From: owner-trajectory-digest@smoe.org (trajectory-digest) To: trajectory-digest@smoe.org Subject: trajectory-digest V6 #10 Reply-To: trajectory@smoe.org Sender: owner-trajectory-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-trajectory-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk trajectory-digest Wednesday, May 29 2002 Volume 06 : Number 010 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Veda shows [Neal Copperman ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 28 May 2002 23:35:26 -0600 From: Neal Copperman Subject: Veda shows At 3:50 AM -0400 5/27/02, Emily wrote: >I call this a vague review because it's difficult for me to review songs >when I don't have names to attach to them, or simply can't remember their >names; You did a great job! >Time passes, and finally it's 7:45 and we're ushered into the auditorium; I >am immediately struck by how beautiful it is. The floors are hardwood; the >seats are a rich red color; the stage is on the same level as the floor; and >finally, I marvel at the fact that I am in the front row. Although I was not >fast enough to get a more central seat, I am sitting about thirty feet away >from Veda's piano and Rhodes (a modified keyboard/organ instrument) -- I think you were sitting next to us. I had the center seat. Neile and Jim were next to me. Then Damon and Keri. I think you must have been next. I think I saw you in the lobby, as you were probably the solo woman who arrived shortly after we did. My group was taking up much of the bench as we waited to be let in, and I was standing in front of that. Were you on the bench after the first turn (facing the door)? >She mentions that some people at the show are 'repeat offenders' >- -- they were at the show the night before -- and apologizes for the fact >that this show will be much the same. 'Oh, well, you come for the nuances.' We were all return offenders, and it was definitely worth it. The shows were essentially the same, but the second show struck me as a bit better then the first. Veda and band seemed more comfortable, and the sound was crisper. The sound between the two shows was actually kind of interesting. I think the first night was more dynamic/dramatic - more extreme. But the horns and guitar sometimes drowned out Veda's singing. The whole affect was quite powerful though. Veda's husband told us that the next night they adjusted some of the mic'ing to bring things into more even balance. You could really tell the difference. I think the dynamic range got reduced a bit, but Veda's parts were more prominant. I don't know if I'd say better, just different. The sets were roughly the same, with some reordering (apparently), but the encores were different. Also, on the second night, Veda played a little ditty called Happy Town that she didn't play the first night. I can come up with a full set list eventually, but from memory, first night encores included 26 years, Driven, um, something else fast (bellyfish? slumber queen? Both were played in the evening). Second night had the wildly reworked Precious Heart and Shamus and Stone. >(for all you fashion-oriented people) She's wearing a lovely >black dress with a rose on it; sheer black stockings with line patterns, and >plain black heels. She finishes the medley and I realize that this is going >to be an incredible show. Amusingly enough, the only variation in her outfit the two nights were her stockings. Also amusing, she felt the need to point that out! Her hair was less unique then usual, but still kind of funky. Sort of like a standard conservative hairdo, but twisted about 15 degrees, with cute, cockeyed bangs. >'birdsong' -- before this song Veda talked about how the show is being >recorded. She invited us to make bird sounds as she sang, and she mentioned >that some audience members got a bit too boisterious the previous night; >they were making chicken noises, which she felt were inappropriate, >considering the song's context. 'No farm bird noises!' And the >lighting for this song was dappled and green and cool. Very tranquil. Actually, it seems like what Veda really wanted was a modest amount of scattered bird noises. She didn't make that too clear either night, and the first night challenged the audience to surpass other audiences. Which they did (though no barn animals!), to the point that Veda stopped the song, laughing, saying she'd never heard so many birds before. Still, it seemed that both nights ended up with far more bird noises then (I thought) she wanted. >'The Williamsburg Bridge' -- Great rendition. This song was a particular highlight for me both nights. The new arrangement is really intense. >'INSTRUCTIONS' -- It started with Veda playing a quick, almost jarring piano >part and then the band came in. The song started to get loud at around >instruction #6 ('when you hear a mechanical instrument, think of a child >shrieking'). The intensity of 'clean the wound and take note of the metal' >gave me chills. By the end it was extremely powerful. I love how the band shouted out all the numbers as she worked through the song. Very cool. Full set lists eventually.... neal ------------------------------ End of trajectory-digest V6 #10 *******************************