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headstock
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Joined: 02 Dec 2003
Posts: 5
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 Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 6:07 am Post subject: Mean Fiddler – London 18-11-06 |
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What a great gig! Robben was on top form, as was Melvin on bass and Gary on drums. I think this is the first time I’ve seen Robben play in a trio format since the Blue Line days. I much prefer the raw sound that he achieves in this format and that it allows more freedom for the band as a whole. The set was well chosen and a delight to hear reworked versions of many of my personal favourites. A guest guitarist (Dave Wise I think as I didn’t quite catch the name – apologies if I miss heard) did a sterling job of holding his own in “Cannonball Shuffle”. Not an easy job when your on stage with such a formidable talent as Robben. The sound was good and Robbens guitar playing came over clearly in the mix. The Mean Fiddler is not the best place to see the stage clearly unless your right at the front but I managed to get a few half decent pictures.
http://www.ianwoolway.co.uk/images/rf18_11_06/index.htm
Enjoy
Ian |
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jedmon01
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Joined: 19 Nov 2006
Posts: 5
Location: UK
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| Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 10:06 am Post subject: Robben Ford at the Mean Fiddler |
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Couldn't agree more Ian. I was at the front of the stage in line with Robben and the sound was awsome. It looked as though Robben was really enjoying the gig. My only wish was that Dave ( bless his heart ), would do his retuning off stage as I found it quite a distraction.
I almost broke my neck at the end trying to get Robben's Zendrive settings, but even with binoculars I failed miserably. Did anyone else manage to get them ? |
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diatonicdude
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Joined: 17 Jul 2003
Posts: 381
Location: Norfolk/UK
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| Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 11:44 am Post subject: |
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Welcome to the board headstock!
Glad to see you enjoyed the gig. I think you would agree, that the whole spectacle is very inspirational.
Many thanks for sharing the pictures too. Now, thanks to you, I have pics to remember this particular tour.
Cheers,
DD
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ellsworth
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Joined: 12 Oct 2006
Posts: 50
Location: london
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| Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 2:12 pm Post subject: |
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Robben was, as usual, fantastic! I love the way he can cover blues, jazz,rock in just about every lick he plays.
Must admit I couln't hear the guest guitar player. Hats off to the guy though for getting up on stage with a legend like Robben!
One negative about the gig was the w•••ers who just stand and talk at the top of their voices all evening, why dont they f••k off outside if all they want do is chat all night 
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ellsworth
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Joined: 12 Oct 2006
Posts: 50
Location: london
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| Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 2:16 pm Post subject: |
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Isn't it pathetic...a 10pm curfew in the throbbiing metropolis that is London..you just have to ask why 
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Bill Morgan
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Joined: 16 Jul 2003
Posts: 379
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 1:49 am Post subject: Re: Mean Fiddler – London 18-11-06 |
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| headstock wrote: | The Mean Fiddler is not the best place to see the stage clearly unless your right at the front but I managed to get a few half decent pictures.
Ian |
Totally OT, but I see that you used a G7 for those pics, and I was wondering what you think of it. I was thinking of getting one, but now that the Nikon D40 is coming out, I might get one of those instead. Pretty much the same price here in Tokyo.
Bill |
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Daved
Robben Connection
Joined: 08 Aug 2003
Posts: 943
Location: Terra Firma, Ether Sea
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| Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 7:18 am Post subject: Re: Robben Ford at the Mean Fiddler |
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| jedmon01 wrote: | | ...My only wish was that Dave ( bless his heart ), would do his retuning off stage as I found it quite a distraction.... |
Sorry 'bout that, Jed.
But it was actually Robben who suggested in my early years that I set up right behind him. He likes me close to him and on his side of the stage. He starts getting a little nervous and unsettled if I'm not.
Robben feels as Santana, Allman Brothers, Phil Lesh, Dan Reed, Eddie Money, and many others I've worked with thru the years, who have no aversion to the crew "being part of the show", as long as we are there ontop of our gig making sure all the mechanics and production go as smoothly as possible.
I know this kind of 'crew participation' bothers some people (especially other stage techs who are used to the whole "The crew should be invisable like they don't exist" kind of show) who tend to think that seeing the crew is "unprofessional".
I could agree with them when the show is all about the presentation (such as a David Bowie or Alice Cooper spectacle) rather than the music. But, there have been many groups and artists who have incorporated their crew into the act thru the years (Jethro Tull, Harry Chapin, ELO, etc.).
Usually, I try to set up close but as near to offstage as I can comfortably get away with.
In fact, when I first set up at the Mean Fiddler, I DID set my area up offstage next to the monitor board, but then the guest guitarist showed up and I had no room to get the band comfortably on and off the stage, so I moved back to my position behind Robben which, as you may have noticed, was not a problem with him at all.
