Guapo is not my cup of tea. But I enjoyed them when I did not look at them. Their music is so noisy and unchanging that by closing your eyes, you can pick out intricacies better. I again concentrated on the drummer, who was excellent. never seen anyone play a gong more different ways.
The guitarist had not played with them before, and was told just to "make noise" (I got this infor from Luis Nasser of Sonus Umbra). It showed. I found him incrdible annoying, especially the 5-minute note he held that destroyed my equilibrium for an hour.
All that said, they were well received. I can't knock that.
Another weird thing was two of them walking around the crowd playing a paino-type woodwind and the drummer also walking around bankin a symbol behind people's heads for 10 minutes. I wonder how they sit around and think of this stuff.
I like what the keyboardist said...he took a picture of the crowd about 1/2 way through and said "Now I can have a full picture before everyone leaves"
Michael manring was excellent. He was more mellow that I'd seen him (with MMS) and very appreciative. Pulled off a solo bass performance very well. had some sweet mellow songs, and on the heavier stuff was his usual killer self.
Ange, I never got into their records. But live they were great! The music, first and foremost, was superb. Their second song had an acoustic start and went into a jam straight out of the 70's. Some macigally written pieces, and when they wanted to, they could really rock out. Hassan Hajdi was amazing on guitar. And again...broken record here..the bass and drums were outstanding. Highlight was the showmanship of singer, keys, and acoustic guitarist Christian Decamps. He's a stocky man...along with Caroline Crozat's vocals, belly dancing, and sleazy demeanor, picture a French version of Meatloaf, and you get the idea here. Once you looked past the amusing antics (the dominatrix dog bone scene was hilarious, and the reference to her crotch as "hell" was addling), the musicianship was first class.
Finally, the vocal at the end by main keyboardist Tristan Decamps was amazing and operatic, and unexpected...he'd not sung lead to that point. He was excellent.
I expected great things from Niacin. They surpassed them! I'd seen Billy Sheehan with Mr. Big way back when and last year with Vai and McAlpine. That was an orgy of over the top playing. I was excited to see him with a band that could keep him in check, while enabling him to go nuts. He sat down the whole show! I've seen Berlin, Hamm, etc and nobody touches the things he does on a bass. Words don't describe him adequately.
John Novello is amazing. he has some electric piano moments, but mostly B3. With the other two, you don't focus on him, but he does some frightengly amazing things. He's fast and tight.
Dennis Chambers hits the drums with such force, yet is always on time. Never misses, never. His kit was moving so much it reminded me of Pangea!
That band never had to look at each other, just to say "1234"....tight!
Keith Emerson also exceeded expectations..he gets his own post!