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februari 29, 2004
Michael Ruff & Friends - Pumpehuset, Copenhagen Feb. 27, 2004
This is also a way to put on a show:
- First set 70 mins., second set 130 mins. Let's see how long HTP plays at the same venue for the same ticket price in a month. :^)
- Promises website soon, "with *all* my music available for free download and CDs to buy so you can choose if you want to buy a CD or burn your own compilations. You could make yourself a CD with 20 different versions of [song title I can't remember]". He admitted being the worst business man ever. He and Ian Gillan should write a book.
- Set list: the band didn't know what the next song would be until Michael started it. As he likes to noodle a bit, it could even take a while into the playing to figure out what song it was. Marco Mendoza had to switch basses pretty quickly a couple of times!
- Danish guest guitarist/vocalist for the entire show, conga player from Santana's band joining for a bunch of songs.
I can't think of anything more satisfying than being at a show that feels like you're in the rehearsal room with some of your best friends, being adventurous in a way you generally not are in front of strangers. But this time the friends playing music was some of my favorite players and all of them absolutely amazing musicians. A band trying new songs on the crowd, throwing cues left and right and trying new things all the time could in many cases be a band on the verge of a train wreck every second but these guys are just one with their instruments and their improvising is just as effortless as a bunch of friends talking over a beer. Nothing is wrong, nothing is set in stone, let's just exchange ideas, be serious for a minute, have a laugh the next minute, dance the other. Make a mistake, go back, do it again but right this time. No, wait, do it once more even better!
"What's that song you guys play in your band? Is it something like this? No? Let's do it anyway? Should I be playing here at all?" That turned into a ten minute salsafest in a number drummer Joey Heredia and bass player Marco Mendoza usually plays with their bar band. This at the end of the encores after the band had already jammed over three hours.
I missed the last time Michael Ruff and his guys came close to me last summer. I will never do that again. This was easily the best show I've seen in ages.
Posted by swepett at 1:11 FM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
februari 27, 2004
Hipp Hipp!
Posted by swepett at 1:26 FM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
februari 25, 2004
Hamell on Trial
Ed Hamell - the man, the myth, the legend - made another legendary show at Mejeriet tonight.
Posted by swepett at 11:55 EM | Comments (0)
februari 20, 2004
Cornerstone
Saw Cornerstone at Vega in Copenhagen tonight. Excellent stuff! The first of a bunch of must-see shows in Copenhagen this coming month. Next Friday - Michael Ruff at Pumpehuset!
Posted by swepett at 11:55 EM | Comments (0)
februari 2, 2004
Radio Comeback
Lately, most fun for me professionally has been the work I have done for Swedish Radio. Today (Sunday) I made a comeback at the company, broadcasting the local sports and P3 Soul for national channel P3. Cables, computers and reel-to-reel machines. Everything a sound engineer could ask for.
More radio work coming up the next week. Qualifying rounds for a well-known Swedish quiz show for kids is in the cards.
Posted by swepett at 1:21 FM | Comments (0)