Disco

About the time I joined this forum, I lived round the corner from where they launched the album, the Hackney Empire, and had my wedding lunch at the pub they did press conferences in, The Old Ship. We don't tend to see them round that way too often mind. They're more Richmond folk...

I'm enjoying Love Can Heal by Peter Gabriel. It has a very direct lyric; not matter what mess you're in, no matter how you got there, love can heal. What lifts this simple truth into something of depth is the musical setting. Peter Gabriel has described the choruses as (words to the effect of) a warm soft blanket. To me, it sounds like the safety, stillness and connection you feel when holding and being held by a loved one. It's a beautiful thing to capture in music. Love to all Disco

I saw Saucerful of Secrets some months ago in London, and agree it's a fantastic show. On the night I went, there were a number of elderly gentlemen in the audience, in their 70s I reckon, one of whom proceeded slowly using a walking stick. What struck me was how this music of their youth has sustained them over their entire lives. The thrill and excitement they felt when they they first heard it was so profound, that even now, as elderly men, it draws them to the show. A real testament to the power of the music. And the show itself was played with real heart and spirit; you could feel the musicians' love of the music. This transforms it into something much more magical than a nostalgia show.

Sensational work, Stugotz!

Hi Mick and others, There's a very moving track hidden away on Midnights. It's a bonus track on the 3am version, 'Bigger Than The Whole Sky'. If my reading of it is correct, it's about a miscarriage. It's very rare for this grief to be discussed, let alone be the subject of a song. It's not an unusual grief to suffer; it's just barely spoken of. The lyrics are simple, not load with imagery, but all the more intense for that. A woman speaking with honesty of such an intimate private pain is a fearless thing for her to do and enormously powerful to listen to.

I was going to see Jon Hopkins at the Royal Albert Hall. A concert which morphs from his gentle, textural ambient work - replete with Jon on the grmad piano - into a techno fest. It had great reviews. Hopefully, we'll get a chance to see it sometime. I'm also missing some contemporary dance, theatre, and most sadly, a couple of lectures at the Natural History Museum by very preeminent speakers (and only £10 per lecture!)

Good for him, using his influence to encourage sensible behaviours.

Reading your post I knew I want to express heartfelt sympathy for your position, but the words looked so feeble and weak on the page compared to the cargo their intended to carry. So, thinking of you

There are two sides to Neil in my life. There's what he meant to me and the influence he's in my life, and then there's the more objective element of his achievements. Rush, and Neil's drumming, we're a source of personal joy. Making music that transported me to other worlds and took me out of the bounds of my suburban life. His work was something that friends could bond round. Whether it was playing (badly) along to Rush songs, going to the concerts or, most importantly, having a shared passion with pals. More objectively, he was an amazing drummer who remained restless in his pursuit of understanding of the drums. He also hit them very hard. As a life's work, the thing that impresses me the most is that he had a vision of what the drums we're and stayed true to that vision with, seemingly, unwavering integrity.

I listened to a track off each album. The freshness and freedom was back for Clockwork Angels! Headlong Flight had the exuberance of youth coupled with blow-your-socks-off technique.

At this link is more info re the Mayall album. Nothing more on Lifeson's input. https://www.ronniescotts.co.uk/performances/view/5073-john-mayall

I'm glad Megaduff were connecting with other folk there - and, hey, at least three Rush Forumers there, how about that? For me Megaduff played very well. It's a very high level buuuuuut to me it just sounded dated. I also couldn't really understand what it was meant to be about or the atmosphere they were trying create. The backscreens were showing images of war and destruction, but they seemed cartoony rather than apocolyptic. I think the underlying issue (which is a problem with me not them) is I only have enough space in my head for one or two metal bands at a time. At the moment it's only Gojira with a dash of Metallica. Scorpions are very much a swim in the melodic shallow end of rock full of **Everyday Sexism Alert** chick-bait melody. But, hey, I like it! PS Willow, you may not recall but we were both at a Porcupine Tree gig some years ago. I posted here that the support band sucked (Amplifier?) and you were able to correct me then too!

On a whim I went to see the Scorpions last night. They were unexpectedly fabulous. Their songs are bulletproof, based around melody and harmony. It's a big production and they really turn up to work. Older rockers living a teetotal lifestyle to keep delivering the goods. They were supported by Megadeth. Oh dear. They are comprehensively outgunned by modern metal which is much more visceral and rhythmic. They play incredibly well, but it's an older style of shredding thrash. The trouble is metal has moved on, what once sounded intense and vibrant has lost its punch, and so Megadeth's star is waning. Also the lead singer complained we weren't loud enough. Well, we're not your crowd. You're a support act. Never imply the crowd aren't worthy of you. The crowd no longer go wild as you have made yourself a heritage act. In short, Megaduff = Mehtal. Disco

I have question for the rock-heads out there. In the early/mid 80s there seemed to be a sudden trend towards slick glossy rock which more than nodded its head to pop structures. A key example being Scorpions Savage Amusement. I kinda thought this was from Genesis amd Yes doing it, but I recently heard Hysteria amd it sounded like a classic of that type of rock...and was a massive seller. Was it Hysteria that swung rock to tje glossy side, and if not what was it? Thanks rockers. Disco

Hello The US Metallica show line up is just FAN-TAS-TIC!! It sounds like you're already hyped for the double-joy that is Metallica and Avenged, but could I put in a good word for the other two bands on the bill (in case you're not already familiar with them)? Gojira are, at the moment, my absolute favourite band. You're in for a real treat. There's no doubt that they are at they're at the heavy end of the spectrum buuuuuuuuuut it's beautiful, intense, committed music. At the first listen it might be a bit much to take in (it's very dense), so you might want to check their current setlist on Spotify. How good are they? Well, I saw them in London (where I live) earlier this year and loved it so much I hopped on a plane to Dublin in Ireland to go to another of their gigs a few weeks ago the first time I've done such a thing). And both gigs were soul-drenchingly good. The music is brutal, but it's not mindless war music. It's purifying. It's infused with emotional truth, openness, and a engagement with issues such as the environment which goes deeper than commercial virtue waving. Volbeat. Well, I don't know them so much. But 20 odd years ago I went out with an awesome Dutch girl with, what I now know to be, incredible taste. I was too much of a young fool to recognise this at the time of course. But this trust-her-taste-as-it's-much-better-than-mine woman really rates Volbeat. It should be a great gig. Hope you enjoy. If you feel like writing a report afterwards, I'd love to read it. Love to all Disco