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kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1813
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 5:55 am:   Edit Post

With only a handful of shows planned, are any of the Alembic faithful going to catch this year's version of Cream? I have tix for one of the Radio City Dates. I had to bite the bullet and use an Internet scalper, er, um, Ticket "Broker", due to the wide-scale ticket hoarding and gouging that seems to be the norm today. Prices are commesurate with demand and on par with Cream's ridiculous pricing. I'm on the third tier (worst seats in the house) and paid over $500 for a pair (best price I could get!!!!). Unfortunately, this may be the last tour for DG, as even $0.5Bil wasn't enough to get him to tour with 'ole Rog as Pink Floyd again.

Floyd Fans: all is not lost! I understand DG's bringing Richard Wright with him. In addition, Waters is gonna tour in '06 and he's touting Nick Mason as his drummer. There you go: all of Floyd will be on the road this year, just 1/2 at a time and not all in one place at the same time, unfortunately.

Cheers,

Kevin
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 1164
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 7:01 am:   Edit Post

I lucked out. A guitar player friend had two tickets for the Paramount in Oakland (lovely old art deco smallish theater). (Un)fortunately he recently broke up with his girlfriend and, you guessed it, as a result I'm going on the 17th. Let's hear it for domestic strife!!!! LOL

Bill, tgo
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1818
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 7:12 am:   Edit Post

Cool! Enjoy the show! I'll post my $0.02 as soon as I can...show is this coming Wed.

I was going to go with or without the sig. other. She wanted to go, but since she hasn't a clue who he (or Floyd) is, it'll be nothing more than an expensive new, but largely wasted, experience.

Regardless, I love that old place (RCMH), having had my innaugural visit there be the infamous 1980 Radio City premier Dead shows! Getting to NYC has become progressively more frustrating for me, but every once-in-a-while I bite the bullet and venture into Gotham...for a good enough reason, that is, LOL!.
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 699
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 7:28 am:   Edit Post

His new CD is full of wonderful guitar work. It's in the CD player even now. I like his bass work too, and the opportunity to hear how he approaches the instrument.

John
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1822
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 7:48 am:   Edit Post

With the exception of drums, some background vocals, some keys and some upright string bass work, the vast majority of the album is him!

FWIW, he's one of my all-time fave guitarists! Within a few notes, you can instantly recognize the playing as his.
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 1166
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 11:43 am:   Edit Post

My friend with the tickets (a BIG D.G. fan), tells me that the background vocals on the new album are David Crosby and either Nash or Stills, I forget which. Either way, not too shabby!

Bill, tgo
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1825
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 3:54 pm:   Edit Post

Crosby and Nash sing back-up on "On An Island", not sure about the other tunes, though. You can clearly hear the three-part harmony a la CSN when they sing in unison, especially on a good system. It gives me chills just thinking about it! Amazon.com has a nice 5-min vid that shows the making of the "On An Island" project, incl. Graham and David at Astoria (DG's vintage houseboat-cum-SOTA recording studio)to cut the vocals. Just log onto amazon's site and search for "On An Island"...the vid on the page with the cd.
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1832
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 6:08 am:   Edit Post

Caught the show last night (4/5) at Radio City Music Hall in NYC...it was awesome! No warm-up and David started right on time. The place was mobbed.

As I bought on-line from a "Ticket Broker" (i.e, Legal Scalper), I was forced to wait up until YESTERDAY morning to get my tix via Fed-Ex priority overnight. They WEREN'T the tix I bought (3rd Mezz), but since they are "guaranteed" equivalent or better, I got ORCHESTRA 2(floor, in-front of stage right, 10 rows back!!!).

Weird show...not quite what I was expecting. I was under the impression that it would be a cross-section of ALL DG's solo stuff, with a heapin' helpin' of Pink Floyd thrown in. Instead, the first set was ONLY songs off of "On An Island" and the second set/encores were ONLY Pink Floyd!!!

The live sound was a mixed-bag: boomy overblown bass marred what was an otherwise fine performance by Guy Pratt (and John Carin's left hand, LOL!). Volume, during solo's especially, was uneven. Apparently, it was the soundman's first rodeo (I'm being sarcastic). Ah! The foibles and follies of rental sound companies, especially in the land of the Labor Union aka NYC, LOL! I expected much more from the sound considering it was Radio City...anybody that's seen a show there usually effuses with praise for the sound/acoustics there, myself included.

The stage show was not standard PF fair. It was very toned-down: No fancy stage set or multi-media screens, etc. Just a standard (for anyone) stage set-up...the light show was very nice though, with some lasers a la Floyd tours of the past, albeit on a more modest scale.

