Tonefiend Forum

I haven't been to concerts much in the last 6 1/2 years since my back surgery (it's too painful to sit or stand for very long or even a long car ride). But I did manage to get out and see Eugene Chadbourne about 3 years or so ago, Eugene is the freakiest guitarist on the planet as well as being master of the 6 string, he always knocks me out with his playing. I got to know him back in the 90's and he is not only a sweetheart of a guy he is brilliant and well read, a true joy to have a conversation with. I've seen him play a beat up nasty Roger Mayer fuzz that was very spitty nasty thru a powered PA head and spkr, he turned it off for solos! He is known for playing a bird cage and plunger in Shockabilly he also plays banjo including at one time a banjo/toaster hybrid instrument. If you want to be a strange guitarist you have to get in line somewhere behind Eugene. At the other end of things I've seen him sight read Erik Satie pieces on banjo live. He is always a hoot!

Godspeed You! Black Emperor
(@ Ramshead Live, Baltimore, MD, 10/3/2012)
Great show. Of course my ears don't work now...

They sounded like the recordings I've heard, only bigger. Huge dynamic range, from whispery violin and cello lines to distorted amplifier roar. Helps if you have an appetite for saturated drones and elegiac build-ups.
Last time I saw them was ten years ago, when they also had films projected on the screen behind the stage (GYBE are often billed as multimedia performers). Probably the best venues for their performances will have no p.a. but really good acoustics, or have a p.a. with really strong sub-woofers. Nine-piece, two percussionists, string players double on keyboards or (2nd) bass, multiple guitar players. Stage was a mine-field of pedal-boards, monitor wedges, and random instruments.
A very satisfying performance.

Just saw something hilarious - My extended 'unofficially adopted' italian family and friends had a big party tonight to celebrate a cousin graduating from college and an uncle turning 60. I was there early helping with the food and whatnot when the 'band' was setting up. It was one guy and he had an ibanez with 3 active pickups and a bass set out. I though it was a little odd to be setting up a shred guitar for background party music for around 80 people. Then he started playing.... and it was acoustic italian folk songs.... but it sounded like a crappy synth. So I looked over and he was strumming the ibanez... but it wasn't plugged in. He 'played' all night by air strumming over a karaoke machine. It was awesome. Some of the tunes didn't even have a guitar in them but he kept playing anyways. I was the only one that noticed, so I guess it worked.

Side note for those inclined: They were worried about not having enough food, so grandma, mom and I spent the last two days cooking... completely unnecessarily. By the time everyone rolled in, we had 72 platters of food and desserts, then 'award winning' pizza lunga (https://www.lanazione.it/massa_carrara/curiosita/2012/07/22/747721-pizza-record-guinness-cinquale.shtml) and a couple pigs on spits, not to mention that the family makes wine.... Viva Italia!