h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

yes.

Thanks Skankyrich!

Well sounds good...

Hope so. I shall have a think and maybe start posting some of my thought's here. Wonder what Skankyrich will come up with? I still need to mobilise some support to finish off that Free entry too...

Well it's starting to look like it's heading somewhere.

Well, I've drafted some of my thoughts to post in here, but I wonder if it'd be more fitting to copy some of the bits from my journal entries in here, as they're more in the moment, rather than retrospective. And otherwise I'll write a lot!
I thought basically we could discuss different gigs and experiences and then use what's in this post to fashion into some kind of an entry.

You could link to the relevant journal entries rather than copying the text.

Sef. A lot of them ramble off onto other things after a few postings but by all means I'll link to them and post any afterthoughts here. Thanks.

Ok. Here we go, by all means peruse my Journal entries for these gigs: The Finn Brothers (of Crowded House fame) live at Portsmouth Guildhall http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/F82998?thread=655719 Paul Rodgers Live at Colston Hall Bristol http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/F82998?thread=3549786 And here's another gig I never got the chance to write about cos h2g2 was down: Paul Simon Live at Bloomsbury Theatre 25th May 2006 (Live for Radio 2) I was lucky enough to win tickets to this gig, which was recorded for Radio 2 (thank you BBC :).) If I had to describe the way Paul Simon came across, it was very relaxed and humble-a chilled kind of guy, very buddha-like in a way. He played some old and new songs, including the Boxer. But the the most memorable song from the night for me was Wartime Prayers, a new song from the Surprise album which reflected on the current situation we find ourselves in. I remember sitting there totally taken in by the melody and the lyrics. I think everyone was so stunned that when he had finished it seemed an eternity before the applause started to ripple out. I wish the BBC hadn't adjusted the running order of the songs when they edited the concert for the broadcast, as I think some of the impact the song had on the night was lost. They also cut Celia completely from the running order, which was a mistake-it was brilliant live (and I'm not usually a fan of the song) I wish I had been able to write something in my h2g2 journal at the time to capture the atmosphere.

You saw Paul Simon live!?!!? Wow!!

yeah, I did. Sorry, I never got a chance to post about it cos h2g2 went down for a couple of days after the gig when I could have written something. By the time I actually managed to get back online it seemed a little pointless to write something in the journal cos the moment had kind of passed.
But he was brilliant. It was strange as he wasn't how I expected him to be at all, like I say, a kind of humble guy who seems to really appreciate all the different twists and turns in his carreer and how he's got where he is. You know, not like some artists who suddenly decide to shun their old work, once they've "made it". And his voice has changed but even though its not quite as strong as it once was, on some songs it really brought something new, especially the boxer-cos his voice sounded older it was somehow more poignant because the character in the song is looking back.

Sounds amazing. I've some Simon & Garfunkle stuff on CD, but never heard it live. Didn't even know either of them was still touring. Must keep an eye out for a gig.

Yes, I would. I think Paul Simon has a web site www.paulsimon.com.
There should be details there of shows-I would imagine he's still doing a few dates here and there-but more likely the US I expect-but keep an eye out. It's amazing to even watch him play guitar-he has an amazing style. He manages to get a lovely pure sound, I wish I could play like that.

Here's another link to my journal: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/F82998?thread=4391072 last night's gig... I would be interested to hear from any sound techies on this, as to whether it's more difficult to set up and monitor amplification for large venues or not ...

I'd have thought it'd depend on your equipment and how good a sound guy you are. You know what I mean? The bigger the venue, thew more powerful the speakers have to be. And Wembley Stadium's different to your living room. I suppoe a larger stage may make it harder for the band to hear themselves as the sound may just go up, but there must be ways round that.

It sounds like the levels or eqs were wrong or there was some kind of electrical interference (something needing to be earthed). Fiddling with eqs for no reason and going berserk with the reverb are both amatuer sound techie trademarks.

But yeah I'd love to contribute to this. Although is it about doing gigs or going to them?

Sounds about right. If it's a pro gig, there shoulodn't be amateurs on sound. I know I wouldn't want to be doing any big gig coz I don't think my ability's up to it.

I wouldn't mind trying a rock gig or something without many inputs, but could you imagine recording a full orchestra?

the cellos are phasing! The oboes are all clipped out! Where's that farting coming from?

It'd be a nightmare!

Definately sounds scary. I've done sound for small amateur gigs and it's scary enough.

Maybe we should try doing an entry about stagefright? The real sort of stagefright, not being embarassed about getting your tackle out in a public toilet.

Good idea. There have to be some stories people can tell of gigs that've gone really wrong coz the artist's legged it out the window. Would be good to have it from both sided - the person who legged it and the fan in the audience.