Week O' Concerts

[przed]

It's been a good week for concerts.

Tonight, Stewart Copeland was playing at the Royal Conservatory's concert hall. He's started a sorta improvisational classical ensemble along with pianist Jon Kimura Parker, and they were doing a program of both Copeland's own compositions and pieces ranging from Bach to Prokofiev to Aphex Twin. Since I was seeing it by myself, I indulged in a first row seat, and ended up right in front of Stewart's drum kit.

It was a fantastic concert, and made me vow to see more classical concerts at the Conservatory. Their performance space is fab, they always have good people in and it's only ten minutes from my work. I really have no excuse.

On the other end of the spectrum, on Sunday night I went to see Kaiser Chiefs with a friend. As always, Ricky and the gang were fantastic and totally know how to work the crowd. As a bonus, they followed up I Predict a Riot with The Who's Pinball Wizard. The friend I went with is also a huge Who fan (we're seeing The Who's farewell tour this coming fall) so it was the icing on a very tasty cake.

I was happy to make the Kaiser Chiefs show, because on Friday and Saturday I'd been flattened by one of those colds that made every joint in my body ache. Fortunately it had progressed to the point of just being annoying by Sunday.

Tomorrow, I leave for MediaWest for the last time. I've been going since 1994, with a couple of breaks for Ros-related reasons, but with fewer people coming every year it seems like a good time to call it a day.

Comments

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

Oh, cool, for both concerts! I know what you mean about not taking advantage of things as you should--I can walk to various concert venues. Do I even know who is playing? Why, no... But you've reminded me I should! *g*

MediaWest! So, we were likely at some MediaWests at the same time in the nineties.I had hoped to go this year, given that the people I'd like to see are going for the last time. *g* But then Escapade took my funds. I hope you have a good time--well, of course you will!--but I hope it's a really, really good time!

[sidewinder.livejournal.com]

Ah, you made the Off The Score show! So cool. That's the one I saw twice back in March and it is so great. And yes, you got the prime seat for Stewart watching, I love how he basically conducts from the drum seat.

I think last year was my last MediaWest. As you say fewer and fewer people every year, it's no longer worth me making the long drive as the dealer's room sales just are barely covering expenses now and not really earning me anything for all of that work. I know some people were trying to drive up enthusiasm to bring in new fans but then pretty much, as expected, had a lot of their ideas ignored/dismissed by the Old Dinosaurs In Charge.

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

It's sad that this year's MediaWest will be your last one but I hope you have a great time there.

[halotolerant.livejournal.com]

I'm glad your cold is passing and you enjoyed the concerts *g*

One of these years I'm going to get to North America and go to one of these legendary cons I've been hearing about for so long! I'm sad that Mediawest won't be one of them, but I'm glad it had a good run *g* Have a great time!

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

the concerts sound wonderful and I hope you have a good time at MediaWest. As it's the last one, they might get a larger turn out due to nostalgia.

[norfolkdumpling.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a fun couple of gigs! Hope you have a lovely time at MediaWest and go out on a high :)

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

For years I'd held up MediaWest as the one con that I'd really, really like to go to, but over the past few years I've heard more and more disappointing stories. This year there's been a lot of folks on my flist saying that they're not going back, or if they are, then this will be their last year. So go out with a bang, have a fantastic time.