From: owner-jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org (jangle-poets-digest) To: jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org Subject: jangle-poets-digest V5 #17 Reply-To: jangle-poets@smoe.org Sender: owner-jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk jangle-poets-digest Tuesday, March 4 2003 Volume 05 : Number 017 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [JP] Kennedys - Gandalf at PACE 2/28/03 [Nieldsforever@aol.com] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2003 20:26:38 EST From: Nieldsforever@aol.com Subject: [JP] Kennedys - Gandalf at PACE 2/28/03 From the Message Board at slambovia.com. Hi this is Stephen. My dad and I are doing this review together. We saw the Kennedys and Gandalf Murphy last Friday night at PACE, which is the Pioneer Arts Center of Easthampton. The venue was small and casual. My dad called it unpretentious. The emcee who was also the owner of the art space was obviously thrilled to have both of those bands play there. And for good reason, because this was a really great show. The Kennedys went on first: Life Is Large Didn't It Rain Down, Down, Down River of Fallen Stars Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring Get It Right Easy People Anna and the Magic Gown Guitar Jam after Anna When I Go Stand (Sharkey played the bass line on acoustic guitar, Tony on drums, Joziah and Tink sang background vocals on the end of the song) Encore: Sirens There are a couple things to mention about the Kennedys set. One thing is that Pete put on what my dad calls a guitar clinic. He had the audience eating out of his hand. Pete is a great showman, and Maura supports him very well for her own part. The two guitar magic which they weave is really hypnotic. My dad really felt that he was having a mystical experience. Maura was wearing a shirt with a sequin design that caught the light in such a way that it looked like a sun radiating light out into the audience. It was really tripping my dad out. In other shows that we have seen, the Kennedys have used lava lamps and other special lighting effects too. In short, my dad says the Kennedys are very psychedelic, and trip you out with both their music and their visuals. They often quote Jimi Hendrix, the Byrds, the Who, and the Beatles in their guitar jamming too. And who shared this twin bill with the Kennedys, but Gandalf Murphy! - who are also very psychedelic in their own way, and who are also deeply influenced by Hendrix, the Who, the Byrds, and the Beatles. My dad says that there could hardly be two bands better matched than the Kennedys and Gandalf Murphy. The vibes between the two bands and the audience were really amazing. When Gandalf Murphy joined the Kennedys on stage for the song "Stand", it was the first time I had ever seen the Kennedys play with a full band, and it was really fantastic. My dad says the Kennedys' full band gigs that he has seen over the years have all been killer with Pete on electric guitar. This is how my dad first saw the Kennedys at the Bottom Line with the Nields in May 1996. And my dad was totally blown away the very first time he ever saw the Kennedys. Gandalf Murphy full band gigs are really killer too and totally blow you away. Silent Revolution Sunday in the Rain I Wish Call to the Mystic Better Life High on a Hilltop Yodel Circus of Dreams Baby Jane Talking to the Buddha Already Broken Encore: Never Fit (with the Kennedys on background vocals and shakers) My dad loved hearing "Call to the Mystic" for the first time, and says he can't wait to hear it again. The country thing which they do so well was totally nailed with the twangy "High on a Hilltop." And "Buddha" as usual was amazing. We had been listening to "Court of the Crimson King" on the car ride to the show, so when Joziah tipped the hat to King Crimson in the intro to "Buddha," we knew exactly what he meant. Both of the combined numbers, "Stand" and "Never Fit" were nicely arranged and very impressive. Both the Kennedys and Gandalf Murphy have a kind of spiritual quality that comes through in both the lyrics and the music of their songs. "Stand" is about standing up for all that is good in all religious traditions: "Allah, Buddha, Yahweh, Jesus, Brahman... Many different legends, just one story, all aboard the train that's bound for glory" is the refrain - and the song is also about standing up for love generally. "Never Fit" is very inspirational too and in its own way comes across as almost a religious revelation, that the loyalty of friends is one of the most important things in life. Two great songs, two great bands, one unforgettable show. Besides my dad and Peter, Adam, April, and Bob were all at the show too. We were sorry we missed the Nields at Club Passim, but this was more than made up for by one of the best shows of the year, if not the century. My dad says, of the new millennium, for that matter! It totally rocked. We don't get to see the Kennedys as often as we would like, and we rarely get to see Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams. So this twin bill was like a double shot of the nectar of the gods, pure intoxication. Judging by the Kennedys and Gandalf Murphy grooving to one another's music and altering the mental spaces of this planet, the spirit of the Silent Revolution is already very much alive and kicking. I'm glad my dad helps me write all of these reviews, so he can explain all of this far-out and groovy stuff! :-) Stephen Palmatier Check out the Kennedys' Official Home Page: http://www.KennedysMusic.com/ Fab photos, the Official tour diary, dashboard Buddha haiku, groovy merchandise...what more could you ask for? ------------------------------ End of jangle-poets-digest V5 #17 *********************************