From: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org (avalon-digest) To: avalon-digest@smoe.org Subject: avalon-digest V10 #134 Reply-To: avalon@smoe.org Sender: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk avalon-digest Friday, June 10 2005 Volume 10 : Number 134 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [AVALON] Barnhurst Roxy Fan [Keith Mackenzie-ingle ] [AVALON] KoKo ["Arnold Schulberg" ] Re: [AVALON] KoKo [Colleen Matan ] [AVALON] Re: concert at koko [MarlanaK@webtv.net (M.M.K.)] [AVALON] (no subject) [Mikejhallett@aol.com] [AVALON] La vida Koko ["Guy Lawley" ] RE: [AVALON] Re: concert at koko ["Bermudez" ] RE: [AVALON] Re: concert at koko ["Bermudez" Subject: [AVALON] Barnhurst Roxy Fan If you live in Barnhurst, went to Koko last night and spent the journey from Charing Cross talking to a Mackay fan from Welling complete Mao jacket (circa Mackay 1979), please contact me on this address so we can keep in touch for future gigs (?) Hope to hear from you, Stabbs MacKenzie ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 08:57:59 +0100 From: Bahi Para Subject: Re: [AVALON] KOKO Set List >The band were: Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera, Andy MacKay, Paul >Thompson, Chris Spedding, Guy Pratt, Julia Thornton, David Williams, >Sarah Brown, Michelle John. > >Nota bene no Avalon. No Avalon, true - well spotted. Missing from the above list of players are Louise Peacock, doing the honours on violin and Colin Good on keyboards, though Ferry did a fair bit himself. I absolutely loved the gig - special thanks to John O'Brien, without whose message I wouldn't have heard about the concert. Those who've followed the band around the country and perhaps around the world in the last few years may be disappointed with the set list (not all that different to what has been seen before) and the absence of newly written material (though it was great to hear Prairie Rose, Pyjamarama and The Bogus Man) but the band was completely convincing, looking and sounding totally into it again. During the second half in particular, Ferry was on fire, absolutely belting out things like Editions and Virginia Plain. (Even Jealous Guy seeemed to come to life.) Amazing. I went with an old friend who had never seen Ferry or Roxy live before and who came away surprised and delighted. If the performance was representative of the spirit behind the new album, I so look forward to the results. B ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 09:55:07 -0400 From: "Arnold Schulberg" Subject: [AVALON] KoKo I heard that Roxy Music played a gig last night. Anyone know anything about this? :-D Arnie ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 15:34:14 -0400 From: Colleen Matan Subject: Re: [AVALON] KoKo Quoting Arnold Schulberg : > I heard that Roxy Music played a gig last night. Anyone know anything about > this? :-D It appears that smoe.org was down last night and a good part of today too. Colleen ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 15:26:15 -0500 From: MarlanaK@webtv.net (M.M.K.) Subject: [AVALON] Re: concert at koko Good hearing about the concert & the ones attending. I still don't see why Ferry thinks he needs the dancing girls. To much of a distraction in my opinion. Always, Marlana ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 16:32:27 EDT From: Mikejhallett@aol.com Subject: [AVALON] (no subject) I thought it was a fantastic gig last night and really enjoyed the venue - the aptmosphere was excellent with so many packed in although we had to watch from a cramped flight of stairs on the second tier - but great view. The after party was good too - disapointed that Bryan did not hang around too long and missed him - but met Andy, Phil, Chris and Colin Good and nice to have met John O'Brien for the first time. Have been an avid fan of Roxy / BF for 33 years and this is the closest I have got to them in all that time despite seeing them / him on 16 previous occasions. Ok yes the set list was as per usual in the main - but some real surprises thrown in aswell (at last). My only gripe was that BF must have known that the Koko audience were mainly a select set of supporters of his Music over a long period of time - yet he did not address us as such or offer any sort of appreciation - which on this special / "intimate" occasion I think he could have felt at ease to do. Regards Mike ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 22:03:05 +0100 From: "Guy Lawley" Subject: [AVALON] La vida Koko Bloody marvelous, wasn't it ??!!!!!! I didn't know it was possible (or indeed legal) to have so much fun on a Wednesday night. Before the gig I was telling myself (and pals) that I'd be disappointed if they didn't do some new, i.e. really new, songs from the new album. But the concert was so enjoyable that I didn't care in the end! Bogus Man and Pyjamarama were real treats. The former pretty well funked up and the latter transformed into a real stomper! Prairie Rose was, yes, OK, but seemed under-rehearsed or for some other reason failed to catch fire. The new lass on violin and keyboards is no Lucy Wilkins. Perhaps she will grow in confidence. From up on the balcony the sound was a bit questionable in places; dunno about down on the ground floor. And yes, the lighting was semi-competent at best! And no thanks at all, as ever, to the prats