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June 18, 2005
CGT+2 @ Riverbend = Blown Minds
(click to enlarge)
I won't ramble as I'm still nearly speechless. But, simply put, the two shows by the California Guitar Trio (with Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto) last night on the UnumProvident Stage stole the festival from the often tired, bloated acts on the bigger stages. Look, I'm biased, but you can ask those in attendance and they'll tell you the same. Not only was it an outstanding performance, but the newly improved UnumProvident stage (and surrounding area) might be the PERFECT spot in town to watch a show.
Highlights:
1. Bach segued into "Riders on the Storm" by the Doors.
2. A lot of surf music.
3. The Yes tunes "Long Distance Runaround" (their first ever public performance of it) and "Heart of the Sunrise."
4. Duke Ellington's "Caravan" with all five musicians playing "drum solos" on their instruments.
4. Zundoko-Bushi: A traditonal Japanese song mixed with bits of "Vrooom" and "21st Century Schizoid Man" by King Crimson.
5. A raucous sing-a-long version of "Bohemian Rhapsody."
6. Their own, as I wrote earlier, dizzying compostions.
I got to chat with all five guys (all supercool and they all signed my CD booklet, too), thanking them for coming to town and mentioning the other times that I'd seen them. Talked a bit with Pat about Crimson and their plans for the future. He told me that Robert Fripp is pretty much opposed to touring right now unless it's at a venue like 12th and Porter in Nashville. (Adrian Belew lives just outside of Nashville, and that venue has often served as a tour warm-up spot in previous years, including a 2000 show I attended.) Pat had been to Chattanooga before with the Rembrandts (think Friends theme) and with Mr. Mister. Tony Levin borrowed my pen to sign some other people's stuff...though I didn't know it was him asking for it until I turned around to say yes.
"Sure, greatest bass player on earth, you can use my pen," I thought to myself.
Please, somebody, bring the CGT back to town as soon as possible.
You can check out Stephen Boatright's killer CGT pics here.
Also, Tony, Bert, Hideyo and Paul keep online tour journals.
Musings about their Chattanooga visit should appear soon.
(I like Hideyo's pic entries -- especially about what they ate -- the best...)
| By colrus | 03:18 PM
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