From: owner-edheads-digest@efohio.com (edheads-digest) To: edheads-digest@smoe.org Subject: edheads-digest V7 #122 Reply-To: edheads@efohio.com Sender: owner-edheads-digest@efohio.com Errors-To: owner-edheads-digest@efohio.com Precedence: bulk edheads-digest Monday, August 30 2004 Volume 07 : Number 122 Today's Subjects: ----------------- RE: Great show at Wolf Trap! ["Jonathan Landry" ] RE: Great show at Wolf Trap! ["Jonathan Landry" ] Re: Great show at Wolf Trap! [Ody Granados ] Re: Great show at Wolf Trap! ["just joe" ] Re: Great show at Wolf Trap! [Will Foy ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 11:32:48 -0400 From: "Jonathan Landry" Subject: RE: Great show at Wolf Trap! Just to add my review. Just as back, I've been a fan of EfO for just a couple years. I picked up "Three Rooms" when it came out, along with "Portable EfO Show" and has hooked. This is only the second time I've seen them; I saw them at the Birchmere back during the three night run in November and I saw Robbie live at Jamin' Java back in May. Natalie MacMaster's set was incredible. I'd never heard anything by her, but I'd great things about her so I was looking forward to her set, and wasn't disappointed. Really entertaining, I'd love to see her at the Birchmere when she comes around again. I'm a huge fan of Fairport Convention, especially their ex-fiddler player, Dave Swarbrick, so it was cool when she did part of the "Lark of the Morning Medley" and "Dirty Linen" as part of one of her medleys. I echo pretty much what everyone else has said. I thought it was a good show, and I was entertained enormously. But, there were some issues. The sound was kind of muddy, like there was a wet blanket over everything. It was incredibly humid, which I know plays havoc with the sound, especially of acoustic instruments (which is why maybe Robbie played electric for as many songs as he did?). But, Natalie's set sounded incredible and crystal clear. There was, at least to me, a big difference in the sound between the two bands. There were definitely mic problems, especially during Mike's stage banter towards the beginning of the show (before "Quick"?) when he's mic kept dropping in and out. And there was one song when Julie's mic dropped out a couple times. But as the set went on, the mic issues seemed to get resolved, but there was still the wet blanket sound though. During "...Farmer Brown," did anyone else think Robbie's and Mike's guitars were too low in the mix? You could hear Eddie and the vocals just fine, but the guitars seemed too far back. And yes, the first couple songs, it did seem like the band, especially Julie, just wasn't into it yet. But that seemed to pick up after Quick. And maybe it is the fact that they're doing the songs for the nth time. Though, "Number 6 Driver" and "Stupid American" are fairly newer songs, aren't they? The new songs are great. They've definitely been played in since when I saw them back in November. I have to say, when I first heard Independence, Indiana when they performed it back in the fall, I didn't care for it. But it's growing on me. But, I think I prefer Robbie singing it to Julie. Nothing against Julie. Baltimore and Train Song with Natalie were good, but she didn't add as much as I hoped. During Train Song, she seemed like she didn't know when she should be playing. Which is natural, she's used to being the lead instrument, and when she's now backing someone else she doesn't want to step on anyone's toes. "Do I play when they're singing? What's the etiquette?" During "Train Song," it seemed like Robbie was trying to slow the tempo down a bit, and finally said, "I think we're playing the song a lot faster than Natalie anticipated." At that point, Mike and Eddie slowed the tempo down, and she added a lot more to the song. For Baltimore, Natalie and Robbie stood facing each other, probably so she could follow the chord changes. Like I said, it was good, especially when they probably had little chance to rehearse. But you tell there was hesitation on both Natalie and the band's behalf. Well, at least I thought so. There wasn't as much stage banter as usual, as someone pointed out. But, on the other hand, the Birchmere holds 500, and Jamin' Java holds like a hundred, so I suppose with Wolf Trap which holds, what? 5,000 people? There is a disconnect between the performer and the audience. I mean, with a smaller venue you can see the audience, nearly