Possibly you might also have noticed that once the show was up and running smoothly, and I realized the LD was lighting me up as much as the bandmembers rather than letting me dwell in the shadows, that I tried to 'hover' in the stairwell at the side of the stage whenever I was not actually tweaking gear.
Sorry I was a distraction for you (I can appreciate that, and believe me, I try to be aware that there are fans for whom my prescence IS a distraction), but Robben seems to find it more of a distraction if I am not "right there"... and, as his tech, his wishes and comfort are what are most important to me.
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"This boy's diseased with rhythm!" -Bing Crosby (Road To Rio, '49)  |
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Adam
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Joined: 20 Nov 2006
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 7:48 am Post subject: |
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| ellsworth wrote: | | Isn't it pathetic...a 10pm curfew in the throbbiing metropolis that is London..you just have to ask why |
Apparently, they re-open the venue as a club night afterwards. I didn't mind - the gig went on for just as long as it would have done (I assume!) but RF would have just come on later - plus I got to do something else with the rest of Saturday night.
I heard the second guitarist's name as "Dan Weiss" and couldn't hear him either - difficult to know why he was there - was it RF? the label? the promotor? that made that decision.
Incidentally, I was standing to the right of the stage up in the balcony bar area and I learned more about RF's technique watching him sideways than I have watching the concert and instructional DVDs - he really digs in and pulls at the strings.
Adam |
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headstock
Member
Joined: 02 Dec 2003
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 8:03 am Post subject: Re: Mean Fiddler – London 18-11-06 |
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| Bill Morgan wrote: | | headstock wrote: | The Mean Fiddler is not the best place to see the stage clearly unless your right at the front but I managed to get a few half decent pictures.
Ian |
Totally OT, but I see that you used a G7 for those pics, and I was wondering what you think of it. I was thinking of getting one, but now that the Nikon D40 is coming out, I might get one of those instead. Pretty much the same price here in Tokyo.
Bill |
That's right right Bill, I received the Canon G7 in the mail that morning so I was very much "trying it out", seems to work OK  |
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nickwood
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Joined: 20 Nov 2006
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 12:28 pm Post subject: mean fiddler |
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ellsworth.
Why the hell do people pay to see a great act and then talk all the way
through.If I want to listen to inane drivel Ican listen to commercial radio.
Still it was my first time seeing RF live and it wont be the last |
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jdlwcec
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Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 16
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| Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 8:25 pm Post subject: Re: Robben Ford at the Mean Fiddler |
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Daved,
Thanks for the insight into Robben's preferences on stage. It sounds like you are a big part of his comfort level that allows him to just create without worrying. I love the "organic" process that Robben uses on stage (like the ABB) much better than the performers that have everything in the can and scripted. I say, well done and two thumbs up!
Dan L.
"Sorry 'bout that, Jed. But it was actually Robben who suggested in my early years that I set up right behind him. He likes me close to him and on his side of the stage. He starts getting a little nervous and unsettled if I'm not." |
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ellsworth
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Joined: 12 Oct 2006
Posts: 50
Location: london
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| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 12:28 am Post subject: |
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How the heck do you get your camera into the MF? They do a bag search. I quite fancied taking my Nikon D70 but I was worried some thug on the door might grab it 
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headstock
Member
Joined: 02 Dec 2003
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 10:36 am Post subject: |
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| ellsworth wrote: | | How the heck do you get your camera into the MF? They do a bag search. I quite fancied taking my Nikon D70 but I was worried some thug on the door might grab it |
I have one of these:-
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0611/06111701canong7review.asp
just carried it in in my jacket!! There were loads of folks taking pix, some guy had a video camera (see my link)
Ian |
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jedmon01
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Joined: 19 Nov 2006
Posts: 5
Location: UK
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| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:16 am Post subject: Robben at Mean Fiddler |
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Hi Daved,
Believe me, if Robben wants you close by that's fine by me, and you are as much part of the show as anyone. I think it was because you were spotlighted, and my eyes just kept jumping to you when you appeared from the sideline. Mind you if you had been in the shadow I would probably have been annoyed because I could see what you were doing LOL
Fabulous show ........
BTW What were Robben's Zendrive settings ?
John |
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BlueRunner
Senior Member
Joined: 19 Sep 2003
Posts: 646
Location: City of Trees, USA
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| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 4:49 pm Post subject: |
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 Thanks for the great reviews! Really enjoyed the photos, and before I saw Daved's reply, was about to say that the shots from stage left were wonderful, 'cause I could see him working hard. The set-up was a bit like the Canyon Club in Agoura, CA, this summer, where my daughter and I enjoyed watching Daved at work while the band played. (And the curfew or conversion-to-nightclub sounds similar as well. I guess club owners don't think blues fans are young enough to stay up past 10:00, so they shoo the bluesmen out and bring in disco. Or DJ's. Or "dance music." Or whatever that stuff is.)
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