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Friday, February 5th, 2010
Firstly let me start by saying a big "thank-you" to everyone who left me birthday wishes yesterday (and today). I was going to reply to each comment in place, but being English and therefore appropriately uptight, I felt awkward leaving a long line of self consciously different thanks and decided against it. So thank you all from here, in one place, instead.
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ellefurtle and I went to the Wembley Arena to see Rammstein. I haven't been to the Arena for twenty years, when I saw Paul McCartney in January 1990. I'd forgotten just how close to the stadium it is and how far from Wembley Central. That information is now logged and registered, since it is likely that I shall be doing more gigging than of late.
Anyway. The gig. First up was the backing band, CombiChrist. Now, even before they walk out, when you see the set up with two sets of percussion and a keyboard and nothing else, you just know you're not going to get intricate music and insightful lyrics. And so it proved. The first number was interesting, largely because of the spectacle of two percussionists going at it hell-for-leather hammering out a simple beat with a quite complex underlying rhythm. The keyboard player was largely redundant apart from a few electro squeaks. That left the vocalist. 'Vocalist' is the word, not 'singer'. He paraded up and down the stage in a fair parody of Mussolini, shouting 'THIS IS THE DAY I DIE!!'.
Sadly it wasn't.
They then played the same backing rhythm a further three times at slightly different speeds while the vocalist shouted something different. For a moment in the penultimate number I thought that they were about to essay a little music, but they gave up quite quickly and got back into their drums and shouting comfort zone.
For their final outing, they reprised the first number, but with the insightful "What the F*ck is Up With You?" replacing "This is the day that I die".
And then they were gone. Thank Combi for that. It was like being in a Christian Bale rant set to two full drum kits and amplified by Disaster Area. The band is Norwegian. They should stick Whaling.
I confess that by the end of their set I was wondering what on earth I had let myself in for. They were dreadful; Hell on pay day must be much like that.
For this old progster, a trip to see a band playing European industrial metal, or more specifically, Neue Deutsche Härte (new German hardness), seeing Rammstein was a step outside of my comfort zone. I am not a big fan of metal music of any stripe, but I have heard the band onellefurtle's CDs and quite liked them.
Well I can say that they were splendid.
Still not my music of choice, these mad Berliners know how to put on a show and they have a very evident sense of humour.
From the very start you knew they were going to be fun - a black wall on stage opened on the sides by the guitarists hacking holes in it with the bright, white light shining through, followed by the lead singer cutting through it with a blow-torch. It's an entrance. The backdrop disappeared to reveal the rest of the band and they immediately ripped into their signature eponymous number, Rammstein. Let's waste no time in whipping up the audience, chaps.
I should have written this last night when I was still hyped - the gig is pretty much a loud blur of pyrotechnics, thunderflashes, lasers and other random explosions.
I was very impressed by the scenery changes - seamless and almost constant and the light show. The keyboard player bouncing around stage and setting fire to himself in then numbers where there was no call for his keyboard skills. Because I am unfamiliar with the songs, it has all become a mishmash in my head: the synchronisation of the thunderflashes with the percussion and everything - insane, mad, loud spectacle.ellefurtle grinning so broadly that I thought the top of her head must fall off! laser beam dolls, fiery angel wings, crowd surfing in a rubber dingy, a giant phallic foam gun, the lot. Oh and a lead singer with a deep voice for once. None of this falsetto crap for Rammstein. My only complaint? The guy on the mixing desk needs to be more aware of the vocal channel on the arena wings. A couple of times, even allowing for the volume, the vocalist was swamped and even though I speak virtually no German, it formed part of the music and needed to be heard.
I would happily go and see the band again, but not for a couple of days.
Good stuff.
ellefurtle and I went to the Wembley Arena to see Rammstein. I haven't been to the Arena for twenty years, when I saw Paul McCartney in January 1990. I'd forgotten just how close to the stadium it is and how far from Wembley Central. That information is now logged and registered, since it is likely that I shall be doing more gigging than of late.Anyway. The gig. First up was the backing band, CombiChrist. Now, even before they walk out, when you see the set up with two sets of percussion and a keyboard and nothing else, you just know you're not going to get intricate music and insightful lyrics. And so it proved. The first number was interesting, largely because of the spectacle of two percussionists going at it hell-for-leather hammering out a simple beat with a quite complex underlying rhythm. The keyboard player was largely redundant apart from a few electro squeaks. That left the vocalist. 'Vocalist' is the word, not 'singer'. He paraded up and down the stage in a fair parody of Mussolini, shouting 'THIS IS THE DAY I DIE!!'.
Sadly it wasn't.
They then played the same backing rhythm a further three times at slightly different speeds while the vocalist shouted something different. For a moment in the penultimate number I thought that they were about to essay a little music, but they gave up quite quickly and got back into their drums and shouting comfort zone.
For their final outing, they reprised the first number, but with the insightful "What the F*ck is Up With You?" replacing "This is the day that I die".
And then they were gone. Thank Combi for that. It was like being in a Christian Bale rant set to two full drum kits and amplified by Disaster Area. The band is Norwegian. They should stick Whaling.