who talked through most, if not all, of the songs!! Why do people pay #30.00 to have a conversation they could have for free in a pub, with less strain on their vocal cords, and without compromising other people's enjoyment of a fine gig to boot? Still, a truly fabulous night out. I regret that I only managed to say hello to a couple of people in the queue (as I headed for the end about half a mile away) and failed to meet up again inside. Maybe next time! Guy ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 22:16:16 +0100 From: "Bermudez" Subject: RE: [AVALON] Re: concert at koko My first post- hope it works. I've been lurking for about 6 months, but I traveled to the Koko last night, with my daughter, thought I'd volunteer my tuppence of opinion... Phil's guitar was grossly under-mixed. His showcase at the end of Ladytron ("Try Out, Girl" to you and me), was all but inaudible on my right-side, 10-people back position. I felt silly watching him go berserk, but I couldn't hear it... just loads of bass, and The Great One pounding the crumbs out of the drums. Doubly ironic, then, that Spedding's showcase, at the end of My Only Love, was properly audible (and, did you notice, Chris actually LEVITATED THE ROOM during his solo?) It was yummy. I saw Chris play with Cale in, um, '87... Berkeley Square. Prairie Rose was such a wonderful surprise... it was definitely 'sonically challenged', but it was cute at the end, Bryan wandered off, nobody quite seemed to know how to end it, until Phil sheepishly wandered over to give the signal. Anybody tape it? Actually, I was equally chuffed hearing Chance Meeting... my daughter didn't know it, so I had to sing it to her after the show. Turns out, it's very easy to sing. I recommend you sing it to your daughter, too! The dancing girls were fine... visual candy, complimenting the rest. They looked very girl-next-door-ish, I feel. A feast for the eyes (I was close to the one on the right). I was greatly annoyed by many of those near me, how can you drop 30 quid on this, and then face the wrong way and converse with your friends through the non-hits? It was my first Roxy show (been a fan since early 80's, High School); Bryan was very impressive, the effortlessness of projecting his persona (or is it really him?), the interaction with Phil & Andy... It reminded me of my aggravation, reading in that recent biography that Bryan is awkward on stage. Such rubbish. He was perfect, just wonderful. How could anybody think that? Pete - -----Original Message----- From: owner-avalon@smoe.org [mailto:owner-avalon@smoe.org] On Behalf Of M.M.K. Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2005 9:26 PM To: Avalon@smoe.org Subject: [AVALON] Re: concert at koko Good hearing about the concert & the ones attending. I still don't see why Ferry thinks he needs the dancing girls. To much of a distraction in my opinion. Always, Marlana ________________________________________________________________________ ___ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 00:17:24 +0200 From: Daniel Atterbom Subject: RE: [AVALON] Re: concert at koko At 22.16 +0100 05-06-09, Bermudez wrote: >My first post- hope it works. I've been lurking for about 6 months, but >I traveled to the Koko last night, with my daughter, thought I'd >volunteer my tuppence of opinion... Welcome Pete. >Prairie Rose was such a wonderful surprise... it was definitely >'sonically challenged', but it was cute at the end, Bryan wandered off, >nobody quite seemed to know how to end it, until Phil sheepishly >wandered over to give the signal. It would please Gene if they did the whole Country Life album. >Anybody tape it? Then it will be treed here. >Actually, I was equally chuffed hearing Chance Meeting... my daughter >didn't know it, so I had to sing it to her after the show. Turns out, >it's very easy to sing. I recommend you sing it to your daughter, too! It's one of my fave Roxy tracks actually. Since Ferry played on one of his latter solo tours he must like it too. How old is your daughter? >It was my first Roxy show (been a fan since early 80's, High School); >Bryan was very impressive, the effortlessness of projecting his persona >(or is it really him?), the interaction with Phil & Andy... It reminded >me of my aggravation, reading in that recent biography that Bryan is >awkward on stage. Such rubbish. He was perfect, just wonderful. How >could anybody think that? Roxy is rather rehearsed and not a very spontanious band.They are not like other bands that change the setlist on a whim, nor is Ferry an entertainer or a stand-up comedian. For some it's not enough that he's a rather good singer. My two euros - -- Daniel ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 23:58:19 +0100 From: "Bermudez" Subject: RE: [AVALON] Re: concert at koko Thanks for the welcome, Daniel, I've really been enjoying this group, seems like a nice balance of personalities >It would please Gene if they did the whole Country Life album. Well, sure. Or all of Stranded. Or Siren. Or FYP. Or.... even Avalon would've been fun... Chance Meeting... Ferry played on one of his latter solo tours he must like it too. How old is your daughter? She's 16, I've been shoving Roxy at her since, well, ALWAYS. All day, yesterday, she was saying (dreamily), "I get to see BRYAN tonight." Yes, I'd forgotten he'd done Chance Meeting 