From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V9 #142 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Thursday, May 22 2003 Volume 09 : Number 142 Today's Subjects: ----------------- RE: Letter to the Chronicle, Gabriel Yacoub ["William Mazur" ] MATRIX, BUFFY, DVD questions about DUE SOUTH and DARK ANGEL. (no spoilers) [irvin lin ] Eleni Mandell "live" in London [adamk@zoom.co.uk] Re: Eleni Mandell "live" in London [AzeemAK@aol.com] Re: Eleni Mandell "live" in London [adamk@zoom.co.uk] HR House Concert Update [Kosterhaudt@aol.com] RE: new delirium album [Jason Gordon ] Re: MATRIX, BUFFY, DVD questions about DUE SOUTH and DARK ANGEL. (no spoilers) [Alan Subject: RE: Letter to the Chronicle, Gabriel Yacoub Excellent! Passionate, well written and the truth. I respect Joel Selvin. He has been a good critic over the years. I hope that he takes your response to heart. - -----Original Message----- From: owner-ecto@smoe.org [mailto:owner-ecto@smoe.org] On Behalf Of Noe Venable Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2003 9:45 PM To: Ecto Subject: Letter to the Chronicle, Gabriel Yacoub Thought other Ectophiles might relate to a letter I wrote to Joel Selvin of the SF Chronicle regarding his recent article about the SF music community, or lack thereof. Also 'cause I mentioned Happy's recent house concert. :) Joel's article was basically about local music, but the issues that responding to it raises seem pretty indicative of music at large. It's on the long side so I'll just post a link... http://noevenable.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=52&sid=bde7b53c8f5a4b69c6948ece 7f96a225 Of course, in the case of Ecto, most of what I said will sound like preaching to the choir, but there you have it. BTW, I went to the Gabriel Yacoub concert at Freight and Salvage on the recent Ecto recomendation, and I loved it. He's quickly becoming one of my favorite songwriters. Thanks for the tip! Noe V. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 May 2003 03:00:04 -0400 (EDT) From: Mike Matthews Subject: Today's your birthday, friend... i*i*i*i*i*i i*i*i*i*i*i *************** *****HAPPY********* **************BIRTHDAY********* *************************************************** *************************************************************************** ********************* Yngve Hauge (no Email address) ********************** *************************************************************************** -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- - -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Yngve Hauge Fri May 21 1971 Gemini Lisa Laane Tue May 22 1973 Gemini Jewel Kilcher Thu May 23 1974 The Gem Chandra Sriram Thu May 27 1971 Gemini Taina Sahlander Mon May 28 1973 Gemini Urs Stafford Thu May 31 1973 Give Way Perttu Yli-Krekola Thu June 02 1966 Kaksoset Alex Gibbs Thu June 08 1967 Betelgeuse Gleb Zverev Tue June 09 1964 Gemini Sonja Juchniewich Mon June 10 1963 Pegasus Joerg Plate Mon June 12 1967 Gemini Chris Montville Tue June 13 1978 Gemini Ectoplasm (original name) Mailing List Thu June 13 1991 Fuzzier blue Paul Huesman Wed June 14 1967 coffee drinker Mark R. Susskind Wed June 15 1966 Gemini Dave Upham Sun June 15 1958 Gemini Mike Matthews Mon June 16 1969 Pr. SAFH Albert Philipsen Mon June 17 1968 Gemini Neal R. Copperman Thu June 17 1965 Gemini Susan Kay Anderson Tue June 17 1969 Gemini Ecto-The Mailing List Tue June 18 1991 Fuzzy blue Tracy Barber Mon June 18 1956 Gemini Greg Dunn Thu June 18 1953 + Paul Blair Thu June 18 1964 Objectivist Mike Connell Sat June 18 1955 Apollo David Lubkin Fri June 20 1958 OurLady Marisa Wood Fri June 20 1969 Gemini Cheri Villines Sun June 20 1965 Gemini-Leo rising Ray Misra Sat June 20 1970 Gemini - -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 May 2003 00:51:17 -0700 From: irvin lin Subject: MATRIX, BUFFY, DVD questions about DUE SOUTH and DARK ANGEL. (no spoilers) Um yeah, I actually found the new MATRIX RELOADED a bit of let down too (did someone say they thought it was boring? I wouldn't call it boring, just a let down). I was expecting a movie with more layers (like the first one) and instead I felt like I was watching a video game. The fight scenes (though a bit too CGI for me) were admittedly quite nice eye candy, but the plot lacked, and that whole ZION DANCE/SEX SCENE was incredibly useless. That should have been a DVD only "deleted scene" if you ask me. Granted the movie is just the first half of what is suppose to be one long movie, so I shouldn't judge it too harshly but for me, it seemed so damn transitional, a movie really there, just to set up the third and final one. I guess TWO TOWERS was that way too, but whatever the book was that way so what can you do? I'll withhold judgement until I see MATRIX REVOLUTIONS I guess. And did anyone find the "teaser trailer" for MATRIX REVOLUTIONS that came after the credits useless too? Almost not worth waiting through the entire credits for that. That said, knowing my boyfriend, I'll probably go and see it at least one more time. Just to see the fight scenes and to try and figure out where and what they are leading to, for MATRIX REVOLUTIONS. On a different note, even though I have STRONGLY disliked the past two seasons of BUFFY, I've been super depressed with the airing of the finale