Mellotronists

I went to see this Canadian Genesis tribute last night in Cleveland...at the Palace Theatre. 
Like stepping thru the Time Tunnel into 1973. I couldn't believe the place was filled and 
the audience went nuts. These guys are good...not jaw droppingly good, but good. A fairly 
accurate re-creation of the Selling England By The Pound show, with lights,backdrop, and 
costumes & Gabriel's stage banter.
 I was told however, by a friend who was up close, that what appeared to be an M400 was 
actually just a shell/prop. I thought as much when I heard four sounds come from it, with 
full keyboard range. Choir/Violins/Brass/Flute and even the lawn mower sound on I Know 
What I Like so apparently it's one of those tron shells with a midi controller inside playing 
samples. It sounded good in any event.
  This is as close as we're going to get to see the Genesis reunion we'd all love to see, 
unfortunately.

I have seen both the original genesis and this group and I have to say that this is in a 
category that goes away from tribute bands.  It seem to me like seeing a traditional 
staging of a vintage theatrical production without the poofy pretntiousness backstage.  
Yes the 400 may have been a fake but logistically these guys are top shelf, many of the 
instruments are the real vintage thing and the arrangements are played spot on which 
given some of the tunings on the 12 strings must be crazyily hard, they have studied their 
stuff.  The follow the score but slow the tempo and the edges in the rhythm a but and they 
interpet the look, hence no coke bottle glasses on the guitar player,

The only thing they don't seem to do is recreate individual shows from the past. They 
come close.

I noticed a bunch of DJs and journos in the comp seats in my locale.  An evening for 
themselves.

gino wong



--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, "charel196" <charel196@...> wrote:
>
> I went to see this Canadian Genesis tribute last night in Cleveland...at the Palace 
Theatre. 
> Like stepping thru the Time Tunnel into 1973. I couldn't believe the place was filled and 
> the audience went nuts. These guys are good...not jaw droppingly good, but good. A 
fairly 
> accurate re-creation of the Selling England By The Pound show, with lights,backdrop, 
and 
> costumes & Gabriel's stage banter.
>  I was told however, by a friend who was up close, that what appeared to be an M400 
was 
> actually just a shell/prop. I thought as much when I heard four sounds come from it, 
with 
> full keyboard range. Choir/Violins/Brass/Flute and even the lawn mower sound on I 
Know 
> What I Like so apparently it's one of those tron shells with a midi controller inside 
playing 

> samples. It sounded good in any event.
>   This is as close as we're going to get to see the Genesis reunion we'd all love to see, 
> unfortunately.
>

Sadly, as one who saw the original shows, it ain't the same. HOWEVER......  
If you haven't seen Genesis back in the day, go see TMB. You will then get an  
idea (and that's all) of what it was really like.
 
I was there.
 
Frank

--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, lsf5275@... wrote:
>
> Sadly, as one who saw the original shows, it ain't the same. 
HOWEVER......  
> If you haven't seen Genesis back in the day, go see TMB. You will 
then get an  
> idea (and that's all) of what it was really like.
>  
> I was there.
>  
> Frank
>
 Sadly as another who saw Genesis first appearance in Cleveland back 
in 73 no it is not the same nor can it ever be. Back then it was a 
first impression of something most of us thought we would never 
appreciate 3 decades later, now we know what to expect and anything 
less seems to diminish the experience however I am grateful that 
there is an outlet for these shows and yes it's not the real thing 
but it still has the same effect on me as it had the first time and 
that alone is worth going to see.  What I remember most was the 
riveting effect their music had on the audience, not what I was used 
to as compared to a Humble Pie or Led Zeppelin concert. I took my 
daughter with me who is 24 now but was raised listening to all my 
prog rock and disco and having Mellotrons and synths going in our 
living room.  When we walked up to the stage she remarked how she 
would be the youngest one in the audience.  There were a couple of 
guys next to us talking about the funny looking white cabinet, so my 
daughter got right into the conversation. Turns out they have seen 
MB before and we hadn't so I asked them how close to the original 
sound do they get. When I told them I was at the show a few doors 
down back in 73 they were full of questions. Then I asked how old 
they were and one replied 17.  Goodness he wasn't even born  when 
Genesis took to the stage, so for them this was their first hand 
experience and thanks to groups like MB they can relive their 
experience as we have.  Doug

I was there in 73 in Cleveland too....even got to hang with the band afterwards at their 
hotel party.
 But it's like this...imagine the first time you had sex with someone you totally 
loved.....then 30 years later watched a film with actors dressed as you and your lover go 
thru the same motions and have sex on film. Not quite the same eh?   ;)





--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, "Doug Berg" <caddyfam@...> wrote:

>
> --- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, lsf5275@ wrote:
> >
> > Sadly, as one who saw the original shows, it ain't the same. 
> HOWEVER......  
> > If you haven't seen Genesis back in the day, go see TMB. You will 
> then get an  
> > idea (and that's all) of what it was really like.
> >  
> > I was there.
> >  
> > Frank
> >
>  Sadly as another who saw Genesis first appearance in Cleveland back 
> in 73 no it is not the same nor can it ever be. Back then it was a 
> first impression of something most of us thought we would never 
> appreciate 3 decades later, now we know what to expect and anything 
> less seems to diminish the experience however I am grateful that 
> there is an outlet for these shows and yes it's not the real thing 
> but it still has the same effect on me as it had the first time and 
> that alone is worth going to see.  What I remember most was the 
> riveting effect their music had on the audience, not what I was used 
> to as compared to a Humble Pie or Led Zeppelin concert. I took my 
> daughter with me who is 24 now but was raised listening to all my 
> prog rock and disco and having Mellotrons and synths going in our 
> living room.  When we walked up to the stage she remarked how she 
> would be the youngest one in the audience.  There were a couple of 
> guys next to us talking about the funny looking white cabinet, so my 
> daughter got right into the conversation. Turns out they have seen 
> MB before and we hadn't so I asked them how close to the original 
> sound do they get. When I told them I was at the show a few doors 
> down back in 73 they were full of questions. Then I asked how old 
> they were and one replied 17.  Goodness he wasn't even born  when 
> Genesis took to the stage, so for them this was their first hand 
> experience and thanks to groups like MB they can relive their 
> experience as we have.  Doug
>

> From: "charel196" <charel196@...>
   > Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2006 21:01:50 -0000
   > 
   > But it's like this...imagine the first time you had sex with
   > someone you totally loved.....then 30 years later watched a film
   > with actors dressed as you and your lover go thru the same
   > motions and have sex on film. Not quite the same eh?  ;)

Whaa??

Man... that is *weirdest* analogy I've ever heard.

  -- Don

-- 
Don Tillman
Palo Alto, California
don@...
http://www.till.com

Weird?  Hell, that's creepy in a JG Ballard kind of way.
jb


Don Tillman wrote:

>
> > From: "charel196" <charel196@... <mailto:charel196%40yahoo.com>>
> > Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2006 21:01:50 -0000
> >
> > But it's like this...imagine the first time you had sex with
> > someone you totally loved.....then 30 years later watched a film
> > with actors dressed as you and your lover go thru the same
> > motions and have sex on film. Not quite the same eh? ;)
>
> Whaa??
>
> Man... that is *weirdest* analogy I've ever heard.
>
> -- Don
>

LOL!  You guys are way too serious! I was just pointing out that no matter how well 
recreated it's really not the same....MB are all talented players. I wonder of they have 
original material?



--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, john barrick <astroboy@...> wrote:

>
> Weird?  Hell, that's creepy in a JG Ballard kind of way.
> jb
> 
> 
> Don Tillman wrote:
> >
> > > From: "charel196" <charel196@... <mailto:charel196%40yahoo.com>>
> > > Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2006 21:01:50 -0000
> > >
> > > But it's like this...imagine the first time you had sex with
> > > someone you totally loved.....then 30 years later watched a film
> > > with actors dressed as you and your lover go thru the same
> > > motions and have sex on film. Not quite the same eh? ;)
> >
> > Whaa??
> >
> > Man... that is *weirdest* analogy I've ever heard.
> >
> > -- Don
> >
>

I don't wanna give anyone the wrong idea here. As a musician myself, I DID enjoy the show 
and their pretty accurate Genesis renditions. I just found myself kind of "distant" and not 
emotionally connected like seeing the real deal. I've felt this with just about any "tribute" 
act I've ever seen. Even in "cover" bands I've played with....there's more emotional flow 
when I'm performing original material than someone else's song, which I think is only 
natural. I've been in bands that played Genesis,Crimson,Moodies,Strawbs...and while those 
songs are a lot more fun to play for me than, say, Bob Seger or Rolling Stones....I still feel 
more of that "butt kicking" energy start rolling when an original song is performed. Any 
other musicians here feel the same way? 




--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, "charel196" <charel196@...> wrote:

>
> 
> LOL!  You guys are way too serious! I was just pointing out that no matter how well 
> recreated it's really not the same....MB are all talented players. I wonder of they have 
> original material?
> 
> 
> 
> --- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, john barrick <astroboy@> wrote:
> >
> > Weird?  Hell, that's creepy in a JG Ballard kind of way.
> > jb
> > 
> > 
> > Don Tillman wrote:
> > >
> > > > From: "charel196" <charel196@ <mailto:charel196%40yahoo.com>>
> > > > Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2006 21:01:50 -0000
> > > >
> > > > But it's like this...imagine the first time you had sex with
> > > > someone you totally loved.....then 30 years later watched a film
> > > > with actors dressed as you and your lover go thru the same
> > > > motions and have sex on film. Not quite the same eh? ;)
> > >
> > > Whaa??
> > >
> > > Man... that is *weirdest* analogy I've ever heard.
> > >
> > > -- Don
> > >
> >
>

--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, "charel196" <charel196@...> 
wrote:
>
> I don't wanna give anyone the wrong idea here. As a musician 
myself, I DID enjoy the show 
> and their pretty accurate Genesis renditions. I just found myself 
kind of "distant" and not 
> emotionally connected like seeing the real deal. I've felt this 
with just about any "tribute" 
> act I've ever seen. Even in "cover" bands I've played 
with....there's more emotional flow 
> when I'm performing original material than someone else's song, 
which I think is only 
> natural. I've been in bands that played 
Genesis,Crimson,Moodies,Strawbs...and while those 
> songs are a lot more fun to play for me than, say, Bob Seger or 
Rolling Stones....I still feel 
> more of that "butt kicking" energy start rolling when an original 
song is performed. Any 
> other musicians here feel the same way? 


