Marzipan Man American Music Club
Sala Acapulco (Gijon)
Feb 20 2008
He opened the concert the Mallorcan Jordi Herrera, lead singer of the Satellites, currently focused on its parallel project under the name 'Marzipan Man'. Inspiration, personality, good songs and a great performer, with a voice mixing of children and spell scoundrel. He gave an acoustic concert, with only a guitar and harmonica almost unnecessary (and no protagonism questionable pitch). Eyes closed, glued to the microphone as if he would like passionately Slowly and Bobble, on the seat, one on each side, giving the impression that might fall on occasion, he was husking the half-dozen songs with which he seduced to the public, basing its repertoire in intimate versions rather than the new album (among the most talked about 'Corrine, Corrine,' classic folk-blues traditional versioning by dozens of performers, or 'Where did you sleep last night,' Song Better known as Leadbelly's version of Nirvana).
Had not followed his career so far, after this action has left me wanting to follow in his footsteps. As the only snag to mention his obvious attachment to the excesses (with the consequent risk that the noble timber of which is done is over whether rotting remains floating in these waters).
Below them was the turn to 'American Music Club'. The impression with which I was after the concert is "espareba me more", ie not have convinced me. After the big discs that have edited and the years leading into the arena an expected, or at least what I expected to see a cohesive group and delivered on stage. Instead what I've seen has been a band with seemingly little essays, marked sense of amateurism, led by a strong personality, Mark Eitzel, excited at first but as they passed the concert was deflating, floating a clear feeling anger towards the end. Once the action can get the 'track list' that had each musician at his feet, and as a check after the seventh song jumped nearly all the rest of the portfolio, leaving the 16 songs that were scheduled to play in only 10, including The final bis (on several occasions there was doubt whether I would annoyed by the voices of the people in the bar not stopped talking, or whether it would be for his irascible personality). Accompanying were DIDELOT Steve, the new battery, also doing vocals, and Sean Hoffman on bass and vocals, which perfectly met and made good vibrations. Vudi, the faithful guitarist, did not have his best night, has a reputation for being chaotic and this time it proved by far ensimismado in their world and guitar, not always in tune (and continually trying to refine it), airing a few times a lot more strength in the that the scenario was perceived, and sometimes lost among the distortions, leaving the clear evidence on grounds that a euphoric chemical-carrying him. Thank God they were to save the time the great voice of Mark, his charisma and his large (albeit limited) songs, able to shine in the midst of cloudy nights and illuminate many emotions. Although the tour is based on the new album "The Golden Age", whose songs gained in intensity and convinced me much more to be played live, they also performed other more familiar themes of his earlier work ( "Johnny Mathis' Feet," " Home, "" Revolving Door, "" Jesus' Hands, "which he sang with a guitar just before leaving for the first time, and without finishing it, or" Hello Amsterdam "to finish). While Vudi and his colleagues approached a table to talk to people, Mark gathered their instruments. Some fans approached him to ask for autographs, face unrest signed with courtesy but with clear signs of what he wanted not the least, responding as quickly as possible to those who were trying to establish some sort of conversation. I just wanted to leave the hotel as soon as possible before and it did so.
As a summary I stay with the correct interpretations, with moments of good feeling and the pleasure of an audience handed remembrance (at least those who were closest to the stage). While the feeling that things could have given a lot more than we offered, along with my expectations to meet also with a lot more, lead me to talk about the taste with which I was at the end: bittersweet.
List of songs performed:
1) The Decibels and The Little Pills ( 'The Golden Age')
2) All the Lost Souls Wellcome You to San Francisco ( 'The Golden Age')
3) Johnny Mathis' Feet ( 'Mercury')
4) All My Love ( 'The Golden Age')
5) The Sleeping Beauty ( 'The Golden Age', previously published in 'Candy Ass' - Mark Eitzel)
6) Home ( 'Love Songs For Patriots')
7) The Windows Of The World ( 'The Golden Age')
8) Revolving Door ( 'San Francisco')
9) Jesus' Hands ( 'Everclear')
10) Hello Amsterdam ( 'San Francisco')
Bandini Delco American Music Club
Sala Caracol (Madrid)
Feb 21 2008
We have already poured into this page multitude of accolades to Bandini, but they, shy away from continuing to grow as a band and as musicians, as were able to demonstrate in his role as teloneros of American Music Club. Bandini in September offered a short, barely 30 minutes in which he focused on new issues which have to nurture their new album, some items more leathery, more dense, more difficult with those who knew how to capture the attention of the few souls who had Caracol in the room at such an early hour. Richard sings better each day and each time he was more comfortable note above the stage. The issues that held back from "The Sunny Album" also sounded more direct, more alive, more concise. We eagerly await that second album.
After Bandini offered their September Delco, a concert willful and excited, but I think not married very well with the overall tone of the night. Anyway I have not heard any of his recordings as a trial issue here about his performance would be deeply unjust.
Anyone who has seen at least once, to Mark Eitzel live, either alone or together with American Music Club aware that the ground is a more direct that swampy for the composer California. Mark Eitzel does not feel at ease in front of the audience, and their performances are very sensitive to their (common) changes of mood, so you always have to be prepared for everything.
On Friday, was not a good concert, we mean to be evil which is now grazed by the pathos, but I stick with the talent and songs, a very large and very good the other. And that is before classics like "Blue And Gray Shirt" or "Hello Amsterdam" is no more than surrendering to enjoyment and the evidence that Mark Eitzel is one of the "Songwriters' most important of our time.
The new rhythm section chosen for the recording of "The Golden Age" and the subsequent tour just does not fit well with the times require that the songs of American Music Club and in general the whole band sounded thick and scattered. He highlighted the great "Home" from "Love Songs For Patriots" and a cut of his new album as the sinuous "All The Lost Souls Welcome You To San Francisco," although the truth is that the final sense, after little more than 45 minutes Action was frankly disappointing.
Mark Eitzel and American Music Club are much more than what we showed on Friday.
