The Concert
Not from the NY Supper Club, but from the pretour show from Milan, Italy, picture taken by Marco.
Since I didn't have any performance shots, thought you'd like this one.
Once inside, I ran into Chris, who directed me towards the saved seats. It was a small club with a small stage, and a large screen behind the stage was playing footage of animated Up graphics while "Sky Blue" was being played.
I was glad to see that Chris had saved the seats facing the left side of the stage, where I knew from the pre-tour performances was where Gabriel typically stood behind his keyboard. However, I was puzzled to see there was a huge space between the first row of chairs and the front of the stage blocked off by yellow "Do Not Cross" tape. I first thought that's where the photographers were going to stand, but as all the photographers were standing off to the side, that theory didn't seem to wash.
Then I saw the two women who had been waiting at the very front of the "lunatic line." They entered the theater both looking as excited as a five year old who was just told that they could have everything they want for Christmas. They walked past the rows of chairs, ducked under the tape, and stood on either side of the stairs that led to the very center of the stage. And as these two fans did this under the watchful gaze of Annie, her staff, and security, it seemed that they had everyone's blessing to stand right up against the stage.
Chris, Dan and I looked at each other. "How come they get to stand up there?" I asked indignantly. "We shouldn't have to stay in these seats if they're letting people up there," either Chris or Dan said (my memory fails me.)
At that point, we all stood up, walked past the tape and towards the front of the stage, right about the time the other lunatics were being let in, which made for mass confusion. Fortunately, being short has it's advantages...I was able to maneuver between the people who were making their way towards the stage, and once I picked my spot, no one tried to push me out of the way as I wasn't blocking anyone's view. I was literally just a few feet away from Gabriel's keyboards. Janis found a place to my right, and Chris and Dan were also nearby.
As we all stood there waiting for the show to start, the "Barry Williams Show" began to play over the speakers. Janis informed me, "To be honest, this is my least favorite song from the album." But then as the song continued to play, she began to tap her feet and sway to the music. By the end of the first verse, she was practically all-out dancing. I looked around and saw that the people in the crowd, press and lunatics alike, were bobbing to the rhythm and lip-syncing the vocals as well. I decided that if BWS was the least effective song on the album, than this was a good sign.
Finally, some guy came out and gave a little introduction. His voice and his hands were shaky, as if it was the first time he did public speaking, ever. I joked with Janis that he was more nervous that I was talking to the EPK people.
He finally finished, and left the stage. After a few moments for the excitement to build, Gabriel appeared, to much applause from the audience. He still had his long goatee, but it was trimmed and he wore a neat grey outfit. Once he acknowledged the audience by looking out of the crowd with a subtle smile, I expected him to make a beeline for his keyboard on his immediate right.
But he didn't...instead he walked around in front of his keyboard and I saw that he was about to walk right in front of me. Instinctively, I raised my hand. What am I doing? I thought. He's got better things to do right now than socialize with a Solsburian! I just knew it...he was going to rightfully walk past me and I was going to feel like an idiot when that happened. But I had already committed myself to having my hand raised, so I couldn't bring myself to put my hand back down.
As Gabriel walked by, he stopped, looked down, shook my hand, and then continued to his place behind the keyboard.
I was stunned for a moment. I looked at my right hand in disbelief and then said to Janis, "Did you just see that?! He shook my hand!" I knew right then that no matter what else happened while I was in NY, it was worth coming here.
I was so wrapped up in all of this, that I hadn't noticed the rest of the band coming on stage, but there they were, ready to play. Gabriel introduced the song, "Darkness."
In keeping with my pledge to not listen to Up until I could hear the official release, I wasn't familiar with how the song opened. I listened intensely to the soft strains which were fascinating and strange to me. And then...
BAM!
Power chord!
I literally jumped back a bit, feeling blown away from the amps I was standing next to. I had to laugh at myself. Everyone else in the crowd must've knew it was coming because no one else appeared to be quite as unsettled. I managed to recover in time to see that most folks were doing the heavy metal thing and banging their heads (somewhat softly) along with the power chords. Then it entered the soft section. Gabriel sang the lyrics, "Peer through the window/knock at the door/and the monster I was so afraid of/lies curled up on the floor..." I reflected on those words and I let my guard down...
