Re: (TV) Now, I can die happy (Chicago review)

["Dennis" <dend@nyc.rr.com>]

I read an interview with Richard many many years ago where he said something
to the effect, if you make a mistake and it sounds good, is it a mistake?

> The 'crescendo incident' in Marquee Moon is just a perfect example of how
an
> excellent band can use unexpected events/mistakes or what not to their own
> advantage. Sounds like it worked out quite alright here.
>
> Glad you all had a great time.
>
> -Eric
>
> >From: "Philip P. Obbard" <pobbard@yahoo.com>
> >Reply-To: tv@obbard.com
> >To: tv@obbard.com
> >CC: michael@recordsnyc.com, scott.aldrich@worldnet.att.net
> >Subject: (TV) Now, I can die happy (Chicago review)
> >Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 09:29:34 -0700 (PDT)
> >
> >It was transcendent. It was stunning. I am in awe 12 hours later.
Moreover,
> >I
> >still cannot believe I finally saw Television perform live, and that when
I
> >did, they were so damn good.
> >
> >I met Maurice, Rick, Leo, Scott, and Heath before the show to get dinner.
> >As
> >always, it's fun meeting "internet friends" in real life, and I'm sure
they
> >all
> >got a good impression of me, the dorky guy with the Television t-shirt
and
> >the
> >umbrella (in my defense, it WAS raining).
> >
> >At about 6:30, we made our way to the Metro. It's a small, fire-trap
venue
> >that
> >feels like someone turned their attic into a concert venue but forgot to
> >tell
> >the fire marshal. The opening act was competent but enjoyable. At the end
> >of
> >it, Leo, Scott, and I pushed our way up front (3rd row of people from the
> >stage, directly in front of the center microphone) and found ourselves in
a
> >circle of fellow Television fanatics - e.g., a fellow New Yorker about my
> >age,
> >a female former New Yorker, a bit younger than I, who said she would "go
> >anywhere" to hear Television play, and a guy who had seen the MC5 play in
> >their
> >heyday and was carrying a duffel bag containing roughly 20 Television
> >concert
> >tapes in it!
> >
> >At around 8:20, Television emerged, and began tuning their guitars. By
now,
> >the
> >venue was packed  - balcony and lower floor - and the audience was
already
> >shouting and hollering everytime Verlaine looked up. The setlist:
> >
> >Intro
> >1880 or so
> >This Tune
> >Venus
> >Beauty Trip
> >Little Johnny Jewel
> >See No Evil
> >Call Mr. Lee
> >Prove It
> >Rocket
> >Rhyme
> >Marquee Moon
> >-- Encore --
> >Glory
> >Don't Need Your Lovin' Anymore / Psychotic Reaction
> >
> >"1880 or so" was a bit stiff, with Richard's frenetic soloing almost
> >sounding
> >as if it belonged in another concert, but after a grinding, hard "This
> >Tune",
> >the rest of the band began to hit their stride. Fred was solid and
serious,
> >Lloyd played liked a man possessed, Ficca was - as always - the band's
> >secret
> >weapon, able to single-handled create and suppress a sheer tornado of
> >sound,
> >and Verlaine looked pleased, smiling at little mistakes, joking with the
> >audience ("We all bought new clothes for this show" - obviously a lie -
and
> >laughing when someone yelled "Nice pants!" to him). "Call Mr. Lee" was a
> >powerhouse, with Richard playing up a storm; "Prove It" got the entire
> >audience
> >singing to the chorus. The band was really at full power on "Rocket",
> >seguing
> >into "Rhyme" for one of the highlights of the night - the two weakest
songs
> >on
> >the 1992 LP transformed into a tour de force of playing.
> >
> >As an aside, we made some of the same observations those of you in the UK
> >had -
> >the audience did not react nearly as wildly to Lloyd's playing as they
did
> >to
> >Verlaine's - seemingly unfair, but I'm sure Verlaine's front-man status
> >helps.
> >Richard, actually, didn't look nearly as absorbed in his performance as
he
> >does
> >when I have seen him solo; standing at a distance from the rest of the
> >band, he
> >seemed a bit listless and detached (although his playing was not!) in
> >demeanor.
> >On the other hand, after the first few numbers, Verlaine was commanding,
> >energetically soloing, pumping his leg throughout the show as if it were
> >driving the band during his rhythm parts, and altogether being far more
> >engaged
> >than previous reviews of their post-1978 shows had made me think he would
> >be.
> >
> >Finally, "Marquee Moon". As Rick said, we got and unexpected bonus when
> >Richard
> >suddenly broke a string and had to switch guitars during the crescendo.
At
> >first, Tom and Billy did a serious of rapid-fire "question and answer"
> >moves,
> >with Tom's screeching guitar bits being matched by Billy's drumming;
then,
> >Tom
> >screeched through the crescendo by himself with Billy and Fred racing
> >behind
> >him. Checking on Richard's progress and smiling, Tom resumed soloing with
> >Billy, only this time faster, harder, and more possessed; between he and
> >Ficca
> >there was not a moment of hesitation or silence. Finally, Lloyd re-armed,
> >they
> >ran through the crescendo a final (third) time, ending the song in a huge
> >rave
> >up. It was an unexpected surprise - I felt like we should have paid extra
> >to
> >see it. Richard seemed a bit peeved at having been out of action for so
> >long,
> >but Tom and Billy were definitely enjoying themselves (Fred's a bit
harder
> >to
> >read).
> >
> >The band left the stage and the place went wild; for a small venue, it
was
> >easily the most enthusiastic encore-pounding I have heard in a long time.
> >The
> >band re-emerged and broke into "Glory" to cheers. After four minutes or
so,
> >Tom
> >exchanged glances with the band and they segued into "Don't Need Your
> >Lovin'
> >Anymore", but after only a minute of this, Tom signaled to Billy, and
they
> >switched to "Psychotic Reaction". (Was it just me, or did Richard looked
> >surprised about this?) Nonetheless, the guitars locked for this one as
they
> >ran
> >through two verses and corresponding rave-ups before bringing the show to
a
> >close.
> >
> >It was, all things considered - my plane fare, the ticket, the cabs,
etc. -
> >worth every penny, and the best birthday present I've ever given myself.
I
> >was
> >concerned I would be underwhelmed at finally seeing Television, but I
found
> >them engaging, energetic, and surprisingly tight and fluid for a band
that
> >has
> >barely played together in 8 years. I won't jinx this great night by
hoping
> >I'll
> >get to see them again, sometime, somewhere (maybe next time, they won't
be
> >promoting an album that's been out of print in the US for years). In the
> >meantime, a big "great show!" goes to Mr. Lloyd, Mr. Verlaine, Mr. Ficca,
> >and
> >Mr. Smith.
> >
> >(Was anyone in the audience who also saw the UK shows, for comparison?)
> >
> >--Philip
> >
> >
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