Eccovi un po' di link segnalati da Maria Luisa (membro TCI) che puntano ad una sua recensione e alle sue (splendide) foto.
Buona visione e... lettura.
http://www.italyrocklive.it/LiveReports/FISH
Per le foto di Milano il link è questo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shadowqueen/sets/72157603386521337/
Per le foto di Bologna è questo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shadowqueen/sets/72157603359051621/
24 dicembre 2007
22 dicembre 2007
Script Tour 2008
Riporto dall'ultima news sul sito dei Silver Key, traducendo una notizia arrivata tramite MySpace:
Mick Pointer, originale batterista dei Marillion ha formato un suo gruppo progressive, gli Arena. Quest’anno, per celebrare il venticinquesimo anniversario dell’uscita di quel disco storico, gli Arena faranno una tournée in tutta Europa suonando nuovamente dal vivo pezzi che ormai erano quasi esclusivamente territorio delle tribute-band. Oltre alle tracce del disco, gli Arena ci hanno tenuto a far sapere che la track list del concerto conterrà degli “extra”, come la meravigliosa Grendel. Il “line up” sarà composto, ovviamente, da Mick Pointer (ex-Marillion e Arena), Nick Barrett (Pendragon), Mike Varty (Credo), Ian Salmon (Arena) e il cantante Brian Cummins, specializzato in cover di Peter Gabriel e altri artisti progressive. Non sono ancora state annunciate delle date definitive, tranne una confermata a Boerderij Zoetermeer, in Olanda, per il 17 aprile 2008. Speriamo ardentemente che gli Arena abbiano almeno una data italiana per questa imperdibile tournée…
Mick Pointer, originale batterista dei Marillion ha formato un suo gruppo progressive, gli Arena. Quest’anno, per celebrare il venticinquesimo anniversario dell’uscita di quel disco storico, gli Arena faranno una tournée in tutta Europa suonando nuovamente dal vivo pezzi che ormai erano quasi esclusivamente territorio delle tribute-band. Oltre alle tracce del disco, gli Arena ci hanno tenuto a far sapere che la track list del concerto conterrà degli “extra”, come la meravigliosa Grendel. Il “line up” sarà composto, ovviamente, da Mick Pointer (ex-Marillion e Arena), Nick Barrett (Pendragon), Mike Varty (Credo), Ian Salmon (Arena) e il cantante Brian Cummins, specializzato in cover di Peter Gabriel e altri artisti progressive. Non sono ancora state annunciate delle date definitive, tranne una confermata a Boerderij Zoetermeer, in Olanda, per il 17 aprile 2008. Speriamo ardentemente che gli Arena abbiano almeno una data italiana per questa imperdibile tournée…
19 dicembre 2007
Date posticipate
Una comunicazione veloce, ma doverosa. Le ultime tre date del tour ''Clutching at Stars'' sono state posticipate nel 2008 a causa di un'attacco cardiaco, fortunatamente di lieve entità , che ha colpito ieri il chitarrista di Fish, Frank Usher. Era impossibile trovare un rimpiazzo con un preavviso di soli due giorni, per cui la decisione è stata necessaria, anche se si trattava di tre concerti già praticamente sold out. Non possiamo che unirci a Fish nell'augurare a Frankie una ripresa veloce e totale, nella speranza di vederlo al più presto on stage al suo fianco.
In tutto questo, la ''nota di colore'' sta' nel fatto che tre sciammannati di TCI avevano già prenotato biglietti aerei ed auto per vedersi l'ultima data del Tour, il 22 a Crewe, vicino a Liverpool. Vi lascio immaginare il torpiloquio in atto da ieri sera, quando la notizia ci è stata comunicata, ma questo tipo di infortunio rientra nelle più sacre tradizioni del fan club, e i due ''novellini'' del gruppo è giusto che pagassero dazio ( e gli è andata ancora bene, perchè di solito la cancellazione della data avviene quando si è già lì sul posto).
Benvenuti tra noi, cari Andrea e Gianluca !!! :-)))))))))))))))))))
Rinnovando a tutti gli auguri di un buon Natale ed un roboante 2008, vi saluto con il solito
TAKE CARE, STAY ALIVE !!!
Fabio
In tutto questo, la ''nota di colore'' sta' nel fatto che tre sciammannati di TCI avevano già prenotato biglietti aerei ed auto per vedersi l'ultima data del Tour, il 22 a Crewe, vicino a Liverpool. Vi lascio immaginare il torpiloquio in atto da ieri sera, quando la notizia ci è stata comunicata, ma questo tipo di infortunio rientra nelle più sacre tradizioni del fan club, e i due ''novellini'' del gruppo è giusto che pagassero dazio ( e gli è andata ancora bene, perchè di solito la cancellazione della data avviene quando si è già lì sul posto).
Benvenuti tra noi, cari Andrea e Gianluca !!! :-)))))))))))))))))))
Rinnovando a tutti gli auguri di un buon Natale ed un roboante 2008, vi saluto con il solito
TAKE CARE, STAY ALIVE !!!
Fabio
17 dicembre 2007
Stazione Birra
Qui il webmaster di TCI.
Pubblico le scuse di TCI per quanto riguarda il post di Fabio, qua sotto. Ho tolto la frase incriminata in quanto fonte di misunderstanding e di inutili antipatie. Noi abbiamo bisogno che Fish abbia il SUO pubblico e Stazione Birra è quella che è riuscita ad averne di più. Questo è quello che conta per noi... E per questo io, e l'intero staff presente a Roma (purtroppo personalmente non ho potuto esserci), non possiamo fare altro che ringraziare Dante per la sua passione e la sua "folle" missione nel cercare di portare la musica di qualità in un paese immerso tra suonerie e musica-spazzatura.
Certi commenti "riportati" (Fabio è un cronista d'assalto... riporta, a volte senza badare "a spese") sono dannosi, e oltretutto andrebbero sempre chiariti e discussi vis-a-vis, non tramite post e commenti su un blog.
Alla prossima occasione vedremo di parlare con Dante davanti ad una delle sue famose birre (la birra può TUTTO, specie se è buona).
Pace fatta, spero...
Maurizio.
Pubblico le scuse di TCI per quanto riguarda il post di Fabio, qua sotto. Ho tolto la frase incriminata in quanto fonte di misunderstanding e di inutili antipatie. Noi abbiamo bisogno che Fish abbia il SUO pubblico e Stazione Birra è quella che è riuscita ad averne di più. Questo è quello che conta per noi... E per questo io, e l'intero staff presente a Roma (purtroppo personalmente non ho potuto esserci), non possiamo fare altro che ringraziare Dante per la sua passione e la sua "folle" missione nel cercare di portare la musica di qualità in un paese immerso tra suonerie e musica-spazzatura.
Certi commenti "riportati" (Fabio è un cronista d'assalto... riporta, a volte senza badare "a spese") sono dannosi, e oltretutto andrebbero sempre chiariti e discussi vis-a-vis, non tramite post e commenti su un blog.
Alla prossima occasione vedremo di parlare con Dante davanti ad una delle sue famose birre (la birra può TUTTO, specie se è buona).
Pace fatta, spero...
Maurizio.
16 dicembre 2007
Bilancio Date Italiane
Slaìnte a tutti.
Ho volutamente lasciato passare qualche giorno prima di postare qualcosa in merito alle date italiane, per non farmi prendere troppo dall'emozione del momento e per ragionarci un po ' a mente fredda.
Cominciamo dalle note negative. La più grossa resta per me l'affluenza di pubblico alla data di Milano. 380 persone dopo mesi di volantinaggio e promozione sono un risultato inaccettabile. Certo rispetto alle 250 scarse della precedente esibizione milanese all'Indian Saloon siamo in netto miglioramento, ma lì parliamo di una data che non era nemmeno stata riportata sui giornali, mentre qui parliamo di un promoter che ha stampato e distribuito, con il nostro aiuto, migliaia di volantini a tutti i concerti ( con una qualche "relazione" con Fish e Marillion) che ci sono stati a Milano ( Dream Theater, Rush, Porcupine Tree, Musical Box, PFM e persino Springsteen), che ha fatto fare promozione radiofonica, sui giornali e nei locali, insomma un promoter che Fish in Italia non aveva da anni e forse anzi non ha mai avuto nella sua carriera solista. E se penso al migliaio abbondante di presenze al concerto dei Marillion di qualche mese prima l'amaro in bocca aumenta ancora di più, e non certo per l'invidia, dato che il sottoscritto è membro anche del Fan Club marillico e tiene il piede in due scarpe con grande soddisfazione (magari con qualche sassolino impossibile da togliere dovuto principalmente alla infinita, noiosissima e soprattutto inutile diatriba con Steve Hogarth). Bisogna accettare il fatto che gran parte dei fans ( milanesi e non) attuali dei Marillion non ha il benchè minimo interesse ad andare a vedere Fish, per una serie diversa di motivi che è inutile sviscerare in questa sede, ma il dato di fatto è che appare inutile far conto su quella base per pianificare sia tour che promozione, ed invece il lavoro va' fatto per creare una base ex novo puntando su cavalli diversi ( ad esempio i Porcupine Tree hanno dei fans a cui 13th Star potrebbe piacere parecchio).
Bologna: il disastro era già annunciato dalle scarse prevendite, ed è stato confermato. 189 spettatori paganti, organizzazione al minimo sindacale storico ( e non per colpa del promoter), locale inadatto in quanto troppo grande, il simpaticissimo gestore del locale che si permette di dire " E' la prima volta che suoni a Bologna, e sarà anche l'ultima" a Fish perchè si era discusso sull'orario di apertura del concerto ( tra l'altro "tagliato" di "Vigil" e "The Last Straw" per permettere la discoteca ai rincoglioniti di turno del sabato sera), magari dimenticandosi che qualche annetto prima Fish a Bologna ci suonava davanti a qualche migliaio di persone. Inoltre, concomitanza con Milan-Juve in un paese in cui il Calcio conta più del Papa, e con il concerto di Zucchero, che sicuramente ha un taglio di fans che ci azzecca poco con Fish, ma che una buona concorrenza con il pubblico "neutro" la fa' comunque.
Qualcuno diceva che tre date per Fish erano troppe. Forse aveva ragione, ma sono comunque felice che il promoter ci abbia provato.
Ultima nota negativa è che il promoter ha perso dei soldi e speriamo trovi il modo di recuperarli con qualche progetto che coinvolga Fish per il prossimo anno, altrimenti passerà molto tempo prima di vederlo ancora nel nostro paese, e Lorelei non è alla portata di tutti.
Ma tiriamoci un po' su il morale:
Fish in ottima forma in tutte e tre le date, con Roma su tutte : 5-600 persone, merchandising saccheggiato per la gioia di Tara, la figlia di Fish che ora lo segue in tour come addetta alla vendita. Ottima anche la data di Milano, con voce leggermente al di sotto rispetto a Roma e Bologna, ma con un pubblico parecchio "caldo" che Fish ha particolarmente apprezzato ed anche qui buoni i riscontri al merchandising.
Ci sono contatti per poter ritornare in estate, ma è ancora troppo presto per anticipare qualcosa, inoltre Second Life ha trasmesso ( e ritrasmetterà a breve) una data "virtuale" basata sulle riprese di Milano e Bologna ( NO, NON LE ABBIAMO A DISPOSIZIONE, so don't write) e questo è un buon veicolo promozionale. Ovviamente avviseremo sia via newsletter che sul sito quando ci sarà la replica.
Inoltre qualche persona della "vecchia guardia" è ritornato a galla, gettando al di là dell'ostacolo serie vicissitudini personali, e qualche altro che già gravitava nei paraggi si è aggregato allo Staff, aumentando le scarse forze a disposizione per promuovere Fish nel nostro paese.
13th Star resta forse la freccia migliore al nostro arco. Sono veramente poche le voci che hanno commentato negativamente il disco, che può veramente rilanciare Fish a buoni livelli. Sta a noi ora promuoverlo anche con il passa-parola e ricordiamoci che a gennaio uscirtà l'edizione singola, con un prezzo decisamente più abbordabile rispetto ai 27 Euro della limited edition. Se qualcuno ha contatti seri nelle radio, mi scriva.
Detto questo, vorrei veramente ringraziare tutti quelli che hanno partecipato alle date, che ho conosciuto e con cui ci siamo bevuti una birra. E' bello vedersi "dal vivo" dopo le conoscenze avute via mail o telefono. Spero mi perdoniate se magari non ho avuto molto tempo da dedicarvi, ma essendo impegnato in prima persona nelle date ( a Milano e Bologna strappavo i biglietti all'entrata e a Bologna facevo da Security nel back stage dopo il concerto) ho avuto un paio di giornate da incubo.
Un ringraziamento speciale a chi ha dato una mano nei limiti , ma spesso anche al di là, dei propri impegni personali, sperandi di non dimenticare nessuno: Maurizio Bonomi, Andrea Bobbiesi, i due Gianluca, Zandini e Petri ( anche se ancora mi chiedo come diavolo abbia fatto a finire a Modena arrivando da Roma), Fabio Minetto, Monica Aprea ma soprattutto a Daina della D&D, la promoter, che non è stata ripagata degli sforzi fatti e delle fatiche di seguire di persona tutte e tre le date, con tanto di nottata sul tourbus da Roma a Bologna in mezzo ad una ciurma di musicisti abbruttiti :-))))
Infine, se qualcuno lunedi sera è dalle parti Milano, saremo tutti alla Budineria di Via Chiesa Rossa 53 , sul naviglio pavese, a farci gli auguri di Natale ascoltandoci i Silver Key, cover band marillica che tra le altre cose dell'Era Fish esegue una notevole Grendel, con tanto di Elmo originale prestato dal sottoscritto.
Altrimenti, buone feste a tutti e felice 2008
TAKE CARE, STAY ALIVE
Fabio
Ho volutamente lasciato passare qualche giorno prima di postare qualcosa in merito alle date italiane, per non farmi prendere troppo dall'emozione del momento e per ragionarci un po ' a mente fredda.
Cominciamo dalle note negative. La più grossa resta per me l'affluenza di pubblico alla data di Milano. 380 persone dopo mesi di volantinaggio e promozione sono un risultato inaccettabile. Certo rispetto alle 250 scarse della precedente esibizione milanese all'Indian Saloon siamo in netto miglioramento, ma lì parliamo di una data che non era nemmeno stata riportata sui giornali, mentre qui parliamo di un promoter che ha stampato e distribuito, con il nostro aiuto, migliaia di volantini a tutti i concerti ( con una qualche "relazione" con Fish e Marillion) che ci sono stati a Milano ( Dream Theater, Rush, Porcupine Tree, Musical Box, PFM e persino Springsteen), che ha fatto fare promozione radiofonica, sui giornali e nei locali, insomma un promoter che Fish in Italia non aveva da anni e forse anzi non ha mai avuto nella sua carriera solista. E se penso al migliaio abbondante di presenze al concerto dei Marillion di qualche mese prima l'amaro in bocca aumenta ancora di più, e non certo per l'invidia, dato che il sottoscritto è membro anche del Fan Club marillico e tiene il piede in due scarpe con grande soddisfazione (magari con qualche sassolino impossibile da togliere dovuto principalmente alla infinita, noiosissima e soprattutto inutile diatriba con Steve Hogarth). Bisogna accettare il fatto che gran parte dei fans ( milanesi e non) attuali dei Marillion non ha il benchè minimo interesse ad andare a vedere Fish, per una serie diversa di motivi che è inutile sviscerare in questa sede, ma il dato di fatto è che appare inutile far conto su quella base per pianificare sia tour che promozione, ed invece il lavoro va' fatto per creare una base ex novo puntando su cavalli diversi ( ad esempio i Porcupine Tree hanno dei fans a cui 13th Star potrebbe piacere parecchio).
Bologna: il disastro era già annunciato dalle scarse prevendite, ed è stato confermato. 189 spettatori paganti, organizzazione al minimo sindacale storico ( e non per colpa del promoter), locale inadatto in quanto troppo grande, il simpaticissimo gestore del locale che si permette di dire " E' la prima volta che suoni a Bologna, e sarà anche l'ultima" a Fish perchè si era discusso sull'orario di apertura del concerto ( tra l'altro "tagliato" di "Vigil" e "The Last Straw" per permettere la discoteca ai rincoglioniti di turno del sabato sera), magari dimenticandosi che qualche annetto prima Fish a Bologna ci suonava davanti a qualche migliaio di persone. Inoltre, concomitanza con Milan-Juve in un paese in cui il Calcio conta più del Papa, e con il concerto di Zucchero, che sicuramente ha un taglio di fans che ci azzecca poco con Fish, ma che una buona concorrenza con il pubblico "neutro" la fa' comunque.
Qualcuno diceva che tre date per Fish erano troppe. Forse aveva ragione, ma sono comunque felice che il promoter ci abbia provato.
Ultima nota negativa è che il promoter ha perso dei soldi e speriamo trovi il modo di recuperarli con qualche progetto che coinvolga Fish per il prossimo anno, altrimenti passerà molto tempo prima di vederlo ancora nel nostro paese, e Lorelei non è alla portata di tutti.
Ma tiriamoci un po' su il morale:
Fish in ottima forma in tutte e tre le date, con Roma su tutte : 5-600 persone, merchandising saccheggiato per la gioia di Tara, la figlia di Fish che ora lo segue in tour come addetta alla vendita. Ottima anche la data di Milano, con voce leggermente al di sotto rispetto a Roma e Bologna, ma con un pubblico parecchio "caldo" che Fish ha particolarmente apprezzato ed anche qui buoni i riscontri al merchandising.
Ci sono contatti per poter ritornare in estate, ma è ancora troppo presto per anticipare qualcosa, inoltre Second Life ha trasmesso ( e ritrasmetterà a breve) una data "virtuale" basata sulle riprese di Milano e Bologna ( NO, NON LE ABBIAMO A DISPOSIZIONE, so don't write) e questo è un buon veicolo promozionale. Ovviamente avviseremo sia via newsletter che sul sito quando ci sarà la replica.
Inoltre qualche persona della "vecchia guardia" è ritornato a galla, gettando al di là dell'ostacolo serie vicissitudini personali, e qualche altro che già gravitava nei paraggi si è aggregato allo Staff, aumentando le scarse forze a disposizione per promuovere Fish nel nostro paese.
13th Star resta forse la freccia migliore al nostro arco. Sono veramente poche le voci che hanno commentato negativamente il disco, che può veramente rilanciare Fish a buoni livelli. Sta a noi ora promuoverlo anche con il passa-parola e ricordiamoci che a gennaio uscirtà l'edizione singola, con un prezzo decisamente più abbordabile rispetto ai 27 Euro della limited edition. Se qualcuno ha contatti seri nelle radio, mi scriva.
Detto questo, vorrei veramente ringraziare tutti quelli che hanno partecipato alle date, che ho conosciuto e con cui ci siamo bevuti una birra. E' bello vedersi "dal vivo" dopo le conoscenze avute via mail o telefono. Spero mi perdoniate se magari non ho avuto molto tempo da dedicarvi, ma essendo impegnato in prima persona nelle date ( a Milano e Bologna strappavo i biglietti all'entrata e a Bologna facevo da Security nel back stage dopo il concerto) ho avuto un paio di giornate da incubo.
