duojet
And That's A Start
Posts: 1
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Post by duojet on Sept 4, 2011 12:35:44 GMT
Hello, Janine here. I don't tend to post on forums any more, so excuse my pseudo-newbie status, but one of my friends mentioned the discussion re: bring-your-own percussion, and I feel really strongly about this so I wanted to add my own thoughts. I am really not a fan of the tambourine tag team thing that was going on this year, and it was possibly the only irritant I found I couldn't ignore in my quest for BW bliss.
The argument that some bands don't play the percussion is not a good excuse. Sometimes bands cover the missing percussion with other clever twiddly bits, so it's rude to try and upstage them with your own interpretation. And the amateurs don't get it right anyway.
But the main problem with DIY-tambourining is to do with the fact that most percussion is at the high end of the aural spectrum. In a recording environment it is often used to add a bit of 'sparkle' or magic or interest or accent or whatever you call it. And when that's done well - as it is on Beatles records - you don't necessarily notice how it's being used, you just get the overall effect/feel of the recording. But in a loud environment (or if your hearing is a bit fuzzy, as mine often is because of the sonic overload of BW) the percussion becomes prominent and can even start to dominate because you can't hear the low end so well. So someone handing out tambourines and maracas to their mates and doing their own thing is extremely distracting and irritating, sometimes even when you don't realise that this is what is disturbing you.
Oh and - for many of us the BW fun comes in large part from hearing/seeing the accurately or cleverly interpreted versions of Beatles songs that the world class musicians perform. If you must shake your thang, find the dead spot (where the sound doesn't leak) or go see the straightforward party bands, or sit in the far corner at the Cavern pub, where the happy drunken revelry of the audience will drown you out for those of us watching for the twiddly bits down at the front. And please please PLEASE don't bring a sleighbell to a Nube 9 gig...
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Post by allthingsmustpass on Sept 4, 2011 14:09:10 GMT
Well said Janine - you've put it much better than I ever could.
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Post by mrmustard on Sept 4, 2011 19:30:03 GMT
I think it's an absolute disgrace! I hope no forum members where involved in the percussion debacle!!!
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Post by heybulldog on Sept 4, 2011 22:24:20 GMT
I definitely think that CCT scaled back this year with fewer bands doing more sets. perhaps they were let down by a few call offs at the last minute. The performances by some were quite excellent though, Nube9, Pepperland, 2 of us ets doing outstanding sets. Still a good week though, but seemed to be missing something from the previous years. I didn't like the way on the Sunday night everyone but the residents and Convention attendees being escorted out of the main ballroom early, The basement rooms just seemed cramped and without atmosphere. Thought the speakers were a good variety this year. Anyone stay to hear Tony Bramwell, he was last on. I think he'd too many whisky and cokes by that stage and was quite out of it. He wasn't holding back on his thoughts on Yoko and was more than a bit outspoken. What did Tony Bramwell have to say? I missed this one! Would have been great to hear it!
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Post by heybulldog on Sept 4, 2011 22:41:24 GMT
Tony was a bit rambling, well he was intoxicated. mostly he talked about his career and how evolved from George Harrison's bag carrier to the head of Apple records. He spoke about the groups he had worked with - Jimi Hendrix Experience, Badfinger and later the Jam.
He was going on about Yoko and the 40 year grudge between them. He was a bit abusive at times. He mentioned the anecdote when he an Yoko were supposed to unveil a blue plaque at one of John former London residences until she put he foot down and was put out of the picture.
He was quite interesting but didn't really reveal anything new.
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Post by shannamccartney on Sept 5, 2011 9:57:50 GMT
I think it's an absolute disgrace! I hope no forum members where involved in the percussion debacle!!! HAHAHA!!!! I'm sure nobody on THIS forum would be involved in that percussion session I'll stand by my opinion. A little percussion never hurt anyone. It wasn't used at the Phil where tickets cost £20. It was at the Cavern where at the most it cost £5 to get in. And I certainly didn't see it at every gig, though it would have been welcome Also, I'm sorry that my argument wasn't good enough, I shall endeavor to come up with something better in the future. In the pseudo words of John Lennon- We just did what we did and it was wrong, or was taken wrong, and now it's all this.