BAM!
I was thrown back a bit again. My heart was going ninety miles an hour. By the time I fully recovered, the song was over. I breathed a sigh of relief.
Not from the NY Supper Club, but from the pretour show from Milan, Italy, picture taken by Marco.
Since I didn't have any performance shots, thought you'd like this one.
Then next up, "Growing Up." Allright! A great upbeat dance tune. Starting off slow, then building to a nice groove, everyone was into it. "My ghost likes to travel so faaaaaaaar in the unknown..." Gabriel sang. "My balls like to travel, so deeeeeep into your space..."* I sang from the floor.
"No Way Out" was mesmerizing with it's surf guitar and subtle imagery...I was taken by the lyric with the goldfish in the bag.
I liked how "My Head Sounds Like That" worked, but it did fall apart at the end a bit. However, I didn't think it deserved the bashing that Gabriel gave it, saying that it was totally screwed up and he wasn't going to perform it again. It's a shame, because I know it has potential if Gabriel and Co. wouldn't be so quick to give up on it.
"More Than This" has always been a favorite since it first showed up as a short clip on the Moon Club. This was going through my head for the rest of my stay in NY and I hope it's the next single. Well, either that or "Growing Up".
He stopped to introduce the band...as with earlier reports, Gabriel practically gushed about Rachel Z. He was proud as always to introduce Melanie. I admit I didn't see much of her as Gabriel's stand and montor blocked her from my view, but I could hear her and she has a lovely voice.
Gabriel gave both Tony, David and Richard glowing introductions, and then Peter had some fun at drummer Ged's expense. "Every time Ged hits his drum kick...his bottom gets a tickle. Which is why he's smiling all the time."
Much to my surprise, Gabriel performed "Mercy Street". I admit it wasn't as cool as the PoV performance where he curled up on the stage floor and make squealy noises which will forever haunt my nightmares, but it was a very fine performance nevertheless.
Then the finale: "Sledgehammer". I know so-called "true" fans love to bash that song as *gasp* pop, but that song will always have a special place in my heart as the first song that made me aware of Peter Gabriel. For all of those who claim that Gabriel has gone too too serious and depressing with Up, should've seen this. He was doing his patented "Sledgehammer" dance, plus some funky moves with Tony and David. It was classic. I'd say that a fifty two year old man with a goatee looked especially silly doing such moves, but (1) Gabriel *always* looked silly doing that dance, even back when he was 36 and (2) it's hard to argue with a man who looks like he's having so much fun.
The concert ended and after a gracious bow and a few handshakes with some in the audience, dashed backstage with the band.
Some random thoughts about the show: Belonging to the "dance as though no one is watching" school of thought, I freely played air guitar and drums whenever appropriate. I feel a bit self-conscious when I saw that most people were doing the stand-and-sway. I did look behind me at one point and saw this one young man who was wearing a black US tour shirt, identical to the one I own, and he was dancing wildly, and playing air guitar/drums too. I don't know who he was but my admiration goes out to him.
At various times during the concert, I watched Tony Levin and Richard Evans do their thang. I was especially interested in those two because I've always been a Levin fan, and I still couldn't get over at Evans being on stage. I was familiar with him for a studio wizard, and also with his participation on Xplora 1. He appeared quite confident and talented, playing various guitars and flute. I almost felt bad for making fun of his appearance on Xplora 1. Almost.
I was on level with the foot pedal underneath the keyboard, so I got a good look at Gabriel's right foot pumping away at it. As a matter of fact, Gabriel had pressed on the pedal so much, that it became unattached from the floor and it had between songs, some roadie had to retape it to the floor with with gaffa tape (what I will always call duct tape).
During parts of the performance, I saw Chris stop his dancing just long enough to quickly jot some notes down on his notepad. This reminded me why I wasn't cut out to be a pro journalist...I could never do that during a Gabe gig.
*Inside joke. Ask Intruder to explain it to you. back