The band was pretty much the same Pink Floyd we've seen since '87 (a la "Momentary Lapse Of Reason" and "Division Bell" tours), sans Nick Mason: Richard Wright on keys, Guy Pratt on bass, and Jon Carin on keys/lap steel. "OAI"'s producer/DG's neighbor Phil Manzanera manned guitars behind DG and Dick Parry was excellent on various saxophones (the drummer's name eludes me at the moment).

DG played acoustic/electric guitars, acoustic/electric steel guitars, banjo, and saxophone! As is usual, his playing was sublime! Tons of DG's signature sound, despite the unorthodox (for him, live anyway) switching amongst many diffferent guitars (Gretsch Duo-Jet, black non-EMG Strat, red EMG Strat, etc.) instruments He was in fine form both musically and vocally. He appeared to really be enjoying himself, with both frequent bouts of smiling and voluntary engaging in crowd banter (both of which are NOT usual for him, LOL!).

He had David Crosby and Graham Nash (!) on hand for both NYC shows to sing back-up on "On An Island". They also sang on a few other tunes, including "Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Part (?)" (the band cuts out halfway thru and David does his "Meltdown 2002" solo thing with the looped guitar background...this time Crosby/Nash sang along). He also brought them out near they end so the three of them could do an a cappella version of "Find The Cost Of Freedom". Very nice... they're all old and physically more than a fair bit worse-for-wear, but close your eyes and it's still the same magic! Graham can still hiot those high notes!

If you can manage the RIDICULOUS tix prices, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

FWIW, here's the set-list with commentary and equipment notes from Bjorn Riis's Gilmourish.com RE: the Amsterdam shows (essentially the same as NYC's show, without most of the problems):

http://www.gilmourish.com/gilmourishblog/index.html

Scroll-down for the goods, including lot's of pix and Enjoy!

Cheers,

Kevin

P.S., even the PF/DG-ignorant girlfriend enjoyed the show!
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3582
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 6:27 pm:   Edit Post

"Find The Cost Of Freedom" is a beautiful song!!!
jalevinemd
Advanced Member
Username: jalevinemd

Post Number: 381
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 8:52 pm:   Edit Post

That gilmourish.com is an amazing website for anyone interested in trying to dupe DG's sound. The guy's got recipes for almost every song imaginable!
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1833
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 5:21 am:   Edit Post

Jon:

Yeah, Bjorn Riis is the man for all things DG/PF! I've been touting his site for sometime. I'm glad somebody was paying attention, LOL! I know it's tough to stay focused what with my long-winded diatribes full of fire, brimstone and treacle, LOL!

Ck out the backing tracks Bjorn has developed for the rest of us to jam along to and ck out his own playing and tone. Not to shabby! He has a real facility to dupe DG's sound/technique. Amazing what rabid devotion and/or fanaticism will do, LOL! Nothing wrong with a little hero worship.

Ck out John Roscoe's site as well (the tone from heaven)...the link is at Gilmourish.com. He's the American with the $10k Pete Cornish Custom Pedalboard. It shows the genesis of Pete's design/construction of DG's latest all-tube pedal board masterpiece.

FWIW, like the guys above (but to not quite the same extent), I have a deep appreciation for David's contributions. While not the most technically adept or virtuosic of players, he has a unique, instantly recognizable style, impeccable, tasteful phrasing and immaculate, soulful tone. His melifluous voice is also quite soothing to the ear and undeniably his own.

While I have no real desire to dupe his exact sound, at least for the purposes of a DG/PF tribute band, I'd love to have his tone and multitude of effects for my own arsenal (I have a penchant for "classic rock" cover tunes bands, LOL). I need that lottery hit if I want a Pete Cornish board of my own.

Dave:

Yes, as stated elsewhere here, I am a big CSN (&Y) fan, including all their various combo/solo gigs. It was an extroadinary treat (one that none of the Europeans got) to have them guest for these (not likely to be duplicated anytime soon) shows. They all harmonized beatifully, what with David's voice fitting in nicely where Steven Stills's usually resides. DG's website is touting them as the new "Three Kings Of Harmony" and effuses hope that the collaboration will continue.

http://www.davidgilmour.com

Cheers,

Kevin
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1834
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 5:33 am:   Edit Post

FWIW, Guy Pratt used a dual Ashdown amp system with WEM cabs (the whole band uses WEM...David's faves). He was playing two different Fenders; one old SB RW F/B P-bass, and the other a "custom" J-style with a real wood top/finish, original "tele" bass style black pickguard, "J" pick-ups, RW F/B and black headstock overlay. He also had a headless bass of unknown manufacture (appeared to be fretless), and an EUB (couldn't tell if it was a NSD).

Too bad the PA sound was so friggin' muddy...Guy is a great player.

