Conference mr1pst::music

    Any idea how extensive that tour might be?  Is it supposed to be fairly
    extensive?  Is it too early to be asking these questions?
    
    -Jesse

    
    From what I've heard, the tour will be very extensive...
    
    I'll try to fill you in on details within the next few days, as I am
    trying to contact Peter in regard to other business matters (he's been
    "on holiday" as they say...).
    
    Brian

    
    Great interview with PG in this month's SPIN magazine, done by
    the head of Amnesty International ......
    
    He's just the greatest (Markey, I'm sooo jealous !) ....
    
    - acp

    Finally got through on the phone with Peter. A quick update on the
    status of the (to date) un-named next record. They are working around
    the clock at Real World and hope to finish the mixing by Christmas. The
    release date usually comes about 12-13 weeks after the album's "in the
    can", so that puts it somewhere in late March/early April.
    
    Lots of interesting things going on with Peter at the moment - a vast
    majority of which I'm not able to talk about at this time - but 1992 will
    definitely be a big year for us PG fans.
    
    Brian

    Thanks for the update Brian. I'm glad to hear that 92 should be
    a year to look forward to. As usually, any additional information
    is appreciated.
    
    Jim C.
    

    Anyone catch the Olympics last night?  The Hungarian ice dancing pair
    skated to the first cut from the album Passion (from The Last
    Temptation of Christ).  They didn't win but the performance was
    brilliant.  It was kind of unconventional and I think the music had a
    lot to do with it.
    
    Darnley

    re Passion at the Olympics - the announcers didn't even mention the
    music, which was striking.  
    
    karl

    RE: Olympics..... getting a little off the track here, I was surprised
    that Tonya Mumble-whats-her-name, the US skater, skated to something
    that had rather industrial influences in it.  I rather preferred her
    skating 'cause of it.
    
    \chuck
    
    returning you now to the note's real topic... I'm also looking forward 
    to the next PG album...

    I promise...after this, we can get off the tangent...
    
    Tonya Harding qualified by skating to ZZ Top.  :^)  I'm looking forward
    to hearing what she'll be skating to tonight!
    
    K.C.

    According to Peter's assistant, when I talked with her back in
    December, the new album is due for release at the end of this month
    (unless the record company decides to hold it for some reason).
    
    A friend of mine who is also an aquaintance of Peter's is traveling to
    Bath this week and is planning on taking the short trip to Real World.
    Part of his "agenda" is to see if he can get a pre-release copy of the
    new record. I don't expect him to, but it sure would be nice.
    
    On a slight trivia divergence, last time I was in the area, I went by
    Peter's former residence in Swainswick. I noticed a sign for "Solsbury
    Hill" (elevation 617 ft.). Although it was daytime, I would imagine it
    would be pretty easy to "see the city lights" of Bath from there.
    
    I didn't see any eagles though...
    
    As a further aside, that whole portion of southwest England could
    easily be mistaken for J.R.R. Tolkien's "Shire".
    
    Brian

    I've read several references to "Real World." What is it?
    
    --Nancy
    

    Real World is Peter's studio. It has 3 control rooms equipped with
    Solid State Logic (SSL) consoles annd Sony 48 track digital and Studer
    24 track analog tape machines. There is a tracking and mixing facility
    on the first floor which includes a large stone floored/walled room with
    glass plates in the floor which afford a view of the stream which runs
    under the mill building (which used to run the mill's power wheel).
    The second control room on the first floor is thought to be the
    largest music post-production room in Europe (and possibly the world).
    The room has a "stage" which runs along the front and two sides, which
    can accomodate an entire orchestra. There is a large picture window
    which provides a view of the English country-side from the mix
    position. The console in this room is a custom built "U-shaped" SSL,
    with Real World's automated mix matrix option installed.
    
    The top floor is known as the "attic" and is Peter's personal studio.
    It is equipped with a 56 input SSL, two Fairlight CMIs (series II and
    III), a bunch of other keyboards, a WaveFrame, tape machines and more.
    There is a small tracking room where Peter does most of his vocals.
    
    Besides the studio, Real World is also a business which does quite a
    few things. First of all, they build the automated mix matrix which is
    a computer-equipped device which increases the number of effects
    send/returns on consoles (such as SSL, Neve and Focusrite). They also
    make a digital audio workstation that is used by the BBC. The thing has
    an amazing user interface - based on a touch panel LCD, a wheel and a
    single button -  their interface will likely find its way into many
    products from various companies. Also, Real World is assisting in the
    design of a multimedia theme park in Barcelona that is scheduled to be
    open for the olympics. Peter is also involved in funding research at
    the MIT media lab. PLUS...
    
    He now owns WOMAD (World of Music and Dance) records, which is based in
    a quanset style building on the Real World Grounds. There is also a video
    production studio thrown in for good measure.
    
    Peter now lives in a cottage near the mill ground since he divorced
    Jill.
    
    Brian

    Oh, yeah -- I've heard about that multimedia theme park in Barcelona,
    too. Didn't know what *that* was, either. An enticing phrase, but what
    the heck is it? "Multi-media theme park?" Colonel Sanders in papier
    mache? A chance to relive watching Howdy Doody in 1954 in our Davy
    Crockett costumes (in virtual reality)? The Wicked Witch of the West in
    sequins and resin, laughing menacingly from a Moog synthesizer?
    
    A multi-media . . . this one blows my mind. Anybody have any ideas what
    it is?
    -- N.

    Ok, I'll answer that one too...
    
    The idea is to use virtual reality technology to give the audience the
    feeling that they are someplace that it would normally be
    difficult/dangerous to go. The theme park is made up of various rooms
    with projection and sound systems, as well as environmental control
    systems, which accurately replicate a particluar locale - the north
    pole, the Sahara desert, etc. There is also plans for a room which will
    accurately represent what it is like to be on a battle-field (I guess
    they figure if they show you what it's really like, less people will
    actually want to do it).
    
    Peter showed me the D-size color drawings of the various rooms he and
    the good folks at Real World had come up with. He was pretty excited
    about the project at the time (a little less than 2 years ago).
    
    Brian

    
    Peter Gabriel update:
    
    I got a letter from Peter today (my wife just read it to me over the
    phone) and he says he's *still* working on the final mixes for the
    new album. So, if that's the case, it seems that it will be (at least)
    another 13 weeks or so before it hits the market. He also has started a
    "Real World Park" company in London to work on the Barcelona thing.
    Apparently, things are rather feverish due to the tight schedule
    (Olympics start in what? July? Can't say I follow it that closely...).
    Other than that, it was one of those "courtesy answers, in a hurry,
    gotta go..." type letters.
    