I confess that by the end of their set I was wondering what on earth I had let myself in for. They were dreadful; Hell on pay day must be much like that.
For this old progster, a trip to see a band playing European industrial metal, or more specifically, Neue Deutsche Härte (new German hardness), seeing Rammstein was a step outside of my comfort zone. I am not a big fan of metal music of any stripe, but I have heard the band on
ellefurtle's CDs and quite liked them.Well I can say that they were splendid.
Still not my music of choice, these mad Berliners know how to put on a show and they have a very evident sense of humour.
From the very start you knew they were going to be fun - a black wall on stage opened on the sides by the guitarists hacking holes in it with the bright, white light shining through, followed by the lead singer cutting through it with a blow-torch. It's an entrance. The backdrop disappeared to reveal the rest of the band and they immediately ripped into their signature eponymous number, Rammstein. Let's waste no time in whipping up the audience, chaps.
I should have written this last night when I was still hyped - the gig is pretty much a loud blur of pyrotechnics, thunderflashes, lasers and other random explosions.
I was very impressed by the scenery changes - seamless and almost constant and the light show. The keyboard player bouncing around stage and setting fire to himself in then numbers where there was no call for his keyboard skills. Because I am unfamiliar with the songs, it has all become a mishmash in my head: the synchronisation of the thunderflashes with the percussion and everything - insane, mad, loud spectacle.
ellefurtle grinning so broadly that I thought the top of her head must fall off! laser beam dolls, fiery angel wings, crowd surfing in a rubber dingy, a giant phallic foam gun, the lot. Oh and a lead singer with a deep voice for once. None of this falsetto crap for Rammstein. My only complaint? The guy on the mixing desk needs to be more aware of the vocal channel on the arena wings. A couple of times, even allowing for the volume, the vocalist was swamped and even though I speak virtually no German, it formed part of the music and needed to be heard.I would happily go and see the band again, but not for a couple of days.
Good stuff.
Firstly let me start by saying a big "thank-you" to everyone who left me birthday wishes yesterday (and today). I was going to reply to each comment in place, but being English and therefore appropriately uptight, I felt awkward leaving a long line of self consciously different thanks and decided against it. So thank you all from here, in one place, instead.
ellefurtle and I went to the Wembley Arena to see Rammstein. I haven't been to the Arena for twenty years, when I saw Paul McCartney in January 1990. I'd forgotten just how close to the stadium it is and how far from Wembley Central. That information is now logged and registered, since it is likely that I shall be doing more gigging than of late.
Anyway. The gig. First up was the backing band, CombiChrist. Now, even before they walk out, when you see the set up with two sets of percussion and a keyboard and nothing else, you just know you're not going to get intricate music and insightful lyrics. And so it proved. The first number was interesting, largely because of the spectacle of two percussionists going at it hell-for-leather hammering out a simple beat with a quite complex underlying rhythm. The keyboard player was largely redundant apart from a few electro squeaks. That left the vocalist. 'Vocalist' is the word, not 'singer'. He paraded up and down the stage in a fair parody of Mussolini, shouting 'THIS IS THE DAY I DIE!!'.
Sadly it wasn't.
They then played the same backing rhythm a further three times at slightly different speeds while the vocalist shouted something different. For a moment in the penultimate number I thought that they were about to essay a little music, but they gave up quite quickly and got back into their drums and shouting comfort zone.
For their final outing, they reprised the first number, but with the insightful "What the F*ck is Up With You?" replacing "This is the day that I die".
And then they were gone. Thank Combi for that. It was like being in a Christian Bale rant set to two full drum kits and amplified by Disaster Area. The band is Norwegian. They should stick Whaling.
I confess that by the end of their set I was wondering what on earth I had let myself in for. They were dreadful; Hell on pay day must be much like that.
For this old progster, a trip to see a band playing European industrial metal, or more specifically, Neue Deutsche Härte (new German hardness), seeing Rammstein was a step outside of my comfort zone. I am not a big fan of metal music of any stripe, but I have heard the band onellefurtle's CDs and quite liked them.
Well I can say that they were splendid.
Still not my music of choice, these mad Berliners know how to put on a show and they have a very evident sense of humour.
From the very start you knew they were going to be fun - a black wall on stage opened on the sides by the guitarists hacking holes in it with the bright, white light shining through, followed by the lead singer cutting through it with a blow-torch. It's an entrance. The backdrop disappeared to reveal the rest of the band and they immediately ripped into their signature eponymous number, Rammstein. Let's waste no time in whipping up the audience, chaps.
I should have written this last night when I was still hyped - the gig is pretty much a loud blur of pyrotechnics, thunderflashes, lasers and other random explosions.