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sora
And That's A Start
Posts: 16
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Post by sora on Jan 16, 2012 12:47:51 GMT
I really enjoyed this BW for the first time as a solo acoustic performer: every pub, all the sound engineers, the crowd (even if in some cases it was louder than me!), some amazing and astonishing live sets such as the Anglican Cathedral (definitely my best live gig!). I can only say that the only thing I didn't like was the Adelphi Woolton Suite. It's a small and intimate place, suitable for that kind of acoustic set but I was nearly fainted in there while I was playing 'cause I needed some fresh air ...It was hard to deal with such an odd situation like this: the all nighters wanted an encore and I was stuggling to stay awake and playing !!!
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Post by The End on Jan 16, 2012 14:33:56 GMT
It was a real pleasure watching you play Dario! That afternoon at Alma de Cuba was such a laugh - one of my many highlights of the week!
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Iain
I'll Be On My Way
Posts: 154
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Post by Iain on Mar 17, 2012 0:07:11 GMT
Hi Dario!! I thought you came across so relaxed - looked as if you were just enjoying the ride!! (so to speak! LOL)
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Post by beatlesandbeyond on Jul 14, 2012 10:14:02 GMT
I've been going to BW/MSF for about 10 years now.
The initial enthusiasm has declined to such a state where by every year I think carefully before committing myself to going.
Last year I stayed in the Cavern Pub for most of Saturday, only leaving for a meal. More and more bands are deciding not to attend (for varying reasons) and the organisers appear to be looking further and further afield to find bands who are prepared to play free for the 'kick' of playing in a club which isn't the original Cavern in a City which for years has ignored The Beatles.
CCT has done some great work in keeping BW going, but for MANY 'regulars' it's going stale. The whole imputus of BW now appears to be aimed at foreigners who see it as a 'trip of a lifetime' - but 'home' attendees should be encouraged to return year on year.
The appearance of other 'Beatle weekends' in North Wales and now Scarborough are indicitive of the disatisfaction among Beatle fans of the BW experience, and I won't be suprised to see many more of these weekends being organised around the UK. Those events are - by their nature and planning, more 'intimate' - which is more appealing to many, and attendees have told me that they won't go to BW again although they'd be happy to support these other weekends.
I'll be going to Liverpool during the August Bank Holiday, mainly to see my many friends and to represent my Radio Show, but I see the costs now so prohibitive that I'm selective of which events I'm prepared to support.
Oranising BW and the MSF is not an easy job, and I couldn't do it... but many things could and SHOULD be done to make the experience a much more pleasurable one
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Post by mrmustard on Jul 14, 2012 18:51:11 GMT
When I first went in 1982 (at the age of 12) it was one convention day in the Adelphi. They use to have a lot of general cover bands on that didn't even perform Beatles songs oddly or 60's for that matter. It grew and grew year by year. At one point it was a three day Beatles convention. For many years no other events took place anywhere else out of the Adelphi. it was the best kept secret for genuine Beatles fans.
I agree it has lost some of its intimacy but this was bound to happen the bigger and longer the event got. Although there are still some excellent bands on, there has been a tendancy to lose some of the bigger bands to private, fee paying shows rather than part of the convention or other venues.
And the bigger it gets it draws a more generic audience who aren't really Beatles fans and use the event to solely get pissed up. So yes, that's frustrating for me too.
I live in Liverpool and have never bought a package so just dip in and out of the events for the week. I suppose I am in the fortunate position that I know what's on where so I don't feel it needs to be directed at me. I avoid the Mathew street festival like the plague as I prefer a more intimate Beatles experience.
Other events where bound to crop up elsewhere ( America had one of the first Beatlefests in the 70's). There is money to be made in the Beatles name and lots of it. Cavern City Tours know this too. They don't do it purely for the love of The Beatles.
Yes, I agree with you to an extent but it was inevitable. The event still has so much to offer still (probably more so than any other in the world). There are still many great bands on and I think it's important that international bands are on (even Scottish ones!!). I don't know what the financial arrangements are with bands. I think just accommodation and expenses and flights for international bands possibly (someone correct me if I'm wrong please). To be honest there was a dearth of English bands not so long ago so international ones had to be sought. Bring back The Parrots, that's what I say!