each individual person. But with a larger venue, you're playing to a mass of people. There probably isn't the desire to talk to a mass of people as much as when you can see the people. Just a thought. And the person who mentioned that for the biggest show of the year, it was a little underwhelming, I can kind of agree. I would have thought they'd play longer. When they went on around 9:25 or so, I figured with the 11:00 curfew, that's only about 90 minutes or so of playing. I mean, not that I was expecting a three hour Grateful Dead three set show, but I thought they'd play longer. But, that being said, they did play 17 songs. From the above review, it probably seems like I didn't like the show, but really, I did. There were just some issues. But, most of them where beyond their control, like the sound and equipment issues, and that goes hand and hand with live entertainment. In the end, I'd give the show a B and honestly, I'd rather see a band like EfO that changes its set list nightly, plays the songs in concert before they're put on album (instead of writing the album and touring to promote it), is constantly on the road, and is a live, touring, playing, writing new and fresh songs constantly type of band on an off night than a lot of bands that are out there right now. O.k., I've wasted enough of the morning. Back to work! - -----Original Message----- From: owner-edheads@efohio.com [mailto:owner-edheads@efohio.com] On Behalf Of just joe Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2004 12:05 PM To: edheads@efohio.com Subject: Great show at Wolf Trap! For those who weren't there: Natalie MacMaster was incredible. I'd never heard of her before, but she was worth the price of admission alone, esp. when she jammed with EFO during their set. Try to imagine a riverdancing fiddler who looks like a cross between Shirley Temple and Jewel... EFO started slow, imo. Julie didn't seem to be into the first few songs...she was singing them as if she was tired of the same old songs. There were also some sound issues...I've had that before at Wolf Trap; I had great seats--middle orchestra toward the rear--and somehow the sound wasn't quite right. Julie kicked it into high gear on "Great Day" (4th or 5th song in), and the sound problems went away shortly after. Having Natalie MacMaster join in on the Train Song was briliant; I hope the band recorded that for later release. Everything after that was golden--including Eddie's drum solo, and the new songs--and of course, the crowd went bananas when Joe strolled out. Tonight...too many choices...BB King is playing at Wolf Trap (Dr. John opening), and the unbelievable Buddy Guy is playing at Pier 6 (Robert Cray opening). I wish I didn't have so much work to do... Hope somebody enjoyed this. JJ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 12:04:46 -0400 From: "Jonathan Landry" Subject: RE: Great show at Wolf Trap! Cool, that's good information to know and would explain why there was such a difference in the sound between the two bands. Jonathan - -----Original Message----- From: Ody Granados [mailto:odyg@mcw.edu] Sent: Monday, August 30, 2004 12:00 PM To: Jonathan Landry Cc: edheads@efohio.com Subject: Re: Great show at Wolf Trap! Just a quick note on acoustics at Wolf Trap. Wolf Trap has their own sound engineer that understands the acoustics of Wolf Trap. Many time, bands bring their own sound guy and are not as familiar with the nuances of the shed as WT's own sound people do. Many times, the sound on the lawn is much better than the sound in the shed. This is because the lawn has its own sound man and sound board specifically for the lawn area. And since bands usually do not travel with two sound people, the lawn sound is almost always mixed by WT's own sound guy. WT gives every band the option of using their own sound man or providing a WT sound engineer. Many times bands feel that their sound man is better. That may be true but every shed is different and the nuances can wreak havoc on the audience. Just a quick FYI on WT's acoustics. Ody WT employee 1981-1996 - -- Ody Granados Director, IS Medical College of Wisconsin Department of Family & Community Medicine 414-456-8830 Voice 414-456-6523 Fax ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 11:00:24 -0500 From: Ody Granados Subject: Re: Great show at Wolf Trap! Just a quick note on acoustics at Wolf Trap. Wolf Trap has their own sound engineer that