    Brian

I've been hearing about the new album for ages (latest news seems to be that
it won't be released until September, now), but what I haven't heard is ...

	What sort of album is it? Will it have "songs" (like So, Car,
Melt, etc) or is it an intrumental album like Passion and Birdy were
(okay, they were soundtracks, but still I'd like to be sure).

	Any info on the album contents?

	Peter.

    I asked Peter a similar question when he started working on the album
    (two years ago!) and he said it was a "songs" album and that he wanted
    to show his Motown/Soul motivations.
    
    Brian

    There is a cover of "In Your Eyes" being played on the radio lately. I
    think it's Richie Havens...does anyone know for sure?
    
    Thanks,
    
    Suegene

    It's not.  It's someone whose name was not familiar to me--from Canada 
    I think?  Very good live acoustic version though.
    
    dan
    

    I talked to a person at Peter's One Stop Records in Norwood, who I do a
    lot of business with and I asked him about Peter Gabriel's new album
    and he said that he just put the order in.  It will officially be
    released next month, but he didn't have a specific date.  I have heard
    something about a song that will be on the disc that will be a duet
    with Sinead O'Connor.
    
    Finally, a new Peter Gabriel album!   Now when is that Bryan Ferry disc
    going to be out????!
    
    Keith

>    There is a cover of "In Your Eyes" being played on the radio lately. I
>    think it's Richie Havens...does anyone know for sure?

If it's solo acoustic, as a previous noter mentioned, its probably Jeffrey
Gaines. He's a new act, who had a small hit with "Hero In Me". I saw him
open up for Mellissa Etheridge at the Orpheum, and he did a real nice, 
acoustic version of "In Your Eyes".

alan

    That's it! I heard part of the name on the radio the other day but I
    was convinced it was Richie Havens. Thanks, Alan...I should have just
    called you and asked!
    
    Suegene

    
    
    New Gabriel album? Makes my day!!!
    
    
    - Steve S.

    Well, as I was driving in today I heard what was definitely a Peter
    Gabriel song on WFNX. From the repeated phrase in the chorus I assume
    the title of the song is "Digging In the Dirt". I only heard about half
    the song (the last hlaf) and they immediately sequeyed another song at
    the end without giving more info.
    
    What I heard sounded like it would have fit on So... which is along the
    lines of what Peter described to me over two years ago (when he was
    already six months into the project!). I get the feeling that Peter is
    narrowing his focus a little bit on his "rock" albums, and now prefers
    to stretch the limits on his soundtracks and other offerings.
    
    The countdown is on...
    
    Or, as Peter's answering Machine at Ashcombe used to say, "The beep is
    fast approaching".
    
    Brian

    First bit in Music for me so here goes...
    
    To clear up a little discussion I was aving with a colleague, could
    someone who is a complete PG buff please tell me what album Family
    Snapshot was on.  
    
    My colleague says So, I said don't be stupid...
    
    Yours hopefully 
    
    Peter
    
    Hutchison	

    Family Snapshot is on PG III...the "Melting Face" cover...great album,
    Intruder, Not One Of Us, Biko

Brian,
	I heard the new tune last night on both FNX and BCN,  I think you are
right about the name, "Digging In the Dirt" or just "Diggin In".  From what
I remember the BCN jock saying, I think the new album is coming out in about 2
weeks (probably Tuesday Sept. 8th).

kevin

    I second the endorsement of "Peter Gabriel III". Of the albums
    available to date, It is one of my top II. Sometimes, it is my favorite
    album, other times "Security" is. "So" was good, but I don't think
    it measures up artisticly to the other two. The first two albums (also
    both titled "Peter Gabriel"; the I,II and III are just tacked on by
    fans to distinguish which album we're referring to) were rather
    unfocused. Peter seemed to be trying to find a "voice" in his
    post-Genesis period.
    
    Peter's song writing really took root on PG III. Further, it was the
    album where two of his "regulars" really shined for the first time;
    Tony Levin's first real "stick" outing is on PG III, and David Rhodes
    (who is a very under-rated guitarist in my opionion) put forth a
    brilliant performance (I think the closest guitarist to Rhodes, style-
    wise, is Adrian Belew).
    
    The "star" of Security was the "Fairlight", the marvelous synthesizer
    which Peter first put on the map (he had used the "CMI" on PG III, and
    introduced Kate Bush to the instrument during the PG III sessions, but
    he did not focus on this instrument until Security). It was during the
    sampling sessions for Security that I got to know Peter. When I hear
    people debate the merits of sampling, I can only say that I have worked
    with the *master*. While other users of the technology were copping
    riffs from records, Peter was creating a whole new palette of
    instrument sounds. From a saxaphone processed through the filter on a
    Prophet V, to a steel pipe falling down a stone wall at Ashcombe, the
    sounds are all unique. The fact that Peter took these sounds and shaped
    them into Security's brilliant songs is a testament to his talent.
    
    Peter is a brilliant and complex man. He is clearly a genius, in both the
    intellectual and the artistic sense. He is an extremely quiet man, with
    a broad, friendly smile and bright, elfish eyes. He has a boyish
    enthusiasm about things ... he once spent over an hour showing me drawings
    of his exhibit at the Seville World's Fair. When I went to Real World
    for the first time, he personally showed me around. When I visited him
    at a concert at Great Woods, he went and grabbed chairs and a cooler of
    beer (I didn't have the heart to tell him none of us drank!) for my
    friends. The first time we met, we talked for over four hours, and
    continued for several hours two days later by phone.
    
    Clearly, I love Peter. I love his music and I love him personally. I
    will cherish my friendship with him my whole life, and it has nothing
    to do with his celebrity status. You could not ask for a finer friend
    than Peter Gabriel.
    
    Brian

    The new album is titled 'Us', and 'Digging in the Dirt' is the first
    single. The local stores here in Colorado Springs have September 2nd
    as the release date (but they said it may slip to the 7th). I heard
    a mini-interview with Peter and he said it's about his divorce from
    Jill, his break-up with Roseanna Arquette, his experiences with therapy, 
    and trying to purge these demons from his life.
    
    Brian, I am always completely envious after reading your notes about
    Peter - and I never for a minute doubted that he is exactly as you
    describe him. He is definitely my favorite artist, and I never go for
    more than a day or two without giving him a listen.
    
    PG1 - leftover Genesis material, but a couple of classics (Humdrum ..)
    
    PG2 - I've seen PG describe this as having too much influence from
          Robert Fripp, but side 1 is classic PG.
    
    PG3 - Brian is correct here, PG hit his stride. This was the first time
          I saw him perform solo, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. It
          was an amazing performance.
    