Un ringraziamento speciale a chi ha dato una mano nei limiti , ma spesso anche al di là, dei propri impegni personali, sperandi di non dimenticare nessuno: Maurizio Bonomi, Andrea Bobbiesi, i due Gianluca, Zandini e Petri ( anche se ancora mi chiedo come diavolo abbia fatto a finire a Modena arrivando da Roma), Fabio Minetto, Monica Aprea ma soprattutto a Daina della D&D, la promoter, che non è stata ripagata degli sforzi fatti e delle fatiche di seguire di persona tutte e tre le date, con tanto di nottata sul tourbus da Roma a Bologna in mezzo ad una ciurma di musicisti abbruttiti :-))))
Infine, se qualcuno lunedi sera è dalle parti Milano, saremo tutti alla Budineria di Via Chiesa Rossa 53 , sul naviglio pavese, a farci gli auguri di Natale ascoltandoci i Silver Key, cover band marillica che tra le altre cose dell'Era Fish esegue una notevole Grendel, con tanto di Elmo originale prestato dal sottoscritto.
Altrimenti, buone feste a tutti e felice 2008
TAKE CARE, STAY ALIVE
Fabio
09 dicembre 2007
Altre foto (data di Roma)
Alcune meravigliose foto del meraviglioso concerto di Fish a Roma...
http://www.stazionebirra.it/fish.html
http://www.stazionebirra.it/fish.html
Articoli sulle date di Fish
Only for joking...
Questa foto bizzarra ma inquietante, ironica ma anche simbolo del "tempo che passa inesorabile", l'abbiamo scattata il giorno del concerto di Milano. La macchina in questione era parcheggiata DAVANTI al tour bus di Fish. ;)
Ma l'importante è essere giovani DENTRO... giusto?!? :)
Foto gig di Bologna
Abbiamo preparato una piccola galleria web con una selezione di foto della data di Bologna. La qualità delle immagini non è eccelsa a causa di una gestione quasi "barocca" delle luci dal parte di un "cerebroleso" messo a disposizione dall'Estragon di Bologna che continuava a mantenere Fish al buio, sparando le luci "a casaccio" su pubblico e soffitto... Beh, nonostante questo vi auguriamo una buona visione.
Cliccate qua.
28 novembre 2007
Last Minute News (Fish in Italia)
Siamo lieti di comunicarvi che domani 28/11/07 Fish sarà a Rock TV, per una intervista live alle ore 14.30 circa. Inoltre il giorno dopo 29/11/07, giorno del concerto , verrà intervistato a Rock FM alle ore 13.30 circa.
Passiamo ora ad alcune comunicazioni di servizio.
I biglietti di chi ha prenotato tramite noi saranno disponibili alle casse, con busta nominativa. L'appuntamento per entrare prima è intorno alle 19.30 circa. Coloro che hanno vinto il cd live sono pregati di arrivare a quell'ora, o di farsi vivi dopo il concerto. Per la data di Roma, purtroppo, non ci sarò per motivi famigliari, per cui la consegna dei cd verrà fatta da Andrea e Gianluca, che saranno riconoscibili per lo striscione ''THE COMPANY ITALY IS HERE'' col logo di Fish. Manderò ai vincitori una email singola con i numeri di telefono miei e di Andrea, in modo che ci possano contattare per ritirare i cd live.
Le prevendite di Milano e Roma sono buone, anche se non eclatanti, mentre Bologna resta il fanalino di coda.
Mi raccomando, reinvito tutti a fare più casino possibile, facciamoci sentire !!!
Noi siamo i fans di Fish, and this is no place for children !!!
Fabio
Passiamo ora ad alcune comunicazioni di servizio.
I biglietti di chi ha prenotato tramite noi saranno disponibili alle casse, con busta nominativa. L'appuntamento per entrare prima è intorno alle 19.30 circa. Coloro che hanno vinto il cd live sono pregati di arrivare a quell'ora, o di farsi vivi dopo il concerto. Per la data di Roma, purtroppo, non ci sarò per motivi famigliari, per cui la consegna dei cd verrà fatta da Andrea e Gianluca, che saranno riconoscibili per lo striscione ''THE COMPANY ITALY IS HERE'' col logo di Fish. Manderò ai vincitori una email singola con i numeri di telefono miei e di Andrea, in modo che ci possano contattare per ritirare i cd live.
Le prevendite di Milano e Roma sono buone, anche se non eclatanti, mentre Bologna resta il fanalino di coda.
Mi raccomando, reinvito tutti a fare più casino possibile, facciamoci sentire !!!
Noi siamo i fans di Fish, and this is no place for children !!!
Fabio
16 novembre 2007
Articolo sulle date italiane (parte 1)
Grazie a Giancarlo Passerella, il tour di Fish comincia ad essere "bene in vista" sul web. Cito:
Arriva Fish, gia' guardia forestale, poi cantante dei primi Marillion ed ora semplicemente grande rocker
Leggete l'articolo qua.
Arriva Fish, gia' guardia forestale, poi cantante dei primi Marillion ed ora semplicemente grande rocker
Leggete l'articolo qua.
14 novembre 2007
Confermati i The Watch...
...come special guest a Bologna.
Quindi l'1 Dicembre, a Bologna, prima dell'esibizione del pescione, ci saranno i The Watch. Per informazioni: www.thewatchmusic.net
Quindi l'1 Dicembre, a Bologna, prima dell'esibizione del pescione, ci saranno i The Watch. Per informazioni: www.thewatchmusic.net
11 novembre 2007
FISH 2007 - date italiane (aggiornamento)
Un breve aggiornamento sulla situazione. Le prevendite a Roma e Milano non sono particolarmente brillanti, ma siamo in zona sicurezza. Bologna è sempre bassa , ma il promoter ha deciso di rischiare ugualmente ( grazie!!) e la data si terrà , e sempre all'Estragon. Ci sarà un gruppo di supporto, i milanesi The Watch, gruppo di prog classico anni 70. Niente di eclatante o innovativo, ma dal vivo suonano molto bene e non sono noiosi. Spero che nessuno si metta a rompere le scatole reclamando Fish, dopo tre o quattro pezzi: è un malcostume tipicamente italiota, e sottolineo lo ''iota'', che denota una totale mancanza di rispetto per chi viene ad esibirsi proponendo la propria musica. Oltretutto i The Watch hanno un discreto seguito per cui, viste le prevendite, c'è anche il caso che accada il contrario :-)))
Rinnoviamo l'appello ai fans bolognesi perchè portino più gente possibile ed evitino a Fish la pena di suonare davanti ai parenti : coi Marillion c'erano quasi ottocento persone, dove diavolo sono finite?
Molti ci scrivono lamentandosi che il promoter non ha ancora mandato istruzioni sulle modalità di pagamento e ritiro biglietti. Abbiate pazienza, mi assicurano che a breve verranno inviate ( comunque, visti i dati di vendita, nell'ipotesi che ciò non accadesse, nessuno rischia di rimanere senza , e i CD vinti dai primi venti prenotatori verranno comunque consegnati).
Un avviso importante: il 30 novembre, giorno della data di Roma, è al momento confermato lo sciopero nazionale dei trasporti ( aerei, treni e mezzi pubblici), per cui chi ha in programma di raggiungere la Capitale quel giorno si regoli di conseguenza, o rischia di restare a casa.
Infine, il tour UK, dopo le prime date annullate, è invece proseguito benissimo, con voce a posto e anche tre o quattro sold out, come pure l'inizio del tour europeo.
Speriamo continui così.
Per chi ha bisogno delle istruzioni su come raggiungere i locali dei concerti, ecco i link :
http://www.estragon.it/dove.htm
http://www.stazionebirra.it/dovesiamo.htm
http://www.musicdrome.it/info.htm
Ricordiamo a tutti che il Musicdrome di Milano è comunque l'ex Transilvania, e che su quasi tutti i manifestini stampati è ancora quello il nome indicato.
Until next time,
TAKE CARE, STAY ALIVE
Fabio
Rinnoviamo l'appello ai fans bolognesi perchè portino più gente possibile ed evitino a Fish la pena di suonare davanti ai parenti : coi Marillion c'erano quasi ottocento persone, dove diavolo sono finite?
Molti ci scrivono lamentandosi che il promoter non ha ancora mandato istruzioni sulle modalità di pagamento e ritiro biglietti. Abbiate pazienza, mi assicurano che a breve verranno inviate ( comunque, visti i dati di vendita, nell'ipotesi che ciò non accadesse, nessuno rischia di rimanere senza , e i CD vinti dai primi venti prenotatori verranno comunque consegnati).
Un avviso importante: il 30 novembre, giorno della data di Roma, è al momento confermato lo sciopero nazionale dei trasporti ( aerei, treni e mezzi pubblici), per cui chi ha in programma di raggiungere la Capitale quel giorno si regoli di conseguenza, o rischia di restare a casa.
Infine, il tour UK, dopo le prime date annullate, è invece proseguito benissimo, con voce a posto e anche tre o quattro sold out, come pure l'inizio del tour europeo.
Speriamo continui così.
Per chi ha bisogno delle istruzioni su come raggiungere i locali dei concerti, ecco i link :
http://www.estragon.it/dove.htm
http://www.stazionebirra.it/dovesiamo.htm
http://www.musicdrome.it/info.htm
Ricordiamo a tutti che il Musicdrome di Milano è comunque l'ex Transilvania, e che su quasi tutti i manifestini stampati è ancora quello il nome indicato.
Until next time,
TAKE CARE, STAY ALIVE
Fabio
07 novembre 2007
Fish 2007 - Following the Northern Star
Ennesima lettera fiume del pescione.
Il tempo di tradurla, per ora, è scarso. Quindi ve la pubblichiamo in inglese. A presto la versione nella lingua dello stivale... a presto... ;)
Dear FishHeads, Freaks, fans and the Company,
We were only home a couple of days before it was time to move again. I slept the first two days as did Taz. Not enough time to get a Tesco's run together. Take aways for the first three days. Harley and Spike, my two cats, were all over us and Harley slept in my room every night I was there. On the day we left I found a live mouse in one of my Vans trainers, a present from Spike. Glad I found it before I got on the bus.
I managed to see my friend Phil a couple of times in the week. He was slowly recovering from his back operation but was having trouble dealing with the pain and the morphine. My other friend Hutch was going into hospital that week for heavy steroid doses to deal with his gut problem and, as he had just contracted heavy flu, I couldn't go near him and risk bringing a bundle of bugs onto the tour bus.
Spent the waking hours sorting out business with Elspeth who was doing a magnificent job holding the fort and running the operation while I was away. That and dealing with emails and laundry pretty much took care of my time. The garden had to look after itself.
Saturday morning we were up at 5 to get to the airport and head down to Birmingham to pick up the bus. Foss, Frank, Taz and I had return flights from the first leg. Stuart was flying back in from his girlfriend's in Bordeaux, Gavin and Yatta were training in from Wales. Paul Kennedy was coming up to Brum from Leighton Buzzard. We would all then drive North to Sheffield and meet with McKinty and Chris J driving in from York and Angus who was getting dropped off by his Dad from Blackburn. James was doing monitors on this show and was then off. We hadn't managed to replace him but figured the Dutch monitor guys would be good enough to handle it. We were still looking.
At the airport while picking up some Savlon for Tara's new ear piercing I bumped into Nigel Kennedy who was coming back of tour to catch the Villa/West Ham match. He's a big footy man like me and the last time we met was at a 5 a side competition at Craven Cottage, where we were both playing. One of the good guys, he's still out on the road with his jazz project.
Onto the bus and a kip in my bunk. It was going to be a long day. The Sheffield show was another replacement and had fitted into our outward trip to Holland. The Boardwalk had suffered a bit as Rush were playing the Arena the same night and we had lost around 40 or so tickets through the original cancellation and people opting for refunds. It was still pretty healthy at around 350 or so but we would have sold it out on any other night.
No back projection as the stage and ceiling were so small. Secret had a night off. It was pretty cramped and the onstage sound wasn't that good. Not my favourite venue, long and narrow and the only way out was through the crowd. I managed a pint with Yatta before sound check. Watched the squirrels running up and down the street outside the pub and waited on the Hibs result from Ibrox. We took it 1-0 and went top for a day. Still unbeaten.
The gig was pretty good but the monitors screwed it for me. A fair 8/10. I was glad to get through it and leave it behind us. Jersey, an old friend from days gone by showed up. Now a policeman in Jersey (his name came round in the first place on a Marillo tour when he was in the forces stationed in Germany) he turned up with welcome duty frees and tales of island life. The gig didn't have a shower but the hotel opposite supplied the facilities. I opted for a bath in the venue! They had no shower but had a bath! The local crew ran it for me so I was straight off stage and in the suds before the crowd had thought of leaving the venue! :-D
We had a day off/travel (I was going to get used to that phrase in the coming week) to Groningen in Northern Holland. I slept most of the way including in the hold of the ferry. I didn't wake up till we were 2 hours off the city.
Scotland had Argentina in the Rugby World Cup quarter finals. I didn't hold much hope. That was first task on arrival, find an Irish bar!
We checked into our last hotel for nine days and then zapped into town for something to eat. It was close to the game so we parked ourselves in our designated bar and Tara brought in burgers and chicken pieces to go with the beers. A cool night spoiled by shite rugby. Humped again and more worryingly England was coming on to form. Bus divisions would soon surface :-D
I shifted back to the hotel with Taz, needed sleep. Gig tomorrow and it was sold out!
Monday 8th October, De Oosterpoort, Groningen.
It was great to get back into real gigs again. Great sound systems and comfortable back stage areas with catering and showers etc. The stage itself is pretty cool descending on hydraulics to load the gear onto and then raised for the show. The local crew are fantastic and ultra friendly. I spent the day sorting out my wireless connection thanks to Steve V after getting a new card from a store down from the venue. I met up with Steve Moss, an Irishman and big fan who worked in IT in the town. A couple of beers and a natter before sound check. The monitor engineer was as expected, ace. We tried to entice him out with us but he had commitments to the venue for other shows. Sound was perfect as was the audience who as I knew from previous experience are a "listening" crowd who give a great reaction at the end but tend to go unnervingly quiet between songs. A dangerous situation for a singer who likes to talk! I had to restrain myself. :-D
But a great gig and a sparkling 9.2/10 score!
The Will Smith intro film had the Dutch audience a bit bemused and I was wondering if it would translate. The rest was all working fine, the band tight, the set curved well, the encores the desired effect. It was great to be back in Holland.
I still had my shamaq that I'd been given in St Ives by a sergeant Miller from the Scots Guards. It was my pride and joy on this tour and had taken over from the one I'd bought in Dubai and worn on the "Return to Childhood" tour. It's a British Army Gulf issue and worked well with the trews that Robin Elliot had made for me from the Dick Tartan. The olive drab shirt with the Star logo was working OK but Stuart had ordered some sleeveless Ts for later in the tour and they were due in Poland.
Everyone was aware of the upcoming Polish shows, ten in all, in a country that was both fun and dangerous as the temptation to party was prevalent and rest hard to come by on the notorious Polish roads. It's the only country in the world where you go to sleep in your bunk and wake up in mid air. It was going to be a demanding section. Veterans in the band and crew talked of it with awe, respect and fear. The children were getting frightened :-D
We stayed overnight in Hotel Bus in the venue car park with a land line connected for power. Small groups strayed into town after a few wee swallies in the dressing rooms. Bad move. I was with Chris the driver and Stuart and we were already wobbling. Chris said he knew the way to the Irish pub but after about twenty minutes we were partially lost. We came across the bar by accident and discovered others in the team in full-on Gremlin mode. It was going down. When the shot glasses came out I knew I was going to have to run up the white flag and retire. The three of us headed out into the night and left the rest in the bar. If getting there in the first instance was a trial, the return was a journey of discovery. Again trusting Chris's instinct (he was our navigator) Stuart and I stumbled laughing along through empty streets, occasionally falling over creased up and helpless. We were totally lost. Drunken, useless karate kicks at roadwork signs had us on our backs and Evil and
I ended up facing up to each other, him asking me on. All a wind up and in fun! I put him on the floor with an old judo move and then fell on him. He was so pissed off as it was the first time someone had taken him down for years. Lots of hugs and a big sloppy kiss later we were on our way once again into the realms of nowhere. Chris was starting to get seriously worried as we had been walking for nearly an hour. We had to flag down a bemused cyclist, the only other person we'd seen for ages, and get him to phone a taxi for us. Five minutes later we were at the venue. The gates to the parking area were shut. I tried to slip under them. No chance. It was then Chris pushed them and lo and behold, open sesame! I was in my bunk and asleep in seconds. The others trailed in over the next hour, some in states that they would regret next day. Foss tried the same thing as me on finding the gate shut after Frank had climbed over. He then fell through the gate as he tried climbing it.
Chris J and Steve V turned up with boxes of wine glasses they'd been given by the bar owner. The boys had been dancing on beer barrels, until they fell off amusing the regulars no end. First gig in Holland and we were already taking casualties. All good clean fun! :-D
I slept most of the next day and awoke amazingly fresh and ready for action. Others weren't so lucky. Chris J was suffering as was Steve V. Chris the driver got his new name "Hawkeye" for his scouting effort. Berroccas for breakfast. Thank you Mr Hutchence!
Tuesday 9th October, Effenaar, Eindhoven.
Another purpose built gig and an amazing venue. Only a year or so old it had everything over 5 floors including a "green room" where catering was set up. Assorted stories were still spilling out from the previous night. A shower and a run through of the voice at sound check. Everything was working and you wouldn't have known we had been out on the Razz the night before. Groningen had sold out and this gig was up to a thousand already. We played a killer and the crowd were totally with us from the start. The intro went down well allaying fears that we might have to ditch it. A great reception and we ran out at 9.3/10.
A few drinks with our Dutch friends in the green room after steaming showers and then off into the darkness and Copenhagen. Stuart was over the moon with the merch response and Tara was in her element. She had become a serious team member but I'm glad to say she was not one of the dawn patrol in Groningen, opting for a responsible night unlike her father.
As with the UK, all audience figures were up from the previous tour and news from the front was good.
Album and live reviews continued to be really positive and we were all lifted at these first shows on the mainland.
Yatta had talked to the monitor guy in Eindhoven and he'd agreed to join us in Poland after finishing up with his commitments to other bands in Holland. he didn't know what he was letting himself in for.
Wednesday 10th October, Amager Bio, Copenhagen.
We arrived at around 11 to be woken up by a shuddering bus and a crash. Paul, our second driver who was sharing duties with Hawkeye had caught a light fitting on the wall of the venue as he reversed the trailer. Only a matter of millimetres but it had cracked the front window in front of Tara's bunk. Cue gaffer tape and lots of embarrassment. Paul was shuffling about while Hawkeye rubbed it in. Not as bad as the story he would tell later about another driver who, after taking out a brand new Merc convertible in Paris, drove the bus into the yard for repairs and proceeded to take out every window on one side of the vehicle on a crane jib he'd missed seeing on the way in.