understands the acoustics of Wolf Trap. Many time, bands bring their own sound guy and are not as familiar with the nuances of the shed as WT's own sound people do. Many times, the sound on the lawn is much better than the sound in the shed. This is because the lawn has its own sound man and sound board specifically for the lawn area. And since bands usually do not travel with two sound people, the lawn sound is almost always mixed by WT's own sound guy. WT gives every band the option of using their own sound man or providing a WT sound engineer. Many times bands feel that their sound man is better. That may be true but every shed is different and the nuances can wreak havoc on the audience. Just a quick FYI on WT's acoustics. Ody WT employee 1981-1996 - -- Ody Granados Director, IS Medical College of Wisconsin Department of Family & Community Medicine 414-456-8830 Voice 414-456-6523 Fax ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 16:29:04 +0000 From: "just joe" Subject: Re: Great show at Wolf Trap! Wolf Trap must allow taping under some circumstances b/c 3 Rooms contained part of the 2002 Wolf Trap show. I'm sure that wasn't done "stealth"! So, I was hoping that whatever arrangements the band made for taping back then were in place for Sat. night. >From: Will Foy >Reply-To: Will Foy >To: edheads@efohio.com >Subject: Re: Great show at Wolf Trap! >Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 10:07:05 -0400 > >On Sun, 29 Aug 2004 13:18:49 -0400, Jack Mitchell > wrote: > > I know that Wolf Trap doesn't allow sound board taping, but was anyone able > > to do a recording from the audience? If so, you are going to post it to > > the internet archive, right? (In case you weren't sure, the correct answer > > to both of these is yes.) ;-) > >Jack et al... I would've, had I been allowed to, and if not for the >fact that I had park security all ringed around me, I would've done my >poor attempt at stealth recording it, since they didn't make me return >to the car with my gear... > >Wolf Trap has a long standing policy of not allowing taping. That >said, last summer, I went to see Bela Fleck and the Flecktones with >Keller Williams [ great show, fwiw ], and taped both sets to my >laptop. Unfortunately, when I was setting up, high on the lawn, well >out of any spectator's way, Park police approached and asked if I had >a "press" pass... Well, no, I've never thought of tapers as "press" >before, but I went to the press room over to the house right side of >the vending area, and spoke with a press coordinator, who asked me to >wait while he contacted his boss, the same Mr. Zimmerman who Robbie >referenced during the show, giving thanks for putting on such a great >venue. I won't scream sour grapes totally, b/c Wolf Trap does provide >a great atmosphere for performances. My main criticism is that he >wouldn't have Zimmerman speak to Bob, whom every EFO taper knows well, >and with whom I'd traded emails pre-show to get everything lined up. >He said that perhaps if I'd gotten something in writing pre-show, or >if he cared about building a relationship with me that he'd consider >allowing me to tape, but because my name wasn't Larry King, he really >didn't care. At least he was honest, if impolite and arrogant, and he >flatly refused to call backstage. This was about 45 minutes before >Natalie McMasters' set, but nontheless, he could've at least tried. >Would've taken only a couple of minutes, and would've given me a sense >of a "final" decision from the band, instead of what I believe is a >bad position of Wolf Trap taking fan-recording [ taping ] decisions >out of the hands of the artist. > >In all honesty, although I'm looking at a more stealth-friendly rig >based on a PDA instead of a laptop [ core-sound audio's pdaudio unit >combined with a decent iPaq and my existing mic's ], I would say that >officially speaking, Wolf Trap is NOT taper-friendly in any way, >although through an old taper contact, I do hope to gain some inroads, >and perhaps get them to look at letting it be a band decision and >getting it in writing or some such. I'm trying to keep an open mind, >look for a win-win way to get out of my anger at the way Wolf Trap's >staff handles taking an artist decision away from the artist [ which >was the impression I was left with ], and to try to seek first to >understand Wolf Trap's concept of why they choose to override an >artist's decision.... yeah, yeah, I've