ricardo Montalban? The name outshines even Aljoz Mulej, one of WB’s former alter-egos. Hey Super—leave that name alone!
After 21 TR’s set everyone had to scramble for the last scraps of stage time, resulting in a typical Supper Show grab bag to round off the evening. Speaking of grab bags, someone left a stack of free CDs on the bar, from which I scored a copy of A Certain Trigger by Maximo Park. You can bet I left a satisfied customer.
TRH
Feb. 15/06 Recap
"You do look glum! What you need is a gramme of soma."
Aldous Huxley.
Soma was the imaginary drug in Aldous Huxley's 'Island.' I grew up on Huxley Avenue in Burnaby, except that it was named after the Victorian scientist Thomas Huxley, not the Bloomsbury writer Aldous Huxley. How do I know this? Because it was an English scientist neighbourhood; the next street over was Darwin, and the one after that was Halley.
And this ties into the Supper Show in that the band introduced a new tune tonight. The new song rhymes with 'soma,' but some (ie. one) band members are dissatisfied with the title, and are lobbying to have it changed.
Of course, this can be a tricky issue. I once played in a band (perhaps I still do ) for which I wrote a song called 'Reefer Girl.' The title came from an old pulp novel (one of my favorite sources for song titles), and was a tribute to a couple of people from my past. One of my musical compatriots took exception to the song's content. There was a heated discussion, but in the end I did change it, as I discovered a new pulp title ('Hotrod Sinner') that was more syllablistcally compatible with the riff.
Pause.
Super Robertson returned from California in an energetic mood, engaging the audience on various sundry matters. The set seemed decent from the stage. There was a brief interlude in which a guy named Dave delivered some stylish rapwork. Then another guy named David--better known as the Fire-Man--came up and played some horn. Then 50% of 21TR were summarily dismissed, and replaced with 33.3% of Roadbed, a.k.a. Shockk, who joined Roadbed Mk I for a version of 'Bent.'
Eric Eyes then got up on drums, and was met with an upbeat groove that caused him some angst. Deborah (landofdeborah.com), who appears on Devon Townshend's new album, as well as 21TR's new album, read the night's poem.
"..there is always soma, delicious soma, half a gramme for a half-holiday, a gramme for a week-end, two grammes for a trip to the gorgeous East, three for a dark eternity on the moon..."
And four for a bright eternity at the Supper Show.
ACM.
Aldous Huxley.
Soma was the imaginary drug in Aldous Huxley's 'Island.' I grew up on Huxley Avenue in Burnaby, except that it was named after the Victorian scientist Thomas Huxley, not the Bloomsbury writer Aldous Huxley. How do I know this? Because it was an English scientist neighbourhood; the next street over was Darwin, and the one after that was Halley.
And this ties into the Supper Show in that the band introduced a new tune tonight. The new song rhymes with 'soma,' but some (ie. one) band members are dissatisfied with the title, and are lobbying to have it changed.
Of course, this can be a tricky issue. I once played in a band (perhaps I still do ) for which I wrote a song called 'Reefer Girl.' The title came from an old pulp novel (one of my favorite sources for song titles), and was a tribute to a couple of people from my past. One of my musical compatriots took exception to the song's content. There was a heated discussion, but in the end I did change it, as I discovered a new pulp title ('Hotrod Sinner') that was more syllablistcally compatible with the riff.
Pause.
Super Robertson returned from California in an energetic mood, engaging the audience on various sundry matters. The set seemed decent from the stage. There was a brief interlude in which a guy named Dave delivered some stylish rapwork. Then another guy named David--better known as the Fire-Man--came up and played some horn. Then 50% of 21TR were summarily dismissed, and replaced with 33.3% of Roadbed, a.k.a. Shockk, who joined Roadbed Mk I for a version of 'Bent.'
Eric Eyes then got up on drums, and was met with an upbeat groove that caused him some angst. Deborah (landofdeborah.com), who appears on Devon Townshend's new album, as well as 21TR's new album, read the night's poem.
"..there is always soma, delicious soma, half a gramme for a half-holiday, a gramme for a week-end, two grammes for a trip to the gorgeous East, three for a dark eternity on the moon..."
And four for a bright eternity at the Supper Show.
ACM.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Feb. 8th Recap
No Super Robertson tonight, which meant no 21TR. Super was down in California, apparently negotiating the framework of an upcoming reality TV series.
This left the surly bastard known as Willingdon Black as host.
Things got off to an uneasy start when a young Rasputinesque man came into the Railway and asked one of the barmaids to set up the television beside the stage. Soundman JLS was drawn into the endeavor, which made the building of the pyramids look like a casual task.