Paul was ex-army and meticulously clean. Always polishing, vacuuming and tidying up, he got the nickname "Mr Dusters" and gave us the new name for the upstairs lounge. No longer the "Viper Lounge" it was now "Dusters" as the Mr Dusty vacuum was in the cubby hole outside the lounge door. A quiet unassuming guy who was always so helpful we all felt bad that he'd been the unlucky one with the window.
The gig we knew well and the promoter was Karsten Mortenson, a fan and entrepreneur of sorts. A great organiser whose enthusiasm if matched by the distribution company in Denmark would have given us a platinum album. I'd known him for years when he used to own one of the oldest bakeries in the city. He did us proud and we were up to over 650 tickets sold. He'd made us a couple of his special cakes for the bus with the "13th Star" artwork "printed" on top. Deadly cream filled slabs of sugar, sponge and marzipan that would be munched away for the next couple of days as we travelled North.
But that was later. I got up relatively early and went walking for an hour picking up a box of Sushi at a nearby take away. It made Tara's day. She was feeling the pace as the merch set ups were extensive and started early and finished late. A tough gig but she was dealing with it without complaint and impressing everyone. I was a bit annoyed to say the least when I went on line and discovered that the Scottish press had picked up on my "Sinking the Eight ball" email to the web site. They had stripped out the negatives about her Mother's return to Scotland and our spat, ignoring the bulk of the story and the fact that she was on tour etc. Maybe I should be asking for writing commissions? It was proving that my name was worth hanging print onto again and that my profile was steadily growing. At least I'm not being ignored :-) It just goes to show how they operate and makes a mockery of the complaints from certain quarters about the articles in June about the "wedding". You win
some, you lose some. Tara was more pissed off than I was. We both knew the truth and there was no real damage done. I am sure there will be a lot more to come as the album grows and the singles start to move out. ;-)
It was another great show in front of more people than I'd played in front of in Copenhagen for quite a few years. If I had a record company behind me I could really get things moving here but as always I end up frustrated with fans on the street contributing more than people who are supposed to be professionally involved. We left Denmark with cake and an 8.9/10
Thursday 11th October, day off/travel to Oslo.
Norway. A country firmly on my touring map and with press interest raised I had to conduct a major interview with national radio and a TV interview with the main Oslo regional station. We arrived in the city around midday where the drivers had to rest up for their legal driving hours before the haul North to Bergen. Annstein and Andreas had been doing a brilliant job promoting me there for the last couple of years and this was paying off. The rest of the troops had two day rooms in hotels to shower, sleep and watch TV. I was out as soon as I washed and changed. I'd been bribed with an hour's massage before the first interview and, as Fellini wrote it, the young lady in question came from Hanoi in Vietnam. It was just what I needed after the bus journey where my back was starting to seize up with the constant rocking. I walked into the radio station a foot taller.
Interview was great and again the reviews of the album were incredibly positive with airplay already happening around "Arc of the Curve" as preferred track. I skirted around the history as much as possible but as expected the "real life story" was brought up. As much as I don't want to go into detail, as with the release of "Kayleigh" and the "Misplaced" album I know it can't be avoided and the press and media in general will always follow that thread especially as the story has been available on the Internet since the first chapters were written. It's hard to ignore the principal subject matter of an album that is drawing so much attention.
I met up with Taz for a couple of burgers next to the railway station where the TV interview would take place. Two burgers and chips, an onion soup and two beers - a snip at 36 pounds!
The interview was live on prime time news, a big slice of promo for the Oslo gig in two days time. The presenter wanted to discuss "life in the 80's". I declined and offered a view on "life in 2007". He accepted and although we went on air to the obligatory "Kayleigh" video clip the discussion revolved around piracy/Radioheads release and the release of "13th Star" through mail order etc. It went down extremely well and yours truly as expected grabbed control from the word go! Four minutes is a very short time on air and you have to make it count.
A rather attractive but slightly aloof blonde lady, who was the station's movie critic, was in the backstage area. We started a conversation about film. I commented that the latest Chinese martial arts movies drew a lot from the cinematography of Kurosawa and Bergman and were creating a new genre etc etc. Pretentious twat that I am! She was suitably impressed.:-D Another addition to the Oslo guest list ;-) With, I would find out later from Annstein, included a plus one for her famous boyfriend. :-|
I met up with the others after the interviews and headed for a Vietnamese restaurant (Fredrico?) near the Rockefeller, where we'd be playing the gig on Saturday.
We ate early as we'd found out "Crowded House" were playing in The Sentrum nearby. Dee, an old friend and ex promoter's assistant from the "Vigil" tour was their tour manager and so we all got passes to the gig. It was a really cool show and strange to be at someone else's gig mid tour. I met up with Neil Finn and the boys after the gig and had a few wines and a natter before heading back to the bus for the continuing trip North. A busy day off!
Friday 12th October, Ricks Club, Bergen.
Another day room after getting into the city around 2. As it was a Friday it was a late show, going on around midnight. I knew this meant trouble. Although the gigs are great the crowd makes Liverpool seem polite and a late show meant more time for drinking. There was another show on before us, a theatre production, and we couldn't load in until 10 o'clock. A long day.
A late lunch with Taz (two burgers etc. - another 40 quid) and then I hooked up with Andreas and the boys in the Irish pub behind Rick's.
The boys included Mark Campbell, John Boye, Gordie and Jon Lauvik who'd been setting up the promo in Bergen. It was the first time I'd met Mark and John, both major posters on the Marillo site. Mark and I had crossed ether swords in the past over issues and I knew him to be an intelligent chappie. They were great company and over rounds of beer and Guinness that were rattling up at 50 quid a pop we chewed the fat and rumbled through various wind ups and piss takes with the Norwegians. Lyrics were debated in only the way that people on the slow slide to alcohol-induced oblivion can. A mixture of surreal and intuitive reasoning combined with jumps of supposition and tumbling realisation. And I was in the middle of it all. At least I didn't have to type my answers. It was a fun and welcome means of dissolving time. It was just as well the beer was expensive as offers for rounds were spaced out and guarded. We were all running out of wedge. Fast.
Thankfully dinner came to the rescue and we headed up to a Thai restaurant for something to soak up the bevvy and eliminate more time.
Gig was approaching. The crew loaded in as the drama group moved out. I helped them carry their parrot in a cage. God knows what the show was about. We had a cupboard of a dressing room where we holed up. Outside was bedlam, it was a drunk's convention. I knew what was coming. We were all tired and the crew were pissed off as they tried to get a show in some semblance of order for sound check. The monitors were crap and we struggled to get our on-stage sound together as doors loomed. The mixes were done by Paul from front of house. Not ideal.
We eventually got a mix together but it wasn't good. Vibes were bad. It was now close to midnight.
We walked on stage to a 350 strong rabble, most of whom were pissed out of their minds. There was jostling and fights breaking out in the first two numbers. Punters shouting all the way through songs and screaming nonsense. I tried to talk to them but a big rumble kicked off stage left. I stopped the show, security did nothing. This was quickly turning into a nightmare gig and a complete waste of time. There were, of course, a large percentage of the audience who wanted the show experience but there were still a number of wasters who just wanted to either fight or disrupt the flow in their severely inebriated states. I saw at least five separate fights break out in the venue. One drunken idiot stood toe to toe with my great friend Bord who also happened to be an ex world kick boxing champion and owner of the main security team in Bergen. Guess the result? I remember watching John Boye standing a few rows back being bounced around by a couple of reeling drunks with a severely
pissed off look on his face. He was struggling to keep cool. I felt sorry for the guys who'd made the effort to get all the way up to Bergen only to see this farce unfold. Everyone on stage wanted out of here as fast as possible and I dropped "Vigil", "Cliche" and "Last Straw" with a grudging "Incommunicado" the only encore. There was absolutely nothing I could do to get the gig under control. It was a foolish decision to go on stage at that time and we wouldn't be doing it again. Ever!
The worst gig of the tour so far due to circumstances rather than our performance. 6/10
I was so glad when the coach finally trundled South at around 3.30am. Everyone was quietly angry. After so many great shows in Bergen in the past this left a bad memory to take with us to Oslo. It could only get better.
Saturday 13th October, Oslo Rockefeller.
Sold out. It was again a late show but only an hour. We arrived outside the venue and I stayed in my bunk till around 2. Scotland were playing Ukraine in the European Championship at 4 so I was destined for a return to the Sports bar where I'd last been with the Tartan Army for the last World Cup qualifier against Norway and our two nights of amazing shows at the Rockefeller and the Sentrum. I met up with Mark, John, Gordie, Andreas and Weird Steve. It was another first meet with Steve who turned out to be another gem of a person. The company grew as more Norwegian fans joined us. The Guinness flowed and the game went well for us. Another victory and we were top of the group. Steve V and I were ecstatic.
Back to the gig for sound check and then off to Vieglings park for a Thai dinner cooked by Annstein's wife. We met up with Benji and the rest of the Norwegian organisers and settled down for an exquisite meal. Mo had joined us and I managed to get some time with her outside the small wooden building that served as the dining room in an area famed for an outdoor bar and picnic area. Mark and Julie Wilkinson were also on board with us, Mark setting up a stall earlier that day in the venue to sell his luxurious artwork prints. They looked stunning and it was the first time I'd seen the "13th Star" artwork in its original form since seeing the drafts in August at the launch party.
From there it was back to the Sports bar and a meet up with the English contingent and the big surprise to all. The Norwegians had set up a 6 piece pipe band to march us to the venue as they had done during the World Cup gigs. John, Mark, Gordie and all were taken aback as we set off across the square and through the streets, gathering fans and strangers as we threaded our way to the venue, pipes blasting and snares cracking. The hairs stood on the back of my neck and I marched a foot taller, as did we all, about 50 of us, through Oslo.
The snare drummer was also a very attractive blonde which drew some comments and a lot of admiration from us all. :-)
We definitely made an impact.
We didn't just march to the venue; we marched right into the venue and the band played a couple of numbers to a staggered crowd. It was perfect.
And the gig? It was the finest performance in Oslo to date, beating even the last Sentrum show. The crowd were so up for it as were we after the debacle in Bergen. Another 9.9/10 made even more special by the entrance of the lead piper on stage at the encores to play "Happy Birthday" to Steve V shortly after midnight. Steve was taken aback and had a wee tear in his eye. A superb show that both we and the boys who'd made the trip over deserved as much as the sell out crowd of over 1000 screaming, clapping and bouncing Norwegians.
And then it was over.
The bus called. Showers, dressing room kisses with visiting friends, the last of the phenomenally expensive wine and long goodbyes that were spoiled by a mad, wild-eyed, pissed up, street Viking who had nothing to do with our gig yet who decided he wanted to get on the bus. Close to a major kick off, it disrupted our exit, until Yatta made his presence felt and talked him gently down ;-)
We were off. It was Steve's birthday, travel day/day off! We headed for the ferry in Sweden that would take us into the legendary part of the tour itinerary that would come close to breaking some and where the clocks would move sideways. Next stop, Poland.
love
Onkel Fish
Il tempo di tradurla, per ora, è scarso. Quindi ve la pubblichiamo in inglese. A presto la versione nella lingua dello stivale... a presto... ;)
Dear FishHeads, Freaks, fans and the Company,
We were only home a couple of days before it was time to move again. I slept the first two days as did Taz. Not enough time to get a Tesco's run together. Take aways for the first three days. Harley and Spike, my two cats, were all over us and Harley slept in my room every night I was there. On the day we left I found a live mouse in one of my Vans trainers, a present from Spike. Glad I found it before I got on the bus.
I managed to see my friend Phil a couple of times in the week. He was slowly recovering from his back operation but was having trouble dealing with the pain and the morphine. My other friend Hutch was going into hospital that week for heavy steroid doses to deal with his gut problem and, as he had just contracted heavy flu, I couldn't go near him and risk bringing a bundle of bugs onto the tour bus.
Spent the waking hours sorting out business with Elspeth who was doing a magnificent job holding the fort and running the operation while I was away. That and dealing with emails and laundry pretty much took care of my time. The garden had to look after itself.
Saturday morning we were up at 5 to get to the airport and head down to Birmingham to pick up the bus. Foss, Frank, Taz and I had return flights from the first leg. Stuart was flying back in from his girlfriend's in Bordeaux, Gavin and Yatta were training in from Wales. Paul Kennedy was coming up to Brum from Leighton Buzzard. We would all then drive North to Sheffield and meet with McKinty and Chris J driving in from York and Angus who was getting dropped off by his Dad from Blackburn. James was doing monitors on this show and was then off. We hadn't managed to replace him but figured the Dutch monitor guys would be good enough to handle it. We were still looking.
At the airport while picking up some Savlon for Tara's new ear piercing I bumped into Nigel Kennedy who was coming back of tour to catch the Villa/West Ham match. He's a big footy man like me and the last time we met was at a 5 a side competition at Craven Cottage, where we were both playing. One of the good guys, he's still out on the road with his jazz project.
Onto the bus and a kip in my bunk. It was going to be a long day. The Sheffield show was another replacement and had fitted into our outward trip to Holland. The Boardwalk had suffered a bit as Rush were playing the Arena the same night and we had lost around 40 or so tickets through the original cancellation and people opting for refunds. It was still pretty healthy at around 350 or so but we would have sold it out on any other night.
No back projection as the stage and ceiling were so small. Secret had a night off. It was pretty cramped and the onstage sound wasn't that good. Not my favourite venue, long and narrow and the only way out was through the crowd. I managed a pint with Yatta before sound check. Watched the squirrels running up and down the street outside the pub and waited on the Hibs result from Ibrox. We took it 1-0 and went top for a day. Still unbeaten.
The gig was pretty good but the monitors screwed it for me. A fair 8/10. I was glad to get through it and leave it behind us. Jersey, an old friend from days gone by showed up. Now a policeman in Jersey (his name came round in the first place on a Marillo tour when he was in the forces stationed in Germany) he turned up with welcome duty frees and tales of island life. The gig didn't have a shower but the hotel opposite supplied the facilities. I opted for a bath in the venue! They had no shower but had a bath! The local crew ran it for me so I was straight off stage and in the suds before the crowd had thought of leaving the venue! :-D
We had a day off/travel (I was going to get used to that phrase in the coming week) to Groningen in Northern Holland. I slept most of the way including in the hold of the ferry. I didn't wake up till we were 2 hours off the city.
Scotland had Argentina in the Rugby World Cup quarter finals. I didn't hold much hope. That was first task on arrival, find an Irish bar!
We checked into our last hotel for nine days and then zapped into town for something to eat. It was close to the game so we parked ourselves in our designated bar and Tara brought in burgers and chicken pieces to go with the beers. A cool night spoiled by shite rugby. Humped again and more worryingly England was coming on to form. Bus divisions would soon surface :-D
I shifted back to the hotel with Taz, needed sleep. Gig tomorrow and it was sold out!
Monday 8th October, De Oosterpoort, Groningen.
It was great to get back into real gigs again. Great sound systems and comfortable back stage areas with catering and showers etc. The stage itself is pretty cool descending on hydraulics to load the gear onto and then raised for the show. The local crew are fantastic and ultra friendly. I spent the day sorting out my wireless connection thanks to Steve V after getting a new card from a store down from the venue. I met up with Steve Moss, an Irishman and big fan who worked in IT in the town. A couple of beers and a natter before sound check. The monitor engineer was as expected, ace. We tried to entice him out with us but he had commitments to the venue for other shows. Sound was perfect as was the audience who as I knew from previous experience are a "listening" crowd who give a great reaction at the end but tend to go unnervingly quiet between songs. A dangerous situation for a singer who likes to talk! I had to restrain myself. :-D
But a great gig and a sparkling 9.2/10 score!
The Will Smith intro film had the Dutch audience a bit bemused and I was wondering if it would translate. The rest was all working fine, the band tight, the set curved well, the encores the desired effect. It was great to be back in Holland.
I still had my shamaq that I'd been given in St Ives by a sergeant Miller from the Scots Guards. It was my pride and joy on this tour and had taken over from the one I'd bought in Dubai and worn on the "Return to Childhood" tour. It's a British Army Gulf issue and worked well with the trews that Robin Elliot had made for me from the Dick Tartan. The olive drab shirt with the Star logo was working OK but Stuart had ordered some sleeveless Ts for later in the tour and they were due in Poland.
Everyone was aware of the upcoming Polish shows, ten in all, in a country that was both fun and dangerous as the temptation to party was prevalent and rest hard to come by on the notorious Polish roads. It's the only country in the world where you go to sleep in your bunk and wake up in mid air. It was going to be a demanding section. Veterans in the band and crew talked of it with awe, respect and fear. The children were getting frightened :-D
We stayed overnight in Hotel Bus in the venue car park with a land line connected for power. Small groups strayed into town after a few wee swallies in the dressing rooms. Bad move. I was with Chris the driver and Stuart and we were already wobbling. Chris said he knew the way to the Irish pub but after about twenty minutes we were partially lost. We came across the bar by accident and discovered others in the team in full-on Gremlin mode. It was going down. When the shot glasses came out I knew I was going to have to run up the white flag and retire. The three of us headed out into the night and left the rest in the bar. If getting there in the first instance was a trial, the return was a journey of discovery. Again trusting Chris's instinct (he was our navigator) Stuart and I stumbled laughing along through empty streets, occasionally falling over creased up and helpless. We were totally lost. Drunken, useless karate kicks at roadwork signs had us on our backs and Evil and
I ended up facing up to each other, him asking me on. All a wind up and in fun! I put him on the floor with an old judo move and then fell on him. He was so pissed off as it was the first time someone had taken him down for years. Lots of hugs and a big sloppy kiss later we were on our way once again into the realms of nowhere. Chris was starting to get seriously worried as we had been walking for nearly an hour. We had to flag down a bemused cyclist, the only other person we'd seen for ages, and get him to phone a taxi for us. Five minutes later we were at the venue. The gates to the parking area were shut. I tried to slip under them. No chance. It was then Chris pushed them and lo and behold, open sesame! I was in my bunk and asleep in seconds. The others trailed in over the next hour, some in states that they would regret next day. Foss tried the same thing as me on finding the gate shut after Frank had climbed over. He then fell through the gate as he tried climbing it.
Chris J and Steve V turned up with boxes of wine glasses they'd been given by the bar owner. The boys had been dancing on beer barrels, until they fell off amusing the regulars no end. First gig in Holland and we were already taking casualties. All good clean fun! :-D
I slept most of the next day and awoke amazingly fresh and ready for action. Others weren't so lucky. Chris J was suffering as was Steve V. Chris the driver got his new name "Hawkeye" for his scouting effort. Berroccas for breakfast. Thank you Mr Hutchence!
Tuesday 9th October, Effenaar, Eindhoven.
