Part 2

251 to 281 of 281

- CommentAuthorianmacd
- CommentTimeJul 19th 2010
It's a strange sight, all those towels draped over the keyboard.

What a bummer. It's always a big disappointment when a gig you were hoping to attend is cancelled, but the pain is that much larger when you have also travelled some distance and incurred some expense to get there.

Two of the Dead Can Dance gigs I went to over the years were cancelled, so I know how you feel. I hope you can get to another gig on this tour.
- CommentAuthorVT800
- CommentTimeJul 20th 2010
@ jedi : Pity to hear that! Sad for you and all the other fan's
The Holland concert is inside you're welcome!
- CommentAuthorJedi
- CommentTimeJul 20th 2010 edited
Thanks...I think band were disappointed, too.

See ya next time! If I ll buy tickets this week, then in Holland.
If anyone know where to stay one night I'll be pleased. Please PM me.
Will be nice meet you all there. :-)
- CommentAuthorAkumasama
- CommentTimeJul 22nd 2010
Back from the show in Vigevano (Milan).
What can I say?

First of all I was very surprised about Brendan not being headliner, but just "supporter" for Archive, although the majority of the audience was clearly there for Brendan only.
What can I say? It's not like Brendan didn't know it when he accepted to come to Italy, so if he was fine with that, who am I to say I feel disappointed? I have no right to complain.
I just was surprised and felt a bit sorry. I mean we're talking about an artist such as Brendan Perry.
B R E N D A N P E R R Y, not Mr. Noone, I really took it as a small lack of respect on his regards.
But then again who cares in the end, I'm just happy I got my chance to hear him and see him.

He's been professional and perfectionist like usual, some tracks from the Ark, and 3 (4?) tracks from the first DCD album (including the EP Garden of the Arcane Delights). I think this choice was reaaaally fitting. I mean, in the first DCD album electric guitars were still very present, so they blended perfectly with the stage setup Brendan and his band had :)
Astrid especially was really passionate and got carried away by the music on a few tracks (she's the keyboardist)
He also played a new (new?) song, at least I never heard him singing that before. It was a cover of Tim Buckley's "Song to the Siren", awesome version of course :D :D :D
The show ended with Utopia, and saaaaadly he didn't get a chance to come back on stage sigh, despite all of us screaming his name for an encore.
Guess the organization didn't allow him to, times between shows were small and strict.

The place was on open air, but despite that and despite my worries, the sound was kinda nice. Brendan's voice was as deep, powerful and arcanely charming as usual :)
Once it gets inside of you through your ears it circles around, whirls endlessly until it shakes the very fundaments of your soul.
But hey, this is nothing new for someone who already heard him live before, is it? :D

I've been told Brendan's wonderful daughter was with him as well, and after the show (and during the soundcheck), Brendan displayed an incredibly good looking bright-grey suit. Omigod he looked so nice! He looked a bit shyer than usual (maybe not enough beer? :P) but he was very calm and relaxed, and seemed to like the company of fans surrounding him (stalking him!!!)
Sadly I didn't get a chance to talk to him (maybe it's better that way :P) or to buy The Ark. I was sooooo hoping to get a signed copy, but they had only 25 of them... yes you heard it, twenty bloody five. Sigh :( :(
Got a t-shirt at least, really nice! I'm so cool when I wear it :D
- CommentAuthorSaskia
- CommentTimeJul 22nd 2010
@ Jedi: I am afraid you can not order tickets anymore for Holland. They are sold out! (Good news for Brendan!!! ;) The only thing you can do is buy an expensive voucher for the Summer Darkness festival and then arrive very early, as they are letting in a limited amount of people.
- CommentAuthorJedi
- CommentTimeJul 22nd 2010 edited
@Akumasama

I'll will went crazy when concert will be stopped in second half because something shit want to play and someone stupid who I am depended says stop it.
I will play it till the end (2 encore breaks) and fuck up the organizer.

