rayman2112
Journeyman
Don't ask me, I'm just improvising.
Posts: 109
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Post by rayman2112 on Jun 27, 2009 9:19:32 GMT
Hey All, I'm a HUGE Peter Gabriel fan and I play a little bass, so I am also a HUGE fa of Mr. Tony Levin. I figured I would share the same review with you guys that I dd with the Rush forum that I frequent... Enjoy! Well, a few weeks ago, I got the OK from the wife to mis a birthing class to go see Mr. Levin and his latest project at the super-small Performing arts center in Natick, MA. In researching this place online, I knew it was going to be small, with a capacity of 290, but it was really damn small! I was also hoping that considering the size of the venue and the less than overwhelming number of people, perhaps I would get a chance to meet Tony... I did, in addition to an awesome show! Now, the pics and whatnot! The venue was pretty tough to shoot in. It was very very dark in there and the spotlights were smll and permanently mounted to the ceiling. It was built in the 1860's as a fire station. Very intimate room, great setting for a kickass show. Tony Levin Pat Mastelotto Michael Bernier
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rayman2112
Journeyman
Don't ask me, I'm just improvising.
Posts: 109
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Post by rayman2112 on Jun 27, 2009 9:20:08 GMT
They're called Stick Men because as Tony said "We play with sticks, Pat plays with two of them" They're currently recording stuff together when they have spare time. The bulk of the songs were from Tony's solo disc "Stick Man"
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rayman2112
Journeyman
Don't ask me, I'm just improvising.
Posts: 109
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Post by rayman2112 on Jun 27, 2009 9:20:23 GMT
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rayman2112
Journeyman
Don't ask me, I'm just improvising.
Posts: 109
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Post by rayman2112 on Jun 27, 2009 9:20:43 GMT
Intermission, I went up and took some pics of their setups They played some crazy stuff! It's like progressive, electronic, ambient, jazz and rock all rolled into one show. really cool! Here' a pic of Michael Bernier playing the stick with a bow. They both did at times. Really unique sounds coming out of those things.
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rayman2112
Journeyman
Don't ask me, I'm just improvising.
Posts: 109
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Post by rayman2112 on Jun 27, 2009 9:21:48 GMT
They played for a couple of hours with an intermission to break it up. I don;t have a setlist, doubt I could find one. There were a couple of King Crimson tunes, a few from his latest solo album "Stick Man", a few that they had recently written together and one tune from a band that Tony raved about, but I am not familiar with, Sleepy Time Gorilla Museum. Here's a video I shot of one song. This was the perfect example because it covers alot of the type of stuff they did.
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rayman2112
Journeyman
Don't ask me, I'm just improvising.
Posts: 109
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Post by rayman2112 on Jun 27, 2009 9:23:09 GMT
After the show, they all stuck around to meet with every single person that waited around for them. They went out to the lobby about 10 minutes after the show and must have stayed for at least an hour. My buddy and I took off after getting to talk to Tony because it was getting late and we wanted to get going. There was a big group around Mastelotto, whom I would have liked to meet, but maybe next time. I was really there for Levin this time anyway. He signed my CD, took a pic with me and did the same for everybody that asked. I was amazed how gracious and down to earth he was. My friend mentioned that he played bas and Tony asked him what kind he has. My buddy told him lately he's been favoring the Steinberger to which Tony replied "Peter Gabriel always loves when I use that bass". At that point, we became star struck, it was a reminder that we were dealing with a true Rock heavyweight here. My friend started gushig and said "Man, you've worked with Gabriel, John Lennon, Paul Simon, Crimson, Pink Floyd" I think he would have kept going, but Tony cut him off saying "yeah, when you get to be as old as me, you get around." Seriously, the guy couldn't have been any nicer. The fact they had a show the following night in New York makes it that much cooler of them to hang out so long. My signed CD and finally, me with Tony (he puts my mustache to shame! I decided to grow it out for the show last week... I may have to photoshop it out!) That was a cool night out!
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Post by nonrabbit on Jun 29, 2009 22:13:51 GMT
Thanks Ray for posting that I just got the chance there to really look at the thread. The pics are excellant and I like B&W artsy pics. I googled Levin bloody 'ell he's played with everyone - great life eh ? I wasn't a great King Crimson fan but I like a versatile musician and he certainly is! and one who likes to talk and share with the fans which really makes the whole show even more enjoyable. I'm glad you enjoyed the gig and many more of them too - have you got the babysitters lined up then??
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rayman2112
Journeyman
Don't ask me, I'm just improvising.
Posts: 109
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Post by rayman2112 on Jun 30, 2009 6:38:43 GMT
Funny you mention that... I actually asked my dad to watch the baby at the end of September so my wife and I can go see Porcupine Tree in Boston! Glad you enjoyed the pics! It was really interesting music, very progressive and industrial, yet a lot of it was structured very much like jazz, they were free to roam at times and they sure can play them weird things! Yeah, Levin's played with all the greats, it's an insane list. he has his discography up on his site and it's insanely long. I know him best from Peter Gabriel, he's on all of his solo albums. I knew he played on a few tracks for Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson's solo album and I had read he attended the listening party for the new PT album, so I asked him about it. He was honest, told me he wasn't a huge PT fan, but that the album was really good and very Pink Floyd at times. He would know, he played bass on momentary lapse of reason! Dude's been around! But really, couldn't have been more of a gentleman. I know he spends a lot of time touring Europe, check him, or Stick Men out if you notice them coming to town.
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Post by maddogfagin on Jun 30, 2009 8:34:38 GMT
Good pics and thanks for putting it on the board. Hope he gigs in my area sometime as it looks like a good concert. Thanks
Maddog
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