Another purpose built gig and an amazing venue. Only a year or so old it had everything over 5 floors including a "green room" where catering was set up. Assorted stories were still spilling out from the previous night. A shower and a run through of the voice at sound check. Everything was working and you wouldn't have known we had been out on the Razz the night before. Groningen had sold out and this gig was up to a thousand already. We played a killer and the crowd were totally with us from the start. The intro went down well allaying fears that we might have to ditch it. A great reception and we ran out at 9.3/10.
A few drinks with our Dutch friends in the green room after steaming showers and then off into the darkness and Copenhagen. Stuart was over the moon with the merch response and Tara was in her element. She had become a serious team member but I'm glad to say she was not one of the dawn patrol in Groningen, opting for a responsible night unlike her father.
As with the UK, all audience figures were up from the previous tour and news from the front was good.
Album and live reviews continued to be really positive and we were all lifted at these first shows on the mainland.
Yatta had talked to the monitor guy in Eindhoven and he'd agreed to join us in Poland after finishing up with his commitments to other bands in Holland. he didn't know what he was letting himself in for.
Wednesday 10th October, Amager Bio, Copenhagen.
We arrived at around 11 to be woken up by a shuddering bus and a crash. Paul, our second driver who was sharing duties with Hawkeye had caught a light fitting on the wall of the venue as he reversed the trailer. Only a matter of millimetres but it had cracked the front window in front of Tara's bunk. Cue gaffer tape and lots of embarrassment. Paul was shuffling about while Hawkeye rubbed it in. Not as bad as the story he would tell later about another driver who, after taking out a brand new Merc convertible in Paris, drove the bus into the yard for repairs and proceeded to take out every window on one side of the vehicle on a crane jib he'd missed seeing on the way in.
Paul was ex-army and meticulously clean. Always polishing, vacuuming and tidying up, he got the nickname "Mr Dusters" and gave us the new name for the upstairs lounge. No longer the "Viper Lounge" it was now "Dusters" as the Mr Dusty vacuum was in the cubby hole outside the lounge door. A quiet unassuming guy who was always so helpful we all felt bad that he'd been the unlucky one with the window.
The gig we knew well and the promoter was Karsten Mortenson, a fan and entrepreneur of sorts. A great organiser whose enthusiasm if matched by the distribution company in Denmark would have given us a platinum album. I'd known him for years when he used to own one of the oldest bakeries in the city. He did us proud and we were up to over 650 tickets sold. He'd made us a couple of his special cakes for the bus with the "13th Star" artwork "printed" on top. Deadly cream filled slabs of sugar, sponge and marzipan that would be munched away for the next couple of days as we travelled North.
But that was later. I got up relatively early and went walking for an hour picking up a box of Sushi at a nearby take away. It made Tara's day. She was feeling the pace as the merch set ups were extensive and started early and finished late. A tough gig but she was dealing with it without complaint and impressing everyone. I was a bit annoyed to say the least when I went on line and discovered that the Scottish press had picked up on my "Sinking the Eight ball" email to the web site. They had stripped out the negatives about her Mother's return to Scotland and our spat, ignoring the bulk of the story and the fact that she was on tour etc. Maybe I should be asking for writing commissions? It was proving that my name was worth hanging print onto again and that my profile was steadily growing. At least I'm not being ignored :-) It just goes to show how they operate and makes a mockery of the complaints from certain quarters about the articles in June about the "wedding". You win
some, you lose some. Tara was more pissed off than I was. We both knew the truth and there was no real damage done. I am sure there will be a lot more to come as the album grows and the singles start to move out. ;-)
It was another great show in front of more people than I'd played in front of in Copenhagen for quite a few years. If I had a record company behind me I could really get things moving here but as always I end up frustrated with fans on the street contributing more than people who are supposed to be professionally involved. We left Denmark with cake and an 8.9/10
Thursday 11th October, day off/travel to Oslo.
Norway. A country firmly on my touring map and with press interest raised I had to conduct a major interview with national radio and a TV interview with the main Oslo regional station. We arrived in the city around midday where the drivers had to rest up for their legal driving hours before the haul North to Bergen. Annstein and Andreas had been doing a brilliant job promoting me there for the last couple of years and this was paying off. The rest of the troops had two day rooms in hotels to shower, sleep and watch TV. I was out as soon as I washed and changed. I'd been bribed with an hour's massage before the first interview and, as Fellini wrote it, the young lady in question came from Hanoi in Vietnam. It was just what I needed after the bus journey where my back was starting to seize up with the constant rocking. I walked into the radio station a foot taller.
Interview was great and again the reviews of the album were incredibly positive with airplay already happening around "Arc of the Curve" as preferred track. I skirted around the history as much as possible but as expected the "real life story" was brought up. As much as I don't want to go into detail, as with the release of "Kayleigh" and the "Misplaced" album I know it can't be avoided and the press and media in general will always follow that thread especially as the story has been available on the Internet since the first chapters were written. It's hard to ignore the principal subject matter of an album that is drawing so much attention.
I met up with Taz for a couple of burgers next to the railway station where the TV interview would take place. Two burgers and chips, an onion soup and two beers - a snip at 36 pounds!
The interview was live on prime time news, a big slice of promo for the Oslo gig in two days time. The presenter wanted to discuss "life in the 80's". I declined and offered a view on "life in 2007". He accepted and although we went on air to the obligatory "Kayleigh" video clip the discussion revolved around piracy/Radioheads release and the release of "13th Star" through mail order etc. It went down extremely well and yours truly as expected grabbed control from the word go! Four minutes is a very short time on air and you have to make it count.
A rather attractive but slightly aloof blonde lady, who was the station's movie critic, was in the backstage area. We started a conversation about film. I commented that the latest Chinese martial arts movies drew a lot from the cinematography of Kurosawa and Bergman and were creating a new genre etc etc. Pretentious twat that I am! She was suitably impressed.:-D Another addition to the Oslo guest list ;-) With, I would find out later from Annstein, included a plus one for her famous boyfriend. :-|
I met up with the others after the interviews and headed for a Vietnamese restaurant (Fredrico?) near the Rockefeller, where we'd be playing the gig on Saturday.
We ate early as we'd found out "Crowded House" were playing in The Sentrum nearby. Dee, an old friend and ex promoter's assistant from the "Vigil" tour was their tour manager and so we all got passes to the gig. It was a really cool show and strange to be at someone else's gig mid tour. I met up with Neil Finn and the boys after the gig and had a few wines and a natter before heading back to the bus for the continuing trip North. A busy day off!
Friday 12th October, Ricks Club, Bergen.
Another day room after getting into the city around 2. As it was a Friday it was a late show, going on around midnight. I knew this meant trouble. Although the gigs are great the crowd makes Liverpool seem polite and a late show meant more time for drinking. There was another show on before us, a theatre production, and we couldn't load in until 10 o'clock. A long day.
A late lunch with Taz (two burgers etc. - another 40 quid) and then I hooked up with Andreas and the boys in the Irish pub behind Rick's.
The boys included Mark Campbell, John Boye, Gordie and Jon Lauvik who'd been setting up the promo in Bergen. It was the first time I'd met Mark and John, both major posters on the Marillo site. Mark and I had crossed ether swords in the past over issues and I knew him to be an intelligent chappie. They were great company and over rounds of beer and Guinness that were rattling up at 50 quid a pop we chewed the fat and rumbled through various wind ups and piss takes with the Norwegians. Lyrics were debated in only the way that people on the slow slide to alcohol-induced oblivion can. A mixture of surreal and intuitive reasoning combined with jumps of supposition and tumbling realisation. And I was in the middle of it all. At least I didn't have to type my answers. It was a fun and welcome means of dissolving time. It was just as well the beer was expensive as offers for rounds were spaced out and guarded. We were all running out of wedge. Fast.
Thankfully dinner came to the rescue and we headed up to a Thai restaurant for something to soak up the bevvy and eliminate more time.
Gig was approaching. The crew loaded in as the drama group moved out. I helped them carry their parrot in a cage. God knows what the show was about. We had a cupboard of a dressing room where we holed up. Outside was bedlam, it was a drunk's convention. I knew what was coming. We were all tired and the crew were pissed off as they tried to get a show in some semblance of order for sound check. The monitors were crap and we struggled to get our on-stage sound together as doors loomed. The mixes were done by Paul from front of house. Not ideal.
We eventually got a mix together but it wasn't good. Vibes were bad. It was now close to midnight.
We walked on stage to a 350 strong rabble, most of whom were pissed out of their minds. There was jostling and fights breaking out in the first two numbers. Punters shouting all the way through songs and screaming nonsense. I tried to talk to them but a big rumble kicked off stage left. I stopped the show, security did nothing. This was quickly turning into a nightmare gig and a complete waste of time. There were, of course, a large percentage of the audience who wanted the show experience but there were still a number of wasters who just wanted to either fight or disrupt the flow in their severely inebriated states. I saw at least five separate fights break out in the venue. One drunken idiot stood toe to toe with my great friend Bord who also happened to be an ex world kick boxing champion and owner of the main security team in Bergen. Guess the result? I remember watching John Boye standing a few rows back being bounced around by a couple of reeling drunks with a severely
pissed off look on his face. He was struggling to keep cool. I felt sorry for the guys who'd made the effort to get all the way up to Bergen only to see this farce unfold. Everyone on stage wanted out of here as fast as possible and I dropped "Vigil", "Cliche" and "Last Straw" with a grudging "Incommunicado" the only encore. There was absolutely nothing I could do to get the gig under control. It was a foolish decision to go on stage at that time and we wouldn't be doing it again. Ever!
The worst gig of the tour so far due to circumstances rather than our performance. 6/10
I was so glad when the coach finally trundled South at around 3.30am. Everyone was quietly angry. After so many great shows in Bergen in the past this left a bad memory to take with us to Oslo. It could only get better.
Saturday 13th October, Oslo Rockefeller.
Sold out. It was again a late show but only an hour. We arrived outside the venue and I stayed in my bunk till around 2. Scotland were playing Ukraine in the European Championship at 4 so I was destined for a return to the Sports bar where I'd last been with the Tartan Army for the last World Cup qualifier against Norway and our two nights of amazing shows at the Rockefeller and the Sentrum. I met up with Mark, John, Gordie, Andreas and Weird Steve. It was another first meet with Steve who turned out to be another gem of a person. The company grew as more Norwegian fans joined us. The Guinness flowed and the game went well for us. Another victory and we were top of the group. Steve V and I were ecstatic.
Back to the gig for sound check and then off to Vieglings park for a Thai dinner cooked by Annstein's wife. We met up with Benji and the rest of the Norwegian organisers and settled down for an exquisite meal. Mo had joined us and I managed to get some time with her outside the small wooden building that served as the dining room in an area famed for an outdoor bar and picnic area. Mark and Julie Wilkinson were also on board with us, Mark setting up a stall earlier that day in the venue to sell his luxurious artwork prints. They looked stunning and it was the first time I'd seen the "13th Star" artwork in its original form since seeing the drafts in August at the launch party.
From there it was back to the Sports bar and a meet up with the English contingent and the big surprise to all. The Norwegians had set up a 6 piece pipe band to march us to the venue as they had done during the World Cup gigs. John, Mark, Gordie and all were taken aback as we set off across the square and through the streets, gathering fans and strangers as we threaded our way to the venue, pipes blasting and snares cracking. The hairs stood on the back of my neck and I marched a foot taller, as did we all, about 50 of us, through Oslo.
The snare drummer was also a very attractive blonde which drew some comments and a lot of admiration from us all. :-)
We definitely made an impact.
We didn't just march to the venue; we marched right into the venue and the band played a couple of numbers to a staggered crowd. It was perfect.
And the gig? It was the finest performance in Oslo to date, beating even the last Sentrum show. The crowd were so up for it as were we after the debacle in Bergen. Another 9.9/10 made even more special by the entrance of the lead piper on stage at the encores to play "Happy Birthday" to Steve V shortly after midnight. Steve was taken aback and had a wee tear in his eye. A superb show that both we and the boys who'd made the trip over deserved as much as the sell out crowd of over 1000 screaming, clapping and bouncing Norwegians.
And then it was over.
The bus called. Showers, dressing room kisses with visiting friends, the last of the phenomenally expensive wine and long goodbyes that were spoiled by a mad, wild-eyed, pissed up, street Viking who had nothing to do with our gig yet who decided he wanted to get on the bus. Close to a major kick off, it disrupted our exit, until Yatta made his presence felt and talked him gently down ;-)
We were off. It was Steve's birthday, travel day/day off! We headed for the ferry in Sweden that would take us into the legendary part of the tour itinerary that would come close to breaking some and where the clocks would move sideways. Next stop, Poland.
love
Onkel Fish
14 ottobre 2007
AVVISO - RITARDI POSTALI
Le poste britanniche sono in sciopero da circa 2 settimane. Sembra che questo fine settimana abbiano raggiunto un accordo con i dipendenti ma non e' ancora ufficiale.
Per questo motivo e' possibile che ci siano grandi ritardi nella consegna di merci ordinate tramite F.I.S.H. o qualsiasi altro rivenditore in UK.
Anche se gli accordi vengono confermati ci sono delle giacenze enormi quindi ci vorra' un po' perche' vengano smaltite e perche' il servizio ritorni alla normalita'.
Per questo motivo e' possibile che ci siano grandi ritardi nella consegna di merci ordinate tramite F.I.S.H. o qualsiasi altro rivenditore in UK.
Anche se gli accordi vengono confermati ci sono delle giacenze enormi quindi ci vorra' un po' perche' vengano smaltite e perche' il servizio ritorni alla normalita'.
30 settembre 2007
FISH 2007: A LAS BARRICADAS !!!
Slàinte a tutti !!!
Con gravissimo ritardo, dovuto ad altrettanto gravi problemi personali che ora spero siano in fase di risoluzione, ecco le principali news, purtroppo già vecchie di mesi, o settimane o giorni.
DATA DI LORELEI DI LUGLIO
TCI era presente in forze, una diecina di persone con il nuovissimo striscione '' THE COMPANY ITALY IS HERE !!!'', che da ora in poi garrirà sulle transenne di qualsiasi data Fishiana in cui uno di noi sarà presente. Preconcerto da urlo, con Fish che ci ha raggiunto nella birreria sottostante la location del concerto, per una mezz'ora abbondante di chiacchierata sul nuovo album e sulle vicissitudini personali che lo hanno afflitto. Ci ha anche ripreso in gruppo dietro lo striscione con una telecamera, e abbiamo fatto uno ''stacco pubblicitario'' per la FISHTV, che è operativa da qualche tempo ( ne parliamo a parte) : ''HI !!!, WE ARE THE COMPANY ITALY AND YOU ARE WATCHING FISH TV!!!'', urlato a squarciagola da tutti. Un vero ''Fellini moment''.
La data in sè non è stata all'altezza di quella dell'anno precedente. La band non aveva potuto fare il soundcheck e i primi pezzi sono in pratica serviti per aggiustare i livelli dei vari strumenti e della voce, con risultati facilmente immaginabili sull'esecuzione dei medesimi. La cosa è poi ovviamente migliorata, e la gente presente ( parecchia, direi 3-4000 presenti) ha molto apprezzato, al punto che a fine concerto lo zoccolo duro di The Company Germany, e quello durissimo di TCI ha continuato a cantare e ad urlare mentre smontavano l'attrezzatura, ''costringendo'' Fish a tornare on stage per un commosso ringraziamento a tanta devozione.
Questa la scaletta, in ordine sparso: un misto di pezzi di Clutching at Straws, pezzi da 13th Star e classici Fishiani:
'Perception of Johnny Punter', 'Circle Line', 'So Fellini', 'Square Go', 'Manchmal', 'Hotel Hobbies/Warm Wet Circles/That Time of the Night', 'White Russian', 'Dark Star', 'Sugar Mice', 'Slainthe Mhath' ( opening), 'Last Straw' '' Vigil'' ( con Fish che si è messo a cantare in mezzo alla folla). Bis : 'Cliche' e 'Incommunicado'.
I miei brani preferiti sono Square go, Manchmal , Openwater e Dark Star, ma non c'è nessun pezzo che non mi piaccia e che ''inviti'' allo skippaggio. Dal punto di vista della globalità del lavoro, siamo ai vertici della produzione fishiana, in quale posto decidetelo da voi.
Non aspettatevi un lavoro ''progressive''. E' un album che alterna momenti molto duri ad altri d'atmosfera, con le chitarre molto in evidenza, anche se il ritorno di Paterson alle tastiere è un piacere per le orecchie. Direi una produzione simile alle ultimi , durissimi , lavori dei Porcupine tree, anche se con meno elettronica dentro.
Siamo tutti strafelici per questa prova che, bisogna anche essere onesti, pochi di noi si aspettavano dopo le incertezze, soprattutto in fase di produzione, di Field of Crows. La t-shirt ''I'm still alive'' che Fish ha adottato come divisa del suo tour non potrebbe essere più azzeccata.
Il Pesce è vivo ed aggressivo come non mai, nonostante le ferite infertegli dalla disgraziata Heather, che il Cielo la perdoni comunque.
I WANT TO BE A METEOR, I WANT TO TRAVEL AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT, ANOTHER DEAD STAR, SILHOUETTE AGAINST A PALE MOON, I WANT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER WORLD !!! ( DARK STAR), Dio mio che brividi, non riesco a smettere di ascoltarla.
TOUR ITALIANO
Le tre date del 29 novembre a Milano ( ex Transilvania, ora Musicdrome, attenzione !!! ), il 30 a Roma Stazione Birra e 1 dicembre Bologna Estragon sono confermatissime e necessitano di tutto il nostro supporto, dato che il promoter ( Iaia, la moglie di Franz di Cioccio della PFM) ha dimostrato grande coraggio nel portare Fish nel nostro paese.
L'evento è organizzato dagli amici del fan club italiano RTR e meritava una comunicazione più tempestiva di questa, ma anche questo ritardo rientra nel prezzo pagato da TCI, RTR ed altre cose in cui sono coinvolto a causa dei miei problemi. Me ne dispiace e mi scuso con tutti.
Tornando alla data di Steve, si tratta di un evento imperdibile per i fans marillici, e non: due-tre ore di concerto al pianoforte, con rivisitazioni di pezzi marillici, grandi cover e pezzi solisti, oltre a letture del suo diario personale.
Con gravissimo ritardo, dovuto ad altrettanto gravi problemi personali che ora spero siano in fase di risoluzione, ecco le principali news, purtroppo già vecchie di mesi, o settimane o giorni.
DATA DI LORELEI DI LUGLIO
TCI era presente in forze, una diecina di persone con il nuovissimo striscione '' THE COMPANY ITALY IS HERE !!!'', che da ora in poi garrirà sulle transenne di qualsiasi data Fishiana in cui uno di noi sarà presente. Preconcerto da urlo, con Fish che ci ha raggiunto nella birreria sottostante la location del concerto, per una mezz'ora abbondante di chiacchierata sul nuovo album e sulle vicissitudini personali che lo hanno afflitto. Ci ha anche ripreso in gruppo dietro lo striscione con una telecamera, e abbiamo fatto uno ''stacco pubblicitario'' per la FISHTV, che è operativa da qualche tempo ( ne parliamo a parte) : ''HI !!!, WE ARE THE COMPANY ITALY AND YOU ARE WATCHING FISH TV!!!'', urlato a squarciagola da tutti. Un vero ''Fellini moment''.
