Metheny Orchestrion-Pittsburgh

[Laudio9]

Pat Metheny's Orchestrion concert was in town last night. Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead, very old venue but full of character...a perfect setting for Metheny's Orchestrion.... Pat opened up with an acoustic set going thru some familiar melodies and improv on James, a song from Off Ramp...nice opening.
Then he brought out the Picaso guitar...if you haven't seen this guitar you should...42 strings..sounds so good..heres a video of it if you haven't seen it yet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp1wHZfZz9s Anyway, after that, he started into the Orchestrion suite. All robotic instruments triggered by his guitar and foot switches... Totally unique, this is why I like Pat Metheny, He's so innovated, his compositions are great and his performance is always top notch. I've seen him atleast 7 or 8 times now and each time is a unique experience and especially this Orchestrion tour.... He played the whole Orhestrion Suite which is the whole new cd and then did lots and lots of improvised numbers that were all great. He ended up doing 3 encores, the first one was with his signature synth guitar..if you've listened to any Metheny you know what I'm talking about... that synth guitar sound he gets is like horns on steriods...he makes it scream and with all the background instruments jamming along...it was an incredible sight and sound....All in all he played for about 2 and half hours....

NO PICTURES at the request of the artist, which I thought was kinda bogus but I respected his request....or did I.....I would love to show you guys a pic of the stage but of course I can't....There was a wall of drums and cymbals at the back of the stage all stacked up in these crates or something, along with an electric bass and acoustic guitar in bondage..they were strapped in a box back with the drums and various percussion instruments. On the left side in the back was an Accordion and then on the floor was a Xylophone on the left, piano and marimba on the right...foot switches everywhere...bottles with lights in them, various lights and things all over the place. I was seated in the first row in the front of the balcony so I could see the stage very well...IMO the best place to sit when seeing this show is in the balcony. If you are on the floor I think you would miss alot of whats going on on stage.
Anyway, It was one hell of a show. I would actually go see it again if I could. I'm sure he'll eventually put out a DVD of this show. Its just really cool to see all this technology triggering analog instruments. Speaking of all the technology, the guy who pretty much put it all together is from Pittsburgh and he was in the audience, sorry I don't remember his name but Pat pointed him out and said that thats what made the evening so special was that he was performing in his hometown and said Pittsburghers should be proud, which of course we were.
The bottomline is, this was a very unique show.. I doubt you will get a chance to see anything like this again so if he brings this show to your town....GO SEE IT.....

[tobytanzer]

So.....did you like it?

[jtmckinley]

Thanks for the review laudio! Yeah that Pikasso guitar is cool, I have a DVD with him playing that, Imaginary Day DVD I think. Here's a link to the official PM Orchestrion stuff on youtube, he talks about it and there are some music samples for those who haven't seen/heard it yet:

http://www.youtube.com/user/PatMethenyMedia

[mariocc]

I m a fan of Metheny as a guitar player and composer...acoustic set in this recording is nice ..but I miss sometimes his refreshing playing and sound and tunes from early years,,,ECM period and late 80s...what I most enjoy is his trio format ..all the time with all line up through the years.
Without doubt a very fine tunes.
Old stuff is nicer most of times to me....not only in this...it s a question still with no answer.
Nice comment laudio and to know something about this great musician

[Ted]

Laudio,

First off, thank you... awesome concert report...wow.

Having seen the youtube of the concept - it was so cool - i was very curious to go see it... it was a bit expensive here in Austin, but I am glad to hear it was an awesome show. A DVD would be cool for sure.

I really appreciate your sharing your experiences with us... it opens up the music in a whole new way.

Keep on PROGGIN'

Regards from Texas,
Ted

[dangerboy]

Nice review laudio. I would have loved to have seen this tour.

[Ramon Porta]

Lol! toby make me thinkin laudio,hope you enjoy all show

[PeterG]

Great review. Maybe you could 'search the Internets" and see if there are any pictures that someone else obviously took... that you could post.

I'd do it myself... but it's lunchtime.