I'm really looking forward to it this year still even though there inevitable negatives that I've mentioned
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alix
I'll Be On My Way
Posts: 340
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Post by alix on Jul 15, 2012 12:29:58 GMT
I may be wrong (again correct me if I am) but most bands don't even get that now.
Accommodation is offered at a supposedly cheaper rate than going direct to certain hotels. If a band gets a MSF gig then I think MSF pays a small amount, and at one point headline gigs (the Royal Court, Empire, Philharmonic) type shows used to carry a small pay cheque.
This is all based on what I've heard from bands over the years.
That is why the South American bands are so desperate to win the contest at Latin American BW - depending on where they come they get flights and accommadation .
& yeah bring back the Parrotts (even if they couldn't work out how to get into the North Western)
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Post by mrmustard on Jul 15, 2012 13:48:02 GMT
Well that's pretty shitty on the bands if that's the case. If they don't pay them they should at least provide accommodation and contribute something towards expenses at the very least.
That's the problem with the music scene in the UK in general; more and more bands are having to pay for the privilege of playing and that's just wrong especially as every venue at Beatlweek is absolutely heaving with people buying beer at city centre prices. It's exploitation.
Do any bands who play Beatleweek want to comment on this?
So Alix, tell us more about the Parrots not being able to get into the North Western???
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Post by Mr Kite on Jul 15, 2012 16:25:20 GMT
I had to go home.
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alix
I'll Be On My Way
Posts: 340
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Post by alix on Jul 17, 2012 15:00:17 GMT
So Alix, tell us more about the Parrots not being able to get into the North Western??? All you needed to do was put a key fob on a sensor and push a door - four band members and a couple of their crew could not work that out in 1997! And the Japanese are meant to be good with technology. Used to have to let them in when me and my friends were sat on the sofas or hold the door/open it for them if we passed them outside. Don't know how they'd cope with Unite's room key fobs and the Apollo Court front gate! That's going back to the days when CCT used to store most of the bands at the NW with us cheap packages. (Big bands were put at the Adelphi), I think soem with cars were stored at Cathedral/Mulberry Court)
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sora
And That's A Start
Posts: 16
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Post by sora on Jul 20, 2012 19:30:32 GMT
..Sad but that's true !! Last year they "offered" me ( .... I tried to persuade them to get me at least some kind of accomodation) 3 nights at the student accommodation complex in Lower Gill Street. The other nights I stayed at my own expense at the Hatters Hostel which is very close to The Adelphi Hotel (not to be underrated when're so tired and you 're coming back after a gig at night! . Some other friends of mine and bands like Penny Ladies told me so - they had to stay at their own expense in hostels miles away from the city centre. On the other hand, I've seen some bands with free accomodation. I do think that at least they should offer accomodation for EVERY band and solo act, whether they're from UK, Europe or America etc.... when I see someone get that and some other doesn't, I don't think it's so fair and professional for an International Festival.
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Post by The End on Jul 21, 2012 12:32:35 GMT
..Sad but that's true !! Last year they "offered" me ( .... I tried to persuade them to get me at least some kind of accomodation) 3 nights at the student accommodation complex in Lower Gill Street. The other nights I stayed at my own expense at the Hatters Hostel which is very close to The Adelphi Hotel (not to be underrated when're so tired and you 're coming back after a gig at night! . Some other friends of mine and bands like Penny Ladies told me so - they had to stay at their own expense in hostels miles away from the city centre. On the other hand, I've seen some bands with free accomodation. I do think that at least they should offer accomodation for EVERY band and solo act, whether they're from UK, Europe or America etc.... when I see someone get that and some other doesn't, I don't think it's so fair and professional for an International Festival. Could not agree with you more! Are you playing this year Dario?
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sora
And That's A Start
Posts: 16
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Post by sora on Jul 27, 2012 9:11:01 GMT
Unfortunately I won't be playing this year
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Post by The End on Jul 30, 2012 10:12:21 GMT
That's a shame, Dario. Are you still attending this year though?
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sora
And That's A Start
Posts: 16
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Post by sora on Aug 5, 2012 19:29:24 GMT
..I would like to, Al... but I don't know, I've got to check the money.... still don't know....
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