I will went in total anger when I ll fly to Italy after cancelled gig in Czech and it will happend.
Good people often doesnt say what they think, they're afraid or think that it will helps itself.
I say no.
- CommentAuthorXaviersPrayer
- CommentTimeJul 22nd 2010 edited
I'm not sure what you are trying to say, but as Bill Clinton once said to the American people, "I feel your pain." :)
- CommentAuthorianmacd
- CommentTimeJul 22nd 2010
@Jedi,

I think you're saying that, if you were Brendan, you would have played a full set, including encores, and not adhered to the festival's strict schedule.

You have to understand that not being the headline act would not have come as a surprise to Brendan. He would have accepted the contract to perform on those terms and known in advance roughly how long he would be able to play.

Brendan's been around a while. He would have known what he was getting into: shorter set, shorter soundcheck, smaller dressing room, a different colour of M&M than his favourite, etc. :-)

As a fan, I can certainly understand the disappointment of getting anything less than a full set. Heck, even the full set isn't enough, is it? Too much of Brendan is never enough. That's why festivals are a mixed blessing unless you happen to like a substantial part of the programme.
- CommentAuthorSaskia
- CommentTimeJul 22nd 2010
because something shit want to play
And guess what, this something also has fans! ;)
- CommentAuthorJedi
- CommentTimeJul 22nd 2010 edited
@ianmacd
I understand, but
if visitors doesnt know it before gig, its something wrong...
If I as performer doesnt know it before... its something wrong...
amd if performer knows it before and didnt tell it to visitors is something wrong... (hey guys, sorry maybe it would be little short, be prepared)

P.S. Different colour of M&M is pity. I like Acid Earthworms :-)
- CommentAuthorAkumasama
- CommentTimeJul 22nd 2010
Yes Ian, you got exactely what I meant.
On one hand I was sad about that, but if it was ok for Brendan (who accepted the contract so was fully aware of what he was gettin from that show) then who am I to complain? ;)
I'm just glad I got a chance to enjoy his perfectionism once more ^^
- CommentAuthorJedi
- CommentTimeJul 22nd 2010 edited
@Saskia everything have time.. one after one... done heartily

@XavierPrayer
Yes, and then he went home to lie into sofa with Monica and continue collaborate with Moneymakers and Warmakers. :-(
Nobody want that type "mercy" its mere mockery from Bill.

Otherwise, I feel what you say ;-)

But I say openly what people are afraid to talk about loudly. Please dont trivialize, If we dont stop these practices they will happend again and again.
- CommentAuthorXaviersPrayer
- CommentTimeJul 23rd 2010 edited
Jedi - I don't wish to trivilize your feelings.
I guess I'm not grasping your complaint.
As I understand it, this was a music festival where there would be many different musicians playing. This was not a normal, full blown "Brendan Perry concert." Did you not know that?
I doubt the tickets you bought were for Brendan Perry. I'm guessing the tickets were for the festival, right?
In any case, I am sorry for your dissapointment.
- CommentAuthorJedi
- CommentTimeJul 23rd 2010
@Xavier maybe I dont writting it clearly.
sorry for that. :-)

In Ostrava were said 1,5 hour time for Bruce Wayne :-). This with experience from other gigs means full concert. But that isnt point.

Point is that if I will attend cancelled gig and then attended another gig in Italy without any information about shortening I'd be very dissapointed. You know two long travels.. and... only 3/4 of concert.

As performer if I had not info about shortening and it will happend I d dissapointed, too. I'd do everything for finishing it.
And second, as performer if I had known info about shortening I'd told it to visitors at least few days before gig will start. Put it on the net or something else.

Ianmacd wrote, that Brendan knew about shortening. If it is true, I will be happy when fans will know it next time, too :-)

Of course, man should be happy for anything. Thats allright.
I m talking about it, because I dont want to let it happend again, if anyone can prevent that.
- CommentAuthorlamb79
- CommentTimeJul 23rd 2010 edited
@Jedi
well, I don't know how many festivals you ever attended but 99
percent of the time bands have shorter sets than the usual. For example, last year I went to see Peter Gabriel at Womad fest. Even he played a shorter set, about 90 mins. This year in London, he performed at the O2, he played for 130 on his normal show.
It is necessary to understand that on a festival they are able to gather more people with more bands but there is a time limit and both bands and fans have to cope with it. I don't mind if Brendan plays a shorter set for much more people that would attend on a solo gig if he could gain more new fans. I do beleive that this is an actual advantage rather than disadvantage. On a longer term, he is winning more with losing 3 songs from his set.
- CommentAuthorianmacd
- CommentTimeJul 23rd 2010
That's the thing. If you go and see a band play support to another band, they'll typically play for 30 minutes; 45 if the headliner is very generous and local byelaws (i.e. performance curfew times) will allow it. On no account will they get to play for the length of time they would normally play if they were headlining.