La data in sè non è stata all'altezza di quella dell'anno precedente. La band non aveva potuto fare il soundcheck e i primi pezzi sono in pratica serviti per aggiustare i livelli dei vari strumenti e della voce, con risultati facilmente immaginabili sull'esecuzione dei medesimi. La cosa è poi ovviamente migliorata, e la gente presente ( parecchia, direi 3-4000 presenti) ha molto apprezzato, al punto che a fine concerto lo zoccolo duro di The Company Germany, e quello durissimo di TCI ha continuato a cantare e ad urlare mentre smontavano l'attrezzatura, ''costringendo'' Fish a tornare on stage per un commosso ringraziamento a tanta devozione.
Questa la scaletta, in ordine sparso: un misto di pezzi di Clutching at Straws, pezzi da 13th Star e classici Fishiani:
'Perception of Johnny Punter', 'Circle Line', 'So Fellini', 'Square Go', 'Manchmal', 'Hotel Hobbies/Warm Wet Circles/That Time of the Night', 'White Russian', 'Dark Star', 'Sugar Mice', 'Slainthe Mhath' ( opening), 'Last Straw' '' Vigil'' ( con Fish che si è messo a cantare in mezzo alla folla). Bis : 'Cliche' e 'Incommunicado'.
Il concerto è stato ripreso da Tara, la splendida figlia di Fish , per ''Fish TV'', e alcuni spezzoni sono già visibili durante l'intervista di circa 15 minuti disponibile per coloro che si sono iscritti alla TV.
FISH TV
Da luglio è operativa ''FISHTV, il costo è di circa 8,5 euro mensili, la qualità della visione è assolutamente ottima, potete gustarvi alcune chicche , tipo il video di alcuni brani tratti dal concerto acustico alla St. Mary's Church durante la convention dell'agosto 2006, per intenderci quello dello stupendo doppio live ''Communion'', oltre ad interviste, prove dei brani, ecc.ecc. La registrazione è fatta solo tramite paypal, ma anche se siete imbranati come me con internet, l'iscrizione è guidata e non particolarmente impegnativa.
Questo è il link della TV :
http://www.fish.webromtv.com/public/
Buona visione.
COMMUNION
Doppio live che cattura splendidamente il concerto acustico tenuto alla St Marys Curch ad Haddington il 26 agosto 2006. La line up è composta dalla band di Fish, ''rinforzata'' da un percussionista e dalle Odin Dragonfly ( le due cantanti dei Mostly Autumn) che forniscono le backing vocals, il bodràm, il flauto celtico e traverso, dando un tocco veramente unico alla performance e facendo di Communion forse il miglior live della produzione fishiana. Ottima anche la scaletta, chiaramente incentrata sui brani più 'd'atmosfera, tra cui spiccano Chelsea Monday e Slainthe Mhath, quest'ultima veramente da brividi. Eccovela , comunque:
CD 1
01. The Field 02. Jumpsuit City 03. Favourite Stranger 04. Shot the Craw 05. State of Mind 06. Tilted Cross 07. Fortunes of War 08. Just Good Friends 09. Incomplete 10. Change of Heart 11. Lady Let It Lie 12. A Gentleman's Excuse Me
CD 2
13. Rites of Passage 14. The Lost Plot 15. Slainthe Mhath 16. Chelsea Monday 17. Scattering Crows 18. Tara 19. Raw Meat
Durante l'esecuzione di ''Tara'', la stessa figlia di Fish ha fatto da corista, per la gioia di un fierissimo papà Fish e la commozione dei nonni presenti al concerto.
Imperdibile
13TH STAR
Il nuovo lavoro di Fish è disponibile per l'acquisto online da circa quindici giorni. Parliamo di una edizione limitata doppia cd-dvd, con un artwork imponente fatto dall'ottimo Mark Wilkinson, a mio parere tra i più belli fatti per Fish. Il dvd contiene il making of del disco, che sta ottenendo consensi quasi unanimi all'interno dei vari fan club fishiani e marillici. Una produzione finalmente all'altezza, un lavoro senza punti deboli, un concept album con il solito sontuoso songwriting, supportato da un soprendente Steve Vantsis in veste di co-autore di quasi tutti i pezzi. Questi sono i brani ( copia-incollati dal sito di Fish):
FISH TV
Da luglio è operativa ''FISHTV, il costo è di circa 8,5 euro mensili, la qualità della visione è assolutamente ottima, potete gustarvi alcune chicche , tipo il video di alcuni brani tratti dal concerto acustico alla St. Mary's Church durante la convention dell'agosto 2006, per intenderci quello dello stupendo doppio live ''Communion'', oltre ad interviste, prove dei brani, ecc.ecc. La registrazione è fatta solo tramite paypal, ma anche se siete imbranati come me con internet, l'iscrizione è guidata e non particolarmente impegnativa.
Questo è il link della TV :
http://www.fish.webromtv.com/public/
Buona visione.
COMMUNION
Doppio live che cattura splendidamente il concerto acustico tenuto alla St Marys Curch ad Haddington il 26 agosto 2006. La line up è composta dalla band di Fish, ''rinforzata'' da un percussionista e dalle Odin Dragonfly ( le due cantanti dei Mostly Autumn) che forniscono le backing vocals, il bodràm, il flauto celtico e traverso, dando un tocco veramente unico alla performance e facendo di Communion forse il miglior live della produzione fishiana. Ottima anche la scaletta, chiaramente incentrata sui brani più 'd'atmosfera, tra cui spiccano Chelsea Monday e Slainthe Mhath, quest'ultima veramente da brividi. Eccovela , comunque:
CD 1
01. The Field 02. Jumpsuit City 03. Favourite Stranger 04. Shot the Craw 05. State of Mind 06. Tilted Cross 07. Fortunes of War 08. Just Good Friends 09. Incomplete 10. Change of Heart 11. Lady Let It Lie 12. A Gentleman's Excuse Me
CD 2
13. Rites of Passage 14. The Lost Plot 15. Slainthe Mhath 16. Chelsea Monday 17. Scattering Crows 18. Tara 19. Raw Meat
Durante l'esecuzione di ''Tara'', la stessa figlia di Fish ha fatto da corista, per la gioia di un fierissimo papà Fish e la commozione dei nonni presenti al concerto.
Imperdibile
13TH STAR
Il nuovo lavoro di Fish è disponibile per l'acquisto online da circa quindici giorni. Parliamo di una edizione limitata doppia cd-dvd, con un artwork imponente fatto dall'ottimo Mark Wilkinson, a mio parere tra i più belli fatti per Fish. Il dvd contiene il making of del disco, che sta ottenendo consensi quasi unanimi all'interno dei vari fan club fishiani e marillici. Una produzione finalmente all'altezza, un lavoro senza punti deboli, un concept album con il solito sontuoso songwriting, supportato da un soprendente Steve Vantsis in veste di co-autore di quasi tutti i pezzi. Questi sono i brani ( copia-incollati dal sito di Fish):
01. Circle Line [Dick/Vantsis] (6.04)
02. Square Go [Dick/Vantsis] (5.31)
03. Miles de Besos [Dick/Paterson] (4.22)
04. Zöe 25 [Dick/Vantsis] (5.19)
05. Arc of the Curve [Dick/Vantsis] (4.29)
06. Manchmal [Dick/Vantsis] (5.42)
07. Openwater [Dick/Usher] (5.07)
08. Dark Star [Dick/Vantsis] (6.48)
09. Where in the World? [Dick/Vantsis] (6.05)
10. 13th Star [Dick/Vantsis] (5.41)
02. Square Go [Dick/Vantsis] (5.31)
03. Miles de Besos [Dick/Paterson] (4.22)
04. Zöe 25 [Dick/Vantsis] (5.19)
05. Arc of the Curve [Dick/Vantsis] (4.29)
06. Manchmal [Dick/Vantsis] (5.42)
07. Openwater [Dick/Usher] (5.07)
08. Dark Star [Dick/Vantsis] (6.48)
09. Where in the World? [Dick/Vantsis] (6.05)
10. 13th Star [Dick/Vantsis] (5.41)
I miei brani preferiti sono Square go, Manchmal , Openwater e Dark Star, ma non c'è nessun pezzo che non mi piaccia e che ''inviti'' allo skippaggio. Dal punto di vista della globalità del lavoro, siamo ai vertici della produzione fishiana, in quale posto decidetelo da voi.
Non aspettatevi un lavoro ''progressive''. E' un album che alterna momenti molto duri ad altri d'atmosfera, con le chitarre molto in evidenza, anche se il ritorno di Paterson alle tastiere è un piacere per le orecchie. Direi una produzione simile alle ultimi , durissimi , lavori dei Porcupine tree, anche se con meno elettronica dentro.
Siamo tutti strafelici per questa prova che, bisogna anche essere onesti, pochi di noi si aspettavano dopo le incertezze, soprattutto in fase di produzione, di Field of Crows. La t-shirt ''I'm still alive'' che Fish ha adottato come divisa del suo tour non potrebbe essere più azzeccata.
Il Pesce è vivo ed aggressivo come non mai, nonostante le ferite infertegli dalla disgraziata Heather, che il Cielo la perdoni comunque.
I WANT TO BE A METEOR, I WANT TO TRAVEL AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT, ANOTHER DEAD STAR, SILHOUETTE AGAINST A PALE MOON, I WANT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER WORLD !!! ( DARK STAR), Dio mio che brividi, non riesco a smettere di ascoltarla.
TOUR ITALIANO
Le tre date del 29 novembre a Milano ( ex Transilvania, ora Musicdrome, attenzione !!! ), il 30 a Roma Stazione Birra e 1 dicembre Bologna Estragon sono confermatissime e necessitano di tutto il nostro supporto, dato che il promoter ( Iaia, la moglie di Franz di Cioccio della PFM) ha dimostrato grande coraggio nel portare Fish nel nostro paese.
E' imperativo che ognuno di noi cerchi di essere presente, magari trascinando anche qualche amico: tanto Fish dal vivo non fallisce ( quasi) mai ed è molto difficile che facciate brutta figura. Il prezzo è altamente accessibile ( 20 euro + diritti di pv), e chi prenoterà il biglietto tramite il nostro sito, non pagherà la prevendita. Inoltre i primi venti riceveranno anche uno dei vecchi doppi live della produzione Fishiana, visto che li abbiamo in giacenza da un po' di tempo e tanto vale utilizzarli come ''premio'' per i più veloci. La modalità è semplice: cliccando sul link QUA SOPRA inserirete i vostri dati in una mail, noi li giriamo al promoter che vi contatterà poi via email anch'esso per le istruzioni di pagamento. Il cd verrà consegnato al concerto da uno dello staff.
Chiediamo inoltre a tutti un supporto ''fattivo''.
Chiediamo inoltre a tutti un supporto ''fattivo''.
Qua sotto nel post precedente, trovate il volantino promozionale da scaricare e stampare: ognuno di noi ha la pizzeria e il bar- pub favorito, che non si rifiuterà certamente di appendervelo, come pure le bacheche aziendali o universitarie. E' una cosa che non costa nulla fare e può dare parecchio aiuto, per cui facciamolo !!!
CONCLUSIONE
Vi aspettiamo numerosi alle tre date, mi raccomando di ''imparare'' bene i nuovi testi perchè ci piacerebbe moltissimo che Fish, dopo tutto questo tempo lontano dal nostro Paese, ricevesse un'accoglienza almeno simile alle date di Bologna e Milano dei Marillion, e non se ne parla di restare fermi come sassi alla Stazione Birra, questo ve lo assicuro proprio (anche perchè sarebbe rischiosissimo con uno scozzese di 2 metri sul palco, N.d.r.)
APPENDICE
Concludiamo questa newsletter ricordando a tutti che sabato prossimo, 6 ottobre, si terrà a Cervia, alla discoteca Barrumba, l'unica data italiana solista di Steve Hogarth.
CONCLUSIONE
Vi aspettiamo numerosi alle tre date, mi raccomando di ''imparare'' bene i nuovi testi perchè ci piacerebbe moltissimo che Fish, dopo tutto questo tempo lontano dal nostro Paese, ricevesse un'accoglienza almeno simile alle date di Bologna e Milano dei Marillion, e non se ne parla di restare fermi come sassi alla Stazione Birra, questo ve lo assicuro proprio (anche perchè sarebbe rischiosissimo con uno scozzese di 2 metri sul palco, N.d.r.)
APPENDICE
Concludiamo questa newsletter ricordando a tutti che sabato prossimo, 6 ottobre, si terrà a Cervia, alla discoteca Barrumba, l'unica data italiana solista di Steve Hogarth.
L'evento è organizzato dagli amici del fan club italiano RTR e meritava una comunicazione più tempestiva di questa, ma anche questo ritardo rientra nel prezzo pagato da TCI, RTR ed altre cose in cui sono coinvolto a causa dei miei problemi. Me ne dispiace e mi scuso con tutti.
Tornando alla data di Steve, si tratta di un evento imperdibile per i fans marillici, e non: due-tre ore di concerto al pianoforte, con rivisitazioni di pezzi marillici, grandi cover e pezzi solisti, oltre a letture del suo diario personale.
Qua trovate tutte le info.
Imperdibile.
Imperdibile.
TOUR 2007: volantini scaricabili.
Bene.
Ripubblichiamo il tutto, in vista del prossimo tour. Da oggi in poi inizia una sezione specifica (contraddistinta dal tag tour 2007 e dal titolo che leggete qua sopra) dove verranno date informazioni riguardanti il tour di Novembre.
Cominciamo con del materiale promozionale.
Abbiamo ricevuto, dal promoter, due immagini in alta risoluzione che servono per produrre un flyer (un volantino rettangolare) in bianca e volta. Se volete fare del volantinaggio, portarne delle copie nei locali che frequentate abitualmente, mostrarlo presso bacheche e spazi appositi in università, scuole e istituti. Ricordatevi che non è legale appenderlo in giro, ma solo negli spazi appositi...
Potete stamparlo sia su entrambe le facce (per fare un volantino classico) che decidere quale faccia stampare nel caso voleste appenderlo nei locali o sulle bacheche (costa meno). IMPORTANTE: non cliccate sul link normalmente... tasto destro, "Salva destinazione come.." e salvate il file sul vostro computer.
Ecco i link ai file:
- flyer tour 2007 bianca
- flyer tour 2007 volta
Nel caso foste dei webmaster, oppure dei blogger o dei twitter, insomma se avete un sito dove poter mettere un banner pubblicitario, eccovi i link:
- banner blu grande
- banner blu medio
- banner blu piccolo
- banner nero grande
- banner nero piccolo
Buona "promozione"... se avete difficoltà o domande tecniche su stampa o qualsiasi altra cosa riguardante il materiale sopra, scrivete, scrivete, scrivete...
16 settembre 2007
Recensione 13th Star
Fish è tornato.
Questo è un disco con le palle, ragazzi. Non è sicuramente un capolavoro, ci sono alti e bassi, ma la qualità generale è di alto livello.
In generale: mix e registrazione perfetta (si forse i piatti a volte sono impastati, ma proprio per cercare il pelo nell'uovo). Scelta dei brani equilibrata. Produzione curatissima. Un abisso rispetto a Foc. Calum è anche riuscito a far si che tutto il disco sia calibrato con il timbro e le "nuove" note che la voce di Fish può gestire.
Basta urletti che poi dal vivo non li fa neanche per sbaglio... Meglio rimanere in basso. ;)
Fish: c'è la voce. Calum Malcom è riuscito a trovargliela (così dice nei credits) e si sente. Interpretazioni sempre perfette. Un Fish ritrovato.
Tastierista: beh. Foss è un tastierista. E si sente. Suoni tutti perfetti. Il pianoforte è vero (a coda), mica la Bontempi di Turrell!! ;)
Vantsis: la vera sorpresa del disco. Sappiamo tutti che è un ottimo bassista. Il disco ci conferma, inoltre, che è un ottimo compositore (quasi tutti i pezzi sono suoi), ma scagli la prima pietra chi sapeva che è pure un chitarrista con le palle.
Sue le chitarre dei brani: 2,4,6,7 e 8. Praticamente gli assoli più belli li suona lui.
Usher: un po' in sordina. Anche se il suo assolo in Circle Line è ottimo. Ma Vantsis lo oscura in quanto pulizia e tecnica. Ottimo compagno nei riff più graffianti.
Batterista: non è una cima, ma il suo lavoro lo fa bene. Ci voleva un batterista più essenziale e meno barocco di Brizsesksksesky (fanculo, almeno questo ha un nome "UMANO") ed eccovi serviti.
Rispetto ai dischi precedenti le backing vocals sono perfette. Mai invadenti e ben calibrate. E qua la produzione fa il suo dovere...
Ma vediamo i pezzi singolarmente:
Circle Line: gran pezzone rock dai toni decisamente dark. Riff incalzanti su un bel tappetto di synth, rock ed elettronica. Finale stupendo con assolino del buon Frank. Voto: 8+
Square Go: altra botta adrenalica. Rispetto alla precedente il tono è ancora più aggressivo. Rabbia e rock puro. Assolo di Vantsis (da sentire) !!! Voto: 8
Miles des Besos: primo pezzo lento. Rispetto alla tradizione Fishiana, i lenti di 13th Star sono qualitativamente buoni. Questo, per esempio, è bello e ben suonato (gustose le chitarre acustiche). Anche qua finalone in progressione. La melodia acchiappa subito. Una sorpresa... voto: 7
Zoe 25: il mio lento preferito; specie il ritornello, dolce e melanconico. Fish, in ottima forma "espressiva", ci regala un'interpretazione molto sentita. Arrangiamenti curati. Voto: 8-
Arc of the Curve: qua do "un po' " ragione al Barraco. Pezzo semplice e leggero, ma il ritornello è un filo troppo banale. Gli arrangiamenti e l'esecuzione sono impeccabili ma forse ci voleva un po' più di "nervo" dal punto di vista della melodia. Bella la chitarra che commenta il ritornello. Voto: 6 1/2
Manchmal: e ritornò il rock. E questo, signori, è ROCK. Mica i tentativi zoppi dei Porcupine Tree sempre troppo preoccupati ad acchiapparsi il pubblico metallaro-. Qua le chitarre graffiano sul serio, il basso e la batteria pulsano con energia e Fish è realmente "incazzato". Gusto quasi industrial. Finale prog dal mood più pacato e oscuro, spettacolare. E le chitarre sono di Vantsis (!!!). Una sorpresa. Voto: 8+
Openwater: un pezzo che dimostra quanto IMO Usher sia capace di scrivere pezzi rock dal vago sapore blues, d'ottimo livello, tra l'altro. Cantato IMO strepitoso... Fish ha saputo costruire una linea vocale efficacissima. Grande. Riff e assoli di classe (cazzo... è ancora Vantsis!!!). Voto: 8
Dark Star: pezzo iponotico e "inquietante". Altro ottimo lavoro di Fish sulle linee vocali. Un pezzo quasi Wilsoniano. La progressione è ben costruita e finisce su un bridge molto "pieno" a livello sonoro, e che si chiude con un bell'assolo (di chi? Di Vantsis naturalmente!!!). Tanto per capirci... questo è il famoso Ain't it Easy che avevamo sentito su Planet Rock. Trasformata... in meglio. Grandi tutti. Voto: 8+
Where in the World: lentone non eccelso. Dopo la botta di Dark Star ci può stare, ma forse smorza troppo la tensione. Non è tra le mie preferite anche se, rispetto alle sdolcinate del passato, uno sforzo per migliorare i lenti c'è. Infatti è sopra la sufficienza. Voto: 6+
13th Star: chiusura con classe. Pezzo lento ma con progressione e finale intensi e "corposi". I "mandolini" di Betta in realtà è un dulcimer e, IMO, non stona ma semmai impreziosisce il bridge con un suono vintage di buon effetto. Un bel modo di chiudere questa avventura. Voto: 7+
In generale il disco è spiccatamente Porcospinico (sembra quasi sia passato Wilson, anche se in realtà non si sognerebbe neanche) anche nei lenti. Solo che, rispetto agli ultimi PT (come dicevo sopra), qua il rock è più industrial e meno filo-metallozzo. Ovvero: se non sai fare metal, lascia stare che ci fai una figura migliore. Fish sa fin dove può spingersi e sa anche dove è meglio che non mette piede.
