bradlake
Axe-Master
So I went to my first large-scale show in 1 and 1/2 years , with two acts that pair surprisingly well together. ….but…………
the Zappa Band , all awesome, seasoned alumni of either or both of Frank or Dweezil Zappas’ touring bands, while Performing a wonderfully curated set that seemed to wow the Crimson fans as well those who came to see them, suffered from a FOH mix that took far too long in a tight 45-minute set to stabilize….the first two songs were embarrasingly bad sounding, to the point of wondering if someone was fu#king with us. The lion’s share of the blame must go to the FOH guy, but as there was at times three guitarists playing at once, all on miked amps (Mike Keneally on a tiny amp that I forget what, Ray white on Deluxe REverb, and Jamie Kime on a Friedman Rig) it lacked the clarity and precise mix positions that I had grown so used to in the dozens of Dweezil/Fractal-led performances I have witnessed…….nevertheless, the latter part of the set sounded great and did justice to the compositions.
Then……Crimson……..
AMAZING FOH! Fripp‘s Fractal-powered rig sliced like a velvet knife though the mix, and the 3(!!!) DRUMMERS (in the FRONT) , the stellar Bass/Stickwork of Tony Levin, wonderful reed and flute work from whoever that was, and a vocalis/guitarist who, at once, somehow embodied everything I like and intensely dislike about the self-serious excesses of this cornerstone of Prog…….but shit ,it all sounded so good..even if it was a bit bombastic for me …and reminded me once again how lucky we all are to be part of this thing………………..
the Zappa Band , all awesome, seasoned alumni of either or both of Frank or Dweezil Zappas’ touring bands, while Performing a wonderfully curated set that seemed to wow the Crimson fans as well those who came to see them, suffered from a FOH mix that took far too long in a tight 45-minute set to stabilize….the first two songs were embarrasingly bad sounding, to the point of wondering if someone was fu#king with us. The lion’s share of the blame must go to the FOH guy, but as there was at times three guitarists playing at once, all on miked amps (Mike Keneally on a tiny amp that I forget what, Ray white on Deluxe REverb, and Jamie Kime on a Friedman Rig) it lacked the clarity and precise mix positions that I had grown so used to in the dozens of Dweezil/Fractal-led performances I have witnessed…….nevertheless, the latter part of the set sounded great and did justice to the compositions.
Then……Crimson……..
AMAZING FOH! Fripp‘s Fractal-powered rig sliced like a velvet knife though the mix, and the 3(!!!) DRUMMERS (in the FRONT) , the stellar Bass/Stickwork of Tony Levin, wonderful reed and flute work from whoever that was, and a vocalis/guitarist who, at once, somehow embodied everything I like and intensely dislike about the self-serious excesses of this cornerstone of Prog…….but shit ,it all sounded so good..even if it was a bit bombastic for me …and reminded me once again how lucky we all are to be part of this thing………………..