and the subsequential realization that there will be no more BUFFY. The OBVIOUS ode to season one where BUFFY, XANDER and WILLOW turn away from GILES and walk down the school hallway alone just made me pine away for the more innocent, better scripted HIGH SCHOOL BUFFY. *sigh* Oh sure sure, there will probably be some sort of spin off in a couple of years (maybe the RIPPER show, maybe something else) and there's always ANGEL with the possibility of BUFFY character guest shots. But in the end I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my TUESDAY's. *sigh* at least I'll get my ELIZA DUSHKU fix with TRU CALLING on THURSDAY'S (though I give it 12 episodes, after all it's on against FRIENDS and WILL AND GRACE). Guess I'll have to start watching GILMORE GIRLS. Something I only really caught when BUFFY was on rerun. I wonder if they plan on putting that show out on DVD anytime soon. I pretty much watch all my TV on DVD nowadays (just got SEX IN THE CITY S4 today! Thanks boyfriend!) Speaking of TV on DVD's - a quick question to all you DUE SOUTH fans. I've never seen the show, but have heard quite a lot about it (from both people on this list, and elsewhere) and I recently found out that season one is available on DVD. I was told that it DOES NOT include the pilot episode which was filmed separately as a made for TV movie. Can anyone tell me if this pilot episode is available for DVD (I can't seem to find info on it's availability other than it is available on VHS) or if there are plans for it to come out on DVD? Is it important to watch the pilot, or can you just start out with the TV show and watch it and understand the premise that way? And is the show worth getting on DVD (would I watch the shows over and over, or is it more something that I would watch once and then not really care to watch again - like 24?). Oh and the same question goes for the DVD set of DARK ANGEL. Is this a show that someone could watch again and again, or it sort of a show that you would watch once, and then move on from. And does anyone know when FIREFLY's DVD set is coming out? Thanks Irvin ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 May 2003 09:31:40 +0100 From: "Mike Gray" Subject: re: new delirium album Hi, [first time poster.. eek] Nice to see Nerina Pallot on the list of vocalists. As I'm sure most people don't know who she is - she released an album entitled "Dear Frustrated Superstar" on Polydor UK a couple of years back now which I thought was a stunning record. However, Polydor in their infinite wisdom decided to withdraw the album during an arena support tour with Bryan Adams on the promise of re-issuing it, and never did and then dropped her because of lack of sales. (This, I believe, is what they call 'record company logic') However, according to Matt Chamberlain's web-site, she's currently recording with him so presumably she has a new deal, which is really good news. If you can find a copy of Dear Frustrated Superstar, it's well worth checking out. Now I just have to conjure up the money to buy an album for one song. ;) Mike ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 May 2003 10:32:16 +0100 From: adamk@zoom.co.uk Subject: Eleni Mandell "live" in London I dunno, maybe I'm getting too old for the 12-Bar. I forget that the shows always go on so late there, but so do the staff. Assured that the doors opened at 7, I hung around them for almost an hour before they did. Things started out well: Merri May Gill, a beaming, cheery Australian, took to the stage with a guitar and charmed me out of my socks with her wry tales and amusing songs, (interspersed with the odd bleak piece for balance). At first, I thought "Oh, she's just light entertainment", but her enthusiasm was infectious, and she actually made me laugh out loud. She also had the best line of the night: As she wound up her set she thanked us all for supporting live music --- "If it wasn't for you guys...I'd have a job". The evening came crashing down to the ground with the next support act, a man who had decided his future lay in the wastelands where performance art meets cheesy cabaret. Behind his gadgets and gimmicks (constant backing tracks  was it live or Memorex?  sound effects, a smoke machine, a feather-filled sombrero, a variety of instruments) was a mediocre performer, and at one point I could only think "I'm watching a man dance to his own backing tracks with chicken feathers in his hair". Then came the main event: Eleni Mandell took the stage. Actually, that makes it sound dramatic, and it wasn't. She skulked onstage. I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt, here and say...it may well have been an imposter. It's the only explanation for the chasm that was to open up between expectations and performance. Following the direction of her new album, it was mostly a country set, which resulted in song after song of steel-peddle sludge, all at mid-tempo to dead crawl. Eleni Mandell sulked around the microphone stand, face blank, eyes weary. Her voice wandered in and out of tune, and she radiated all the raw energy of a wet dishcloth. Halfway through the set, she announced she had laryngitis. I'm no doctor, but I had no idea laryngitis could drain someone of absolutely all trace of personality or presence. The show ground on its weary way, like Patsy