    Security - Again, I agree with Brian. I even bought the German version
               of the album ! The video for Shock the Monkey is excellent.
    
    So -  I feel that this has some of the lushest vocals that PG has ever
          done. It certainly was the most successful commercial effort for
          him, and brought him world-wide acclaim. Leaving out the 2 big
          singles (Sledgehammer & Big Time), the album is priceless.
    
    I also have the Birdy soundtrack, Passion, and the Best Of CD (and various
    other discs that he's guested on (Laurie Anderson, Robbie Robertson, Joni
    Mitchell, Yassou N'Dour) and of course all the Genesis stuff. I saw the 
    Selling England By the Pound and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway tours, the 
    PG3 tour and the So tour. I'd say I was hooked.
    
    A PG Fan for Life,
    
    - Andy

I also like the song.

MTV had his video for Digging in the Dirt on last night.  Somehow, having
snails and slugs crawl over you is a bit hard to take.

The video made lots use of claymation, much like in Sledgehammer and
BigTime.

Tim

    A week from tomorrow is my "swan song" at DEC, so if you PG fans (or
    anyone else for that matter) want to continue correspondance with me
    post-Digital, please send me your Internet address to:
    
    		WRKSYS::MARKEY
    		or [email protected]
    
    Also, you can send me good old US Snail at the following address:
    
    		Brian Markey
    		Permanent Wave Productions
    		P.O. Box 276 M.O.
    		Shrewsbury, MA 01545
    
    Brian

    Just wondering what people thought of Peter's new album??
     
    Amy

    
    Very introspective.  It's a bit 'slower' than SO, but more rhythmic. 
    It's an excellent album, but difficult to digest in just one or two
    casual listenings... more time is necessary to get out the best points
    of it.
    
    Later...
    Steve
    

    
    I agree with .-1, and it will take 20-30 listens to really get a feel
    for it. I like what I hear so far, but have not yet sat down with the
    lyrics and studied them.
    
    PG is back !
    
    - acp

    
    I now am deeply impressed with US. It is an excellent album. I also
    have purchased the CD5 of Digging in the Dirt, it has 4 tracks:
    
    Digging in the Dirt (album cut)
    Digging in the Dirt (instrumental)
    Slow Steam (previously unreleased)
    mumble,mumble (a song with an African title, previously unreleased)
    
    This is a must-have for the serious PG collector.
    
    There is also a new disc out on the Atlantic label, called 'Peter
    Gabriel Revisited'. It is a compilation of the best songs from PG1
    and PG2 (nothing from PG3). A rip-off if you ask me, just Atlantic's
    way of cashing in on the release of US. Unless they are digitally
    remastered, I'll not buy it.
    
    - acp

    
    Did anyone catch Pete open up the Grammys ? It was wild ! 
    
    He is carried in from the back of the theatre on an Egyptian taxi,
    wearing a gaudy sequined blue suit with bell-bottomed trousers and
    platform shoes. 4-5 steam jets go off on stage when he gets there,
    and he jumps into STEAM. Tony Levin, David Rhodes and Manu Katche
    are there (in tuxedos) and there are Circus de Soleil acrobats and
    dancers and backup vocalists galore ! It was great ! Near the end
    of the song he takes off his shirt/jacket and is wearing a fake
    pumped up body suit - looked like a Popeye caricature ! 
    
    If the tour is like this, it'll be the most theatrical thing he's
    done since The Lamb ...
    
    Also, there are now 2 CD5 singles out now:
    
    	Digging in the Dirt & Steam
    
    Steam has a remix of Games Without Frontiers that is excellent.
    
    - acp

    
    
    	I think "Kiss That Frog" is one of the better songs on the latest
    CD. Sorry I missed the Grammy entrance.
    
    		fred deady

    
    
    
    I was there - those acrobats were probably the highlight of the show. 
    I was trying to figure out how they configured that negative G field
    around those poles...  I'm not sure PG was even singing - the rest of
    the performers on stage were not really playing - same thing for En
    Vogue - they were just dancing...
    
    

    He appeared to be singing all except for the spoken (rap?) segment of
    the tune, which was without a doubt lip-synced. For that part he went
    waaaaay up back and stood at an angle which allowed the mic to obscure
    his mouth from the camera and audiance but you could (a) still see
    subtle differences between the vocal and his mouth and (b) the vocal had
    a different ambience during that part.

    Heard on the radio - PG will be touring this summer (no surprise, given
    the new album).  Also - he's scheduled for Sat Night Live April 10.
    
    \chuck

Read in the Globe a week or two back that Peter is scheduled for June 19
at the Worcester Centrum.  No word about tickets though...

Tim

    
    I enjoyed PG's performance on SNL last April 10th. I was in Philly
    at my sister's house, wish I could've scored tix to the show.
    
    'Steam' was HOT ! But I was surprised at his choice of 'In Your Eyes',
    as it it so representational of the 'So' tour ...
    
    Here's hoping he does'nt pass up Denver this tour ....
    
    - acp

    I thought the SNL performance of "In Your Eyes" was
    nothing less than excellent. Made me realize that I really
    do need the "So" CD.

    --Ron

    
    >I really do need the "So" CD.

    Ron, you mean for all those years you lived without "Sledge Hammer",
    "Big" and "Red Rain" ? How did you survive ;-?
    
    >"In Your Eyes" was nothing less than excellent. 
    
    Yes, it was really good but I wanted to see him perform "Kiss The
    Frog".
    
    Other than "Sledge Hammer" and "In Your Eyes", I haven't seen any PG
    videos. Is there one for Kiss the Frog ?
    
    Lale

    Re -.1
    
    Lale,
    
    	Haven't seen one for 'Kiss that Frog' yet, but I'm sure it's due
    soon.  also - 'Shock the Monkey', 'Steam' (good one!) and 'Shaking the
    Tree' ( live with Y. N'Dour ).
    
    				- Jim
    

    
    
    
    
    Virgin is issuing a Peter Gabriel video compilation, as well as a video
    entitled "P.O.V.".  NARAS members will find these on page 42 of this
    month's Award Guide @ $14 each...
    
    
    

    for non-NARAS-members :
    
    	Compilation video and P.O.V. are both $19.99 at Newbury Comics.
    
    					-Jim

    Well, Lale, I haven't exactly lived without it. A co-worker made a copy
    of it for me back when it came so that I could "audition" it. I've been
    auditioning this tape ever since. :^)

    Yes, Kiss The Frog is a good one. (I bought the new album)

    --Ron

    re .46  POV is a concert recording interspersed with other clippings.
    It is well worth getting. It shows some of the theatrics /effects and
    some of his rather "unique" choreography.  
    
