Joined: 29 Jan 2004 Posts: 1504 Location: Methuen, MA
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 2:55 pm Post subject: Tony Levin
Just a heads up to all of our European "forumers"...
The Tony Levin Band has just started a European tour already in Italy, and soon moving towards Eastern Europe. I'm sorry that I didn't post this sooner, as a couple of shows in Italy have already taken place, but there are many more listed in the schedule.
The reason I mention this is, I know there are great music fans in this forum that definitely would enjoy an evening seeing the Tony Levin Band. I did, two weeks ago, and they are awesome!
And, if anyone needs a reminder of who Tony is, just see the latest Peter Gabriel dvd (he's the bass player), and all of these artists' records http://www.papabear.com/tldiscog.htm.
Really, go see Tony Levin and his Band. You won't regret it!
Joined: 29 Jan 2004 Posts: 1504 Location: Methuen, MA
Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 3:36 pm Post subject:
Anyone interested in a copy of the Tony Levin Band's only USA gig in early October before they left for Europe, please contact me. It's a great show, and I'm more than happy to disperse. You won't be disappointed... _________________ Soul on Eleven
My son and I are also fans of Tony. Over the years I have seen Tony play with Laurie Anderson, Peter Gabriel and King Crimson.These were some memorable shows for me.We will see him at a club in Ithaca in early Dec. He is playing with Jim Weider's " Project Percolator". I am not familiar with Jim's guitar playing other than what I've heard at his website. It sounds nice. Jim's has an exstensive bio of playing with quite a few wonderful musicians over many years. I will report on this show. Is anyone familiar with Jim's playing ?
Joined: 29 Jan 2004 Posts: 1504 Location: Methuen, MA
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 7:20 pm Post subject:
fingers,
Jim Weider is an awesome guitarist. I mean, he really rocks out. I've seen him several times in the past year, and each show was no less than spectacular. In the past 6 or so months, he's had Jesse Gress in the band, which elevates an already great perfomance. Add Tony Levin, and you're witnessing one of the ultimate shows ever. No exaggeration.
One of my best ever live shows was seeing the Jim Weider Band II (with Jesse Gress) this past summer at the Stone Church (an old church turned restaurant/showplace) in Newmarket, NH. No lie, there was only about 16 people there (including the bartender!). But, even with such a poor turnout, Jim & co. put on an unbelievable show. It was almost like they treated us to something special, because we were there...
If you are within several hours' driving distance to a Jim Weider Band show- go for it. You won't be disappointed! http://www.jimweider.com/events.asp Oh, and fyi, Jim's band with Tony Levin is now called Project Percolator, after Jim's last album (before Tony) called Percolator. _________________ Soul on Eleven
Your buildup remarks about this show were right on the money! These guys were just great.
Jim played 3 old Telecasters and his soloing on the bluesy, rockabilly,and slide numbers was fantastic. Nothing sounds quite like a Tele in the hands of a fine player. Jim is a very unassuming guy who my son and I think looks like Pat Boone.
Jesse did most of the solos on the more rock out progressive type songs that required more effects and he can really play. He and Jim played a lot of harmonic duets that reminded one of the old Allman Bros days.Jesse played a Strat ( nice sparkly blue paint job) and a LP and used a variety of neat effects.
Tony was even better than I remembered, but then I'd never seen him play from 10 feet away.His playing was complete with the finger extensions he taps the bass with, and the use of the weird looking thin bass he plays that looked to have 10 strings on it. Tony doesn't try to use blinding speed like Jaco or Victor, but is all about substance and creating an awesome bottom end to the music using low notes and chords that really fill up the room and fill up one's innards.
The drummer and percussion guy were both excellent.
The encore was really cool as they played 3 instrumental versions of songs that allowed each guy to do his thing. Cream's " I Feel Fine" ( Jim), Jeff Beck's ' Come Dancing" ( Jesse ) and King Crimson's ' Elephant Talk " ( Tony).
It think it's just great when world class players like these guys play at these small, intimate clubs. They really seem to enjoy the enthusiam of the crowd and interacting with them. i know I sure do.Oh, I almost forgot....only$12 a head.
A wonderful show that we enjoyed immensely. Thanks for encouraging us to go. We left the venue to find a blizzard and it was a hairy ride home. Apparantly the storm you got in Mass the next day,but no worries, the show was worth it.
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 908 Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 7:56 am Post subject: Tony Levin Band
Sounds like it was a great show, Fingerlakes ! I haven't seen the Tony Levin Band yet. Maybe they'll come to Florida for a show sometime soon. Thanks ! _________________ Travelling by train of thought
Joined: 29 Jan 2004 Posts: 1504 Location: Methuen, MA
Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 9:09 am Post subject:
fingers, I'm really glad that you loved the show. And, great review. I was picturing seeing them as I read...