Kline on valium, and at no time did she display anything approximating life, intelligence, verve or commitment. She looked, for all the world, as if she were there only under duress, staring out at us or up at the ceiling with  at best -- bovine indifference. I can honestly say I have never been so bored or so disappointed in my life. After she'd finally wandered morosely offstage, I left but stopped to buy a cd, Snakebite  the one that had piqued my interest originally. Just to make sure I wasn't completely crazy. I might even listen to it. Thanks, Eleni  hope we didn't keep you up too late. Adam K. - ------------------------------------------------ This mail sent through http://webmail.zoom.co.uk ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 May 2003 06:33:54 EDT From: AzeemAK@aol.com Subject: Re: Eleni Mandell "live" in London In a message dated 21/05/2003 10:33:45 GMT Daylight Time, adamk@zoom.co.uk writes: << The evening came crashing down to the ground with the next support act, a man who had decided his future lay in the wastelands where performance art meets cheesy cabaret. Behind his gadgets and gimmicks (constant backing tracks  was it live or Memorex?  sound effects, a smoke machine, a feather-filled sombrero, a variety of instruments) was a mediocre performer, and at one point I could only think "I'm watching a man dance to his own backing tracks with chicken feathers in his hair". >> Ah well, Adam, horses for courses, innit? I thought Jake Rodrigues was great! While undoubtedly cheesy, there was a demented edge to his performance that I found rather refreshing. I'm not crazy about the practice of live performers using backing tracks/tapes, but you might concede that he did it in quite an inventive way - I certainly thought he did, throwing in all sorts of bizarre samples, not to mention some great vocal harmonies. And not all of his songs involved the use of backing tracks: I loved the one about how to build an atom bomb at home, set to a mournful country blues guitar-picking tune. And you say he's a mediocre performer: well, matter of opinion and all that, but I strongly disagree, and think it only fair to mention the following: he played a LOT of different instruments, some of them exceedingly well. His harmonica playing was bloody good, as was his ukulele, accordion and guitar. He was quite handy on banjo, and it was a lovely touch to play a zither, an instrument I've hardly ever seen on any stage. His voice was strong too. Hard to believe that this decidedly eccentric performer has earned a crust as a member of Midge Ure's touring band! << Then came the main event: Eleni Mandell took the stage. Actually, that makes it sound dramatic, and it wasn't. She skulked onstage. I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt, here and say...it may well have been an imposter. >> You're a tough critic, Adam! I haven't seen her before, and so accept that this may have been a lacklustre gig by her normal standards. That said, I really enjoyed it. She wasn't that animated, true, and looked rather unengaged for the first few number. I would put this at least partly down to the insufferable racket coming from a group of drunken people upstairs (Jake Rodrigues had mentioned them too, and it was clearly annoying her band). Eventually a woman sitting near me stormed upstairs and told them all to piss off, which they did, and Eleni and her band looked happier after that. I think you're being uncharitable about her laryngitis: Jeez, cut the woman some slack, willya?? No wonder she sounded tentative, and wobbly at times (although I thought she sang very well despite this). She did explain that they would have normally played more uptempo stuff, so yes, the set wasn't very varied in pace. And you have obviously never suffered from laryngitis: it doesn't just give you the mother of all sore throats, but makes you feel generally lousy. This is not guaranteed to make anyone the heart and soul of the party. I thought she warmed up a little as the performance went on, and obliged the guy who called for an encore. She was perfectly cordial to me when I chatted to her briefly afterwards, so I think "bovine indifference" is a very unfair phrase. I also thought her band were pretty good, and her guitarist was excellent, especially on pedal steel. And Eleni herself played snaky nylon-strung rhythm guitar throughout, and could be seen swaying slinkily to the rhythm. I'd say she was as into it as she could be given her obvious physical discomfort and the noise coming from the gallery. That's my alternative view. Azeem in London NP: Tamara Williamson - The Arms Of Ed ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 May 2003 14:43:09 +0100 From: adamk@zoom.co.uk Subject: Re: Eleni Mandell "live" in London Yeah, okay, maybe I was overly harsh about Jake -- he played a LOT of instruments, but I still think it was hard to tell if he played any well (although I did like his ukelele bit). Sometimes he'd stop playing, and I'd realise that whatever he was playing was still thundering away on the backing track. As you say, horses for courses, but the question still remains: why would I want to watch some guy dancing (not terribly well) to his own pre-recorded music? With or without chicken feathers? As for Eleni -- yeah, I'm harsh, but I stand