Excited about Sunday’s gig
What a miserable English winter!
I’ve stayed warm working hard to get things ready for Sunday’s gig at the Union Chapel in London. I foolishly thought I could do this without the help of a tour manager type of person—wrong! There’s been equipment to hire, lighting technicians to locate, video screens to get out of storage, US kit that needs UK power adaptors, interviews to schedule, and a bulging guest list to wrangle. I ended up declining several offers to videotape the performance from commercial companies, because there was always an agenda attached—selling DVDs or putting online adverts around the footage and so on. It all seemed too much so I’m reverting to the system that worked at the ICA, ie asking people to bring their own video cameras and sending me the footage to edit myself.
In fact, keeping it simple is probably the way to go. I decided a week ago that I’m not going to bother getting my full electronic live rig out of mothballs. So if you’re coming, don’t expect lots of snazzy synth sounds. For writing and arranging I always work with a piano anyway because it’s like a blank canvas. This will be about the essence of the songs, rather than the flashy production.
And the ‘and friends’ part is really going to just that! I’m delighted that Trevor Horn can make it, as well as Martin and Wendy from the Sprouts. Sadly Eddi Reader is off doing a gig of her own. There have been some last minute additions to the musical cast: a couple of former cohorts are flying in from California, and a noted instrumental soloist Pete Thoms from The Flat Earth got in touch with me and is now joining the fray. It’s been great corresponding with all these folks over the last couple of weeks, remembering what an eccentric and talented bunch they are. Fascinating how people remember different details about life on the road 25 years ago, or they remember the same things differently. Looking forward to exploring that a bit on Sunday.
We’ve stuck to our resolution not to rehearse. All the musicians are conscientious and want to sound at their best. So I’ve made a list of likely/possible songs for the set list, and told them they can do as little or as much homework as they like. I’ve got chord charts for most of my stuff because I’ve needed it in the past for brass, strings etc. Most of these musicians are the intuitive kind who just learn from listening. And we’ll have to stay flexible, because although 3 hours sounds like a long show, the time will probably fly by once we start playing, messing up, replaying and fixing the songs. I’ll have to watch the time closely because the Union Chapel in in a residential area and has a strict curfew at 10.30pm for live music. I wonder what happens then—they yank the power? You get struck by a bolt of ligthning from the Almighty? Oo–er, I’ll be quaking in my boots.
I’ve had a lot of requests to play the new song I debuted at TED, ‘Love Is A Loaded Pistol.’ I did it there with the lovely string quartet Ethel, who added a ton of atmosphere and harmonic support. It’ll sound quite exposed with just piano and voice, but hopefully I can convey the core of the song. It’s about Billie Holiday, who came to me in a dream with some lyrics she wanted me to set to music. I was over the moon that she had travelled through time to see me, but the lyrics were a bit crap, and I didn’t know how to tell her!
The evening’s not really about my new stuff, though I know people are dying to hear it so I may attempt one or two others off my upcoming album ‘A Map Of The Floating City.’
I’m really looking forward to Sunday. Surrounded by old friends, supported by Forum members and hardcore fans, it’ll be a great night even if we trip up!
Sitting at the airport waiting for my flight…
You’re excited… You are in good company!
Heres to a fantastic weekend which starts tonight!!!!
I’m excited about the gig AND because Jon owes me a pint!
All this and a TMDR name-check in the Guardian this week:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/2010/feb/23/flat-earth-society
‘Freestyle Dolby’ ! No wires attached.
Very much looking forward to a fantastic weekend. Also looking forward to having a pint with Jon!
Can’t wait! Even though the journey back to Huntingdon by train will be hideous afterwards (weekend engineering I guess).
Will be with the Forum in spirit on Sunday all the way from Austin! Have a great show!! Document, document, document…
Dear TMDR,
It sounds like there may be some sort of release of this show? You’ve asked for video, but I guess you’ll be recording the audio. . . it should make for a unique live album . . . if not, I can bring my trusty minidisc and stereo mike to complete the DIY philosophy of this event. . .
Screen Kiss, please!! Bring – it – on…!
ETHEL is sending you sweet support – we LOVE the courage and authenticity you are embodying in this concert!! It takes SO much to invite people in on the creative process and not be totally in control of the outcome!!! Yet we know it will allow for moments of magic that could only happen in that freedom.
And “Love is a Loaded Pistol” just rules.
To be honest I WAS expecting lots of snazzy synth sounds. Still sure it will be fab!
Tangerine Dream at Royal Albert Hall 1st April: if they don’t bring synths then I WILL be cross!
Trevor Horn?! Google reveals “Camera Club” and the Toys soundtrack… live and learn!
So much super producer talent in one place is dangerous and probably illegal. @TMDR, I’d love to hear your thoughts on other producers. Trevor Horn brings the funk, but your teacher knows you *have* the funk.
Wish I could be there.
So can you confirm we can bring cameras/camcorders?
Just that the tickets have the usual disclaimer that we can’t.
Looking forward to it…
Wow,
I keep checking the forum from my place here in canada, with only a hockey game to keep me occupied while Thomas and the coolest support band- and special guests are performing half a world away…Oh to hear the new tunes, and the old ones including some prefab with Martin and Wendy- some camera club? and what about Video killed with trevor h and thomas- that would be a first, given that trevor was in the downes band and thomas in the wooley…looking forward to hearing all about this one.
I tried to get my brother who lives in bloomsbury to go, not sure he went
Outstanding in all respects enjoyed it tremendously. Thanks!!!
I’ll be there in spirit. Looking forward to hearing the result.
Sunday was fabulous. I don’t know of any other artist that could have pulled off a show like that! Great that you also included some super guests – not just the likes of Trevor Horn (wow!) but also up and coming people like the Pirate Twins. I’d been looking forward to this for months and it was well worth it.
Thanks, Thomas. You’re an inspiration.
25 years ago, as my wife and I were finishing our wedding plans, The Flat Earth was never off the turntable, or out of the cassette deck in my car. After seeing the tour in Austin, Texas – in the “opry” house where they film Austin City Limits – I was madly in love with all things Dolby. Then came Aliens, and Dog Eat Dog (I don’t care what anyone says, I think it’s a masterpiece), and then Astronauts as we were late-life grad students at University of Michigan, then a few bobs and dabs. It was absolutely fantastic to watch the “master class” that the first part of the show proved to be and see all of our old friends we’d never met. The set was damn near perfect, and swept us away back 25 years. From Florida to Michigan to Seattle and now Zurich, The Flat Earth was always our song, and after 25 years of marriage it still is, and it’s great to see that it, and Thomas, are still going strong. Thanks for a fantastic anniversary!!! Now get to work on the new stuff!