Holy amazing North concert, Batman!
Last. Night.
In. Crucking. Fredible.
Carolyn and I showed up about 7:10ish, picked up our VIP tickets from schmise, and joined my bandmates aerospcgrl , Chris, Chris' wife Monika and aerospcgrl 's roommate (I forget her name) in line, soon joined by netmouse . I couldn't believe how many people I knew, from how many different parts of my life, were showing up for the concert! Work friends, music friends, neighbors -- every minute or two, someone we knew walked past on their way to the end of the line.
Doors were to open at 7:30 but for some reason it was getting to be 8ish and they hadn't -- we amused ourselves with "least likely reasons the band is running late" list, including:
The six of us took up the 2nd row stage left.
The evening was both a brilliant concert, and almost a "This Is Your Life" for the band. I wish I could remember the names of all the solo artists, who had worked with North in one capacity or another over the years, who came out onstage (I hope someone posts a set list or something, as most of them were fantastic in their own right). And this was really cool (though I screwed up and *forgot* to take advantage of it) -- most or maybe all of them had CDs that were sorta on sale, but as one put it "this is about Joe and the band, so if you like my CD, take it for free, or put whatever you feel like you want to spend in the bucket next to 'em." Mostly original material, but Brian Lillie's (maybe 8-year-old?) daughter joined him onstage and sang "O-bla-dii O-bla-da" quite credibly. A nice memory -- aerospcgrl at the left end of our row, and me at the right, singing it to each other across the row.
I think that was about an hour of solos, before North proper came on. With virtually everyone who had ever been in the band, coming back from out of state for the night. About the only one (at least of those whom I have met) who wasn't there was clunis . Three percussionists (including hmasing and now-famous-elsewhere Tom Sharpe, who put on a fantastic one-man percussion show at one point).
I knew North was good. But this was hit-it-out-of-the-park-and-don't-look-back good. Aside from one guest singer being a bit off a couple of times, it was perfection (well a couple of minor but humorous screwups at the starts of tunes, which actually added to the concert, but then start again and dead on!). It was everything I loved about North, and yet with extra added confidence and credibility, hugely well produced (but not over-produced by any means), and an even wider range of musical styles from a band already well known for a wide range of influences. Great (five-part at one point) vocal harmonies. I loved their newer harder rock tunes. (you should download "I'll Never Be Rid Of You," especially, from The North Website, while you still can. Though all of them are good, that's my personal favorite so far).
The audience vibe was really something too. I'm a relative newcomer to North -- I used to work with drummer (and my hetero life-mate :) ) hmasing , back when Carolyn and I were long-distance, and he'd always invite me, and by bad luck they were always playing when we were in Indiana or elsewhere, for the longer time. I finally saw them in late 2003 or so. However, I think most of their friends and fans have been with them since 1997-ish.
They took a break around 10, and I ended up talking to all the people I happened to know in the audience, so I never made it out to the CD table (*sigh*).
Double-bad because I had RSVP'd early for a bonus set with the new CD, a signed poster and a special EP of earlier and unreleased stuff, and that was where I was supposed to pick it up (no worries there, I've made arrangements to get it from mcniadh sometime soon). physics_phoenix was volunteering at The Ark that night, behind the food/drink counter, and I've never seen her look and sound so happy and relaxed. I met sarahmichigan f2f for the first time (we both recognized each other from our LJ pics). Also ran into airsucker , as well as capital_l (who flew in from out of state, and I knew would be there, having met her for the first time at band practice at aerospcgrl 's after aero had picked her up from the airport). Being that pickyeater is mcniadh 's sister, I knew she'd be there. Got to meet their family. Saw redmomoko in passing too. Wow, before last night I never realized just how much of my LJ friends-list (including some I didn't see but some of you may have been there). And, of course, co-producer mrgeddylee looking quite pleased with the evening too.
Back to a high-energy second hour. My gawd, there were nearly THREE HOURS of music last night, for the low low price of $12.00. A high point was Joe soloing one a new one -- as he put it, "an anthem, not an apology," called "Second Rate;" then he did a raw solo cover of Billy Joe's "I Go To Extremes" to his wife.
There was quite a crowd, and yet it felt like friends-and-family all around us.
After-party at Gratzi's. For the first time in my life, I got to say "we're on the list."
Free desserts and coffee, cash bar. The band got there late (we realized that they had a VERY complex tear-down, and only a limited amount of room on the stage so some who wanted to help couldn't because there was simply no room), but I was glad we waited. I've always expected these things to be speechifyin', but this one felt different. Joe was truly genuine in his gratitude, and was very specific about each of the major players, and what they contributed, and how the album and concert could not have been what it was without them, and they each got a framed copy of the CD with what looked like a nice dedication and a picture of them in action (from what I could tell, I didn't get to see them up close).
Carolyn and I went home very tired, but very happy. In bed around 2:30 or 3 I think.
Anyway, Markus, Hans, Jason, and the rest who I didn't know at all, or had only vaguely met before last night ... and above all Joe... thanks for a real class act and an unforgettable evening! Now I know why it was so hard to get hold of you these last months.
I can't WAIT to get hold of my copy of the CD ... I've only got those three downloads to play over and over.
PS I ganked your LJ icon from moving_north . Let me know if I should pull it and I'll gladly sub. in something else.
In. Crucking. Fredible.