At a festival, there's only one headliner per day (per stage): the final act of the day. If you've gone to see any of the bands who are not the last ones on, you can be virtually certain they're not going to play for as long as they would like.

Brendan wasn't the headliner at the gig in question, so he didn't get to dictate the terms of his performance and play for as long as he perhaps would have liked. But, as others have said, he most likely thought that was acceptable, because he'd get to put his music in front of some people who wouldn't otherwise be exposed to it. And, let's not forget, he was also paid to perform, and Brendan has a family to feed, just like the rest of us. It seems like a win-win for him.

The reason the shorter set wasn't communicated to fans is that it's assumed the fans know the score where festivals are concerned. I can understand why someone who didn't know this would be disappointed, but it's common knowledge and you'll know better next time.

At least Brendan will be headlining the Summer of Darkness in Utrecht next month, so it should be a full set there. If you can find yourself a ticket for that, come and spend a few days in Holland.
- CommentAuthorJedi
- CommentTimeJul 25th 2010
@ianmacd
Thanks for informations, man..:-)
I'll go there if I'll find the ticket, must hear of course :-), Saskia said they re sold out.
- CommentAuthorRaymond
- CommentTimeAug 14th 2010
I read/heard that the music in front of the Dome Church was poor. I can't believe that since I was on the right hand side (behind the soundsman) and there the sound was great! I really enjoyed Brendan in Utrecht and was quite overwhelmed by the music.
So I'm curious if anyone could tell me how it sounded in front of the stage?
- CommentAuthorSaskia
- CommentTimeAug 14th 2010
GREAT!! I could feel all my organs! ;)
- CommentAuthorVT800
- CommentTimeAug 14th 2010 edited
I was at the left side at the front ( second row) in the beginning the sound was poor but later on very good.
Thanks Brendan ( and the other member's of the band ofcourse) for the great evening.
- CommentAuthorianmacd
- CommentTimeAug 14th 2010
The problem was that it was too loud for people in the pews, because they were right in front of the PA. All those who were standing at the front or off to the sides didn't notice anything, because they weren't near the speakers.

When Brendan's sound engineer saw people clutching their ears, he turned the volume down somewhat.
- CommentAuthorSaskia
- CommentTimeAug 14th 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFJdFSEMooY Really like this video, as you can see the church... the organ in grey and the roof is on fire!! ;)
- CommentAuthorianmacd
- CommentTimeAug 14th 2010 edited
My audience recording of the Utrecht Domkerk concert is now up on DIME.

Here's my review of the gig, which accompanies the torrent:

This was my seventh gig of Brendan's Ark tour this year and the first to take place in my home country! How nice to be only 45 km removed from the venue for a change.

The family's summer holiday would have been longer by at least a week, had it not been for this gig. My long-suffering missus agreed to yet another personal sacrifice in order to allow me to attend this gig. It is truly appreciated, my dear!

The weather couldn't have been better. Utrecht was basking in gorgeous sunshine when my friend and I arrived. It was a perfect summer's day.

After a prearranged dinner with kindred spirits from Brendan's on-line forum, we all headed over to the Domkerk to await the opening of the church doors.

The Domkerk is a truly beautiful building, still very much in active use as a place of worship. Its atmopsheric interior formed the perfect setting for Brendan's pensive music.

Tonight saw a different kind of flock gather in the pews, however. Brendan was headlining the first day of the Summer Darkness festival, something the organisers had wanted to have him do since the festival's inception.

With a capacity of 650 people, the venue was sold out. It was nice to see so many people turn out to see Brendan, and a far cry from some of the 100 person gigs earlier in the year.

The crowd were a sea of black; hardly surprising, given the nature of the festival. Some people must have spent the entire day in front of the mirror, preparing to be seen at their most vivid.

