Re: Patti - Meltdown - 17 June 2005

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From: Mark.Ward
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 11:41:24 +0100
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re the Carbon/Silicon and Rachid Taha report......

Blimey, glad I gave that one a miss.  was it really that bad?  or did 
they just send the wrong reviewer?  anyone on this list go?(andrew - 
you seem to have been most nights!)

I went to the Patti/Steve Earle show last Sunday, so here's my tuppenny 
worth....

Steve Earle - never heard him before, and country aint my thing - but a 
good show which his fans obviously enjoyed.

Patti - superb. The band were tight and worked so well with her - when 
she improvises they fall in with her seemlessly.   The newspaper review 
someone posted was disparaging about the green toy
mascot, but I thought it just displayed that she's got a sense of 
humour and isn't an aloof  "rock star" - the crowd warmed to her when 
she used it to put down the guy in the audience who was
proposing marriage.

It was a great gig and I dont want to be picky, but,  Patti,  you've 
got a great repertoire,  so scrap the covers, and Tom Verlaine was a 
bit surplus.  He sat distractingly fiddling with his effects
pedals, and occasionally sticking in some totally inappropriate lead. 
(flame proof trousers on!)

On a brighter note, Patti got down and boogied with the audience for 
one number- sadly I was too far back to join in. I've got a front 
stalls seat for the Horses gig and will be one of the first there
when people get up. Hell - I may even start it off.   I hate sitting 
down for gigs and the rfh is a bit formal.  The first time I saw Patti 
live was in a muddy field in Berkshire, with a mad crush
front stage.

I went with my wife who was a Patti Smith virgin and she loved it.

someone asked about pics - there were flashes going off throughout the 
gig, so there's no hassle with the audience  taking pics,and hopefully 
some will appear here,  but I didnt notice any "official
photographers".  Security are being very laid back, allowing dancing 
etc which is great.  I'm in two minds about taking a camera on saturday 
- i'd rather just get down and enjoy the gig than phaff
about taking pics.


mx

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