Sono contento. Sono al 15esimo ascolto, per nulla stanco. Quindi il disco mi piace realmente. Foc, già al decimo ascolto, cominciava a cedere... e poi tutte quelle tastierine allucinanti mi avevano dato i nervi fin da subito. Grazie Foss per essere tornato! ;)
M.Bonomi
Questo è un disco con le palle, ragazzi. Non è sicuramente un capolavoro, ci sono alti e bassi, ma la qualità generale è di alto livello.
In generale: mix e registrazione perfetta (si forse i piatti a volte sono impastati, ma proprio per cercare il pelo nell'uovo). Scelta dei brani equilibrata. Produzione curatissima. Un abisso rispetto a Foc. Calum è anche riuscito a far si che tutto il disco sia calibrato con il timbro e le "nuove" note che la voce di Fish può gestire.
Basta urletti che poi dal vivo non li fa neanche per sbaglio... Meglio rimanere in basso. ;)
Fish: c'è la voce. Calum Malcom è riuscito a trovargliela (così dice nei credits) e si sente. Interpretazioni sempre perfette. Un Fish ritrovato.
Tastierista: beh. Foss è un tastierista. E si sente. Suoni tutti perfetti. Il pianoforte è vero (a coda), mica la Bontempi di Turrell!! ;)
Vantsis: la vera sorpresa del disco. Sappiamo tutti che è un ottimo bassista. Il disco ci conferma, inoltre, che è un ottimo compositore (quasi tutti i pezzi sono suoi), ma scagli la prima pietra chi sapeva che è pure un chitarrista con le palle.
Sue le chitarre dei brani: 2,4,6,7 e 8. Praticamente gli assoli più belli li suona lui.
Usher: un po' in sordina. Anche se il suo assolo in Circle Line è ottimo. Ma Vantsis lo oscura in quanto pulizia e tecnica. Ottimo compagno nei riff più graffianti.
Batterista: non è una cima, ma il suo lavoro lo fa bene. Ci voleva un batterista più essenziale e meno barocco di Brizsesksksesky (fanculo, almeno questo ha un nome "UMANO") ed eccovi serviti.
Rispetto ai dischi precedenti le backing vocals sono perfette. Mai invadenti e ben calibrate. E qua la produzione fa il suo dovere...
Ma vediamo i pezzi singolarmente:
Circle Line: gran pezzone rock dai toni decisamente dark. Riff incalzanti su un bel tappetto di synth, rock ed elettronica. Finale stupendo con assolino del buon Frank. Voto: 8+
Square Go: altra botta adrenalica. Rispetto alla precedente il tono è ancora più aggressivo. Rabbia e rock puro. Assolo di Vantsis (da sentire) !!! Voto: 8
Miles des Besos: primo pezzo lento. Rispetto alla tradizione Fishiana, i lenti di 13th Star sono qualitativamente buoni. Questo, per esempio, è bello e ben suonato (gustose le chitarre acustiche). Anche qua finalone in progressione. La melodia acchiappa subito. Una sorpresa... voto: 7
Zoe 25: il mio lento preferito; specie il ritornello, dolce e melanconico. Fish, in ottima forma "espressiva", ci regala un'interpretazione molto sentita. Arrangiamenti curati. Voto: 8-
Arc of the Curve: qua do "un po' " ragione al Barraco. Pezzo semplice e leggero, ma il ritornello è un filo troppo banale. Gli arrangiamenti e l'esecuzione sono impeccabili ma forse ci voleva un po' più di "nervo" dal punto di vista della melodia. Bella la chitarra che commenta il ritornello. Voto: 6 1/2
Manchmal: e ritornò il rock. E questo, signori, è ROCK. Mica i tentativi zoppi dei Porcupine Tree sempre troppo preoccupati ad acchiapparsi il pubblico metallaro-. Qua le chitarre graffiano sul serio, il basso e la batteria pulsano con energia e Fish è realmente "incazzato". Gusto quasi industrial. Finale prog dal mood più pacato e oscuro, spettacolare. E le chitarre sono di Vantsis (!!!). Una sorpresa. Voto: 8+
Openwater: un pezzo che dimostra quanto IMO Usher sia capace di scrivere pezzi rock dal vago sapore blues, d'ottimo livello, tra l'altro. Cantato IMO strepitoso... Fish ha saputo costruire una linea vocale efficacissima. Grande. Riff e assoli di classe (cazzo... è ancora Vantsis!!!). Voto: 8
Dark Star: pezzo iponotico e "inquietante". Altro ottimo lavoro di Fish sulle linee vocali. Un pezzo quasi Wilsoniano. La progressione è ben costruita e finisce su un bridge molto "pieno" a livello sonoro, e che si chiude con un bell'assolo (di chi? Di Vantsis naturalmente!!!). Tanto per capirci... questo è il famoso Ain't it Easy che avevamo sentito su Planet Rock. Trasformata... in meglio. Grandi tutti. Voto: 8+
Where in the World: lentone non eccelso. Dopo la botta di Dark Star ci può stare, ma forse smorza troppo la tensione. Non è tra le mie preferite anche se, rispetto alle sdolcinate del passato, uno sforzo per migliorare i lenti c'è. Infatti è sopra la sufficienza. Voto: 6+
13th Star: chiusura con classe. Pezzo lento ma con progressione e finale intensi e "corposi". I "mandolini" di Betta in realtà è un dulcimer e, IMO, non stona ma semmai impreziosisce il bridge con un suono vintage di buon effetto. Un bel modo di chiudere questa avventura. Voto: 7+
In generale il disco è spiccatamente Porcospinico (sembra quasi sia passato Wilson, anche se in realtà non si sognerebbe neanche) anche nei lenti. Solo che, rispetto agli ultimi PT (come dicevo sopra), qua il rock è più industrial e meno filo-metallozzo. Ovvero: se non sai fare metal, lascia stare che ci fai una figura migliore. Fish sa fin dove può spingersi e sa anche dove è meglio che non mette piede.
Sono contento. Sono al 15esimo ascolto, per nulla stanco. Quindi il disco mi piace realmente. Foc, già al decimo ascolto, cominciava a cedere... e poi tutte quelle tastierine allucinanti mi avevano dato i nervi fin da subito. Grazie Foss per essere tornato! ;)
M.Bonomi
10 settembre 2007
13th Star
Ebbene si', e' arrivato!
Giovedi chiamo in ufficio e mi dicono che c'era un pacchettino per me. Quando si dice la sfiga, non sarei rientrata fino a lunedi! Ma domenica pomeriggio non ce la facevo piu', quindi ho fatto un salto per prenderlo. Nel tragitto verso casa me lo giro e rigiro fra le mani, estasiata dal packaging - bellissimo!
Finalmente a casa lo faccio subito partire. Che dire...
Prima impressione: ovviamente FoC aveva lasciato piu' segno di quanto pensassi perche' mentre aspettavo che iniziasse ero in preda all'ansia e al terrore di un altro disastro come quello. Le prime note di Circle Line mi hanno subito messo l'anima in pace. Suoni pulitissimi, chiari e cristallini.
Certo, con il fantasma di FoC sempre pronto a riemergere, il paragone non puo' essere che positivo (probabilmente troverei qualcosa di buono da dire anche di Britney Spears) pero' mi sembra che Star si meriti proprio un applauso.
E vista la mia ignoranza tecnica, non posso che parlare di Star paragonandolo a FoC.
Dove FoC aveva una produzione non dico brutta, ma infima, Star sembra curato e fatto con attenzione e senza fretta.
Dove FoC aveva l'organino Buontempi recuperato dalla mia cantina, Star ha dei bei suoni, duri e puliti.
Dove FoC aveva quella sagoma del Pesce fregata dall'esposizione di HMV e appiccicata sul Van Gogh con il Vinavil (ebbene si, sull'artwork di FoC mi ero astenuta ma mi faceva un po' schifo anche quello), Star ha un cofanetto con i controfiocchi.
Dove FoC apre con The Field, Star parte con Circle Line.
Dove FoC aveva Turrell... no, qui mi fermo perche' sulla Croce Rossa non si spara.
A difesa di FoC, per quel che vale, c'e' da dire che solo a guardarlo mi mette in depressione e non sono mai riuscita ad ascoltarlo con attenzione dall'inizio alla fine. Che devo dire, non ce la faccio proprio a ignorare le pecche per cercare di concentrarmi sui pezzi. Alcuni mi piacciono dal vivo, ma non riesco a vedere FoC come un'unita' finita. Le canzoni singole potrebbero venire da qualsiasi parte, non riesco a riunirle sotto un denominatore comune. Mi sembrano tutte un'accozzaglia di roba buttata li per riempire 60 minuti di CD.
Invece su Star ci trovo un filo conduttore. Anche i pezzi lenti e lagnosi, a cui io sono notoriamente allergica (e Star ne ha) ci stanno bene e si fanno ascoltare. Se devo proprio trovarci qualcosa da ridire, forse avrei lasciato fuori le sviolinate e i mandolini verso la fine di 13th Star. Vabbe', togliamo il forse.
Non e' un album innovatore (mi ricorda Sunsets, a tratti), ma certamente nella sua interezza puo' prendere posto tra i buoni.
4 anni di FoC - forse 3 ascolti.
2 giorni di 13th Star - 5 giri nel lettore, e ancora non mi e' venuto a noia.
Un sospiro di sollievo!
Giovedi chiamo in ufficio e mi dicono che c'era un pacchettino per me. Quando si dice la sfiga, non sarei rientrata fino a lunedi! Ma domenica pomeriggio non ce la facevo piu', quindi ho fatto un salto per prenderlo. Nel tragitto verso casa me lo giro e rigiro fra le mani, estasiata dal packaging - bellissimo!
Finalmente a casa lo faccio subito partire. Che dire...
Prima impressione: ovviamente FoC aveva lasciato piu' segno di quanto pensassi perche' mentre aspettavo che iniziasse ero in preda all'ansia e al terrore di un altro disastro come quello. Le prime note di Circle Line mi hanno subito messo l'anima in pace. Suoni pulitissimi, chiari e cristallini.
Certo, con il fantasma di FoC sempre pronto a riemergere, il paragone non puo' essere che positivo (probabilmente troverei qualcosa di buono da dire anche di Britney Spears) pero' mi sembra che Star si meriti proprio un applauso.
E vista la mia ignoranza tecnica, non posso che parlare di Star paragonandolo a FoC.
Dove FoC aveva una produzione non dico brutta, ma infima, Star sembra curato e fatto con attenzione e senza fretta.
Dove FoC aveva l'organino Buontempi recuperato dalla mia cantina, Star ha dei bei suoni, duri e puliti.
Dove FoC aveva quella sagoma del Pesce fregata dall'esposizione di HMV e appiccicata sul Van Gogh con il Vinavil (ebbene si, sull'artwork di FoC mi ero astenuta ma mi faceva un po' schifo anche quello), Star ha un cofanetto con i controfiocchi.
Dove FoC apre con The Field, Star parte con Circle Line.
Dove FoC aveva Turrell... no, qui mi fermo perche' sulla Croce Rossa non si spara.
A difesa di FoC, per quel che vale, c'e' da dire che solo a guardarlo mi mette in depressione e non sono mai riuscita ad ascoltarlo con attenzione dall'inizio alla fine. Che devo dire, non ce la faccio proprio a ignorare le pecche per cercare di concentrarmi sui pezzi. Alcuni mi piacciono dal vivo, ma non riesco a vedere FoC come un'unita' finita. Le canzoni singole potrebbero venire da qualsiasi parte, non riesco a riunirle sotto un denominatore comune. Mi sembrano tutte un'accozzaglia di roba buttata li per riempire 60 minuti di CD.
Invece su Star ci trovo un filo conduttore. Anche i pezzi lenti e lagnosi, a cui io sono notoriamente allergica (e Star ne ha) ci stanno bene e si fanno ascoltare. Se devo proprio trovarci qualcosa da ridire, forse avrei lasciato fuori le sviolinate e i mandolini verso la fine di 13th Star. Vabbe', togliamo il forse.
Non e' un album innovatore (mi ricorda Sunsets, a tratti), ma certamente nella sua interezza puo' prendere posto tra i buoni.
4 anni di FoC - forse 3 ascolti.
2 giorni di 13th Star - 5 giri nel lettore, e ancora non mi e' venuto a noia.
Un sospiro di sollievo!
31 agosto 2007
We Were Wide Boys
Spero di fare cosa gradita nel tradurre e pubblicare parte dell'ultima email di Fish, sul sito ufficiale, che riguarda proprio l'evento mostrato nel filmato qui sotto.
"...E poi è diventato stellare. Mi avevano chiesto di suonare 'Hobble on the Cobbles' molti mesi fa e ho accettato immediatamente. L'opportunità era perfetta e all'ABC in Glasgow in giugno ho proposto a Mark di fare qualcosa insieme. Lucy Jordache era d'accordo e Ian è venuto a bordo con una risposta positiva. Non ero sicuro riguardo agli altri. So che sono molto sensibili su possibili suggerimenti di reunion e non volevo infastidire Steve Hogarth, per il quale provo molto rispetto. Ora è la sua band. Non riguardava la pubblicità o nient'altro, se non trovarsi di nuovo insieme per suonare nella Market Square ricordando i vecchi tempi. Abbiamo sempre voluto suonare lì ma il tempo e le circostanze hanno deciso diversamente. Mentre la data del concerto si avvicinava, Mark, Ian e io abbiamo parlato al telefono e solo un paio di settimane fa Pete ha detto di sì! La settimana scorsa, dopo essere tornato dalle vacanze, Steve venne a bordo. Volevo che la cosa rimanesse segreta. Niente stampa, niente su internet. Era un affare privato.
Ho pensato che avrebbero potuto preoccuparsi di suonare senza aver provato. Non volevamo che diventasse qualcosa di grosso, e siamo rimasti sull'unico pezzo rilevante per la situazione. Ci siamo incontrati nel pomeriggio, ed è stato bellissimo rivederli ancora insieme. Ed eccoci là. Loro quattro si sono preparati sulle scalette del palco. Non vedevamo l'ora. Ho lasciato che la squadra dei Marilli preparasse il cambio di strumenti.
Ho fatto l'introduzione, ma non riesco a ricordare molto. I video su YouTube mi hanno fatto recuperare la memoria! Avevamo luce verde, così ho presentato la band. L'atmosfera era incredibile, mentre salivano uno ad uno sul palco e ricevevano un abbraccio dal sottoscritto. Non ho abbracciato Pete perché ero troppo nervoso e lui si è fiondato a prendere il basso. È stato un po' come il nostro primo concerto al Friars. Ian è partito e io ho avuto un attimo di panico, andava alla massima velocità. Il problema è che il respiro tra le parole diventa difficile se cerchi di cantare e rendere la melodia andando a Mach 4. I livelli di adrenalina erano al massimo grado. Punk prog! Ci guardavamo per avere indizi su come procedere. Eravamo tutti sorrisi. Il calo della musica nella sezione parlata e l'esplosione nel finale. Ed era finita, e ci siamo riabbracciati mentre lasciavamo il palco. Non ricordo molto del pubblico, a parte la grande reazione che ci ha presi un po' tutti di sorpresa. Come ho detto, è stato il secondo sogno diventato realtà durante la giornata. È stato fantastico, nostalgico e molto divertente.
Nel pub ero esausto e consumato dai fan che si congratulavano. Sarebbe stato bello avere un po' di tempo da passare assieme, ma l'occasione non era quella giusta. Ci sarebbe piaciuto passare la notte assieme e unirci alla "dawn patrol" ma Ian e Lucy dovevano partire per gli States presto il giorno dopo per andare dalla famiglia di lui, Pete e Fiona e la famiglia avevano già degli impegni, Mark aveva la sua auto e Ange a casa, Steve, Jo e i bambini sono andati a mangiare e poi a casa. Ci siamo lasciati come grandi amici che hanno vissuto insieme un giorno straordinario. Non sapevamo cosa avevamo scatenato.
Altri abbracci, lunghi addii. Questo non accadrà più per un bel po' di tempo, se mai accadrà ancora. Cinque vecchi amici che si erano lanciati alla conquista del mondo come ragazzi dagli occhi sgranati, ora uomini di famiglia che visitavano nuovamente vecchi fantasmi e antiche memorie per pochi minuti nelle nostre vite in continuo cambiamento. Ce l'abbiamo fatta. Ero così contento e orgoglioso di averlo fatto. Ha significato moltissimo, soprattutto oggi!"
Slainte Mhath!
"...E poi è diventato stellare. Mi avevano chiesto di suonare 'Hobble on the Cobbles' molti mesi fa e ho accettato immediatamente. L'opportunità era perfetta e all'ABC in Glasgow in giugno ho proposto a Mark di fare qualcosa insieme. Lucy Jordache era d'accordo e Ian è venuto a bordo con una risposta positiva. Non ero sicuro riguardo agli altri. So che sono molto sensibili su possibili suggerimenti di reunion e non volevo infastidire Steve Hogarth, per il quale provo molto rispetto. Ora è la sua band. Non riguardava la pubblicità o nient'altro, se non trovarsi di nuovo insieme per suonare nella Market Square ricordando i vecchi tempi. Abbiamo sempre voluto suonare lì ma il tempo e le circostanze hanno deciso diversamente. Mentre la data del concerto si avvicinava, Mark, Ian e io abbiamo parlato al telefono e solo un paio di settimane fa Pete ha detto di sì! La settimana scorsa, dopo essere tornato dalle vacanze, Steve venne a bordo. Volevo che la cosa rimanesse segreta. Niente stampa, niente su internet. Era un affare privato.