'recently'... but it's really an Andy song, I think. I enjoy my concerts cacophonous, so it was most welcome. >other bands that change the setlist on a whim, nor is Ferry an >entertainer or a stand-up comedian. For some it's not enough that >he's a rather good singer. In general, I agree, but it's a question of degrees, a matter of perspective. If you've been watching, say, Van Morrison (as I have recently), Bryan is a regular, uh, Billy Connolly or something in comparison. Van is a Classic Rock Vocalist, but that's all you get... when he's not sputtering and crooning, he's glaring at you, or looking away in indifference, The difference is, I think, Bryan is very interested in the visuals, he'd probably like to focus on them even more than he does. (Hence my approval of the dancing girls, I think it's great that a Roxy show can still, in 2005, have that level of camp) As for spontaneity, I think Phil can surprise... it may be rehearsed, sure, but he is capable of locking into a tone... I love the slash 'n' burn sound he used to get in The Thrill Of It All, like on the Stockholm 76 show. ________________________________________________________________________ ___ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 16:42:51 -0700 (PDT) From: Johnny Reece Subject: [AVALON] Couldn't sleep a wink last night... My thirty-four quids worth : Funny thing is, I always knew that Roxy Music were the only band in the world where I'd stand for five hours for, waiting, and it would be worth it. Biased ? Yes. 4pm was when a bunch of us took our places outside the venue, to be toasted and sunbaked until 7o'clock when they let us loose to run around a venue where it was easier, just for a few seconds, to fall down (or up) darkened stairways than actually reach the stage. Sometimes this has to be done - a place at absolute front stage between messrs Ferry and Mackay was at stake, so these sacrifices have to be made. I was asked a strange question, minutes before Roxy Music took the stage, which was this : "On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your anticipation and excitement now, compared to the seconds counting down before Dublin, 2001" ? I answered, "2". I was asked the same question after hearing The Bogus Man. I answered "8". What a difference some songs make. And so it was, Roxy Music sauntered on to a tiny stage some 30 minutes (fashionably ?) late, 4 years exactly, to be sure, after the aforementioned Dublin gig (give or take 24 hours) to open with Re-make/Re-model. By the time WMHISB began a couple of songs later, as much as I was enjoying seeing Roxy rather than just Ferry, I was concerned. Was this going to be a run through of an oh so familiar 2001 setlist ? Into 'Out Of The Blue' and it was getting better, the band were settling down, and I comforted myself that there must be some long lost songs, somewhere. Surely ? Louise did a fine almost note for note job at the end of OOTB. Not a spark of emotion, though. We all were rather spoiled by Lucy Wilkins, I think. She is an impossible act to follow on this number (and others too). Chance Meeting followed, and you could physically touch the relief in the air of the gathered cognoscenti - something different ! It'll need some work though - it was an absolute mess. But we'll forgive that, it was a bit of a warm-up, after all. Into Prairie Rose, oh sure, under rehearsed, but an absolute joy to hear. Even more important, something present in this song which had been sadly missing for many, many years. Bryans voice at absolute full throttle. Fabulous. I genuinely thought he didn't have it in him any more. Boy, was I wrong. They take me up to the highs, and then plunge me to the lows. Imagine following that with 'Oh Yeah' ! My Only Love was next, much better with Sarah Brown back in the band, rather than the 2 singers BF used a-la Frantic tour. Both Ends Burning was a stomper. Did someone turn up the mikes on TGPTs kit, btw ? A grand idea. Makes me wonder how on earth we put up with ol' poodle face noodling Newmark on the sticks in Roxy's 'final' years, early 80s. It's TGPT that holds this band together. As for the dancers, I'm beginning to notice a male/female divide on this, for the most part. I loved them. A lot of the girls in the audience didn't. And I do think they add something. A bit of sparkle, and that's it. Nothing wrong with that. Other bands could do something similar, and it'd be tacky. With Roxy, it's not. It's great. It's classy. It's sexy. It's a brief showbizzy sparkly aside - not too little, not too much. Just absolutely right. Tara was next. Hmmm. 4 years back, this was an emotional, wonderful triumph, that did (and I honestly don't exaggerate here) at times just take your breath away. Unfortunately, this was empty. And what's with Spedding on Spanish ? Doesn't work. No, this, for me, was all about the musical spark between Andy and Lucy, and it will forever remain that way for me. Yes, we were spoiled, as I said earlier. Replace it with Your Application's Failed, please. That would be fun. Can you imagine the cheer that would go up when TGPT uttered his immortal line ? Dream Home came close to what I remember from the early 70s gigs. Much darker, eerie, something sinister lying beyond. Marvellous. It was that sort of feel that made Roxy so different all those years ago, so strange, so untouchable, so... Roxy ! I'm