    Brief intro to myself:
     Wally Walsh. Peter Gabriel fan for 13 years living in Galway Ireland. 
     
    Before last Friday he was last here in 1973 so I hadn't seen him
    live. Last Friday he played in the Point Depot in Dublin.
    
    My completely non Objective view is that it was BRILLIANT. His stage
    show was unbelievable, one comment to me from a friend was "I went to
    see a concert and ended up at the theatre". I won't spoil it for you
    but if you are even 25% thinking of seeing him do go. You won't be
    dissapointed.
    
    He played for over 2� hours (Tony Levin, David Rhodes and Manu Katchke
    were all there too). Did all the big numbers Solsbury hill,
    Sledgehammer, Biko, Games without Frontiers, etc....  Once again folks
    do go.
    
    Finally anyone got an internet address for Brian Markey. I have just
    joined this conference and would love to get in touch with him or
    should I go for regular mail??
    
    Thats all for now. Wally
                            

    Glad to hear from you Galway folks.  I seen him the last time around in
    the state's and he was great then.  I'm looking forward to this time
    around.
    
    				Bart

    ..OK, OK, OK...any noters lucky enough to be going to the shows this
    weekend in Worcester??  I am, and I'm ready to go now!!!
    
    Can't wait to see Peter, having seen him only with Genesis way back
    in '74 or so....anyone out there going too??
    
    Mac_who_is_very_psyched_for_this_weekend!!
    
    

    Yes!!Let's GO!!  I do have one small problem though.  Has anyone out
    there in noteland ever order tickets through Ticketmaster and not get
    them??  I told them about it and they said that they would hold the
    tickets at the door.  What I was wondering about is if someone found my
    tickets at the post office and decided to use them how would you prove to
    security that the seats are mine (without getting into a fight!!!)
    
    				Bart

    20 JUN 93
    Worcester Centrum
    
    A good effort by Pete and family, but not a pinnacle of a rock show, as
    some of his earlier concerts were.  Perhaps jaundiced by poor seats in
    the last row.  Sound was muddy, SHankar on violin was completely mixed
    out in the cheap seats.  Stagecraft was very good, with two stages a la
    U2.  Enough surprises in the theatrics to keep things moving, but the
    pacing was abysmal, probably due to an over-reliance on the new slower
    turgid material off of US.  Notably absent was anything off of
    Security, Here Comes The FLood, Family Snapshot, I Don't Remember.
    Best song was DIgging In The Dirt, complete with minicam helmet peeking
    in on a blinking Pete.   It seemed like the stage(s) were just too big
    to get any real good band grooves, not a lot of interplay.  Didn't
    care for the reworked Games Without Frontiers.
    
    Overall, I'd give the show a 6/10, but that's below par for Pete.
    Suggest he move towards sparser, rhythmic textures, perhaps even
    accoustic.   A smaller show in 2000-seat venues may be just the ticket
    to bring Pete back to earth from rock-star demigod stutus.   If
    creative embers are flickering, as evidenced in latest album, try 
    collaboration with other established artists, Kate Bush, Joe Jackson,
    even Paul McCartney.   Five years is too long between albums, Pete
    needs to get out more and forget about high-tech theme parks and
    world hunger.
    

    I wonder if the set list was different from saturday to sunday, because
    I distinctly remember San Jacinto and Shock the Monkey.  Or maybe it's
    just that I was in the 2nd row ;-))
    
    -jesse
    

    re .54:
    
    Set was the same both nights.  San Jacinto and Shock the Monkey were
    played both nights.
    
    And if I get time, I'll give a review -- in brief, I really enjoyed it. 
    The theatrics complemented the music well.
    
    				- Paul

While I would rate it more generously than .53, I agree with the previous
review that the pacing was off.  It seemed to me that a lot of time was spent
waiting for stagecraft to be set up, introducing songs, etc.  His voice took a
beating, too--it cracked twice (Sunday show), and he backed off the high notes
after that, letting the backup singers fill in.

I enjoyed the show very much.  The big stage and the band's mobility meant
there wasn't a bad seat in the house (except, evidently, the last row).

Couldn't help but think of Monty Python's "Sit on my Face" during "Digging
In the Dirt", though :-)  (For those not there, Peter "unearthed" a huge
face covered by shrouds of dirt-colored cloth and then proceeded to climb
all over it.)

-Doug

    
    Fantastic show!  Although I didn't quite get the 'religious experience'
    feeling I've had in previus times I've seen him.
    
    What's the name of the song that that featured Shankar and Peter
    trading off vocals while there was a video of water in the background? 
    That was absolutely fantastic (and would have been better had it not
    been for the idiots around me who kept yelling).
    
    Later...
    Steve
    

    re .57:
    
    > What's the name of the song that that featured Shankar and Peter
    > trading off vocals while there was a video of water in the background?
    
    Across the River.  The easiest place to find it is on the Big Time CD
    single.
    					- Paul

    ...I LOVED the show, but I'll have to admit, it was the FIRST time
    I've seen Peter solo....I saw Genesis back in '75, ergo no comparison
    can be made...but I thought it was a great show, props and all...we
    hade great seats, could have made a big difference....how about the
    hand Tony Levin got? almost as big as any of Peter's applause...
    
    i give it ***1/2 out of ****
    
    mac
    

    I stand corrected wrt Security, with Monkey and San Jacinto
    represented.   Re-reading .53, I didn't want to give the impression the
    show was a bomb, it was very good.  But I'd have to agree with Steve
    that the 'sacred' aspect seemed to be missing.
    
    I saw PG at the Centrum last time out and had the same feeling.  But a 
    few months later at Great Woods the show was outstanding.   There's a
    mesmerizing awe-inspiring aspect to PG's music which can lift a whole
    room when its working.  The 'wave' didn't make it to Row S, but glad to
    hear it was there, closer in.
    
    -Brian

    I have always liked PG songs but this was the first time I had seen
    him in concert and I can't wait to see him again.  I am definitely
    a PETER GABRIEL FAN now.  What a great show.  I had really great
    seats too because of the way the stage was set up.  I am kicking
    myself for not bringing my camera.  I know, I know, I'm not
    supposed to and it does interfere with the show but I wanted one
    good picture of him and a souvenier of the great time I had.  
    I have been playing the US tape non-stop since Sunday night.
    I hope he makes another pass through New England soon.  
    
    What was the name of the group the came on first.  Never could
    make out the name but I liked them too.
    
    Mo
    

    re .61:
    
    Papa Wemba was the backup.
    