For now, this band seems to be playing the New York State area (they live in Woodstock/Kingston). And, I'm not sure how much longer Tony will be with Project Percolator. He seems to be doing this for fun, not any sort of commitment. And, Jim Weider sure can play, can't he?! "Master of the Telecaster" certainly fits...
Tony Levin is a really cool guy who truly enjoys a relationship with music fans. He's active in his own website with an ongoing gig diary that is fun to read. http://www.tonylevin.com/ There's also a guestbook where people write in with comments and questions for Tony, and he actually responds to each and every entry. Here's what he replied to my entry- "JohnnyZ, Jim Weider will be doing some shows in New England - hopefully I'll be on some of them. And I hope to hit the area a lot with my band when we tour." Gotta love this guy! RoadWarrior, you should write in there about how you'd like to see them in Tampa!
Also, a new thing he recently started with his own Tony Levin Band is starting off a show with his bandmates (including his brother who looks just like him) singing a barbershop quartet style comedy routine, which they end by each one of them whipping out their instant cameras and wildly snapping off pictures of the audience. How cool is that?! _________________ Soul on Eleven
Joined: 29 Jan 2004 Posts: 1504 Location: Methuen, MA
Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 1:23 pm Post subject:
fingerlakes wrote:
... and the use of the weird looking thin bass he plays that looked to have 10 strings on it...
It's 'The Chapman Stick', more commonly known as 'The Stick'. Here's the website where you can read all about- lot's of interesting stuff... http://www.stick.com/articles/progression/ _________________ Soul on Eleven
Thanks for the info on " The Stick ". I thought i remembered Tony playing somethung like that back in the '80's,then come to find he's one of the pioneers of the instrument. I've noticed on some of Robben's recordings with Roscoe playing bass that he plays a bass line and chords at the same time. Does he use a different kind of bass to do this ?
Man, you guys get some foul weather up that way. I'm driving to Cape Cod to visit my Mom for Christmas and hope we don't have to experience anything like I've been reading in your posts over the years. By the way, the whale and dolphin strandings on the Cape yesterday were almost right in front of her home in Brewster.
Joined: 08 Aug 2003 Posts: 943 Location: Terra Firma, Ether Sea
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 9:07 am Post subject:
fingerlakes wrote:
I've noticed on some of Robben's recordings with Roscoe playing bass that he plays a bass line and chords at the same time. Does he use a different kind of bass to do this ?
Onstage I've noticed that Roscoe ocassionally uses a special multifingered/chordal tapping technigue, of which I first became aware in the early 90's when working with Stu Hamm/Satriani.
Stu is a master of this style and his solo renditions of the National Anthem or Vince Guaraldi's Linus & Lucy (Charly Brown) Theme (wherein he plays bass lines, rhythm chords, and melody lines all at the same time), are real showstoppers. _________________ B C-ing U!
( }:-Daved
"This boy's diseased with rhythm!" -Bing Crosby (Road To Rio, '49)
Joined: 29 Jan 2004 Posts: 1504 Location: Methuen, MA
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 11:47 am Post subject:
JohnnyZ wrote:
Also, a new thing he recently started with his own Tony Levin Band is starting off a show with his bandmates (including his brother who looks just like him) singing a barbershop quartet style comedy routine, which they end by each one of them whipping out their instant cameras and wildly snapping off pictures of the audience. How cool is that?!
I found this 23-minute video from the TLB show in Italy this past October. It includes the barbershop quartet skit and 3 songs- Pieces of the Sun, Saber Dance, and What Would Jimi Do. Enjoy!
Joined: 29 Jan 2004 Posts: 1504 Location: Methuen, MA
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 12:42 pm Post subject:
fingerlakes,
I happened upon a recording of the show that I believe you saw in December. http://www.archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=32627 What's strange, however, is it doesn't have an encore that you mentioned which seemed to be the icing on the cake that night.
I've downloaded several Jim Weider Project Percolator shows from this archive website, and the sound qualities are very good to excellent. I'm amazed at the trouble tapers go through, not only at the show taping it, but afterwards mastering it...
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 908 Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 5:23 pm Post subject:
JohnnyZ wrote:
I'm amazed at the trouble tapers go through, not only at the show taping it, but afterwards mastering it...
JZ, I love live recordings, but I'm beginning to notice a difference in the quality of live music at venues where taping is allowed. When the sound board is being programmed for the tapers, and not for the paying audience, this is a problem. I have several bootlegs that sound better than the live "house" sound. It's disappointing to see this going on. _________________ Travelling by train of thought
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