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chopper
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Topic: Pendragon at the Mean Fiddler 16/06/06 Posted: June 17 2006 at 11:35 |
Pendragon at the Mean Fiddler 16 June 2006 ============================ On the way to work that day I was listening to Pendragon’s “Believe” and it occurred to me what a great opening to a gig the first two tracks, “Believe” and “No Place for the Innocent”, would make and, sure enough, that’s what they started off with. It’s so much better to see a band in a small venue like the Mean Fiddler, where you can actually see and hear the band properly. The guys on the desk did a great job as the sound was excellent - not too loud and you could hear all the instruments clearly. The Pendragon boys played a blinder, including new drummer Joe Crabtree. There was a sprinkling of tracks from “Believe” amongst the usual classics such as “Guardian of my Soul“, “Good as Gold” and “Paintbox”. Their songs have an epic feel which is well suited to live performance and there were a number of lighter-waving moments, or rather mobile phone waving moments these days. Nick Barrett has a very good rapport with the audience and Pendragon does have a dedicated group of fans. As Nick said, they’ve only made two albums in the last 9 years so he was surprised to see us still out there. There have been a few threads in the forum about whether people would like prog to be more mainstream. Pendragon certainly deserve more success and it would be great to see them in the charts however, on a purely selfish level, it’s fantastic to be able to see a band as good as this in a small venue, and only £10 per ticket!
The support was ably provided by Gary Chandler from Jadis and Steve Thorne who did a fine semi-unplugged set featuring some Jadis numbers and some of Steve’s own songs from his albums Emotional Creatures parts 1 and 2.
The concert was attended by myself, Blacksword and prog-chick.
Edited by chopper - June 17 2006 at 11:36
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Wilcey
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Posted: June 18 2006 at 07:04 |
Flippin MARVELLOUS GIG!!!
I have JUSY arrived home from the Sheffield gig :-) so off to bed now................but I will add my ha'pennies worth later!!!
Flippin GREAT tho, both London and Sheffield!
P-C
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Blacksword
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Joined: June 22 2004
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Posted: June 19 2006 at 08:24 |
Excellent gig!
I'm no expert on Pendragon, and over the years have struggled to get into them. 'Believe' is a strong album, and much better than 'Window of Life' which was the last Pendragon album I heard.
As chopper says, they opened the show with the first two tracks on the album, and it was a perfect intro to a fine set. The songs really came to life live, and I thought Barrets vocal performance was better live than in the studio. His voice has long been one of my gripes about this band. Anyway, the overal performance was excellent. A really good night!.
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Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy!
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Wilcey
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Posted: June 21 2006 at 14:32 |
I seem to have almost caught up with myself after a somewhat hectic weekend involving Pendragon at the Mean FIddler (London) on Friday, again at The Boardwalk (Sheffield) on Staurday, and enevitably copius motorway miles and service-station stops. (I'll save the speil about service stations for the ranting room!!!)
Friday was great, a good solid and very mixed crowd, I dragged a mate along who had never heard The Pendies before but by the end of the gig was snapping pix on her moby and shopping at the merch stall!
The sound was great, the atmosphere was fantsatic and the show was spectacular!
I agree with Blacksword, Pendragon are something special on a stage, they really make a great show. Without resorting to prog cliches of costume and make-up, the spirit of the songs come alive, and you never quite know where to direct your gaze, stunning guitar work and vocals from NB, CN is almost a show on his own, PG always surprises me on stage! The new boy on the drum stool has a power and energy that seems to breathe new life into proceedings!
I also had the chance to say hello to John Jowitt & Andy Edwards (IQ) Mark Westwood (NEO) who had come along to check out the proceedings and of course Gary Chandler & Steve Thorne who did a fabulous opening set for The Pendies! I bought Steve's album at the Riff's gig in May so I had got a chance to really know his stuff before the gig this time, together with Gary I really enjoyed the set which combined the best bits of what must be 20 years of Jadis.
Sheffield was a great gig also,always something jolly about a "last night of the tour" show, I went to this gig on my own, but found myself recognising faces and chatting to folk there who all seemed to be enthusiastic as I was!
Having never visited The Boardwalk before, and having read mixed reviews of it I was pleasantly surprised, fab little place, really spesh! Every town should have one!
I love to see Pendragon live, I first saw them play 20 years ago, and between tours I find myself wondering if I could really get that enthusiastic or excited or just plain arm-waving, sing-a-longing, jumpy up and downy mad the next time.........but they have some kind of magic, and even nursing a fracture to my shoulder the magic still got to me!
Yelling (er, em, singing) my head off to Nostrdamus, tears welling in "Am I really losing you?" and goosebumps all round for "Edge of the World".
Fab! Counting the days until the Summers End fest now to see them again!
P-C
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sigod
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Joined: September 17 2004
Location: London
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Posted: June 26 2006 at 11:59 |
I'm absolutely kicking myself that I couldn't attend this gig. It would
have been my first Pendragon gig since the Kowtow days and although I
have their recent DVD, nothing takes the place of seeing them live.
Gutted!
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I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision.
- Clement Atlee, on Winston Churchill
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Blacksword
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 22 2004
Location: England
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Points: 16130
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Posted: June 26 2006 at 15:19 |
Prog Chick you are the ultimate Pendragon fan, by the sounds of it. I had hoped that chopper & I could have met up with you that night, but I understand your reservations about meeting in a pub called 'The Tottenham' Bearing in mind your football preferences.
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Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy!
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Blacksword
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 22 2004
Location: England
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Points: 16130
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Posted: June 26 2006 at 15:21 |
sigod wrote:
I'm absolutely kicking myself that I couldn't attend this gig. It would
have been my first Pendragon gig since the Kowtow days and although I
have their recent DVD, nothing takes the place of seeing them live.
Gutted!
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Hey IQ are playing later this year at the MF. I think we should be in attendance. I'm sure chopper & Richardh would be interested.
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Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy!
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chopper
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Joined: July 13 2005
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Posted: June 27 2006 at 07:53 |
Count me in Andy.
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sigod
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Joined: September 17 2004
Location: London
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Posted: June 27 2006 at 11:24 |
Sounds like a plan gentlemen. Here's hoping no-one else drops dead at my place of employment.
I also believe that we should think about arranging another Prog Archives UK meet in the near future.
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I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision.
- Clement Atlee, on Winston Churchill
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Wilcey
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Posted: June 27 2006 at 16:37 |
I am really annoyed I didn't meet up with you guys too.........but with the broken shoulder and all, my day was fairly hectic,............ and I tend to get lost in London!
I am definitely going to the Summer's End jobbie in September though, quite a mixed bad of a line up, but I think it will be worth the trip, and with the Pendies rounding off the Saturday night, I am sure it will be a well earned treat!
As usual, I will be jumping up and down and singing a lot............I really don't know how you guys missed me! But before that I hear that the Pendies recorded a live DVD of this show in Poland during the tour due for release late August, so I feel a purchase coming on to tide me over and practice my singing!!!
P-C
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chopper
Special Collaborator
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Joined: July 13 2005
Location: Essex, UK
Status: Offline
Points: 20030
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Posted: June 27 2006 at 16:57 |
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