Friday, November 02, 2012

Fables of the R.E.M. Ensemble - The Show 10/28/12

After 8 weeks of rehearsing songs from the R.E.M. catalog, the ensemble hit the stage at the Old Town School of Folk Music's Armitage location for an 8 song set.

We were given the prime slot in between the opener (The Replacements/Paul Westerberg Ensemble) and the headliner (David Bowie Ensemble). For the show, Bob gave me the green light to bring in some louder gear, and I couldn't have been more happy to oblige. A friend's boyfriend was more than kind to let me use his British made Vox AC15 amp in order to achieve pure Rickenbacker nirvana. This upgrade in the amp department allowed me the chance to finally put my only 2 effects pedals to good use; the Boss Super Chorus and the Fulltone Full-Drive 2 Mosfet. The show's setlist remained the same from last week's class:

"Finest Worksong"/"Gardening At Night"/"Cuyahoga"/"Can't Get There From Here"/"Fall On Me"/"Exhuming McCarthy"/"(Don't Go Back To) Rockville"/"Strange"

This was my first time at the Armitage location. Hopefully one day I'll get to experience playing on the main stage at the Lincoln Avenue location. We were all pretty well packed on the Armitage stage, and I didn't do myself any favors by being the only one to show up with a partial effects panel. But, hey, I couldn't hold back at getting the right sound for the songs.

This was my first time back on a stage in 12 years, and it was my first time performing R.E.M. songs with a group of other musicians. It was a great 8 weeks of getting inside R.E.M.'s songs and really examining Peter Buck's guitar work during the early part of the catalog. Bob kept the class environment very loose but still maintained a good focus on the songs. Everyone in the class had a genuine respect of the music and had great fun tackling the arrangements we've all known as fans of the band. 

From the ringing intro of "Finest Worksong" to the reckless fun of "Strange," the set seemed to go by in a flash. For the most part, we played pretty well as a group, and the 8 weeks of practicing really came across in the performance. It wasn't a note-for-note perfect show, but we certainly held our own on stage. I got passed the mental block of singing and playing at the same time. Though my microphone was on during "Exhuming McCarthy," the sound engineer decided not to turn my mic back on for "Strange."

I thought our best moment was "Gardening At Night." Even though it came early in the set, the song really flowed with ease. Plus, the single note parts provided most of the show's jingle and jangle. It just all clicked. "Gardening At Night" is the quintessential R.E.M. song that stands shoulders above any Top-10 song the band scored during its 31 year career.

The song that could have been the potential musical car wreck was "Can't Get There From Here." Aside from a very small miscue after the first chorus, we quickly recovered and kept the song together. And I finally didn't screw up the bridge! All in all the show came off without any major bumps, and I can't wait for one more round with the class before the snow comes.

R.E.M. Ensemble - Can't Get There From Here (Live)




6 comments:

Alaamah eg1 said...


شركة تنظيف بالجبيل
شركة تنظيف بالخبر
شركة تنظيف بالاحساء
شركة تنظيف في الدمام

Anonymous said...

A place where you will get all the latest fashion news and updates
New York Fashion Week September 2016

Chino Styles Jeans Pants Latest Fashion

Winter Jackets For Men Latest Style 2016

Mens Ankle boots 2016

Designer Handbags For Women New Styles

Hairstyles For Men Most Popular in 2016

Women Hairstyles Latest Ideas in 2016

What is fashion according to you 2016

Dresses For Women New Fashion in 2016

Fashion Week in London Coming Soon 16 September 2016






Unknown said...

We are here to help you out with the whole procedure to Download Microsoft www.office.com/setupOffice online, We not only fix your MS office setup related issues but will guide with how to get started with your new Office 2016 product once it get installed successfully. So why are you waiting for just ask whatever question you have via live chat online. visit officecom/setup More Info Call Now 1 855 869 6776
www.office.com/setup
www.office.com/setup
www.office.com/setup

gream said...

Online casino games are offered in HD, where you will be exposed to the approach of the service. Online casino games of all types. Golden slot Including all online casino gambling games. To help people enjoy online casino games. To join the labyrinth to play online casino games as much as possible. In addition, we also have a form of online multiplayer game. The game is ready to help the casino gambler online game to get into the atmosphere of other online casino games overwhelming. You are the player of all online casino games have come to use the most fluent in every day. We also have the prototype of the game online gauge very much. สล็อต All online casino games are designed to appeal to a wide range of online gaming enthusiasts, as well as the desire to play the best online casino games. Have fun. Online gambling is open 24 hours a day.

Bangalore Escorts | Anshikaapte | Independent Bangalore Escorts said...

Bangalore Escorts | 8147349718 | Escorts in Bangalore

Bangalore

Escorts


Escorts in

Bangalore


Independent

Bangalore Escorts


Bangalore Escorts

Bangalore call girl

Independent escorts


A Warm welcome with Bangalore Escorts provided by

attractive & Beautiful Independent Bangalore Escorts. It is a

heaven of interesting Escorts in Bangalore supplier site to your

Silicon city Bangalore Currently purported as Bengaluru.

Bangalore is the nearest place for IT business. Bangalore is one

of the quickest developing cities in India. It is the most loveable

spot for genuine clients. Bangalore has the rich social history in

the past it is known as a city of Garden’s, and it is well known

for different boulevards. Our Escorts in Bangalore are dream

blessed to make your every desiers give complete satisfaction.

Bangalore Escorts, Escorts in Bangalore, Bangalore Escorts

Service, Escorts Service Bangalore, Independent Bangalore

Escorts, Bangalore Escorts Agency, Bangalore Escort.
=============================

Unknown said...

I love to visit your blog. I really find amazing posts here, you have written very nicely this post. Thanks for sharing this post.
Hotel in Ranchi