Growing Up - Live!

Posted by: andy c on 02 June 2004

Hi,
Just thought I'd register my comments re me and Shel going to the NIA last night to see Peter Gabriel live. Initial panic at going to the NEC (Doh) subsided into a good nite as Gabriel and his band reeled off tracks old and new. The visuals were excellent (as you'd expect) and the sound was top class. Fav for me was some of the newer stuff, but Shel commented that even if you were not a fan the concert was still good value as it had something for everyone.

Musicians were brill, especially Jed Lynch (drums) and Tony Levin (bass). The highlight was Peter and his daughter racing round the circular stage on a futuristic 'bike' each, but not like any bike I'd seen before. The group was on 2 1/2 hours also, which I thought good value for money.

Top night...

regards,

andy c!

Posted on: 07 June 2004 by Rael_am_I

I hate you ; - )

There are no plans for him to go down under.
Living on the other side of the world has some downsides (few touring international artists).

So I have to make do with the DVD.

Posted on: 08 June 2004 by Jay

You're not making any friends here Andy

I've got the DVD and think it's fantastic. High quality DTS soundtrack to boot. I'm with you Rael, very unlikely to see this man anywhere near NZ unless he's on holiday. Best you and I move.

Jay

Posted on: 08 June 2004 by Goose

I went to see PG last night at Wembley Arena.
I have to say that I was blown away by his energy. His music has evolved and is now quite complexed and dark, nearly 'massive attacky'at times, but far more cultured...

Sound was Ok, but I couldn't hear Tony Levin properly all night and I was gutted!!! I found Ged Lynch a great drummer, but where are the tom fills ! I kept listening in my head to Manu Katche's performance on the Secret World Live album, doh!

Great stage show, musicianship, video too. All in all a great 'show' even for people who dont; really know the music...

I would thoroughly recommend him, and what a voice after all these years.He's quite funny at off the cuff humour too.

Cheers
Goose

Posted on: 08 June 2004 by Pete

I was at the SECC gig on Saturday. Superb, aside from complete tossers in the security detail who'd decided it was their job to stop people enjoying themselves, so I had some of PG's introductions rather overshadowed by some fool next to me telling someone they shouldn't dance in the aisle as that wasn't their seat. Puh-leeeeease! (I have sent a moan to SECC saying their people were out of order). Still, once PG asked the audience to "Come on Down" that pissed on numpty security people's bonfire and ended the problem...

But that aside... best concert sound I have ever heard at any big gig by a country mile, and the staging and perfomances were fantastic. The mobile thingies used for Games Without Frontiers were Segways (see http://www.segway.com/) and the bike he sang Solsbury Hill from is a Moulton New Series (http://www.alexmoulton.co.uk/frames.asp?id=bikes&range=ns). Each is unfeasibly expensive!

And I want a "Zorg Ball" as used to bounce about the stage for Growing Up.

How the hell does T-Lev play bass with funk fingers? I stood and watched and listened so I know he can do it, but I'm at a loss as to how... The man is a bass God.

Didn't get on with Signal to Noise much on the CD, but live it was stunning and showed the song to its best, delivered with real passion.

I shall be ordering myself the CDs of the gig available via the petergabriel.com website (each concert has a set made up by the concert engineer from the board mix plus additions from mics in the hall, professionally done with artwork from realworld and "proper" CDs rather than CD-Rs.

Pete.