No need to apologize although you have permanently etched that 
analogy on my hard drive, thanks.  But really they did a good job 
for what they do.  We only saw one other "cover band" here- Seconds 
Out and here again a first time experience I thought they were good 
not great but the second time we saw them it really wasn't anything 
special, but the location was terrible, a punk rock club in the 
flats called the Odeon, I think there were only a dozen seats in the 
whole place so most stood for 2+ hours, what a dump.  I also thought 
the staging backdrops at MB added something extra, and anyone who 
watched the video of Genesis Oxford 73 show could see Mb did come 
close.  
I've often wondered how performers cope with doing the same sets 
over night after night and after time how emotional can they get? 
Seems the spark of freshness tends to diminish with time. Now I 
cannot hold a candle to what you have done musically, late this 
summer I had a chance to take my tron out and play with a band, 
never done this before, but the band does oldies, doo wop etc. again 
other peoples material and the last place you would expect to hear a 
tron. Now you know you have your good and not so good moments as a 
group but every once in awhile you have a great one and at our last 
outing for the season, yeah that was a "butt kicking" deal for me 
although I cannot explain why, its like something that you had 
inside and were'nt aware of seems to surface and take control. It's 
fulfillment with a sense of accomplishment and expression that seems 
to win out against just playing notes regardless of whose material 
it is and the talent that was given to each of us should be 
cherished and not taken for granted. Otherwise we would be playing 
hip-hop!!! Sorry for carrying on,  Doug  M400#703
> 
>

well said, Doug. I saw Seconds Out at the Odeon as well...but because Matt Riddle the 
keyboardist is a friend of mine I was more impressed initially with those guys than with 
MB, in spite of the visuals & backdrop etc. Matt nabbed Banks' lines note for note...(and I 
gave him his tron samples from the Pinder CD) :) Matt also played with YES-tribute 
Envision, sadly now defunct.



--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, "Doug Berg" <caddyfam@...> wrote:

>
> --- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, "charel196" <charel196@> 
> wrote:
> >
> > I don't wanna give anyone the wrong idea here. As a musician 
> myself, I DID enjoy the show 
> > and their pretty accurate Genesis renditions. I just found myself 
> kind of "distant" and not 
> > emotionally connected like seeing the real deal. I've felt this 
> with just about any "tribute" 
> > act I've ever seen. Even in "cover" bands I've played 
> with....there's more emotional flow 
> > when I'm performing original material than someone else's song, 
> which I think is only 
> > natural. I've been in bands that played 
> Genesis,Crimson,Moodies,Strawbs...and while those 
> > songs are a lot more fun to play for me than, say, Bob Seger or 
> Rolling Stones....I still feel 
> > more of that "butt kicking" energy start rolling when an original 
> song is performed. Any 
> > other musicians here feel the same way? 
> 
> 
> No need to apologize although you have permanently etched that 
> analogy on my hard drive, thanks.  But really they did a good job 
> for what they do.  We only saw one other "cover band" here- Seconds 
> Out and here again a first time experience I thought they were good 
> not great but the second time we saw them it really wasn't anything 
> special, but the location was terrible, a punk rock club in the 
> flats called the Odeon, I think there were only a dozen seats in the 
> whole place so most stood for 2+ hours, what a dump.  I also thought 
> the staging backdrops at MB added something extra, and anyone who 
> watched the video of Genesis Oxford 73 show could see Mb did come 
> close.  
> I've often wondered how performers cope with doing the same sets 
> over night after night and after time how emotional can they get? 
> Seems the spark of freshness tends to diminish with time. Now I 
> cannot hold a candle to what you have done musically, late this 
> summer I had a chance to take my tron out and play with a band, 
> never done this before, but the band does oldies, doo wop etc. again 
> other peoples material and the last place you would expect to hear a 
> tron. Now you know you have your good and not so good moments as a 
> group but every once in awhile you have a great one and at our last 
> outing for the season, yeah that was a "butt kicking" deal for me 
> although I cannot explain why, its like something that you had 
> inside and were'nt aware of seems to surface and take control. It's 
> fulfillment with a sense of accomplishment and expression that seems 
> to win out against just playing notes regardless of whose material 
> it is and the talent that was given to each of us should be 
> cherished and not taken for granted. Otherwise we would be playing 
> hip-hop!!! Sorry for carrying on,  Doug  M400#703
> > 
> >
>