10.57
The Green Room, Hotel Modest, Reggio Emilio.
When I arrived in the Breakfast Room this morning, Martin was already there & reading with the tv switched on to Witless Inappropriate Death! Death! Torment The Psyche! I asked Martin if he were watching. No! The lady serving female person, overhearing us, switched it off. And it stayed off. On this tour I am carrying a TV BeGone! remote de-vibrator (a present from Trey Gunn) but, this morning, it was fortunately unnecessary.
Now to practising.
13.36 A Walk Into The Centre Of Town I…
IX…
Off the main drag, marketing is underway I…
II…
III…
Around the corner, into the Piazza Prampolini, where we are playing this evening I…
II…
IV…
Where shall I have lunch? Nearby, this is where we had dinner last night…
… with a view back to the piazza of this evening’s performance…
A most enjoyable light salad lunch. Then to check out the stage…
This is our stage. It will be set up in front of this statue…
… here…
Confidence reinforced, a walk back to the hotel I…
… past Tower Records…
Three Degrees Of Separation Challenge: Happy Gigster > Angelina Jolie with only one degree between: who/which?
Back at the hotel…
23.55 Also sharing sound & time with The LCG in the Piazza this evening: speeches pro & con the amendments to the Italian constitution, proposed by Sr. Berlusconi. Our soundcheck was cut short at 18.15 by political speeches beginning 30 minutes earlier than arranged, on a podium at the opposite end of the piazza. We returned at 19.15 to conclude our check, at the time promised, but the speeches continued – only another 5 minutes! and 20 minutes later we were preparing to leave when the politicians stopped talking.
During our (first) soundcheck, two young men arrived early, sat in front of the Solar Voyager & began to stare at me. Then, they moved to get a better position for staring. They stared at me for perhaps two hours. I found this astonishing. I am continuing to be astonished.
A free event of the municipality to a mixed crowd, overall very supportive. More a carnival event than a musical performance. But a good, free carnival event, such as one holds in one’s town. As such, all manner of people arrive, and not all of them demonstrate manners. I don’t understand how, when the artist (in this case El Frippo) is standing by the mixing desk, in a collected state, anyone would shout to attract their attention, for several minutes, when clearly his attention is elsewhere. So, being shouted out, being followed, and flashes, were all part of this evening.
From a performance point of view: in the middle, suddenly the sound changed from workable to unworkable. The slap-back from the end of the square became much, much louder than the onstage sound. For Soundscapes, this is fine; and only one reason why Soundscapes are a wonderful medium - they go almost anywhere. But for sharply articulated playing, such as with The LCG, this was a disaster. Even at the back of the stage, just behind the LCG, I couldn’t tell what pieces they were playing.
"In popular culture, our musicians sing to us in our own voice.
In mass culture they shout what we want to hear."
