From vjsloan@deskmedia.com Sat Nov 2 11:08:57 1996 Date: Sat, 02 Nov 1996 12:58:28 -0600 From: vesna sloan To: app@roadkill.com Subject: minneapolis concert Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Length: 6919 Hi all, As promised, below are my thoughts on the Minneapolis concert 11/01/96. I will try not to revisit what has already been said by other reviewers and try to be objective: It is hard to believe that an artist with such an impressive line of production credits would take over 20 years to begin touring and then to be relegated to playing in a modest venue of 3,000 to a crowd that had found out about the concert largely by word of mouth. There were no visible signs of promotion in the week preceding Alan Parson's first ever concert in Minneapolis which will hopefully result in an appropriate backlash against River North records by prospective collaborators. The end result of their inattention produced an evening fillede with seeming paradoxes that the near capacity crowd wholeheartedly enjoyed. From the opening foreboding lines of "Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether" through to the final punch of "Games People Play", it was clear that the audience was comprised of AP fans hanging on every note. Song recognition was instantaneous, typically before the first eight bars and intense. And it was the music that the audience was there for. In contrast to so many tours today that are more circus sideshow than anything else, the AP concert was a model of restraint. There were no theatrical costumes, no monstrous sets, no big screens (no room) and no histrionics in either the audience or the performers. The light show was minimalist, but with effective orchestration. It fit the mood of the evening which had the precision of a surgical procedure. In fact, the band barely said more than "hello" and "thank you" until the last song before the intermission. But it was all appropriate somehow because there seemed to be a pervading understanding among all in attendance that we were there to listen to the music and share in an opportunity that many had waited more than 20 years for. Some might say the crowd was quiet, but that would be inaccurate. Between numbers there was intense reaction ( including at least five standing ovations) but while songs were played, the people were transfixed in the music and the aroma therapy wafting from the back of the stage. Just like with any other big name act, one could see the entire audience mouthing the words to every song. But there was little singing along and no overt displays of teenage angst to be found either in the audience or the music. In fact, there were few under the age of 25 to be found among the audience. The rocking and swaying of each individual audience member seemed so practiced that it must have been borne out of years of listening to AP material with the headphones up high and eyes closed. The O'Shaughnessy auditorium may have been small but acoustically it was marvelous. Between loud and enthusiastic responses to songs there was a rsuh to resettle and listen intently to every sublte nuance of the compositions. Perhaps it is the mathematical precision and crisp production values that draw people to AP's music, perhaps it is more than that, but the same intent with which it seemed the audience was trying to draw in every note was evident among the performers on stage who seemed to be almost desparately bent on assuring that every number was exactly as it should be. There were no gymnastics among the AP band and yet there was a restrained explosion within the two vocalists in putting out every note's crescendo. Similarly, Ian Bairnson's guitar seemed reminiscent of Brian May, who while having an instantaneously recognisable sound and an array of drop dead screaming riffs, eschews the theatrical overplaying of lesser talents and just goes about taking care of business. Again, it was the music that brought the fans to their feet on numerous occasions after a Bairnson solo and so there was no need for gymnastics. Concerts of a comparable mood include Hall and Oates "evening with" tour where the set looked more like someone's living room than a stage and the recent "unplugged" fad among other top acts. One might almost say that this was as close to a classical music concert that contemporary music can get. There were no tuxedos in evidence either though. This was the "jeans" crowd, leaving their professional day jobs to enjoy their own brand of music with the same intensity and decorum that they pursue their careers. In brief, to steal a phrase, the audience had about as good a time as they could have without removing any clothing. It is here that I pause to wonder whether the band fully realized that they did have the crowd in their hands from the first note or that they recognized it and decided to not interrupt the music with tripe or banter. From my vantage point it was clear that the audience wanted to see the band succeed and were willing to do their part. Other acts might have played that sentiment up into repetitive emotional displays. AP however, was almost invisible throughout and it is that much more of a testament to the audience's level of support that it was virtually all unsolicited. The only exception would be Bairnson's reating of the friendly fire incident in which his cousin was killed as being the inspiration for "Brother Up In Heaven". Another time, another place, it might have seemed like cloying sentimentality. Again ,somehow if fit the subdued intensity of the evening. I would suggest, however, that Alan be encouraged to relax and enjoy the experience. He seems painfully stiff at times and obviously uncomfortable talking to the audience. This was unfortunate because the audience demonstrated a desire to hear what he had to say. One could argue I suppose that AP would prefer to let the music do the talking and leave him in his more comfortable realm behind the producer's table. A a people watcher, I was impressed by the commentary around me at intermission and afterward. I did not hear a criticism, which is surprising for a concert in my experience. Most remarks centered around how exacting the performances were and how close to the albums every song sounded. I hope the band members get to hear such comments because while they are on stage they seem to be trying so hard to get it perfect. From last night's feedback, I would say the audience appreciated such perfectionism. Well, I tried to write a different review so as to not bore you all, but I am not sure if I got into some sort of existentialist horse puckey. In brief, I got a strong sense that everyone in attendance had a great time and enjoyed hearing live for the first time music from LP's that they have played into dust over the years. There was also a consensus that AP deserves better treatment by the industry given his track record. I would be happy to chat about the concert to anyone interested. I like the idea of a chat time (let me know when). Jeff Sloan Rochester MN