    				- Paul

    The tickets from tickmaster never showed up and when I called they left
    the tickets at the Centrum box office.  I take back most of what I've
    said about ticketmaster and now for the show. I also thought the show
    was fantastic.  I couldn't believe the stage, we got there early and
    was expecting the ususal stage setup but was I surprised, great stuff.
    
    Seeing Gabriel is like going to the theater great music and acting to
    boot!!  I was amazed at the different kinds of electronic instruments
    that wwere being played (how about that stand-up bass!!!).  
    
    		Great Stuff,
    
    		Bart Lasky

Re: .61

> I am kicking
> myself for not bringing my camera.  I know, I know, I'm not
> supposed to and it does interfere with the show...

What do you mean by "interfere with the show"? If you mean that it
would lessen your own enjoyment of the show, well... that's a matter
of personal choice. You don't get something for nothing.

If you mean that it would lessen someone else's enjoyment of the show,
then you must be doing something wrong. I used to shoot hundreds of
slides at concerts without bothering anyone. There are only two things
you can't do:

1. Use a strobe or flash bulbs. This is a total waste of film anyway
   because all you are really illuminating is the 10-20 rows of seats
   directly in front of you. If you want to shoot concerts, use
   available light. Get fast, tungsten-balanced film and use fast
   shutter speeds. If your timing is good, you can get excellent
   results without having to leave your seat.
   
2. Use a huge telephoto lens, tripod, etc. to shoot from bad seats.
   This is also a waste of film and annoys people who can't see
   through your equipment. If you need more than a hand-held 150 mm.
   lens to get close-ups, don't bother. 

Barry

    With my camera that has a telephoto lens I think I would have gotten
    a decent picture but I would have had to use my flash and that
    I think would have bothered other people, never mind blinding
    Peter Gabriel.  The only thing I want to blind him with is my
    beauty - yeah right.
    
    Maybe next time I get to see him - and there will be a next time.
    
    Later,
    
    Mo
    

    
    
    
    Has he announced So. CA dates, or better yet, ticket sales?  I probably
    need to put a deposit in with my scalper, er, broker...
    
    
    

    
    Tickets for July 27th at McNichols Arena in Denver went on sale 6/21.
    
    I have 6 seats - and I'm bustin' a gut waiting for the show !
    
    - acp

    anyone have a list of the tour stops?  is minneapolis on the list?
    peter would be one of the 'must sees" for the year.
    
    	ann
    

    
    Last night, my husband came home with the "all about US" video.
    I enjoyed it very much, maybe because I was high on Sinutab ;-)
    No, I think it is a great video. There are 7 songs on it, from
    the US album. Short interviews with Peter Gabriel and more importantly,
    before each song, the making of the video. The amount of imagineering
    that goes into PG videos is just amazing. I haven't seen any of the
    videos from US before, so I really enjoyed watching them and the
    "behind the scenes".
    
    Kiss the Frog was made as a "ride movie", like the attractions in
    Universal Studios, moving armchairs and all that. Although our sofa
    was not in motion, the sinutab dizziness combined with the action on
    the film, did the same effect ;-)
    
    The only video, I did not care for was Digging in the Dirt. All sorts
    of worms and other disgusting creatures were featured on PG's face,
    hands and feet. A real snail wanders around on his eyelids, mouth,
    ear, yuck. If I let my daughter watch this one, she will be sleeping
    with us for the next 10 days.
    
    They also showed the preparations for the live performance of Steam,
    the muscular huge body on PG, the girls pretending to play the sax...
    
    At the end of the tape, there is this philosophical message from PG:
    
    "There is a lot of speculation on what makes an album succeed or fail.
    The melodies, rythm, musical content, performance, they all contribute
    to the success of an album. But through the years, I have discovered
    that the most important factor in the success of an album is a good
    haircut". (then they show him having his long hair cut ;-))
    
    What is the story between PG and Sinead O'Connor, does anyone know?
    6 months ago or so, when Rolling Stone interviewed her, she did not
    deny or confirm any romance, she did not answer at all.
    
    Cheers
    
    Lale
    

Does anyone have any information on the rumored appearance of WOMAD (with
Midnight Oil?) at Great Woods this summer?
						Thanks, Hans

WOMAD tour will be at Great Woods July 19-20 (yes that is a Tues/Wed), starting
at 2:00 in the afternoon. Lineup includes Gabriel (not sure with what band),
Midnight Oil, the Levellers, and a host of world music bands I can't remember.
Tickets are already on sale.
					HH
					

    The second date at GW hasbeen  cancelled, due to schedule conflicts,
    but I think its really poor sales.
    
    I've gone to every PG appearance in Mass in the last 10 years, but I'm
    skipping this one because:
    
    	A) There's a lot of bands which I have 0 interest in
    	B) PG has no new product, and his last LP was a stiff, commercially
    and artistically.
    	C) Ticket price is high.
    
    I support his WOMAD work, even bought Plus From US which had all the
    world music bands, but I really dont' want to pay $100 (for 2) for an
    education and 6 hours of boredom and one hour of great show, which I
    probably already saw when he was here solo.
    
    Its now time for PG to get back to his basics, perhaps a small acoustic
    tour, write some good new material, work out a new color
    scheme/choreography/image dynamic.  In other word, reinvent himself
    like he has done so many times.   The Amnesty
    International/Sledgehammer days are over, I hope the success he has
    seen hasn't spoiled him.   His efforts on CD-ROM and with techno-parks
    in Spain don't connect with his longtime core audience.   -Brian

    >    	A) There's a lot of bands which I have 0 interest in

Where else can you see a dozen or more international bands, all different 
styles of music, and that Gabriel seems to have taken an interest in.  And 
besides, how many of these bands have you even heard (I've only heard a 
couple, and I like to think that I'm pretty up on things musicly)?  I won't 
summarily write them off until I've at least heard them.

>    	B) PG has no new product, and his last LP was a stiff, commercially
>    and artistically.

Disagree, but that's just an opinion of course.  1) Commercial success is not 
and should not be a measure as to the "goodness" of anything, especially music.
2) I liked US.  Again, I don't think PG likes to stagnate, and this album 
moves in some new directions.  I'm glad he didn't put out "So, pt. II".

>    	C) Ticket price is high.
 
Yea, a little high, but given that it's an all day festival w/ tons of bands, 
events, booths, etc., it's really not too bad.  I'd pay to see Gabriel, and 
I'd pay to see Midnight Oil, so I guess all the rest is a bonus for me.
   