been reading Covey again >lately. > >Good 75-ish minute set though, and alas, it was not taped, unless Bob >got it. so that excellent Train Song and Baltimore featuring Natalie >McMasters wasn't taped, and thus, won't make it up to archive.org ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 12:58:26 -0400 From: Will Foy Subject: Re: Great show at Wolf Trap! That was an official recording done by the band, with probably a kicker of profits returned to the WTFoundation or somesuch. On Mon, 30 Aug 2004 16:29:04 +0000, just joe wrote: > Wolf Trap must allow taping under some circumstances b/c 3 Rooms > contained part of the 2002 Wolf Trap show. I'm sure that wasn't done > "stealth"! > > So, I was hoping that whatever arrangements the band made for taping back > then were in place for Sat. night. > > >From: Will Foy >Reply-To: Will Foy > >To: edheads@efohio.com >Subject: Re: Great show at > Wolf Trap! >Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 10:07:05 -0400 > >On Sun, 29 Aug 2004 > > > 13:18:49 -0400, Jack Mitchell > wrote: > > I > know that Wolf Trap doesn't allow sound board taping, but was anyone able > > > to do a recording from the audience? If so, you are going to post it > to > > the internet archive, right? (In case you weren't sure, the > correct answer > > to both of these is yes.) ;-) > >Jack et al... I > would've, had I been allowed to, and if not for the >fact that I had park > security all ringed around me, I would've done my >poor attempt at > stealth recording it, since they didn't make me return >to the car with > my gear... > >Wolf Trap has a long standing policy of not allowing > taping. That >said, last summer, I went to see Bela Fleck and the > Flecktones with >Keller Williams [ great show, fwiw ], and taped both > sets to my >laptop. Unfortunately, when I was setting up, high on the > lawn, well >out of any spectator's way, Park police approached and asked > if I had >a "press" pass... Well, no, I've never thought of tapers as > "press" >before, but I went to the press room over to the house right > side of >the vending area, and spoke with a press coordinator, who asked > me to >wait while he contacted his boss, the same Mr. Zimmerman who > Robbie >referenced during the show, giving thanks for putting on such a > great >venue. I won't scream sour grapes totally, b/c Wolf Trap does > provide >a great atmosphere for performances. My main criticism is that > he >wouldn't have Zimmerman speak to Bob, whom every EFO taper knows > well, >and with whom I'd traded emails pre-show to get everything lined > up. >He said that perhaps if I'd gotten something in writing pre-show, or > >if he cared about building a relationship with me that he'd consider > >allowing me to tape, but because my name wasn't Larry King, he really > >didn't care. At least he was honest, if impolite and arrogant, and he > >flatly refused to call backstage. This was about 45 minutes before > >Natalie McMasters' set, but nontheless, he could've at least tried. > >Would've taken only a couple of minutes, and would've given me a sense > >of a "final" decision from the band, instead of what I believe is a >bad > position of Wolf Trap taking fan-recording [ taping ] decisions >out of > the hands of the artist. > >In all honesty, although I'm looking at a > more stealth-friendly rig >based on a PDA instead of a laptop [ > core-sound audio's pdaudio unit >combined with a decent iPaq and my > existing mic's ], I would say that >officially speaking, Wolf Trap is NOT > taper-friendly in any way, >although through an old taper contact, I do > hope to gain some inroads, >and perhaps get them to look at letting it be > a band decision and >getting it in writing or some such. I'm trying to > keep an open mind, >look for a win-win way to get out of my anger at the > way Wolf Trap's >staff handles taking an artist decision away from the > artist [ which >was the impression I was left with ], and to try to seek > first to >understand Wolf Trap's concept of why they choose to override > an >artist's decision.... yeah, yeah, I've been reading Covey again > >lately. > >Good 75-ish minute set though, and alas, it was not taped, > unless Bob >got it. so that excellent Train Song and Baltimore featuring > Natalie >McMasters wasn't taped, and thus, won't make it up to > archive.org ------------------------------ End of edheads-digest V7 #122 *****************************