With this audience as resplendent as the church in which they had congregated, the scene was set. There was a sense of great expectation in the air, the atmosphere electric and laden with childlike excitement. This gathering were surely no less faithful than the flock that assemble here on a Sunday morning. We, too, were here to be edified, fulfilled and give praise.

Initially, we had all politely filed along the pews, but once we were neatly seated, one of the organisers announced that we were free to desert the pews and stand in front of the stage. Well, he didn't need to repeat himself. We quickly scuttled to the front and I took up position just a couple of metres back from the front of the stage.

The pews would have been less than ideal, because they were situated at 90 degrees to the stage, so a crick in one's neck would have been the likely result of spending the entire evening with one's head craned to the far left.

My new position also concerned me, however, because it placed me at some distance from the PA, which was way off to the side, next to the pews.

Unfortunately, there was no way to position myself in front of the PA without being so close as to risk worse sound than I was likely to get from this new position, not to mention that that vantage point would have been significantly worse for viewing the gig, which, let's face it, is what it's actually all about.

So, with the PA behind me and off to the side, I decided to simply hope for the best, sound-wise.

After a short introduction by the festival organiser, Brendan took to the stage. The first detail of note was that Rachel Haden had been replaced on bass by Rory O'Brien, whose name I may have misspelt.

The sound was crisp and clear throughout the frequency range, even from my vantage point. The people still seated in the pews, however, were initially shocked and awed by the high volume. As the drum intro to The Arcane kicked in, people could be seen clutching at their ears. When this was observed by the sound engineer, he mercifully adjusted the volume for them.

Since the last time I had seen Brendan, Tim Buckley's Song To The Siren had been added to the set. Gone were You Never Loved This City and Voyage Of Bran.

Song To The Siren was a particularly mesmerising rendition and I could quite happily have listened to it continue for another five minutes.

You could have heard a pin drop after the applause following each song died down. Every bleep from a mobile phone and every click of a camera's shutter swelled to an obtrusive level. The audience were remarkably reverential and appreciative, united in their appreciation of this man's music.

As usual, it seemed to end upon beginning, but an immense, palpable sense of satisfaction pervaded the air afterwards. Brendan had quite literally thrilled us all.

This was, perhaps, the best of the seven gigs I've seen him play this year. The combination of venue and audience anticipation was unparalleled, I think, and the fact we were allowed to stand created a much greater sense of intimacy than had been present at, for example, the Union Chapel, which is otherwise also an atmospheric venue.

As always, this recording is being released with no mastering, other than fades at the beginning and end. You're hearing it exactly how I did.

The sound quality is excellent, but quite different to my other recordings from this tour. The cavernous Domkerk gives the recording a very spacious sound, perhaps even greater than that of the Union Chapel recording. As such, I recommend listening to this recording even if you have downloaded others of mine from this tour.

There are few opportunities remaining to see Brendan live this year. Do what you can to get yourself to a gig.
- CommentAuthorcraig
- CommentTimeAug 16th 2010
Fantastic review, Ian. You've captured the atmosphere perfectly.

And how loud was that snare drum at the beginning of The Arcane!
- CommentAuthorianmacd
- CommentTimeAug 17th 2010
The Summer Darkness site has put up some fantastic photos of the Utrecht gig.

Even if you weren't there, you should check these out, because they're great photos of our man playing live and there are some beautiful shots of the church, too.
- CommentAuthorsummoningofthemuse
- CommentTimeAug 17th 2010
Wonderful photos...thanks for the link, Ian.
- CommentAuthorsalehliam
- CommentTimeAug 17th 2010
Wow!
- CommentAuthorXaviersPrayer
- CommentTimeAug 17th 2010
Excellent photos!
- CommentAuthorianmacd
- CommentTimeAug 19th 2010 edited
Check out the photo link again, because more photos have been added.

The last photo on page 3, as well as all of pages 4 and 5, are new.
- CommentAuthorAkumasama
- CommentTimeAug 24th 2010
My my... look at those pics! Thanks Ian! :)
- CommentAuthorDelva
- CommentTimeAug 24th 2010
Amazing pics of the church! oh and Brendan looks as good as ever... just goes to show that style and content CAN be united ;-)

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