I was very impressed by the scenery changes - seamless and almost constant and the light show. The keyboard player bouncing around stage and setting fire to himself in then numbers where there was no call for his keyboard skills. Because I am unfamiliar with the songs, it has all become a mishmash in my head: the synchronisation of the thunderflashes with the percussion and everything - insane, mad, loud spectacle.ellefurtle grinning so broadly that I thought the top of her head must fall off! laser beam dolls, fiery angel wings, crowd surfing in a rubber dingy, a giant phallic foam gun, the lot. Oh and a lead singer with a deep voice for once. None of this falsetto crap for Rammstein. My only complaint? The guy on the mixing desk needs to be more aware of the vocal channel on the arena wings. A couple of times, even allowing for the volume, the vocalist was swamped and even though I speak virtually no German, it formed part of the music and needed to be heard.
I would happily go and see the band again, but not for a couple of days.
Good stuff.
ellefurtle and I went to the Wembley Arena to see Rammstein. I haven't been to the Arena for twenty years, when I saw Paul McCartney in January 1990. I'd forgotten just how close to the stadium it is and how far from Wembley Central. That information is now logged and registered, since it is likely that I shall be doing more gigging than of late.Anyway. The gig. First up was the backing band, CombiChrist. Now, even before they walk out, when you see the set up with two sets of percussion and a keyboard and nothing else, you just know you're not going to get intricate music and insightful lyrics. And so it proved. The first number was interesting, largely because of the spectacle of two percussionists going at it hell-for-leather hammering out a simple beat with a quite complex underlying rhythm. The keyboard player was largely redundant apart from a few electro squeaks. That left the vocalist. 'Vocalist' is the word, not 'singer'. He paraded up and down the stage in a fair parody of Mussolini, shouting 'THIS IS THE DAY I DIE!!'.
Sadly it wasn't.
They then played the same backing rhythm a further three times at slightly different speeds while the vocalist shouted something different. For a moment in the penultimate number I thought that they were about to essay a little music, but they gave up quite quickly and got back into their drums and shouting comfort zone.
For their final outing, they reprised the first number, but with the insightful "What the F*ck is Up With You?" replacing "This is the day that I die".
And then they were gone. Thank Combi for that. It was like being in a Christian Bale rant set to two full drum kits and amplified by Disaster Area. The band is Norwegian. They should stick Whaling.
I confess that by the end of their set I was wondering what on earth I had let myself in for. They were dreadful; Hell on pay day must be much like that.
For this old progster, a trip to see a band playing European industrial metal, or more specifically, Neue Deutsche Härte (new German hardness), seeing Rammstein was a step outside of my comfort zone. I am not a big fan of metal music of any stripe, but I have heard the band on
ellefurtle's CDs and quite liked them.Well I can say that they were splendid.
Still not my music of choice, these mad Berliners know how to put on a show and they have a very evident sense of humour.
From the very start you knew they were going to be fun - a black wall on stage opened on the sides by the guitarists hacking holes in it with the bright, white light shining through, followed by the lead singer cutting through it with a blow-torch. It's an entrance. The backdrop disappeared to reveal the rest of the band and they immediately ripped into their signature eponymous number, Rammstein. Let's waste no time in whipping up the audience, chaps.
I should have written this last night when I was still hyped - the gig is pretty much a loud blur of pyrotechnics, thunderflashes, lasers and other random explosions.
I was very impressed by the scenery changes - seamless and almost constant and the light show. The keyboard player bouncing around stage and setting fire to himself in then numbers where there was no call for his keyboard skills. Because I am unfamiliar with the songs, it has all become a mishmash in my head: the synchronisation of the thunderflashes with the percussion and everything - insane, mad, loud spectacle.
ellefurtle grinning so broadly that I thought the top of her head must fall off! laser beam dolls, fiery angel wings, crowd surfing in a rubber dingy, a giant phallic foam gun, the lot. Oh and a lead singer with a deep voice for once. None of this falsetto crap for Rammstein. My only complaint? The guy on the mixing desk needs to be more aware of the vocal channel on the arena wings. A couple of times, even allowing for the volume, the vocalist was swamped and even though I speak virtually no German, it formed part of the music and needed to be heard.I would happily go and see the band again, but not for a couple of days.
Good stuff.
The other night I downloaded The History of Scotland on to BBC iPlayer because as it's only available in HD, it was taking too long to stream on the v poor broadband we have here.
I just sat down to watch it on iPlayer Desktop and it's still too much for my poor old PC. Which, incidentally, isn't that old. Pah. I suppose I should have another look to see if it's available in non-HD, but my interest is waning.
I just sat down to watch it on iPlayer Desktop and it's still too much for my poor old PC. Which, incidentally, isn't that old. Pah. I suppose I should have another look to see if it's available in non-HD, but my interest is waning.
The other night I downloaded The History of Scotland on to BBC iPlayer because as it's only available in HD, it was taking too long to stream on the v poor broadband we have here.
I just sat down to watch it on iPlayer Desktop and it's still too much for my poor old PC. Which, incidentally, isn't that old. Pah. I suppose I should have another look to see if it's available in non-HD, but my interest is waning.
I just sat down to watch it on iPlayer Desktop and it's still too much for my poor old PC. Which, incidentally, isn't that old. Pah. I suppose I should have another look to see if it's available in non-HD, but my interest is waning.