He did the Christine Aguilera song ('genie in a bottle'? - 'you gotta rub me up ther right way' in v. melancholic style), the 18th century sea-wife's lament, 'Winter', 'Matchbox Man', a new song which was really dirty - something about a girl that fit him like a glove, some others that I can't remember and then finished with Queens of the Stone Age: 'No One Knows'. Oh and a murder ballad...was it actually called 'axe mountain' or has my mind been tainted by Cunt Aunt Cunt Ant? A girl killing the killer of her family somewhere out across the moor. Great stuff.
He played some nice fingerpicking 6ths and 3rds along with the girl who was supporting (also a fingerpicker in 'Don't think twice it's all right' style) which was pretty even though I couldn't hear a word she was singing. Something about a 'mister customs man' and a few 'flower's in there...
Nice jokey form throughout the evening. The room wasn't too well soundproofed so we got strains of whatever bilge they were playing in the main downstairs area, especially when people walked in through the door.
He's too good for his own good if you ask me. He needs to invent a weak spot somewhere just to make the rest of us lame strugglers feel better about ourselves. There were points where wide-eyed appreciation started to tip over into homicidal urges for me - not a healthy performer/audience relationship to indulge
He only had copies of the new live album, so I guess I'll have to buy the studio one off the internet after all.
I still have to say, that even at his very worst, John Martyn live is still better than PJ at their very best, and obviously I love PJ. Have you seen the Big Fella live?
even at his very worst, John Martyn live is still better than PJ at their very best, and obviously I love PJ. Have you seen the Big Fella live?
That's quite some assertion! I only bought 'Solid Air' about 6 months ago, so no, I've not had the pleasure of judging for myself. That video you posted a while back of 'May You Never' was pretty awe-inspiring though. Great vocal style. I thought he was blind for a long time too (the two observations may not be related - I reserve my rights). I missed the obvious opportunity of seeing both him and JS on the same bill. Foolish, huh?
I thought he was blind for a long time too (the two observations may not be related - I reserve my rights). I missed the obvious opportunity of seeing both him and JS on the same bill. Foolish, huh?
Jeez, he got rather 'portly' over the years didn't he?
I like delay pedal stuff as a general rule: such a revelation when you first plug into one and happen upon the right rhythm that sets it chugging along on its own accord. Was he doing some tapping with his left index finger on the fret board (using the middle to pick out a harmonic) or was it my imagination?
I used to have a Watkins Copicat. Temperamental bugger, it was. It looked just like this, with tape running in a band around the heads. When I had it, though, I was only about fifteen, and I mainly used it for making Interstellar Overdrive-type noises and space farts, because I couldn't play for shit:
Comments
He did the Christine Aguilera song ('genie in a bottle'? - 'you gotta rub me up ther right way' in v. melancholic style), the 18th century sea-wife's lament, 'Winter', 'Matchbox Man', a new song which was really dirty - something about a girl that fit him like a glove, some others that I can't remember and then finished with Queens of the Stone Age: 'No One Knows'. Oh and a murder ballad...was it actually called 'axe mountain' or has my mind been tainted by Cunt Aunt Cunt Ant? A girl killing the killer of her family somewhere out across the moor. Great stuff.
He played some nice fingerpicking 6ths and 3rds along with the girl who was supporting (also a fingerpicker in 'Don't think twice it's all right' style) which was pretty even though I couldn't hear a word she was singing. Something about a 'mister customs man' and a few 'flower's in there...
Nice jokey form throughout the evening. The room wasn't too well soundproofed so we got strains of whatever bilge they were playing in the main downstairs area, especially when people walked in through the door.
He's too good for his own good if you ask me. He needs to invent a weak spot somewhere just to make the rest of us lame strugglers feel better about ourselves. There were points where wide-eyed appreciation started to tip over into homicidal urges for me - not a healthy performer/audience relationship to indulge
He only had copies of the new live album, so I guess I'll have to buy the studio one off the internet after all.
Get well soon!
Yep, he's very serious.
Have you seen the great John Martyn?
I still have to say, that even at his very worst, John Martyn live is still better than PJ at their very best, and obviously I love PJ. Have you seen the Big Fella live?
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
Was it a cover of this song?:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRXD5kUzBG4
That's quite some assertion! I only bought 'Solid Air' about 6 months ago, so no, I've not had the pleasure of judging for myself. That video you posted a while back of 'May You Never' was pretty awe-inspiring though. Great vocal style. I thought he was blind for a long time too (the two observations may not be related - I reserve my rights). I missed the obvious opportunity of seeing both him and JS on the same bill. Foolish, huh?
Blind drunk, definitely. Blind, no.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYCG5wZ9op8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmLNFOQSSao
I like delay pedal stuff as a general rule: such a revelation when you first plug into one and happen upon the right rhythm that sets it chugging along on its own accord. Was he doing some tapping with his left index finger on the fret board (using the middle to pick out a harmonic) or was it my imagination?
These smart-asses, I don't know...
He's using an old tape-delay, Binson Echoplex.
http://www.sabellastudios.com/images_equipment/echoplex_02_lg.jpg
I used to have a Watkins Copicat. Temperamental bugger, it was. It looked just like this, with tape running in a band around the heads. When I had it, though, I was only about fifteen, and I mainly used it for making Interstellar Overdrive-type noises and space farts, because I couldn't play for shit:
http://strat.web.infoseek.co.jp/kizai/copicat.jpg