Carolyn and I showed up about 7:10ish, picked up our VIP tickets from schmise, and joined my bandmates aerospcgrl , Chris, Chris' wife Monika and aerospcgrl 's roommate (I forget her name) in line, soon joined by netmouse . I couldn't believe how many people I knew, from how many different parts of my life, were showing up for the concert! Work friends, music friends, neighbors -- every minute or two, someone we knew walked past on their way to the end of the line.
Doors were to open at 7:30 but for some reason it was getting to be 8ish and they hadn't -- we amused ourselves with "least likely reasons the band is running late" list, including:
- hmasing having a panic attack
- mcniadh giving an overly-long speech
- Conversely, _earthshine_ giving everyone the silent treatment.
The six of us took up the 2nd row stage left.
The evening was both a brilliant concert, and almost a "This Is Your Life" for the band. I wish I could remember the names of all the solo artists, who had worked with North in one capacity or another over the years, who came out onstage (I hope someone posts a set list or something, as most of them were fantastic in their own right). And this was really cool (though I screwed up and *forgot* to take advantage of it) -- most or maybe all of them had CDs that were sorta on sale, but as one put it "this is about Joe and the band, so if you like my CD, take it for free, or put whatever you feel like you want to spend in the bucket next to 'em." Mostly original material, but Brian Lillie's (maybe 8-year-old?) daughter joined him onstage and sang "O-bla-dii O-bla-da" quite credibly. A nice memory -- aerospcgrl at the left end of our row, and me at the right, singing it to each other across the row.
I think that was about an hour of solos, before North proper came on. With virtually everyone who had ever been in the band, coming back from out of state for the night. About the only one (at least of those whom I have met) who wasn't there was clunis . Three percussionists (including hmasing and now-famous-elsewhere Tom Sharpe, who put on a fantastic one-man percussion show at one point).
I knew North was good. But this was hit-it-out-of-the-park-and-don't-look-back good. Aside from one guest singer being a bit off a couple of times, it was perfection (well a couple of minor but humorous screwups at the starts of tunes, which actually added to the concert, but then start again and dead on!). It was everything I loved about North, and yet with extra added confidence and credibility, hugely well produced (but not over-produced by any means), and an even wider range of musical styles from a band already well known for a wide range of influences. Great (five-part at one point) vocal harmonies. I loved their newer harder rock tunes. (you should download "I'll Never Be Rid Of You," especially, from The North Website, while you still can. Though all of them are good, that's my personal favorite so far).
The audience vibe was really something too. I'm a relative newcomer to North -- I used to work with drummer (and my hetero life-mate :) ) hmasing , back when Carolyn and I were long-distance, and he'd always invite me, and by bad luck they were always playing when we were in Indiana or elsewhere, for the longer time. I finally saw them in late 2003 or so. However, I think most of their friends and fans have been with them since 1997-ish.
They took a break around 10, and I ended up talking to all the people I happened to know in the audience, so I never made it out to the CD table (*sigh*).
Double-bad because I had RSVP'd early for a bonus set with the new CD, a signed poster and a special EP of earlier and unreleased stuff, and that was where I was supposed to pick it up (no worries there, I've made arrangements to get it from mcniadh sometime soon). physics_phoenix was volunteering at The Ark that night, behind the food/drink counter, and I've never seen her look and sound so happy and relaxed. I met sarahmichigan f2f for the first time (we both recognized each other from our LJ pics). Also ran into airsucker , as well as capital_l (who flew in from out of state, and I knew would be there, having met her for the first time at band practice at aerospcgrl 's after aero had picked her up from the airport). Being that pickyeater is mcniadh 's sister, I knew she'd be there. Got to meet their family. Saw redmomoko in passing too. Wow, before last night I never realized just how much of my LJ friends-list (including some I didn't see but some of you may have been there). And, of course, co-producer mrgeddylee looking quite pleased with the evening too.
Back to a high-energy second hour. My gawd, there were nearly THREE HOURS of music last night, for the low low price of $12.00. A high point was Joe soloing one a new one -- as he put it, "an anthem, not an apology," called "Second Rate;" then he did a raw solo cover of Billy Joe's "I Go To Extremes" to his wife.
There was quite a crowd, and yet it felt like friends-and-family all around us.
After-party at Gratzi's. For the first time in my life, I got to say "we're on the list."
Free desserts and coffee, cash bar. The band got there late (we realized that they had a VERY complex tear-down, and only a limited amount of room on the stage so some who wanted to help couldn't because there was simply no room), but I was glad we waited. I've always expected these things to be speechifyin', but this one felt different. Joe was truly genuine in his gratitude, and was very specific about each of the major players, and what they contributed, and how the album and concert could not have been what it was without them, and they each got a framed copy of the CD with what looked like a nice dedication and a picture of them in action (from what I could tell, I didn't get to see them up close).
Carolyn and I went home very tired, but very happy. In bed around 2:30 or 3 I think.
Anyway, Markus, Hans, Jason, and the rest who I didn't know at all, or had only vaguely met before last night ... and above all Joe... thanks for a real class act and an unforgettable evening! Now I know why it was so hard to get hold of you these last months.
I can't WAIT to get hold of my copy of the CD ... I've only got those three downloads to play over and over.
PS I ganked your LJ icon from moving_north . Let me know if I should pull it and I'll gladly sub. in something else.