With things already running late, Willingdon Black stepped in, asking that no television be watched while the Supper Show proceeded. This was received with polite tension by the bearded man, who indicated that he wanted to watch the Grammy award telecast.
Perhaps it was fortunate that Eric Eyes was not able to procure a drum kit (though he did bring a digeridoo), as it cut down on the amount of sound gear setup, and things finally got underway with a set from King Dinosaur. KD had tickets to a Canucks game, but blew off the first period so he could perform (I imagine he wished he'd skipped the game altogether; the Canucks lost to the lowly Blues). His well-received set concluded with a cartoon-illustrated version of Clapton's 'Railway Song.'
Then came Dustin Rilcoff. His voice was in good form, and he offered up some groovy tunes. Willingdon Black sat in on a couple of them.
Interior Design closed the night, establishing a blend of virtuosity and peacefulness. The perfect culmination of an evening that was not as comfortably low key as it might have been.
This left the surly bastard known as Willingdon Black as host.
Things got off to an uneasy start when a young Rasputinesque man came into the Railway and asked one of the barmaids to set up the television beside the stage. Soundman JLS was drawn into the endeavor, which made the building of the pyramids look like a casual task.
With things already running late, Willingdon Black stepped in, asking that no television be watched while the Supper Show proceeded. This was received with polite tension by the bearded man, who indicated that he wanted to watch the Grammy award telecast.
Perhaps it was fortunate that Eric Eyes was not able to procure a drum kit (though he did bring a digeridoo), as it cut down on the amount of sound gear setup, and things finally got underway with a set from King Dinosaur. KD had tickets to a Canucks game, but blew off the first period so he could perform (I imagine he wished he'd skipped the game altogether; the Canucks lost to the lowly Blues). His well-received set concluded with a cartoon-illustrated version of Clapton's 'Railway Song.'
Then came Dustin Rilcoff. His voice was in good form, and he offered up some groovy tunes. Willingdon Black sat in on a couple of them.
Interior Design closed the night, establishing a blend of virtuosity and peacefulness. The perfect culmination of an evening that was not as comfortably low key as it might have been.
Feb. 1st Recap
How about that! It looks like the title of the Jackass Has Haybreath/21TR tune 'Bay City Kitty' has similar origins to the name of Scottish pop outfit the Bay City Rollers. (I think Super suggested as much one time, but I scoffed dubiously).
According to a website called classicbands.com...
"The Bay City Rollers were a Scottish pop/rock band who began to take shape when they were known as The Saxons....
Wanting to change their name to something that sounded more 'American', they decided to stick a pin in a map of the United States to help them choose a new handle. The first attempt landed in Arkansas, but wanting something sexier, the next nearest place that appealed to them was Bay City, Michigan. The suffix 'Rollers' was added and the new name was complete."
Of course, Super Robertson penned the words to Bay City Kitty in honour of a family cat that 'bolted from the car' while the Robertson family was travelling through Michigan.
Anyway, the Jackass version contained a rather nifty bass line from Smash. I noticed that Alvaro Rojas, who once again stopped by for the first half of Supper Show, seems to have picked up on the same groove. Another one for the great minds think alike file.
Pretty decent 21TR set all around.
I seem to recall a poem moment, but I may have been daydreaming. Then Hobbs/Black/Robertson went back up.
Sim joined them for a version of 'Bill Von Bacon Tell' that was Withnailian in its utter dishevelment.
Dustin came up for a much better 'Curtain Draws.'
Then 'Last Call,' and that was it.
Dare I use the word 'consistency?'
According to a website called classicbands.com...
"The Bay City Rollers were a Scottish pop/rock band who began to take shape when they were known as The Saxons....
Wanting to change their name to something that sounded more 'American', they decided to stick a pin in a map of the United States to help them choose a new handle. The first attempt landed in Arkansas, but wanting something sexier, the next nearest place that appealed to them was Bay City, Michigan. The suffix 'Rollers' was added and the new name was complete."
Of course, Super Robertson penned the words to Bay City Kitty in honour of a family cat that 'bolted from the car' while the Robertson family was travelling through Michigan.
Anyway, the Jackass version contained a rather nifty bass line from Smash. I noticed that Alvaro Rojas, who once again stopped by for the first half of Supper Show, seems to have picked up on the same groove. Another one for the great minds think alike file.
Pretty decent 21TR set all around.
I seem to recall a poem moment, but I may have been daydreaming. Then Hobbs/Black/Robertson went back up.
Sim joined them for a version of 'Bill Von Bacon Tell' that was Withnailian in its utter dishevelment.
Dustin came up for a much better 'Curtain Draws.'
Then 'Last Call,' and that was it.
Dare I use the word 'consistency?'
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)