>    I hope the success he has
>    seen hasn't spoiled him.   His efforts on CD-ROM and with techno-parks
>    in Spain don't connect with his longtime core audience.   -Brian

IMHO, PG should be praised, not shunned, for trying to bring his music to 
people in new ways.  Especially with the CD-ROM Project.  Very few artists 
have attempted interactive music, where the audience can participate, create, 
and be part of the musical experience, rather than just being a spectator.  
This is more challenging for the artist, and more interesting/exciting for the 
listener/user.  I certainly hope PG, or any other artist, spends _none_ of 
their time placating their "longtime core audience".   Unfortunatly, many do.  
I'm glad PG isn't one of them.

-Steve

    Boy, I couldn't disagree more with .72.  I went to last year's WOMAD
    show (in Saratoga Springs -- the closest stop to New England) and it
    turned out to be the best show I went to last year.  Sure, there were
    some duds in the music line-up and some organizational problems, but 
    my ears opened wide to kinds of music that I had never seriously listened 
    to before -- as a result, my CD collection has broadened considerably and 
    it's all because of the WOMAD show.

    And Gabriel's set at the show was different from the Secret World 
    tour.  No props or effects.  Just him and the band (oh, OK, they
    used lights).  He played a very effective set.

    From the lackluster sales for this year's WOMAD at Great Woods,
    apparently I'm in the minority for my enthusiasm for this show, but
    I really hope this becomes an annual event around here.

    I've attached my original review of last year's show (as posted in
    RADIO_RADIO).

					- Paul


    Attended the WOMAD festival in Saratoga Springs, NY this weekend.  WOMAD
    (World of Music, Art and Dance) is the brainchild of Peter Gabriel and
    is a touring festival of artists from around the world.  This is the
    first time in its 13 year history that the WOMAD tour has hit the US.

    A la Lollapalooza, there were two stages -- the main stage (which is
    the permanent stage in an amphitheatre) and a second stage (out on
    the lawn).  In addition to the stages, there were many booths serving
    food from around the world (I had alligator for the first time!) and arts
    and crafts.  There was another stage called the "WOMAD Workshop" that
    consisted mainly of different folks teaching dances from different
    countries (one of these workshops culminated in a procession around
    the festival grounds).  This stage was stupidly set up next to the
    second stage which drowned out many of the lectures going on at the
    workshops.  There were also two "virtual reality tents" which were, for
    me, a waste of time -- you could play with Macs and CD-I machines.
    Whoopee.

    I actually bought a program because it looked pretty useful -- it has a
    biography of each act and, most bizarrely, the schedule for every city
    on the tour (the order of the acts, the times, and what stages they'll
    be on -- it varies from city to city).  Our show started around 1 and
    lasted 'til 10:30 or so.  I noticed that in some other cities, the show
    starts later and the acts are spread across 3 stages -- must be hard to
    see everything that way.  If you're going to one of the upcoming shows
    and want to know who's playing when in that city, drop me a line and
    I'll send you the schedule (it was fairly accurate -- all times were
    within a half-hour of actual starting time and most were within 10 
    minutes or so).

    Minor disappointments throughout the day were the proximity of the
    stages to each other (loud acts tended to overwhelm softer acts), 
    the absence of the announced MC, Ayub Ogada (whose CD gets a *lot* of
    time in my player), and the unfortunate clumping together of most of
    the "pop" acts toward the end of the day (since I really didn't care
    about most of them).

    No alcohol on site, which was a plus in my eyes.  Fairly hot during
    the day; cooled down at night.  I had never been to the Saratoga Springs
    Performing Arts Center before.  The amphitheater is much shorter from
    back to front than Great Woods is (the only amphitheater I'm familiar
    with).  There's also a 10-row balcony (where we were).  The sight-lines
    were *great*!  I thought the sound in the balcony was very bad, though 
    (I got arguments about that from the two people I was with who didn't 
    think the sound was so bad).  The sight-lines from the lawn are worse 
    than from Great Woods' lawn (hard to believe, huh?).  The sound from the 
    secondary stage was crystal clear all day.

    Anyway, musically, this was the best show I've been to this year.  There
    were a huge variety of acts and ended in the best performance I've ever
    seen Gabriel give.  But more on him later.  Here's a run-down of who
    played and what I thought of them.  Unless otherwise indicated, I saw
    at least two-thirds of the act's set (due to the scheduling between the
    stages, it was impossible to see all of the acts in their entirety).  In
    the first half of the day, the sets were about 30 minutes in length, 
    while later acts played for 45 minutes.  Gabriel was on for about 100
    minutes.


    Sheila Chandra

    	First act on the secondary stage.  Originally from India (and now
    	residing in the UK), she performed solo, usually singing a capella,
    	but sometimes singing to backing tapes of dreamy-sounding Indian
    	instruments.  Her performance was one of the absolute highlights of
    	the day for me.  Her voice gave stirring emotion to the gorgeous
    	melodies of her music.  She did the entire performance on her knees
    	at the front of the stage.  Definitely on my "to buy" list.


    Inner Circle

    	First act on the main stage.  Jamaican reggae band.  They were good,
    	but not really that much different than lots of other reggae acts
    	I've seen.  They injected some pop elements into their songs (including
    	the annoying rap cliche of chanting "Hey! Ho" while waving one's
    	arms).  Only saw about 10 minutes of their set, because I wanted
    	to go see...

    
    Shankar n' Caroline

    	Back to the second stage.  Shankar is an electric violinist from
    	India.  Caroline is a vocalist/percussionist (not sure where she's
    	from).  Most of their music involves taking traditional-sounding
    	Indian music and placing it over synthesized percussions.
    	Interesting stuff, but sometimes got a little too poppy for my
    	tastes.  I might pick up a CD from them.  I left shortly before
    	they finished (they were just starting a cover of Tomorrow Never
    	Knows) in order to see...


    Terem Quartet

    	Main stage.  A folk quartet from Russia.  Excellent stuff.  Uplifting
    	and soulful.  Two balilakis (at least I think that's what they were),
    	an accordion and some huge 3-stringed instrument that provided the
    	bass.  Good touches of humor throughout their set.  Another entry
    	on the must-buy list.


    Jah Wobble's Invaders of the Heart

    	Still on the main stage.  I only saw a couple of songs from them.
    	Very slick pop over some interesting percussion work.  Too slick
    	for my tastes.  I wasn't moved very much, so I bolted to check out...

    
    Trisan

    	Three guys -- one from Ireland (keyboards -- he was in Clannad), one 
    	from China (flute) and one from Japan (percussion).  I enjoyed the
    	flute-based material which sounded like more traditional Chinese
    	music that.  The band had two other modes:  a jazz mode (which was 
    	also good) and a new age mode that wasn't as interesting.  So, a 
    	mixed review from me, depending on what mode a particular song was 
    	exploring.