not sure if the intro to A Song For Europe was bungled a bit, or one of the musicians wasn't ready or something, but it was beginning to feel like it matched the 5 hour wait for the band by the time the vocals started. Shorten it lads. As a whole though, this is always worth the wait for "Jamais, Jamais"... and then of course Andy at the end. Then I was hollering and shouting like... someone who should really know better. I'm sorry, I couldn't help it. The thundering drums into The Bogus Man pounded through us all. This was my highlight of the whole evening. I wanted it to go on for ages, ages, ages. There was just something about it, and Bryan's vocals on this were superb. And Julia was even more excitedly animated than usual (if that's possible). What did I say earlier about highs and lows ? Into Jealous Guy. There is something about this 'live' I love though, despite hearing it done 4 zillion times. It's TGPT at the end, as he attempts to break his kit, as it builds. Spoilt now though, by just a little too much wailing from the singers. Hold back just a tad, girls, if you please, you're drowning out the band. Whoah, up again, as the slow pounding began, and the unmistakable Musicladen and Viva ! type intro to Pyjamarama began. Fantastic. Second favourite of the night for me. Thirty-one years, and not too many miles from here, since I'd last heard Roxy perform this one. Marvellous to hear the audience singing along to this, too. "How could I apologiii-ii-ii-se" in full chorus (and in tune, too) from the gathered devotees. The crescendo of cheers that went up at the end of this (and at the end of The Bogus Man, too) could not fail to be noticed by Bryan and co. Take note lads, some songs have been absent for far too long, eh ? By this time we were all baying for Beauty Queen, the chant for the song coming up between almost every number. We have to tell them, you know. We do know best. With 3 guitarists up there, I had a faint hope too, for All I Want Is You, but sadly this was not to be, either. Maybe another time. Ok, back to the plot. Following Pyjamarama, into Virginia Plain, and one of the loudest replies to "What's Her Name"? that I've heard for quite a while. We were into party mode. Then Editions, Drug, Strand. No surprises there, but marvellous none the less. I have to keep reminding myself that a lot of people - the highest percentage, in fact - go to gigs like this to only hear the songs that I don't particularly want to. And vice versa. But that's fine. It's only when I win the lottery and hire Roxy Music for a private party that I'll probably get the exact setlist that I want. I'll let you know when it happens, ok ? Phil loved it, grinning throughout. Andy was on marvellous form. Bryan, happy, laughing, smiling, and doing even more bizarre dancing like a drunk father would after having sunk a few at his daughters wedding. But in a cool way, of course. And TGPT, the man who holds the greatest band in the world together. Where would they be without you ? Criticisms ? No, but a reminder to Mr Ferry, if you don't mind, that it's not just Paul Thompson up there. It's the GREAT Paul Thompson, thank you very much. To summarise, at the start of the evening my hope was for a revitalised Roxy Music. I got it. I wanted to hear 3 or 4 'different' songs to 2001. I got it. I wanted confirmation that Roxy Music were indeed recording a new Album together. I got it. I was looking forward to meeting up again with my Roxy buddies from far and wide, from the UK, USA, Netherlands, wherever. I got it. I hoped Bryan's voice would have some of the power back, which seemed to be absent for the last few years. I got it. Roxy Music are back. Get it ? Reecey... . . . . Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 17:13:25 -0700 (PDT) From: Joel Hurd Subject: Re: [AVALON] Couldn't sleep a wink last night... - --- Johnny Reece wrote: > To summarise, at the start of the evening my hope was for a > revitalised Roxy Music. > I got it. Great review! > I hoped Bryan's voice would have some of the power back, which seemed > to be absent for the last few years. > I got it. Cool! I hope some of that gutsiness (as found in Whirlwind/ITIS) will be present in some songs on the forthcoming studio album! - ---joel > > Roxy Music are back. > > > Get it ? > > > > > > Reecey... __________________________________ Discover Yahoo! Have fun online with music videos, cool games, IM and more. Check it out! http://discover.yahoo.com/online.html ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 08:33:22 +0100 From: "MICHAEL FERGUSON" Subject: RE: [AVALON] La vida Koko Hi Everyone It's been a while... I've rejoined the group after a couple of years "lurking", and the first thing I ask... a favour! Cheek!!! I spent the evening of the Koko gig in hospital with my father who had a stroke - the important thing is that he has recovered. Did anyone record the show? Any chance of a copy? I'd gladly swap for anything I have (mostly old live material) and I promise not to mention fox-hunting again!!!! Best wishes Mike mjferguson@blueyonder.co.uk ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ End of avalon-digest V10 #134 ***************************** ======================================================================== For further info, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: info avalon-digest