Post by lizardcat on May 14, 2010 13:52:34 GMT -5
I'd waited six long months for this show, and it was MORE than worth it!
I was a little unsure at first--the club was pretty empty about an hour before showtime (which allowed DH and me to stand only four rows back!). It was more full by the time PiL took the stage shortly after 9...but at that point, I was no longer aware of anything but the band, who commanded the stage in every sense of the word.
I just can't say enough about the musicians John has assembled this time. I'm admittedly a bit of a Levine/Wobble snob, but there is no way that lineup could have surpassed Edmonds, Firth, and Smith. They added immense creativity and power to every number. Nearly every song at least partially had a new arrangement, and I'd say they all worked well ("Flowers of Romance" was a little overwrought for my taste). Not a big fan of late-era PiL, I still found myself jumping up and down to "Warrior." "Chant," "Religion," and "Death Disco" were show-stoppers. And "Poptones"...I only wish it hadn't been so early in the set so I could look forward to it. That song blows me away every time, and it was played so beautifully the other night.
A warning to those with tix for future shows: Bring earplugs!! I'm so glad I did. You've probably read that Lydon intones, "More bass" repeatedly during "Religion." Well, halfway through the song, I noticed that the sleeves on my shirt were vibrating! I wouldn't have been surprised to see people blown backwards.
As far as John's performance, it was tremendous. I've seen him phone it in a few times in the past, but not so on this tour. Even my DH, who is the most PiL-clueless man on earth, was duly impressed with his vocalizing. Vibrato, bass, growls, whatever it took. He is just so good at connecting with an audience as well. One thing that struck me: he's far less subtle in his movements and gestures than in his younger days. My guess is that he's no longer trying to appear (?) bored and finds no shame in putting on a good show.
For you, Liz, a Rambo report: First, he and John appear to have the same haircut again--R's lies flat on his head while John's is spiked (I much prefer J's British-tour hair!). Before the show, Rambo was doing a LOT of directing people where to stand, including a film crew and a bouncer who looked like he could squash him in an instant. I don't know for sure, but it looked pretty gratuitous. During the show, he stood on the side of the stage and did this bizarre slow jig the whole time. Very strange. No "security" antics, though--it was a fairly tame gray-haired crowd, and things only got crazy during the encore, when some dope decided a moshpit was in order. To "Rise," of all things--what a punk song!
I was a little unsure at first--the club was pretty empty about an hour before showtime (which allowed DH and me to stand only four rows back!). It was more full by the time PiL took the stage shortly after 9...but at that point, I was no longer aware of anything but the band, who commanded the stage in every sense of the word.
I just can't say enough about the musicians John has assembled this time. I'm admittedly a bit of a Levine/Wobble snob, but there is no way that lineup could have surpassed Edmonds, Firth, and Smith. They added immense creativity and power to every number. Nearly every song at least partially had a new arrangement, and I'd say they all worked well ("Flowers of Romance" was a little overwrought for my taste). Not a big fan of late-era PiL, I still found myself jumping up and down to "Warrior." "Chant," "Religion," and "Death Disco" were show-stoppers. And "Poptones"...I only wish it hadn't been so early in the set so I could look forward to it. That song blows me away every time, and it was played so beautifully the other night.
A warning to those with tix for future shows: Bring earplugs!! I'm so glad I did. You've probably read that Lydon intones, "More bass" repeatedly during "Religion." Well, halfway through the song, I noticed that the sleeves on my shirt were vibrating! I wouldn't have been surprised to see people blown backwards.
As far as John's performance, it was tremendous. I've seen him phone it in a few times in the past, but not so on this tour. Even my DH, who is the most PiL-clueless man on earth, was duly impressed with his vocalizing. Vibrato, bass, growls, whatever it took. He is just so good at connecting with an audience as well. One thing that struck me: he's far less subtle in his movements and gestures than in his younger days. My guess is that he's no longer trying to appear (?) bored and finds no shame in putting on a good show.
For you, Liz, a Rambo report: First, he and John appear to have the same haircut again--R's lies flat on his head while John's is spiked (I much prefer J's British-tour hair!). Before the show, Rambo was doing a LOT of directing people where to stand, including a film crew and a bouncer who looked like he could squash him in an instant. I don't know for sure, but it looked pretty gratuitous. During the show, he stood on the side of the stage and did this bizarre slow jig the whole time. Very strange. No "security" antics, though--it was a fairly tame gray-haired crowd, and things only got crazy during the encore, when some dope decided a moshpit was in order. To "Rise," of all things--what a punk song!
A RAMMY REPORT finally. I LOVE his little "side of the stage jig" and he is SO in charge the little guy just fucking ROCKS. I so love my Raminator!
And you are so right, John always has his audience just marked and captive. He relates as a regular person I think and that is as it should be. 
In John and PiL we ROCK!