    Drummers of Burundi

    	Back to the main stage.  A 15-man percussion group.  Wearing very
    	colorful outfits and performing acrobatic dance feats, the sounds
    	they emitted were mesmerizing.  What a din!  People were up and
    	dancing and having a good time, despite a certain sameness of the
    	material to my ears.  They also closed the whole day by joining
    	Peter Gabriel at the end of his set and playing for another 15 
    	minutes after he finished.


    John Trudell

    	Secondary stage.  I had seen this guy before a few years ago.  He's
    	a Native American who recites his poetry while his band plays very
    	typical, straight-ahead rock n' roll.  The music's nothing special
    	and the sentiments expressed in his poetry is nothing new.  Not
    	bad, but I'm not rushing anywhere to see him again.


    Stereo MCs

    	Synth-dance act (from England?).  Start of the pop acts on the main
    	stage.  I saw the last half of their set.  I liked them better than
    	other acts I've seen of this genre; the melodies were more 
    	interesting and weren't repetitive.  They didn't milk the songs to
    	death.  Lots of energy from their front man.  Not bad.


    El Cabrero

    	A 2-man Spanish act, one a flamenco guitarist, the other a singer.
    	The guitarist seemed OK (I can't really judge the flamenco style).
    	Very powerful singer; bizarrely, his vocal lines sounded more Eastern-
    	influenced than Spanish influenced.  He's obviously a "trained"
    	vocalist, but some emotion seemed to be lost because his voice was
    	so "perfect" (if that makes any sense to you at all).


    PM Dawn

    	Didn't see too much of their set.  A rap/soul blend that was *far*
    	too slick for my tastes.  Sounded pretty generic.  I took the
    	opportunity of checking out the other things at the festival while
    	they were on.


    James

    	On the secondary stage, and probably the biggest crowd at the
    	secondary stage all day.  From the UK, this pop band certainly
    	has the Manchester sound -- that guitar-based dance thing.  Good
    	performance, but the music didn't turn me on that much.  I had the
    	distinct feeling that if you liked their music, you would have
    	*really* liked this set.  I should mention that the two other
    	people I was with enjoyed James quite a bit (the only act we
    	disagreed on all day).


    Crowded House

    	Zzzzzz.   The dullest act of the festival.  This New Zealand band
    	played pleasant, dull pop for 45 minutes.  Catchy melodies abound,
    	but strangely un-attention-grabbing.


    Remmy Ongala

    	The closer on the secondary stage.  From Tanzania.  His music sounds
    	like that style that Paul Simon was using on Graceland (I know, I
    	could be banned from RADIO_RADIO for mentioning Paul Simon).  Great
    	dance stuff.  The whole area in front of the stage turned into a
    	giant dance hall with conga lines weaving through the crowd.  This
    	was the time when the whole event seemed most like a festival.  Fun,
    	fun, fun.


    Peter Gabriel

    	After Remmy Ongala finished, I commented that I would've been happy
    	if the festival had ended at this point.  But, it turns out, that
    	Gabriel's set pushed the whole day over the top.  Musically, he chose
    	a subset of the songs that he had performed earlier this year on
    	the Secret World tour (with one exception -- mentioned later).

    	Instead of the elaborate props and staging of his solo tour, he
    	chose a stripped-down staging which made the performance much
    	more intimate and, dare I say it, moving.  Gabriel's such an
    	energetic, personable and fun performer that he can even make his
    	lame songs (Steam, Sledgehammer, etc.) a heck of a lot of fun.

    	His real ace-in-the-hole of this show, though, was surprise guest
    	vocalist Sinead O'Connor, in her first US appearance since being
    	booed off the stage at Madison Square Garden.  Pretty gutsy on
    	both their parts, I thought.  The first time she was introduced
    	(after taking a lead vocal on a song I didn't recognize), there
    	were a few scattered "Boo"s, but the vast majority of the crowd
    	cheered.  The next two times she was mentioned, the "boo"s were
    	gone and the cheering was overwhelming.

    	Anyway, since O'Connor did a couple of duets on Gabriel's latest
    	album, it was a treat to see them doing those songs together.
    	Their voices blend together really well.  She was on stage for
    	the whole set doing backing vocals (except for Solisbury Hill).

    	The local music critic the next day called Gabriel's performance
    	"magnificent" and I can't argue with that.  Best show I've ever
    	seen him do.


    After all the music was over, you could attend a pro-Amnesty International,
    anti-death penalty reception at a hall on-site.  Cost was $10 and most
    of the day's performers were going to be there ("Rub elbows with the
    stars!").  Interestingly, the Amnesty booth/ticket sales was the only
    "political" note of the day.  No acts (including Gabriel) made any 
    overtly political statements at all (Gabriel didn't even do Biko).  We 
    were pooped and skipped the reception (which included free food and a
    cash bar).

    Good news is that this is a mini-tour in preparation for a full-scale
    US invasion next year.  Looking forward to it...

    				- Paul
    

    I was bummed at the scheduling, it starts in the frigging afternoon on
    a weekday. I'm sure that had a lot to do with sales.
    
    							Brian

    Spent two days this week at the WOMAD festival (Sunday at Saratoga Springs;
    Tuesday at Great Woods).  This is Peter Gabriel's World of Music, Art
    and Dance festival where acts from around the world perform on two
    stages throughout the day.  All acts played for 30 or 45 minutes,
    except for Gabriel and Midnight Oil, who played longer.  (I noticed
    one strange thing, though -- no acts from South America.)

    I managed to see every act at Saratoga Springs by bolting from stage
    to stage -- as soon as an act finished on one stage, one would start
    on the other stage within 60 seconds.  At Great Woods, I took a more
    relaxed pace, catching only the acts I really liked again, and spent
    a lot of time at the workshops.  The workshops were great -- many of
    the performers that did sets on the stages throughout the day would
    give workshops on their music in a small tent near the Great Woods
    entrance.  After the workshop, you could chat with the performers and
    try out their instruments.

    Most of the performers were accessible throughout most of the day.  It
    was indeed a festival atmosphere.  I chatted with members of several of
    the acts both days.  Not only were "world music" folks walking around,
    but many of the pop acts were walking around as well including folks 
    from Midnight Oil, Arrested Development and Gabriel's band.  Everyone 
    was incredibly friendly (though I'm not sure that the old guy from 
    Arrested Development was happy when I told him they were *much* better 
    this year than at last year's Lollapalooza).