While I'm at it, Jon Carin is a TOTALY underrated musician. That guy is not only a wiz at keys and arranging, he's an excellent slide (lap steel) player. He also a decent guitarist and singer as well. He does the some of the DG parts on Roger's live concert DVD (i.e., "In The Flesh"), along with Doyle Bramhall III.
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1837
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 - 7:01 am:   Edit Post

Corrections:

Guy's S/B Fender is a "J" not a "P" and the EUB is a Framus.

DG's banjo is actually a "cumbus": a Turkish banjo-like guitar.

The drummer for the tour is Steve DiStanislao

(Message edited by kmh364 on April 07, 2006)
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1839
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 7:43 am:   Edit Post

DG was on live this AM for an interview with Jim Kerr on Q104.3FM in the NYC-Metro area. Polite as ever, he was grilled lightly by Jim. The Roger Waters subject was broached and DG confirmed that (as previously stated by Nick Mason to Jim @ Live 8 last year) that substantial (not minor) hurdles had to be overcome (RE: betwixt Roger and David) for the "reunion" to even be considered (for Live 8). David stated that they were fairly civil enough to rehearse and perform for that occasion, but nothing more.

I personally wouldn't hold my breath for another reunion anytime soon, if ever.
jalevinemd
Advanced Member
Username: jalevinemd

Post Number: 385
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 8:54 am:   Edit Post

There was a great interview with DG in the May issue of Guitar World. He seemed to have closed the door on any chance of a Floyd reunion with RW, despite a $250 million offer on the table for a world tour. Must be nice to be in a place in life where you can turn your back on a quarter of a billion dollars to maintain your convictions.
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1845
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 1:34 pm:   Edit Post

Yeah, he only did Live 8 with ole Rog because he believed in the cause. His philanthropic good nature is well-known ansd has earned him a CBE (i.e., Cmdr. of the British Empire).
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1848
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 5:43 am:   Edit Post

The interview I referred to above is located here:

http://www.q1043.com/cc-common/podcast/single_podcast.html?podcast=soundfiles.xml

Enjoy!
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 704
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 7:00 am:   Edit Post

I heard an interview with DG (about the release of "On An Island") where he said that RW wanted to do the "Another Brick In The Wall" stuff but DG wouldn't let him because it would have been inappropriate for the context. "How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat" doesn't jive so well with trying to fix the world... At any rate, I love the way DG writes, plays and sings and would have loved to have caught a show...

John
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1852
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 8:06 am:   Edit Post

Bill P.:

How was the show?
jalevinemd
Advanced Member
Username: jalevinemd

Post Number: 399
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 2:26 pm:   Edit Post

I never understood why Fender didn't do a David Gilmour model based on the black strat with the white DiMarzios. I once saw a DG strat at Sam Ash. It was similar to Clapton's "Blackie." Not sure where that came from. Maybe he didn't give the okay. I don't know. Seems a shame, though. Talk about someone who you identify with the Strat. Hell, even Richie Sambora had a model.
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 1224
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 4:41 pm:   Edit Post

Saw David Gilmour last night. Very enjoyable show - quite the lightshow. His tone is amazing, full, musicial, mucho sustain, great development on his leads. He also played a bunch of other instruments, some well, some less so, including banjo, sax, dobro, lap steel, acoustic and electric guitars. Playing organ in his band has to be one of the easiest gigs in rock 'n roll. "Hey you, play a G chord and just hold it down for 30 seconds, then hold down a C chord for 30 seconds, then back to the G. Just keep doing that while I solo for awhile" The first half was the new album. I hadn't heard it before. I liked it, definitely very Floyd like. The songs, like much of Floyd IMHO, are almost rhythmic atmospheres rather than melodies. The second half was Floyd stuff. Lots-o-fun! It would have been a great concert for pychedelics had this been about 25 years ago!

Bill, tgo
flaxattack
Senior Member
Username: flaxattack

Post Number: 1073
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 6:27 pm:   Edit Post

bill
you are psychodelic man!!!!!!!!!!1
zappahead
Intermediate Member
Username: zappahead

Post Number: 127
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 6:33 pm:   Edit Post

Fender used to sell a prewired pick guard with 3 emg's that they sold as a Gilmour pick up set. Never seen an acutal Gilmour strat all together with his name on the headstock, but I definetly remember the EMG pick up/pickguard set.
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1854
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 4:53 am:   Edit Post

The EMG set-up is still sold by EMG as the (model #) DG-20.

FWIW, He's still using the red VRI strat with the EMG's, but it's sparingly as the old black job with the passive pu's and shortened tremelo (vibrato) arm has resurfaced as his main axe. As an aside, I understand they both have Charvel compound radius necks on them these days.

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