VdGG Withdrawal symptoms

Coming back down to Earth after following VdGG around England this weekend.

Friday - Shepherds Bush, London

(Darkness, Undercover/Scorched Earth, Bloody Emperor, Lemmings, Las Rossa, Childlike Faith, Killer, Sleepwalkers, Nutter Alert, Man-erg Encore: Refugees, Theme One)

Started with a minutes silence, to remember the previous day's attrocities in London. Peter Hammill said the show must go on and it did. First time I have seen them in a venue where you stand and managed to get in the front row. Sound was not good, but great view of the band. Highlights were Man-erg, theme-one and seeing PH singing within a plectrum in his mouth whilst scratching his arse! 

This show was recorded with video cameras at the front. I have to hope they edit out the crowd scenes if it gets released, if not i'm the person at the front in the white t-shirt bouncing around with a stupid grin on my face.

Saturday - DeMontford Hall, Leicester

(Undercover/scorched Earth, Bloody Emperor, Black room, When she comes, Still Life, Masks, Childlike Faith, Sleepwalkers, Nutter Alert, Man-erg Encore: Lemmings, Wondering)

Brilliant show, sound was fantastic, David Jackson was on fabulous form and PH got almost all the lyrics right! Highlight was 'Still Life', an incredibly emotional moment.

Sunday - Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

(Darkness, Undercover/Scorched Earth, Every Bloody Emporer, Lemmings, When She comes, Childlike Faith, Sleepwalkers, Black Room, Nutter Alert, Man-erg, Encore: Killer, Wondering)

Seemed to start a bit slowly but really got going for me by 'When She Comes', a superb version. Jackson again on incredible form. Marvelled at Hugh Banton, legs moving all over the place playing bass pedals.

 

They are just getting better all the time. It is hard to believe they can produce such an amazing sound and so obviously enjoy playing together. I've seen all six of their shows and now have to face the prospect of not seeing them again  this tour (that is unless I want to get divorced).

I hope you guys who catch the remaining shows enjoy seeing them as much as I have. At this rate the final show in Amsterdam should be incredible. 

 

 

 

I was at the Shepherds Bush show too, what was up with the sound there?  I'm hoping it was the venue and not the mixing desk.  I could barely hear Peter's singing, except on the quiet parts.  It kind of took a way some of the joy for me, which is a shame, as it is the only time I shall get to see them (unless they do more concerts next year!).  I was sat at the front of the level 2 seated section next to Jim Christopulos of all people, hehe.

Highlights for me were _The Sleepwalkers_, _Childlike Faith in Childhood's End_ and _Man-Erg_.  Amazing performance.

If only I had a chance to hear them where there was a better sound.  I have managed to hear the RFH gig on CD (I shall be buying the official release later this year) and that is an amazing gig and much better sound.

I did notice the cameras, but due to the poor sound, I'm not sure what they get out of it...

Oh and NutterAlert, if you were one of the guys wearing your self-made Nutter Alert t-shirts, then I saw you.  A group of you were shouting up at me at one time, I think you were trying to get me to get your Canadian friend to notice you.  If that wasn't you, then oh well.

James.


Edited by Geck0

Too right Nutter Alert!

I was lucky enough to catch the gig at the Liverpool Phil and it quite frankly blew me away. I agree it was a little slow to start but it looked like they were enjoying themselves so much and they knew just how appreciative we all were of the chance to finally get to see them. Highlights for me in the main set were Scorched Earth and Sleepwalkers (I'll admit to being a huge fan of 'Godbluff') though all of the other numbers were extremely enjoyable and I was particularly impressed with the seamless way the new material (Every Bloody Emperor and Nutter Alert) fit in with the rest of the show. Unbelievable when you consider the time-gap.

However, when they came back on stage for the encore it was clear what people wanted (me included) and boy did they deliver. 'Killer' was belted out with such a verve and force, even PH himself commented how 'energising' it was to play it again, that it blew my socks off. It was staggering! I was listening to 'H to He' earlier and found myself a tad disappointed that the studio version, brilliant though it is, didn't quite bowl me over the way I had been on Sunday. Still, I'll never forget it and for that I've got to be thankful.

