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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | "Josh Chasin" <jchasin@nyc.rr.com> |
| Subject | Re: Rickenbacker Show |
| Date | Tue, 29 Aug 2006 19:04:30 -0400 |
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Sounds like a blast.
You should totally call your blog the Kompost heap.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kerry Kompost" <kerry_kompost@yahoo.com>
To: <audities@smoe.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 6:00 PM
Subject: Re: Rickenbacker Show
> Drew MacDonald wrote:
>
>> I missed the Rickenbacker 75th
>> Anniversary show at the HOB last
>> night. Did anyone go?
>
> Hey Drew,
>
> I was fortunate to have played a little "connection"
> role with regard to the Chris Squire Band. One of the
> Rickenbacker organizers (Kenny Howes, *smootch*) asked
> me if the keyboardist I play with (Ryo Okumoto) would
> be interested in the Chris Squire gig...which, of
> course, he was (duh!). Ryo then recruited the
> drummer/vocalist and guitarist from his other band
> Spock's Beard (Nick D'Virgilio and Alan Morse,
> respectively) and BAM! Chris Squire Band. They were
> joined by another keyboardist named Henry (the son of
> a well-known prog musician whose name is escaping me
> now and forever).
>
> As "payment" I got to play keyboard tech for the
> rehearsals and the show (meaning I got to lift/move
> the Mellotron and the Leslie cabiniet LOL). Man,
> seeing that band in rehearsal nailing "I've Seen All
> Good People", "Hold Out Your Hands" and of course
> "Roundabout" was pretty fucking amazing, I tell you. I
> was blown away to find out that Chris Squire plugs his
> trusty vintage 4001 bass directly into a bass cabinet
> (I think an SWR, can't recall) and gets "THAT TONE"
> strictly via the bass itself (no effects, his tech
> told me so). Unreal stuff! Squire, himself, is a total
> Rock Star(tm) but very approachable and exceptionally
> grateful for any kind words tossed his way (I think my
> first words to him were something brilliant like
> "Dude, that was fucking awesome, man."). Hey, I'm a
> fanboy, shoot me!
>
> The show itself was predictibly chaotic, but fun
> nonetheless (even though it was a twelve hour day).
> The enthusiastic crowd were completely into the show,
> and Rickenbacker had some great old advertisements
> playing on screens in-between bands -- really cool
> stuff for guitar geeks especially.
>
> One thing that blew me away was Jeff Skunk Baxter
> playing with Billy Hinsche. Whatever Dino, Desi and
> Billy's big hit was (a real Kinks-y pop thing), Baxter
> threw down a guitar solo that literally had me in
> tears. So melodic and freaky and off-the-cuff, so
> weird being transposed against that simple tune, it
> was magical. Both Billy and Jeff were awesome,
> super-friendly, fun to hang out with for a few moments
> on the smoker's patio. One of my favorite guitar solos
> of all time is "Rikki, Don't Lose That Number" so it
> was really cool to meet the master himself.
>
> I'd never seen nor heard Minus 5 before, but they
> rocked, really genuine songwriting, although not
> really my glass of Southern Comfort. Mike Mills joined
> 'em for a couple of songs (one a cool thing called "Aw
> Shit Man" which was funny and a blast). Great stuff!
> Peter Buck -- who gave me a roll of the eyes and an
> exasperated sigh when I told him "Green" was a huge
> album for me, LOL -- kicked ass on bass, too.
>
> Sue Hoffs and Matthew Sweet sounded awesome together,
> as expected. No surprises as far as I remember (and,
> for the record, I'm not overly fond of Sweet's solo
> stuff nor the Hoffs/Sweet covers project). However, I
> can never forget the two of them in the green room
> running thru "Cinnimon Girl" before their set...man,
> Sue's voice is still so unique and strong!
>
> Smithereens...damn. Now there's a band -- like Minus 5
> -- who can NAIL a simple pop tune and make it matter
> somehow. Pat D. was a big gruffy bear, a total
> sweetheart, a blast to hang with. So many stories, SO
> New Jersy -- too funny! My bro Severo (formerly of
> Cockeyed Ghost and 1,001 other bands) plays bass for
> them and he slayed on his cool blue 4001. Really
> awesome vocals and guitar playing, too. Dennis Diken
> also played with Billy Hinsche...awesome groove.
>
> Kenny Howes' own band -- Hautewerk (sp?) -- played a
> cool set of edgy, ultra-jangly stuff. He was joined by
> Mike Simmons of SparkleJets*UK on drums and a couple
> of other guys whose names I'm blanking on, once again,
> now and forever. Kenny's vocals were great, the
> harmonies tight, the changes interesting.
>
> I missed Marty Wilson-Piper's set, although his
> harpist is a friend of mine and I wanted to see her
> perform with him (I snuck across the street for a
> Carney's chili burger).
>
> Chris Squire Band had some tension -- Nick Divirgilio
> was worried about his blown-out voice (he nailed it
> anyway), and Alan Morse missed a key descending run in
> the acoustic guitar opening of "Roundabout" (Mike
> Simmons and I turned to each other and said "oops!"
> LOL) but after the kinks were worked out, they gelled.
> The band actually elevated during "I've Seen All Good
> People" -- the vibe was unreal. The crowd ate it up,
> even Ryo's trademark hijinks.
>
> Last band of the night was Jefferson Starship, who
> really did sound damned good (even the "Grace Slick"
> who pretty much nailed the stuff). Fantastic
> guitarist, name escapes me (do you notice a trend?).
> Paul Kantner is so funny, and cool, and a really good
> player and vocalist to boot. Prairie Prince kicked
> utter ass, man. Utter. Man, what a GROOVE MONSTER!
>
> Lemmy was hanging around but didn't play to my
> knowledge. Everyone who played the show was hanging
> out and totally accessible and it was really a great
> night of hanging with some interesting rock and
> rollers. I feel extremely fortunate to have been
> there and I know I'm forgetting a thousand things; one
> day soon I'll do a formal blog about the whole thing
> but for now I hope this gives you a little sense of
> the show.
>
> kErrY kOMpOsT
>
> www.myspace.com/kompost
>
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