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Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] The Musical Box

From: Chris Dale <unobtainiumkeys@gmail.com>
Date: 2012-06-05

Hi Robert:
 
 
Sorry for responding late on the list to this. I've been so busy.
 
I saw the Musical Box in Toronto, and I think Clay of our list saw the same show I did but on a different night on the same weekend.
 
Yes, they are wonderful at recreating Gabriel-era Genesis - though I'm comparing their show to some old videotaped concerts my friend has.
 
I've never seen Genesis live at all :(
 
Tis true, the Musical Box don't use a real Mellotron live, as I asked about that. They admitted to me the truth as I told them I thought it sounded a little more like samples than a real tron. It just didn't sound ballsy and dirty enough to me. Of course, I was expecting it to be ear-splititngly loud but it wasn't.  Also, I think the cabinet is larger than a real M400 so it could be more visual to the audience.
 
I'm sorry Dave Kerzner was a bit of a prick to you, though I don't think he owns Mellotrons anymore anyway, so it makes no difference.
 
I also want to reassure you that his behaviour towards you isn't representative of ANYONE in our list group. We're opinionated here, but we do all love and respect each other because  - we got no one else I guess!
 
I've met several people on this list and through private e-mails, and can say I genuinely like every one of them, and that anyone here would be glad to show you their Mellotrons. It would also help you decide in making a purchase towards an original design, or a digital simulation.
 
If you ever make it up to Canada, you are welcome to see a Mellotron, Chamberlin, Optigan, Birotron and Orchestron.
 
If you want to see Talentmakers, you'll have to ask Mattias!
 
 
Cheers
 
 
Chris
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
On Thu, May 3, 2012 at 3:17 PM, Robert <rmrmax@yahoo.com> wrote:
BTW - my friend who I went to the concert is an acquaintance of Dave Kerzner of IK Multi Media Sampletron who was also at the show and he indirectly introduced me to Dave, who lives somewhere in South Florida.  Dave did not point this (TMBs use of samples) out to me.  Over enthusiastically, I asked / "begged" Dave if there was any possibility if someday in the future, I could visit him and see and hear his Mellotron.  He replied "We don't do that" and walked away.  Oh well...   \":((\":((

 
 

   

From: "lsf5275@aol.com" <lsf5275@aol.com>
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, May 3, 2012 2:40 PM
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] The Musical Box

 
Sadly, Robert, you weren't close to a real 400 lat night either. It's a keyboard controller inside a Mellotron shaped cabinet. I know this, because I've seen it up close and I know that they don't use a real one. I think Pierre Vielleux  was probably the only member/keys player in TMB who actually used one on stage.
 
 
 
 
In a message dated 5/3/2012 2:15:10 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, rmrmax@yahoo.com writes:
 
Last night, I had the pleasure of seeing The Musical Box perform "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" at The Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida.

They were fantastic and paid great attention to detail in every respect; the sound was great too!

Any of you "guys" who like the Gabriel era Genesis who have never seen The Musical Box perform before, I highly recommend you check them out.

For their encore, they played "The Musical Box" and "Watcher of the Skies".  By then, several of the other concert goers who had the better seats on the floor area near the center had left, so I had the opportunity to see them up close.   Their keyboardist had a beautiful black M400 Mellotron and it sounded wonderful to my ears.  An RMI Electric Piano was sitting on top of the Mellotron and another keyboard was sitting on top of the RMI.  He also had an organ that I "think" was a Hammond, but it was not a B3 and I don't believe it was a C3 or  A100 either.  There was a Leslie speaker sitting on the far right of the stage.

I don't remember ever being in such close proximity (approximately 20 feet) to a real Mellotron in all my life; what a thrill it was !

Cheers,

Robert