Let's hope it's not another three decades before they choose to once again grace the stage with their magnificence but even so there's enough in the piggy bank to purchase the live recording from the RFH which I'm praying has a killer rendition of 'Killer' like the one I witnessed on Sunday.

 

The Leicester gig was even better than the RFH gig  - granted I was only three rows from the front this time (rather than much farther back in London), but there was a sense of relaxation and confidence about the band that energised their playing.  They talked and laughed on stage, making mistakes, fooling around, and they seemed so much more natural than their nervous entrance at London.  I was also amazed that they did material NOT played at RFH, as I'd just been on a big diatribe to my friend about how they'd probably play the same set note-for-note.  When they started Still Life, I had to pinch myself, and was utterly gripped throughout until Hammil's final gasp at the end. 

I also preferred the set order this time around - encoring with Lemmings was just a marvellous way to end the evening and left the crowd in raptures of applause.  I thought the choice of 'Wondering' in London, whilst apt, was a bit of an anti-climax.  Lemmings left us drooling at the mouth.  I cannot believe I've SEEN the great VDGG AT ALL, never mind twice in the same year, but Leicester really cemented my love for the band - looking back the RFH show reminds me more of a public appearance - a circus act - rather than a real gig.  Leicester, for me anyway, got much closer to how I imagine they sounded and acted in the 70s.  This was a truly GREAT show - great sound, great songs, great performances...

...it was nice to see the REAL Van Der Graaf Generator - Hammil IS a genius... 

 

Edited by Wrath_of_Ninian

Borealis wrote: Hammill wrote: i can't wait to watch them in Greece on the 21st of July....they will play with porcupine tree ()...and the case is that vdgg will open for PT!!!!!!!! That would be a great show! Porcupine Tree are a great band (although they should open Van der Graaf ) I saw PT live yesterday and it was a very good show!

Well maybe you are right...i am just too furious because vdgg will open for them...and i know that the 90% of the audience will be there for PT......i can't stand their comments ...young greek prog fans only care about what is popular in our days(DT, TOOL, PORCUPINE TREE etc)......i won't accept a bad comment for vdgg or peter hammill (for example look the old man he can't sing etc)...there will be a massacre LoL

Hammill wrote: Borealis wrote: Hammill wrote: i can't wait to watch them in Greece on the 21st of July....they will play with porcupine tree ()...and the case is that vdgg will open for PT!!!!!!!! That would be a great show! Porcupine Tree are a great band (although they should open Van der Graaf ) I saw PT live yesterday and it was a very good show! Well maybe you are right...i am just too furious because vdgg will open for them...and i know that the 90% of the audience will be there for PT......i can't stand their comments ...young greek prog fans only care about what is popular in our days(DT, TOOL, PORCUPINE TREE etc)......i won't accept a bad comment for vdgg or peter hammill (for example look the old man he can't sing etc)...there will be a massacre LoL

Heh, I understand that. But, still, you're gonna see the hell of a good show while I'll be in my house in Québec doing nothing...

Unluckilly they didn't visit Finland, and I already had my summer vacations, so I could "take a trip" at Amsterdam to watch them...

Looking from the 1st post, I must admit they had extraordinary selections of songs on their setlists!

Edited by Eetu Pellonpää

Good news there then BaldJean.  I have a bootleg copy of R.F.H., but would still like the official release nevertheless, as I always prefer an official release.  It will from the mixing desk for starters, so the sound quality will be much better.

Any ideas who will be responsible for the mixing of this CD?  pH?

I hope to see some good liner notes and photos also.

I'm looking forward to seeing Hatfield and the North at the end of September, should be interesting... oh and Gov't Mule at The Astoria on 9th September (my other favourite band who I saw earlier this year and blew me away).  As Gov't Mule are introduced on a couple of their concerts... "prepare to be assimilated".

James.

Indeed, I hope it will be ready very soon.  I also hope the Leverkusen Jazztage performance gets put on DVD.  Will this likely just be what was shown on German Television, or the whole concert?  Any ideas anyone?