Ho pensato che avrebbero potuto preoccuparsi di suonare senza aver provato. Non volevamo che diventasse qualcosa di grosso, e siamo rimasti sull'unico pezzo rilevante per la situazione. Ci siamo incontrati nel pomeriggio, ed è stato bellissimo rivederli ancora insieme. Ed eccoci là. Loro quattro si sono preparati sulle scalette del palco. Non vedevamo l'ora. Ho lasciato che la squadra dei Marilli preparasse il cambio di strumenti.
Ho fatto l'introduzione, ma non riesco a ricordare molto. I video su YouTube mi hanno fatto recuperare la memoria! Avevamo luce verde, così ho presentato la band. L'atmosfera era incredibile, mentre salivano uno ad uno sul palco e ricevevano un abbraccio dal sottoscritto. Non ho abbracciato Pete perché ero troppo nervoso e lui si è fiondato a prendere il basso. È stato un po' come il nostro primo concerto al Friars. Ian è partito e io ho avuto un attimo di panico, andava alla massima velocità. Il problema è che il respiro tra le parole diventa difficile se cerchi di cantare e rendere la melodia andando a Mach 4. I livelli di adrenalina erano al massimo grado. Punk prog! Ci guardavamo per avere indizi su come procedere. Eravamo tutti sorrisi. Il calo della musica nella sezione parlata e l'esplosione nel finale. Ed era finita, e ci siamo riabbracciati mentre lasciavamo il palco. Non ricordo molto del pubblico, a parte la grande reazione che ci ha presi un po' tutti di sorpresa. Come ho detto, è stato il secondo sogno diventato realtà durante la giornata. È stato fantastico, nostalgico e molto divertente.
Nel pub ero esausto e consumato dai fan che si congratulavano. Sarebbe stato bello avere un po' di tempo da passare assieme, ma l'occasione non era quella giusta. Ci sarebbe piaciuto passare la notte assieme e unirci alla "dawn patrol" ma Ian e Lucy dovevano partire per gli States presto il giorno dopo per andare dalla famiglia di lui, Pete e Fiona e la famiglia avevano già degli impegni, Mark aveva la sua auto e Ange a casa, Steve, Jo e i bambini sono andati a mangiare e poi a casa. Ci siamo lasciati come grandi amici che hanno vissuto insieme un giorno straordinario. Non sapevamo cosa avevamo scatenato.
Altri abbracci, lunghi addii. Questo non accadrà più per un bel po' di tempo, se mai accadrà ancora. Cinque vecchi amici che si erano lanciati alla conquista del mondo come ragazzi dagli occhi sgranati, ora uomini di famiglia che visitavano nuovamente vecchi fantasmi e antiche memorie per pochi minuti nelle nostre vite in continuo cambiamento. Ce l'abbiamo fatta. Ero così contento e orgoglioso di averlo fatto. Ha significato moltissimo, soprattutto oggi!"
Slainte Mhath!
28 agosto 2007
Senza parole...
Volete sgranare gli occhi? Volete non credere a cio' che vedete?
Eccovi serviti:
Domenica 26 Agosto 2007, nella celeberrima Market Square Heroes alle ore 20.00 circa la formazione originale dei Marillion è tornata in pista tutta assieme per il bis finale di, ovviamente 'Market Square Heroes'.
Hogarth era a Colonia e ha augurato a tutti loro buon divertimento e in bocca al lupo e così, dopo 19 anni il sogno di migliaia di nostalgici si è avverato.
Il pesce li ha introdotti sul palco dicendo:
""This is going to be weird..."
Tutti quanti si sono divertiti un sacco e, alla fine, come ai vecchi tempi, Fish ha salutato i suoi vecchi compagni chiamandoli per nome, ma riunendoli sotto il nome Marillion e ha concluso con il solito "They call me the Fish". (D.Costa)
Mamma mia!!!!!!
Eccovi serviti:
Domenica 26 Agosto 2007, nella celeberrima Market Square Heroes alle ore 20.00 circa la formazione originale dei Marillion è tornata in pista tutta assieme per il bis finale di, ovviamente 'Market Square Heroes'.
Hogarth era a Colonia e ha augurato a tutti loro buon divertimento e in bocca al lupo e così, dopo 19 anni il sogno di migliaia di nostalgici si è avverato.
Il pesce li ha introdotti sul palco dicendo:
""This is going to be weird..."
Tutti quanti si sono divertiti un sacco e, alla fine, come ai vecchi tempi, Fish ha salutato i suoi vecchi compagni chiamandoli per nome, ma riunendoli sotto il nome Marillion e ha concluso con il solito "They call me the Fish". (D.Costa)
Mamma mia!!!!!!
18 agosto 2007
Fish 2007 - Memory Clusters
Altra mail fiume di Fish che aspettiamo a pubblicare per lasciare in primo piano le news di 13th Stars. Sarebbe bello poterla tradurre perché è molto interessante...
Fino a che rimane "l'ultima" la potete leggere qua:
http://www.the-company.com/lemail.htm
Fino a che rimane "l'ultima" la potete leggere qua:
http://www.the-company.com/lemail.htm
13th Star disponibile in pre-order
Evvai! Per chi vuole aggiudicarsi la versione "lusso" in digipack ed essere tra i primi a riceverlo... andate a questo link e preordinato. Incluso anche un DVD con il "Making of"...
http://shop.the-company.com/acatalog/cdsstudio.html
http://shop.the-company.com/acatalog/cdsstudio.html
preview del packaging di 13th Star
Eccovi le immagini di come sarà il pack del nuovo CD di Fish. Siamo di fronte ad una delle più belle artwork della carriera solista di Fish... molto progressive, tra l'altro. Se il buongiorno si vede dal mattino...
11 agosto 2007
Fish 2007 - Heart of Lothian
Dear FishHeads, Freaks, fans and the Company,
I would have to have been a cold-hearted, cynical, callous individual to have expected to get through this week without being affected by the emotional aftershocks that have hit me in recent months.
This is a difficult time as the last two weeks were kept free to allow time to ourselves in the run up to the wedding. The album done, the band rehearsed, the first gigs under our belt, the tour in order and only the Aylesbury gig in the 5 weeks between the wedding and the UK tour, this was planned to have been our private time after the intensity of the album project. A time for cycle rides, going to the gym, walks on beaches and all the other activities that were swallowed by my commitment to the new album and tour.
And now I find myself struggling to keep myself busy and trying to find ideas to occupy my mind. Like an amputee who still feels pain in a missing limb, I am still going through the mental process of dealing with an impending wedding. Running through schedules in my head (Hen night tomorrow, me going out with the boys, family meal at the Rocks Friday, bridal party moves to hotel, etc) and watching marquees go up in the garden, the ghosts are walking beside me just now. I was primed for this for so long it now seems surreal. Sometimes I think I'll wake up and find it was all just a nightmare! It has been a tough time coping with the reality of it all.
I took a double hit on Monday when Tara and I went to pick up her bridesmaid's dress. The last place I wanted to be was in a bridal boutique with racks of wedding dresses and reminders of what now was not happening. And out walked a truly beautiful woman from the changing rooms wearing an absolutely stunning pale gold gown, a vision that quite simply took my breath away. My daughter, so grown up, so glamorous and so jaw droppingly gorgeous. It was a true "proud father" moment.
At the same time I knew she would not be walking down an aisle and allowing others the chance to wonder at her beauty.
And it's been like that most of the week. High cruel twists of Yin and Yang, booby traps lurking in photo files and diaries that catch your eye and throw a hand grenade into your chest, a casual remark by Donald, the Big Issue seller at Tescos, who'd caught a newspaper article and made his feelings known, prompting another exhumation. Reminders just seem more prevalent just now. It's exposing a deep sadness and that is going to take a long time to bury.
My nights are uneasy and with Tara on her summer holidays and bouncing about friends houses I am often left alone too many times with too many thoughts. I often find myself in my dressing gown in the greenhouse in the wee small hours with a cup of tea and a smoke watching the pipistrelle bats swooping round the bird table and the kitchen garden. The new flower beds roar into colour and every now and then a shower of rain burst like applause on the roof. Last night I listened to the mixes again while staring at the glowing green lawn where the celebrations were due to be held. The album has become a soundtrack for my last few months and every lyric holds memories that are still fresh enough to taste.
The greenhouse, scene of so many midnight trysts, so many confrontations and arguments, so much debate and so many romantic and loving moments. I still find it the most peaceful place to be on my own. It's where I wrote most of the lyrics for "13th Star" and where I will listen to the new album for the first time on my own on Friday.
The first mixes will be played at the party with Calum polishing them next week to deliver the finished mastered album by the 13th of August.
I heard tracks today for the first time since singing them and even though the mixes were in progress I was taken aback at what I heard. As Calum said himself "they sound fantastic!" I am extremely proud of this album and to deliver it after the most traumatic events occurring in the first week of recording is a major achievement for the entire team involved. If someone had deliberately picked a moment to cause the most disruption and the maximum emotional damage the first week of recording was it. How I have got through to this stage defies me.
My ex saw the album as something that came between us and I was accused of holding the album in higher importance than her. She couldn't have been more wrong. It's so ironic that the relationship that was the burning inspiration behind the album has in turn been itself destroyed in the process of creation. It's again extreme yin and yang.
I have been slammed by both my ex and fans of her band for holding the launch party for "13th Star" on the original wedding date. I've been accused of being cynical and exploitative and cold-hearted. The point of fact is that Saturday offers me some sort of closure. It heralds a new beginning and new promises. I need it if just for the wake for the death of the dream.
I know it won't be easy despite my attempts at a brave face and a stiff upper lip and I am sure I will have a few blue moments on my own despite being surrounded by great friends and a wonderful family. But the day has to be breached and I am sure at the close of the evening I will have a sense of relief and closure. I am also sure there will be an abundance of smiles that will keep me buoyed and positive through out it all. I dread the day and look forward to its passing.
Everything is set. The flowers flowered on time and the garden is immaculate thanks to the efforts of my Mum and Dad. The marquees are going up as I type. The weather is supposed to be 23 degrees and sunny. The catering arrives with the Tyneside outside bar on Friday, the PA and lights and generator Saturday am with sound checks at 12. The stage schedule is arranged, the bands briefed ("Your own Special Way" not on any set lists!). Hotels booked, airport pick ups arranged. It's all done. It's a pity. It would have made a great wedding day!
I'm finding great solace in writing and just coming to terms with my feelings about all that has happened. Most of it is deleted and trashed as it's too raw and private. Once I am out the other side maybe it is time to write that book.
My heart may have been well and truly broken but it is still beating strongly! I place my faith in the Karma mechanic!
Until next week
Take care and stay alive,
Fish xx
I would have to have been a cold-hearted, cynical, callous individual to have expected to get through this week without being affected by the emotional aftershocks that have hit me in recent months.
This is a difficult time as the last two weeks were kept free to allow time to ourselves in the run up to the wedding. The album done, the band rehearsed, the first gigs under our belt, the tour in order and only the Aylesbury gig in the 5 weeks between the wedding and the UK tour, this was planned to have been our private time after the intensity of the album project. A time for cycle rides, going to the gym, walks on beaches and all the other activities that were swallowed by my commitment to the new album and tour.
And now I find myself struggling to keep myself busy and trying to find ideas to occupy my mind. Like an amputee who still feels pain in a missing limb, I am still going through the mental process of dealing with an impending wedding. Running through schedules in my head (Hen night tomorrow, me going out with the boys, family meal at the Rocks Friday, bridal party moves to hotel, etc) and watching marquees go up in the garden, the ghosts are walking beside me just now. I was primed for this for so long it now seems surreal. Sometimes I think I'll wake up and find it was all just a nightmare! It has been a tough time coping with the reality of it all.
I took a double hit on Monday when Tara and I went to pick up her bridesmaid's dress. The last place I wanted to be was in a bridal boutique with racks of wedding dresses and reminders of what now was not happening. And out walked a truly beautiful woman from the changing rooms wearing an absolutely stunning pale gold gown, a vision that quite simply took my breath away. My daughter, so grown up, so glamorous and so jaw droppingly gorgeous. It was a true "proud father" moment.
At the same time I knew she would not be walking down an aisle and allowing others the chance to wonder at her beauty.
And it's been like that most of the week. High cruel twists of Yin and Yang, booby traps lurking in photo files and diaries that catch your eye and throw a hand grenade into your chest, a casual remark by Donald, the Big Issue seller at Tescos, who'd caught a newspaper article and made his feelings known, prompting another exhumation. Reminders just seem more prevalent just now. It's exposing a deep sadness and that is going to take a long time to bury.
My nights are uneasy and with Tara on her summer holidays and bouncing about friends houses I am often left alone too many times with too many thoughts. I often find myself in my dressing gown in the greenhouse in the wee small hours with a cup of tea and a smoke watching the pipistrelle bats swooping round the bird table and the kitchen garden. The new flower beds roar into colour and every now and then a shower of rain burst like applause on the roof. Last night I listened to the mixes again while staring at the glowing green lawn where the celebrations were due to be held. The album has become a soundtrack for my last few months and every lyric holds memories that are still fresh enough to taste.
The greenhouse, scene of so many midnight trysts, so many confrontations and arguments, so much debate and so many romantic and loving moments. I still find it the most peaceful place to be on my own. It's where I wrote most of the lyrics for "13th Star" and where I will listen to the new album for the first time on my own on Friday.
The first mixes will be played at the party with Calum polishing them next week to deliver the finished mastered album by the 13th of August.
I heard tracks today for the first time since singing them and even though the mixes were in progress I was taken aback at what I heard. As Calum said himself "they sound fantastic!" I am extremely proud of this album and to deliver it after the most traumatic events occurring in the first week of recording is a major achievement for the entire team involved. If someone had deliberately picked a moment to cause the most disruption and the maximum emotional damage the first week of recording was it. How I have got through to this stage defies me.
My ex saw the album as something that came between us and I was accused of holding the album in higher importance than her. She couldn't have been more wrong. It's so ironic that the relationship that was the burning inspiration behind the album has in turn been itself destroyed in the process of creation. It's again extreme yin and yang.
I have been slammed by both my ex and fans of her band for holding the launch party for "13th Star" on the original wedding date. I've been accused of being cynical and exploitative and cold-hearted. The point of fact is that Saturday offers me some sort of closure. It heralds a new beginning and new promises. I need it if just for the wake for the death of the dream.
I know it won't be easy despite my attempts at a brave face and a stiff upper lip and I am sure I will have a few blue moments on my own despite being surrounded by great friends and a wonderful family. But the day has to be breached and I am sure at the close of the evening I will have a sense of relief and closure. I am also sure there will be an abundance of smiles that will keep me buoyed and positive through out it all. I dread the day and look forward to its passing.
Everything is set. The flowers flowered on time and the garden is immaculate thanks to the efforts of my Mum and Dad. The marquees are going up as I type. The weather is supposed to be 23 degrees and sunny. The catering arrives with the Tyneside outside bar on Friday, the PA and lights and generator Saturday am with sound checks at 12. The stage schedule is arranged, the bands briefed ("Your own Special Way" not on any set lists!). Hotels booked, airport pick ups arranged. It's all done. It's a pity. It would have made a great wedding day!
I'm finding great solace in writing and just coming to terms with my feelings about all that has happened. Most of it is deleted and trashed as it's too raw and private. Once I am out the other side maybe it is time to write that book.
My heart may have been well and truly broken but it is still beating strongly! I place my faith in the Karma mechanic!
Until next week
Take care and stay alive,
Fish xx
Fish 2007 - Sugar Mice in the Sun
In attesa che i miei collaboratori mi spediscano la loro recensione/racconto del gig di Loreley (meglio tardi che mai) gustiamoci questa lettera (in inglese) del pescione... se andati un po' avanti vedrete sottolineato un piccolo paragrafo che ci riguarda direttamente! ;)
Dear FishHeads, Freaks, Fans and the Company,
It seems as if my rain god powers have deserted me as I sit here writing this in 23 degrees of sunshine in Scotland after a weekend of downpours in Edinburgh which I thankfully avoided.
We left for the two German festivals on Friday, Gavin and Chris from Cardiff and Leeds respectively heading to Amsterdam, Yatta, Vince and Steve V from Birmingham heading for Zurich, Mike Hogg (sound engineer for this weekend) from Glasgow to Heathrow and Foss, Frank and myself heading for Heathrow from Edinburgh, all with the ultimate destination of Stuttgart. As they say "the best plans of mice and men aft gang aglae" and boy did they go "aglae" this weekend. I took the call from Steve telling me that Birmingham was under a torrential downpour and that flights were affected just as we turned up at the airport. Flights to Heathrow were going down fast and thankfully after queuing for over an hour at British Airways ticket sales we got alternative routing on Lufthansa to Frankfurt where we would connect to Stuttgart at 6am tomorrow. We had left the farm at 3pm and arrived at our hotel in Frankfurt at 11pm.
Calls on mobile discovered that the Brummy mob were caught in Zurich for three hours, Mike was trapped at Heathrow till an early flight next day and had to sleep in the airport, the Schiphol connection got through eventually and that we were all going to get there eventually for sound check at 2pm next day in Calw.
Foss, Frank and I staggered to check in on gig day and were met in Stuttgart by the promoter's rep who told us only Mike was now delayed and that our team had made the beaches! Fishy commandos :-D
A 40 minute drive to the site and at 11 we parked up in the dressing room in the town hall looking down on a wonderful market square surrounded on all sides by ancient timber framed buildings (Hermann Hesse was born and lived just opposite where we were encamped. He wrote "Demian", the inspiration behind "Misplaced Childhood") and with a superb piece of staging facing the length of the cobbled area where later on a sold out audience of 5000 would see us hit the stage before Jethro Tull closed the festival. Well that was the idea!
As the hours went by and all our guys assembled we were told that Jethro Tull were trapped in Heathrow.
They had gone to the airport in the afternoon the day before to be told all flights were cancelled. The band hung around all day and was scheduled on the last flight out at midnight. After waiting all day and with one flight on the departures board the message went up that the flight was cancelled. Ian Anderson and the band managed to get hotels while the rest slept in the terminal in the queues at the ticket desks holding their place in line .Ian and the guys were back at 6am only to be told that the flights were fully booked. The news was filtering through to Calw. I was texting James Anderson, Ian's son and he was doubtful if they would manage to get there. The promoter tried to get a private plane for 7 people out of Luton but in the end it didn't work out as Ian, I was to find out later is uncomfortable at flying in small aircraft after previous bad experiences. Completely understandable, especially with violent weather systems across Europe. I would have been concerned
myself!
The headline act for Calw was a no show.