by it. (well, apart from the "bovine" bit -- that was an adjective too far). I've seen lots of people perform in various stages of health (hell, I've done it myself) but I've never seen anyone look quite as bored and fed up as Eleni. If she wasn't up to it, she shouldn't have done it. It's not like you need a lot of energy to fill a place that size, and she obviously couldn't even summon up that. She BARELY "obliged" the guy who asked for an encore, drifting back and muttering that she had no idea how they were going to do it (although yes, she did actually thank him for knowing one of her songs). the guys upstairs were idiots, absolutely: I thought they were here for her, and then they talked all the way through her songs, as well -- I'd love to know what that girl said to them to make them leave. But no, these are things you have to expect and rise to, ill health or not. Eleni did not. I didn't think she warmed up much at all, and swaying slightly at the microphone does not constitute a performance. yeah, I'm harsh, and yes I expect a lot for my measly six quid. I don't expect to be treated like an inconvenience! I've listened to Snakebite today -- not bad, but I still can't get that blank, bored face out of my head. I think I may have to put it away for a while. adam k. - ------------------------------------------------ This mail sent through http://webmail.zoom.co.uk ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 May 2003 13:18:21 EDT From: Kosterhaudt@aol.com Subject: HR House Concert Update Hi All, Just wanted to let you know that there are only about 4 or 5 spots left for the Happy Rhodes House Concert in Maple Shade, NJ on May 31st. Please contact me if you would like to attend. Thanks! Ken Osterhaudt Auntie Social Music www.auntiesocialmusic.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 May 2003 20:42:28 -0400 From: Jason Gordon Subject: RE: new delirium album Hey Mike, Welcome to the group - now that you've posted once you wont stop :) I actually picked up Nerina's album a few weeks ago - I am enjoying it a lot. One of the other vocalists from the upcoming Delerium (Jael) fronts a wonderful band called Lunik - I think it definately would appeal to many ecto-folk :) and now that it is released on Nettwerk, it is easier to track down than the swiss copy... - -Jason - -----Original Message----- From: owner-ecto@smoe.org [mailto:owner-ecto@smoe.org]On Behalf Of Mike Gray Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2003 3:32 AM To: ecto@smoe.org Subject: re: new delirium album Hi, [first time poster.. eek] Nice to see Nerina Pallot on the list of vocalists. As I'm sure most people don't know who she is - she released an album entitled "Dear Frustrated Superstar" on Polydor UK a couple of years back now which I thought was a stunning record. However, Polydor in their infinite wisdom decided to withdraw the album during an arena support tour with Bryan Adams on the promise of re-issuing it, and never did and then dropped her because of lack of sales. (This, I believe, is what they call 'record company logic') However, according to Matt Chamberlain's web-site, she's currently recording with him so presumably she has a new deal, which is really good news. If you can find a copy of Dear Frustrated Superstar, it's well worth checking out. Now I just have to conjure up the money to buy an album for one song. ;) Mike ------------------------------ Date: 22 May 2003 13:46:59 +0800 From: Alan Subject: Re: MATRIX, BUFFY, DVD questions about DUE SOUTH and DARK ANGEL. (no spoilers) On Wed, 2003-05-21 at 15:51, irvin lin wrote: > Speaking of TV on DVD's - a quick question to all you DUE SOUTH fans. I've > never seen the show, but have heard quite a lot about it (from both people > on this list, and elsewhere) and I recently found out that season one is > available on DVD. I was told that it DOES NOT include the pilot episode > which was filmed separately as a made for TV movie. The only source for this I have seen is in Canada and they do not list if it contains the pilot. I do not know of any other source for it on DVD at the moment. It is not well distributed in the states at the moment. Try amazon.ca for ordering. > Can anyone tell me if this pilot episode is available for DVD (I can't seem > to find info on it's availability other than it is available on VHS) or if > there are plans for it to come out on DVD? Is it important to watch the > pilot, or can you just start out with the TV show and watch it and > understand the premise that way? And is the show worth getting on DVD (would > I watch the shows over and over, or is it more something that I would watch > once and then not really care to watch again - like 24?). Due South can be watched without the pilot. It is quite good. > Oh and the same question goes for the DVD set of DARK ANGEL. Is this a show > that someone could watch again and again, or it sort of a show that you > would watch once, and then move on from. Season one and two are available from Amazon.com. > And does anyone know when FIREFLY's DVD set is coming out? As far as I know, no release date has been set. The UK Sci-Fi channel will be showing episodes starting May 18th, including the unaired episodes. - -- Alan ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V9 #142 **************************