music_4321
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2008
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I first heard of VdGG when, almost by accident, I learned that a certain guitarist I happen to respect a lot (RF) had contributed just a bit of guitar playing to two VdGG albums (H to He & Pawn Hearts). That was 1979. I had to wait 26 years to see the band live at (what was supposed to be at the time) their one-off reunion performance at the Royal Festival Hall (London) in May 2005. I think at the time it'd been 27-29 years since the 4 members had played live as a unit.
It was an incredibly emotional concert both for the band and the audience. One great thing about that concert was that the acoustics of the RFH were phenomenal, not too loud, not quiet, just right, you could hear all instruments and PH's voice very clearly (I saw Tool around that time and, unfortunately, I had to walk out the Brixton Academy 15 mins into the gig because the sound was horribly loud and muddy -- a real shame because the audience and venue were great). VdGG's opening track that night, "The Undercover Man", was quite simply something else. Definitely one of the best gigs I've ever been to.
Only two months later they performed again in London at the Shepherds Bush Empire, a much more intimate venue. The gig took place exactly the day after the London bombings of July 2005, and VdGG decided not to cancel the concert. There was a sense of urgency and meaning to that particular performance -- simply unforgettable. The band were definitely not going through the motions that evening -- they were present. I'd bought a ticket for my sister (and best friend) because she knew how much her beloved brother loved VdGG. She, unfortunately, decided not to come with me because of the bombings and the fear of taking the tube the very next day. The clip posted above (Man-Erg) pales in comparison to how VdGG performed that same song on those two very special evenings.
And to make this post seem like it is still related to the Piano Fortes / FAD, I'll say that I find H to He, Godbluff & Still life to sound even better on the IXs than Pawn Hearts. Although not the most daring / innovative album, I think Still Life is the best VdGG album, their most mature and focused effort, an underrated masterpiece. Godbluff is a close second.
It was an incredibly emotional concert both for the band and the audience. One great thing about that concert was that the acoustics of the RFH were phenomenal, not too loud, not quiet, just right, you could hear all instruments and PH's voice very clearly (I saw Tool around that time and, unfortunately, I had to walk out the Brixton Academy 15 mins into the gig because the sound was horribly loud and muddy -- a real shame because the audience and venue were great). VdGG's opening track that night, "The Undercover Man", was quite simply something else. Definitely one of the best gigs I've ever been to.
Only two months later they performed again in London at the Shepherds Bush Empire, a much more intimate venue. The gig took place exactly the day after the London bombings of July 2005, and VdGG decided not to cancel the concert. There was a sense of urgency and meaning to that particular performance -- simply unforgettable. The band were definitely not going through the motions that evening -- they were present. I'd bought a ticket for my sister (and best friend) because she knew how much her beloved brother loved VdGG. She, unfortunately, decided not to come with me because of the bombings and the fear of taking the tube the very next day. The clip posted above (Man-Erg) pales in comparison to how VdGG performed that same song on those two very special evenings.
And to make this post seem like it is still related to the Piano Fortes / FAD, I'll say that I find H to He, Godbluff & Still life to sound even better on the IXs than Pawn Hearts. Although not the most daring / innovative album, I think Still Life is the best VdGG album, their most mature and focused effort, an underrated masterpiece. Godbluff is a close second.