I had long talks with the promoter and offered to play the show as we were all present and correct. Some of his staff were in tears and calls were going back and forward to the insurance companies regarding what should happen. I was desperately trying to find a solution as there were not only going to be 5000 people on their way, including a legion of Fish fans that were coming in from all over, but our gig was being recorded for SWR, a major German radio station. This would have been a great asset to the forthcoming German tour.
I suggested that we play for free but the promoter said it would complicate and possibly invalidate the insurance claim if a band took the stage. I then suggested that he offer some money back on the tickets by stamping them and allowing fans to send in for the refund later thus allowing the purist Tull fans some compensation. That was entertained and became a possible solution until the insurance company turned it down. The festival was cancelled. I called Mo and she was brilliant at getting the news out and helped some fans from making a wasted journey. As the stage, sound and lights were dismantled we watched on in frustration and disappointment. I even tried to find a local venue to play in but there were none available. After all our efforts to get there we were left feeling empty and depressed by events.
There was nothing left to do and so we embarked on a long curve of a day off fuelled by the backstage riders for three bands. We met a few fans in the square and took them backstage to drink some beers and play the demos to at least soften the blow.
The film ran in the camera as we all degenerated and disintegrated with laughter as the afternoon wore out. We eventually ended up drinking in the square with a bunch of German fans as the rain pelted down on the town. Ironically it stopped just as my intended stage time came about. As I said the rain god is no more! :-D
We hit the hotel around 10 after another meal in a Greek restaurant with more wine and laughter. Chris and Gavin had a double hit as they could have been playing with their other band at Murrayfield supporting Bryan Adams. They felt a lot better when later that night I received some messages from friends who were at the gig, among them Elspeth. It transpired that it rained cats and dogs all day (I heard there were a few prominent Fish umbrellas in the crowd :-D ) and that the organisation was put out of kilter by the weather resulting in their band playing a short set to a mostly disinterested crowd who were to say the least dampened by the occasion.
Playing to a less than quarter full stadium under those circumstances is usually put down under the "to be avoided" column of most musos. But at least they played that night. We just got the after show party! :-D
Back at the hotel by 11 and straight to bed after my last reminder on this summer's excursions of recent ugliness when I got my room card with two keys and two names. I slept soundly and alone.
We had our show the next day and we were headlining this time above Jethro Tull and Pendragon. Up at 9 and then waited on the bus to take us 3 hours up the road to Loreley. A fantastic trip through the Black forest and along the Rhine valley through some of the most beautiful country in Germany. The sun was pouring down!
We arrived around 2 at the site which was already jumping to "The Watch" from Italy/France. I missed most of their set as we had lunch then I had 3 simultaneous interviews just as Pendragon hit the stage. My first interviews in Germany. A lot of ducking and diving round some issues and I used my words carefully. One of the interviews was for the Company Germany web site and was filmed.
I caught around 30 minutes of Pendragon who I hadn't seen for a long time. They were really good and a lot more powerful than I remembered. Nick was in great spirits and the band was on the ball. They got a great reception. I really enjoyed watching their show.
Jethro Tull were up next and I had a good chin wag with Ian pre gig who explained the horrors of Heathrow. He looked tired as you would expect after that ordeal. James, his son, and I also had a long natter about recent events and the band were unnecessarily apologetic about the Calw deal. I hadn't realised that James was on drums that day as I thought he was tour managing. James had spent the night at Heathrow on the Friday and had been there till late Saturday afternoon. His tiredness didn't show and I admired his playing in a set that took me back a bit. The band were solid and got a great reaction but I wasn't worried as I knew from the number of Fish fans in the 6000 or so crowd (we tripled figures from last year) that we had a ready made audience that was waiting on us.
Dear FishHeads, Freaks, Fans and the Company,
It seems as if my rain god powers have deserted me as I sit here writing this in 23 degrees of sunshine in Scotland after a weekend of downpours in Edinburgh which I thankfully avoided.
We left for the two German festivals on Friday, Gavin and Chris from Cardiff and Leeds respectively heading to Amsterdam, Yatta, Vince and Steve V from Birmingham heading for Zurich, Mike Hogg (sound engineer for this weekend) from Glasgow to Heathrow and Foss, Frank and myself heading for Heathrow from Edinburgh, all with the ultimate destination of Stuttgart. As they say "the best plans of mice and men aft gang aglae" and boy did they go "aglae" this weekend. I took the call from Steve telling me that Birmingham was under a torrential downpour and that flights were affected just as we turned up at the airport. Flights to Heathrow were going down fast and thankfully after queuing for over an hour at British Airways ticket sales we got alternative routing on Lufthansa to Frankfurt where we would connect to Stuttgart at 6am tomorrow. We had left the farm at 3pm and arrived at our hotel in Frankfurt at 11pm.
Calls on mobile discovered that the Brummy mob were caught in Zurich for three hours, Mike was trapped at Heathrow till an early flight next day and had to sleep in the airport, the Schiphol connection got through eventually and that we were all going to get there eventually for sound check at 2pm next day in Calw.
Foss, Frank and I staggered to check in on gig day and were met in Stuttgart by the promoter's rep who told us only Mike was now delayed and that our team had made the beaches! Fishy commandos :-D
A 40 minute drive to the site and at 11 we parked up in the dressing room in the town hall looking down on a wonderful market square surrounded on all sides by ancient timber framed buildings (Hermann Hesse was born and lived just opposite where we were encamped. He wrote "Demian", the inspiration behind "Misplaced Childhood") and with a superb piece of staging facing the length of the cobbled area where later on a sold out audience of 5000 would see us hit the stage before Jethro Tull closed the festival. Well that was the idea!
As the hours went by and all our guys assembled we were told that Jethro Tull were trapped in Heathrow.
They had gone to the airport in the afternoon the day before to be told all flights were cancelled. The band hung around all day and was scheduled on the last flight out at midnight. After waiting all day and with one flight on the departures board the message went up that the flight was cancelled. Ian Anderson and the band managed to get hotels while the rest slept in the terminal in the queues at the ticket desks holding their place in line .Ian and the guys were back at 6am only to be told that the flights were fully booked. The news was filtering through to Calw. I was texting James Anderson, Ian's son and he was doubtful if they would manage to get there. The promoter tried to get a private plane for 7 people out of Luton but in the end it didn't work out as Ian, I was to find out later is uncomfortable at flying in small aircraft after previous bad experiences. Completely understandable, especially with violent weather systems across Europe. I would have been concerned
myself!
The headline act for Calw was a no show.
I had long talks with the promoter and offered to play the show as we were all present and correct. Some of his staff were in tears and calls were going back and forward to the insurance companies regarding what should happen. I was desperately trying to find a solution as there were not only going to be 5000 people on their way, including a legion of Fish fans that were coming in from all over, but our gig was being recorded for SWR, a major German radio station. This would have been a great asset to the forthcoming German tour.
I suggested that we play for free but the promoter said it would complicate and possibly invalidate the insurance claim if a band took the stage. I then suggested that he offer some money back on the tickets by stamping them and allowing fans to send in for the refund later thus allowing the purist Tull fans some compensation. That was entertained and became a possible solution until the insurance company turned it down. The festival was cancelled. I called Mo and she was brilliant at getting the news out and helped some fans from making a wasted journey. As the stage, sound and lights were dismantled we watched on in frustration and disappointment. I even tried to find a local venue to play in but there were none available. After all our efforts to get there we were left feeling empty and depressed by events.
There was nothing left to do and so we embarked on a long curve of a day off fuelled by the backstage riders for three bands. We met a few fans in the square and took them backstage to drink some beers and play the demos to at least soften the blow.
The film ran in the camera as we all degenerated and disintegrated with laughter as the afternoon wore out. We eventually ended up drinking in the square with a bunch of German fans as the rain pelted down on the town. Ironically it stopped just as my intended stage time came about. As I said the rain god is no more! :-D
We hit the hotel around 10 after another meal in a Greek restaurant with more wine and laughter. Chris and Gavin had a double hit as they could have been playing with their other band at Murrayfield supporting Bryan Adams. They felt a lot better when later that night I received some messages from friends who were at the gig, among them Elspeth. It transpired that it rained cats and dogs all day (I heard there were a few prominent Fish umbrellas in the crowd :-D ) and that the organisation was put out of kilter by the weather resulting in their band playing a short set to a mostly disinterested crowd who were to say the least dampened by the occasion.
Playing to a less than quarter full stadium under those circumstances is usually put down under the "to be avoided" column of most musos. But at least they played that night. We just got the after show party! :-D
Back at the hotel by 11 and straight to bed after my last reminder on this summer's excursions of recent ugliness when I got my room card with two keys and two names. I slept soundly and alone.
We had our show the next day and we were headlining this time above Jethro Tull and Pendragon. Up at 9 and then waited on the bus to take us 3 hours up the road to Loreley. A fantastic trip through the Black forest and along the Rhine valley through some of the most beautiful country in Germany. The sun was pouring down!
We arrived around 2 at the site which was already jumping to "The Watch" from Italy/France. I missed most of their set as we had lunch then I had 3 simultaneous interviews just as Pendragon hit the stage. My first interviews in Germany. A lot of ducking and diving round some issues and I used my words carefully. One of the interviews was for the Company Germany web site and was filmed.
I caught around 30 minutes of Pendragon who I hadn't seen for a long time. They were really good and a lot more powerful than I remembered. Nick was in great spirits and the band was on the ball. They got a great reception. I really enjoyed watching their show.
Jethro Tull were up next and I had a good chin wag with Ian pre gig who explained the horrors of Heathrow. He looked tired as you would expect after that ordeal. James, his son, and I also had a long natter about recent events and the band were unnecessarily apologetic about the Calw deal. I hadn't realised that James was on drums that day as I thought he was tour managing. James had spent the night at Heathrow on the Friday and had been there till late Saturday afternoon. His tiredness didn't show and I admired his playing in a set that took me back a bit. The band were solid and got a great reaction but I wasn't worried as I knew from the number of Fish fans in the 6000 or so crowd (we tripled figures from last year) that we had a ready made audience that was waiting on us.
The Company Italy were present in numbers and they did an ID for 'Fish TV' which was incredibly funny! (Their gift of a bottle of Limoncello made it back to Haddington =-O )
Tara arrived with her mother shortly before Tull went on. It was a surprise and good to see them both and with Mario, Joergen, Franz and Christiana from the Company Germany all in attendance it was a bit of a reunion.
Tara had recovered after being rushed to hospital by ambulance in Berlin a few days before with acute food poisoning after eating dodgy carpaccio in an Italian restaurant. She was on an IV drip all night and the doctor said that she could have died if she hadn't come in for treatment.
I got this news on the morning I left the farm. Just a wee bit of added stress I didn't need.
In true trouper style she made the gig! :-D
It was actually 20 years to the week when I played Loreley with Marillion, 20 years to the week I met Yatta and 20 years to the week I was first married. I decided to start the set with an appropriate intro and duly set up "Sergeant Peppers Lonely Heart's Club Band" followed immediately by "Slainthe Mhath" as opener as I did on the first Loreley. It was a brilliant entrance if I say so myself.
I wore my black Monty Python shirt with the proclamation "I'm not dead yet" :-D Thought it appropriate :-D
We didn't get a sound check on the day but the crew are great pros and we hit stage on time and with a great out front sound (as I would later discover for myself). Monitors were a bit hazy and the intros to the new material which are on iPod got lost a couple of times causing some hairdos to come undone on stage. We could have done with the Calw show in all honesty as we were still short of gig time. Nothing was totally out of order and the band coped well and recovered from minor misadventures. The set ran with "Perception" and "So Fellini" sandwiching "Circle Line" as first of the new numbers to come under scrutiny. "Square Go" and "Manchmal" followed with a wee bit of tongue in cheek banter with the crowd re the cancelled wedding and asking if there was anyone in the crowd fancied getting married in a couple of weeks as I had one all ready to go and just needed a bride - as long as she was a size 12! :-D
The "Hotel Hobbies/Warm Wet Circles/That Time of the Night" section took us into orbit and then "Vigil" drove us home. I had decided to use a radio mike and get into the crowd for the opening section and boy did it do the trick. I had a surge of adrenalin just walking out and up into the arena and the response was phenomenal. A big high of the day for me and I think for a lot of other people.
Tara was at the front of the stage with her mother and was filming the show. She was in her element and loved every moment.
It was about this time I gave Chris his wee surprise and mentioned to the crowd that he had missed out on a stadium gig the night before and that this was his biggest gig of his career so far. Chris was handed centre stage and I retrieved the camera from Taz and filmed Chris with his rock star pose in front of the roaring crowd. The smile on his face was ecstatic and he loved his moment. I think it more than made up for his "loss". I think he likes being out with us ;-)
"White Russian" rocked out next before "Dark Star" took everyone by surprise. I think that "Dark Star" and "Manchmal" will turn out to be huge favourites once fans get to know the album. Just on these outings alone they are drawing massive responses.
I was knocked back a bit during those two numbers and had to swallow hard a couple of times to avoid being carried away with all the emotion flying around.
"Sugar Mice" was stunning and Frank delivered a killer solo and again emotions threatened to get a hold of me as I told the story of it's origination with Taz and Tamara in the front of house.
We ended with "Last Straw" and tore the house down! The response was phenomenal and we walked off stage to the promoter declaring that we took the festival all hands down! Yatta was in his element and I felt really bad after as I had forgotten to mention our own anniversary! Sorry Yats!! :-[
First encore was "Cliche" - "a song for no-one". Again strange to have my ex wife directly in front of me during this performance of a song associated with our past. She understood my sentiment. Frank was again blistering and even made me react with singing the end section from the album which I haven't sung for years, he was that good!
"Incommunicado" finished the night and rocked everyone out the arena. Hands in the air and off on the roller coaster. A fantastic end to a stunning show. We all had huge smiles as we took our bows to tumultuous applause. A result and a half and it more than made up for the disappointment of Calw.
A large section of about 700 or so of the audience refused to budge and after twenty minutes or so of continuous applause and calls I had to go out and thank them and apologise as the PA was down and we had run out of numbers to play! I was seriously moved by the reaction.
The first major German gig couldn't have gone better. A perfect introduction to the new material and the new set.
We retired to the backstage where we were once again Lords!
Wine was quaffed and the sweet fragrance of herbs played round the windows and under the umbrellas that were only necessary as shields from the sun on a day that marked a new beginning. I said goodbyes to Tara and Tamara and evacuated the site toward the hotel with that warm comforting afterglow of a memorable gig and the hazy promises of a future fraught with potential. I again slept well and awoke to a transport call at midday. Another eye popping drive and Frankfurt airport again bound for the dehumanizing portals of Heathrow. I hate the place, the worst airport in the world. Also the last time I will have to deal with unwanted "baggage" on a check in.
The Limoncello arrived intact but Frank's guitar didn't make the outbound Frankfurt flight for "security" reasons. My Dad picked us up and drove us back to the farm and two weeks off before the launch party. Aylesbury can't come soon enough!
It's Tuesday night and the deal for downloads is done as is the packaging and delivery dates for "13th Star". Calum is mixing away in North Berwick and will deliver the first "proper" mixes next week when Steve V comes up to go through the material so far with me.
Tara arrived home healthy and tanned. "Communion" now has a scheduled retail release date for the re packaged jewel case in October, a new press officer is on board for the tour, the DVD to accompany the new album is in progress, the artwork from Mark is looking fantastic and will be on time and ready for the proposed production dates, the PA is booked for the party and the catering etc is all on line. The garden thanks to all my Mum and Dad's hard work looks fantastic, I have two new lyrics for the next album in progress "The Fourth Wall" and "Starf***er" (working title - the Stones already have that one! Similar to the "She Chameleon" vibe, but rockier and darker!) taken from observations this last weekend, the cats are great (despite my Dad shutting the cat flap because he doesn't like them bringing in "livestock" - my Mother is petrified of mice!), the diseased goldfish is back in goldfish shape, the new tatties are ready and the onions are about to go into drying mode, t
he salad beds are brimming and the flower beds in the back lawn look fabulous with the dahlias being my pride and joy! The next tour dates are confirmed and on sale, a big interview with "The Sun" on Thursday based about the "Zoe 25" lyric (possible photo session ;-) ), eye tests for laser treatment tomorrow, tickets for Hibs v Bolton tomorrow and against Middlesbrough on Saturday, an interview for the Hearts v Hibs programme on August 6th in the bag, it's all positive and zappy!
Starting to feel better about everything and myself again and getting the drive back to make things happen and realising I have just had a very lucky escape from something that could have taken me down and possibly out. Really looking forward to getting on the road again with this album and this set. I have a feeling that something very special is about to happen! ;-)
Lots of love
Onkel Fish xx
aka Billy Shears :-)
Liriche: Square Go
Testo introdotto da una breve spiegazione di Fish.
A voi:
A 'Square go' is a Scottish term regarding fighting. When you ask someone for a 'Square go' it means you offer to fight on level and agreed terms. A square is formed and it kicks off with no-one allowed to "jump in" i.e. intervene. It's between two people and to transgress is more than "frowned" upon. Combatants can choose weapons or just to "go for it". Spanish version is "Mano a mano".
This is about frustration and anger.
Square Go
I'm a soldier in the forever wars, no photos of a family in my wallet,
No i.d., no credit cards, I don't exist, I never have.
I never have.
Raised in jungles I quickly learned to read the trees,
Schooled in deserts I walk on shifting sands.
Neutral shadows, unseen beneath a bed of leaves,
I await the call, open frequency to the square go.
I want a square go! A square go!
I want a square go! Square go!
My blood is ice, the temperatures rising,
My soul a glacier, I move alone,
A pilgrim's progress in a shadow world,
I learned to sit in silence with my sounds.
I want a square go! A square go!
I want a square go! Square go!
(spoken section - jammed)
My blood is ice, the temperatures rising,
My soul a glacier, I move alone, I move alone,
alone,
alone.
© Derek W Dick 2007
A voi:
A 'Square go' is a Scottish term regarding fighting. When you ask someone for a 'Square go' it means you offer to fight on level and agreed terms. A square is formed and it kicks off with no-one allowed to "jump in" i.e. intervene. It's between two people and to transgress is more than "frowned" upon. Combatants can choose weapons or just to "go for it". Spanish version is "Mano a mano".
This is about frustration and anger.
Square Go
I'm a soldier in the forever wars, no photos of a family in my wallet,
No i.d., no credit cards, I don't exist, I never have.
I never have.
Raised in jungles I quickly learned to read the trees,
Schooled in deserts I walk on shifting sands.
Neutral shadows, unseen beneath a bed of leaves,
I await the call, open frequency to the square go.
I want a square go! A square go!
I want a square go! Square go!
My blood is ice, the temperatures rising,
My soul a glacier, I move alone,
A pilgrim's progress in a shadow world,
I learned to sit in silence with my sounds.
I want a square go! A square go!
I want a square go! Square go!
(spoken section - jammed)
My blood is ice, the temperatures rising,
My soul a glacier, I move alone, I move alone,
alone,
alone.
© Derek W Dick 2007
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