    Here's a run-down of what I thought of the various acts:

    Ashkhabad

    	Five-man group from Turkenistan.  The closest comparison I can
    	make about their music is that it sounded like Armenian music.
    	I find this stuff hypnotic and enjoyed the touches of humor
    	(and percussion solos) scattered throughout the set.  I also
    	caught part of their workshop at Great Woods -- fascinating
    	to watch them play these instruments up close.  I'll be picking
    	up their CD.


    Shikisha

    	3-woman group from South Africa.  For the most part, they played
    	percussion and danced.  There were some vocals.  Their act is
    	playful and fun, but I've seen other acts do this kind of thing
    	better.


    Stella Chiweshe

    	From Zimbabwe.  She plays an instrument called the mbira (which
    	sounds a little bit like vibes, but is much smaller).  Hers was
    	the most avant garde set of the day.  Accompanied by a percussionist,
    	her long numbers were mesmerizing once you found the rhythms
    	inherent in her playing.  She also did some unusual dancing and
    	mumble-ish vocals.  Really interesting stuff.  She didn't perform
    	at Great Woods (unfortunately), but she did do a workshop there 
    	which was a highlight of my day Tuesday.  I bought a CD from her
    	which is a good representation of what her music is like.


    Caifanes

    	Rock band from Mexico.  Nothing special here at all -- a generic
    	rock act with Spanish lyrics.


    The Guo Brothers

    	2-man act from China.  They play flutes and were one of the best 
    	acts of the day.  Absolutely gorgeous melodies and amazing
    	musicianship.  The stories they told between songs were as
    	interesting as their music.  I bought a tape from them at Saratoga
    	and went to see them again at Great Woods (and went to their
    	workshop at Great Woods).  I'll definitely have to pick up their
    	CD.


    Geoffrey Oryema

    	From Uganda.  Another highlight.  Besides Gabriel, he was the only
    	act that played on last year's WOMAD tour.  His music is a lot
    	like Gabriel's in some ways -- very rhythmic with low, booming
    	vocals.  He played quite a variety of stuff and the crowd reacted
    	enthusiastically.  He's well worth seeing.


    Songcatchers

    	A Native American group, based, I believe, in Seattle.  This is one
    	of those hybrid acts -- in this case, it's a rock band with Native
    	American dancing, chanting and percussion.  I usually don't like
    	these hybrid kind of things much, but I got a kick out of this one.
    	Pretty entertaining.  I probably won't be buying anything by them,
    	but they were worth watching for a while.


    Live

    	From Pennsylvania.  I wasn't too thrilled with these guys when I
    	saw them on MTV's 120 Minutes tour a couple of years ago and I'm
    	still pretty bored with them.  They've changed their look since two
    	years ago -- they've gone "grunge"!


    Hassan Hakmoun and Zafar

    	From Morocco.  This was basically a jazz fusion act.  OK, but not
    	all that thrilling (someone said they reminded him of an early
    	Santana).  They didn't play at Saratoga.


    Charlie McMahon

    	From Australia.  He's a didgeridoo player (that's an instrument that's
    	a hollow pipe and makes incredibly rich sounds when blown into).
    	Midnight Oil had him playing with them, so he did a workshop while
    	he was there.  I understood this instrument a lot more after his
    	(often humorous) class.  This was another highlight for me.


    Arrested Development

    	Wow!  What an improvement from last year's Lollapalooza tour!
    	They had the crowd (especially in Saratoga) in the palms of
    	their hands.  Exhilirating, uplifting, joyous.  Everything a
    	festival like this can use.  Members of the band also gave a
    	workshop in Saratoga on "mixing and scratching", but they
    	didn't do one at Great Woods (so I didn't get to see it).


    Mustapha Tettey Addy and the Royal Obonu Drummers

    	From Ghana.  Last year, the Drummers of Burundi were an all-
    	percussion group that played WOMAD.  This year, we got Addy and
    	his drummers.  Addy and company were much better.  What a racket!
    	This is "get up and dance" music -- not sure I'd want to listen
    	to an album of it, but it's a blast to see live.


    Lucky Dube

    	From South Africa.  He's a reggae singer.  He sings well, but his
    	music really didn't touch me all that much.


    The Levellers

    	Folk-punk act from the UK.  Like a harder-edged Waterboys.  Toe-
    	tapping tunes, but I probably wouldn't pay to see them perform
    	on their own.


    Midnight Oil

    	They closed the night at Saratoga (55 minute set) and were 
    	second-to-last at Great Woods (65 minute set).  These guys
    	just never disappoint.  They are *so* uplifting and energetic
    	that it's absolutely contagious.  Despite the two extra songs
    	at Great Woods, I think the Saratoga set was a little better.
    	It was kind of hot when they played at Great Woods.  They only 
    	did songs from the last 3 studio albums.  Interestingly, they
    	were the *only* act on this tour that I saw both days that did
    	*not* do the same stage patter between songs.


    Peter Gabriel

    	He closed the night at Great Woods and was second-to-last at
    	Saratoga (75 minute set).  He was better at Great Woods than
    	at Saratoga.  In both shows, though, he seemed a little
    	unenthusiastic to me -- last year, his WOMAD performance was
    	pure magic.  This year, while still entertaining, he didn't
    	seem to have that extra OOOMPH that usually puts him over the
    	top.  Solsbury Hill and San Jacinto were highlights of both
    	nights.  Steam is a bore and Shaking the Tree went on too
    	long.  In Your Eyes is always a good live song, though.


    I really hope that the attendance of this festival was enough on 
    this tour to keep it coming back (13000 attended at Great Woods).
    I've learned so much from this festival the last two years that my
    CD collection has certainly changed for the better because of it.

    				- Paul
    

    
    Gotta agree with most of what Paul said here... a fantastic day.
    I learned more about music in the 10 or so hours I was at Great 
    Woods than I had in any of the college music courses I'd ever 
    taken.
    
    Best acts of the day:  Ashkhabad, The Guo Brothers, Midnight Oil,
    Gabriel.  Worst acts of the day:  Liked them all excpet for Live.  The
    adjective I used the last time I saw them still holds: pretentious.  I
    sat there watching them and I was REALLY trying to understand their
    appeal.  I still don't get it.
    
    Later...
    Steve
    

    
    	I'am thinking of picking up a PG CD, can anyone direct me to
        what they think is his best CD to date...
    
    
        thanks
        RM
    
    
    

    
    	Pick up "Shaking the Tree", a greatest hits package which covers
    	a good portion of his career.
    

    
    	thanks for the rapid response....
    
    
    
    	RM
    

    Great Stuff all of it.  Either pick up Shaking the tree or So!
    
    			Bart