A Perfect Circle Review 7-24-03
Johnny Firecloud
It's that time again...APC ball rolling, all that goodnes....
Skwerl and I went to the Burbank show....un be fuck ing lievable.
Here's the story, hope you guys enjoy. This review, as well as audio
and setlist scans can be found at www.aperfectcircle.us
Walking out the door Wednesday towards a highly dreaded 12 hour drive
up to San Francisco for a court appearance, Skwerl's phone rang with
the news we'd been waiting two and a half years to hear: A private
engagement with A Perfect Circle, tickets are not being sold, this is
a dress rehearsal for friends and family before heading out on tour
this weekend. Be in Burbank, Los Angeles at 8pm tomorrow. The venue
is called CenterStaging.
That meant we had to drive halfway up the country and back down again
in exactly 24 hours.
Eyes wide and gas tank full, we tore up the coast, attended my
uneventful court appointment, and immediately turned and headed south
again. We knew it would be close, and close it certainly was. No
sightseeing, no zen moments in the ocean breeze, none of the standard
fare that would normally accompany such a beautiful drive. After 24
hours of non stop driving, 1,000 miles covered up and down the
gorgeous California coastline, we made it to Burbank at 7:45pm only to
realize we had no idea how to get to the venue. Aimless desperate
driving gave way to guerilla inquisition missions in every liquor
store or group of people we saw. Nobody knew where we were supposed to
go. As the sense of defeat was beginning to bleed in, we finally were
given a general direction from someone, and guessed our way to
CenterStaging, somehow.
It was 8:45. We were very late. Signs everywhere were posted, telling
us to head down the alley to the back of the studio, and the closer we
came as we ran down the alley, the louder the music ahead became. It
took only a few seconds for me to recognize the song as The Hollow,
and the oh-shit-we're-missing-it panic set in. Sprint. Name check.
Wristband. In the door.
Imagine walking into a darkened warehouse in the alley of a
side-street recording studio. On the left, a wall, guitar cases,
assorted gear. To the right, the side/rear of a stage. In front of
us, roughly seventy-five people cheering as the first notes of
Magdalena were being played. We made our way in, hearing from others
that we'd only missed two songs, and noticed that there was a good 25
foot gap between the end of the stage and the crowd. There were no
barricades, hell, there wasn't even any security, just two white lines
you weren't supposed to cross, and all this empty space in front of
it. LA types just don't want to seem too eager, I guess. Skwerl and
myself, dear reader, are not LA types. We walked right to front and
center and there we remained.
Strobing white backlights and a hazy blue and purple glow shadowed the
band as they surged through an intensely strong Magdalena. Josh's drum
riser was set up to the far right of the stage, in the back. To the
far left, on a platform bathed in shadows and flickering purple stood
new guitarist James Iha. If he was nervous at playing his first APC
gig having only been a member of the band for 12 days, he didn't show
it. Bassist Jeordie White, also new, stood towards the front on the
left, dressed in black. Songwriter/guitarist Billy Howerdel was just
right of center, focused and intense. Behind him, between Josh and
James, was another platform, raised considerably. A black post stood
on each corner, connecting about 8 feet above the ground like
goal-posts. On the platform, bent and lurching with high brown
pigtails, white sleeveless t-shirt and blood red pants, was Maynard.
Fragments of three immensely influencial bands in my upbringing all
playing together as one was quite a sight, and I worked hard to
overcome the awestruck feeling as quickly as I could.
"This is kind of like our dress rehearsal thing. So... nothing's going
right, hasn't yet, but hopefully it'll work itself out," Maynard said,
just before they slipped into Weak And Powerless, the new single. A
swaying bassline started it off, and then the rest of the band snapped
into place, seeming to pick up where The Hollow left off in general
terms of atmosphere and attitude. A fuller, richer and more powerful
sound seemed to previal moreso overall than in previous times I'd seen
APC. Was it the new material, or the new lineup? Both, it seemed.
Before a flawless Orestes, Maynard went on to introduce the new
members, Courtney Love (Jeordie) and Whoopie Goldberg (James). Danny
Carey of Tool was pointed out and thanked for showing up late midway
through the song. Rose followed, sounding much more muscular and
bass-heavy, as well as a strong second guitar presense from James. At
the end, there was discussion on how there was very little clever
banter saved up for the show, and Maynard says "So let's turn to the
Book of Seinfeld... I'll read you a passage." He went on, deadpanning,
"I was on a plane, and we left late, and the pilot says, we're going
to be making up some time in the air. And I thought, isn't that
amazing, they just make up time." No emotion, no comic timing. Much
laughter. Billy thanks us all for doing so, and on they went into
Thinking Of You. Billy and Jeordie's backing vocals filled in the
chorus very well, and the final solo was completely dominated by Iha.
Already one of my favorite songs, it carried a new swagger, a deeper
penetration altogether. I was in heaven.
After the song Maynard handed the mic to James, saying it was his turn
to tell a joke. We were then treated to a short pointless and funny
story about meeting a bear, Mr. Bear, by his house. They decided to be
friends. the end.
Josh and Billy then began the Package, another new song. Immediately
there was a sense of something lurking, waiting to pounce as the vocal
line created a hypnotic air, sweeping through with quiet declaration.
The song built through the first and second chorus, and then shed its
skin to reveal a stomping, arresting surge of power
("Mine...mine...mine...take...what's...mine..."). Moments later it
turned a corner and vanished, leaving only an echo.
3 Libras followed directly, sounding more like it was being performed
by the original lineup than any other song played that night, and it
was just as beautiful as ever.
"This song goes out to Chewbacca, it's called Thomas." Tremendous and
densely low-ended, Thomas served as a perfect precursor to the next
song and highlight of the evening, The Outsider. Another new song, and
instantly my favorite ever done by APC. Maynard's fierce rapid-fire
rhythm, interwoven with a complete sonic assault by the rest of the
band, was lean and furious. Thunderous applause followed.
As if my heart wasn't already about to burst, Maynard says "Are you
ready to try it Billy? You think we're ready? This song isn't one of
ours, it's by a band called Failure, they're a band from the 50's,
bunch of old guys... we've only been playing it together for about a
month now... oh wait, three days. Right, well it feels like a month."
With that, they began The Nurse Who Loved Me. When hearing of its
presence as a cover song on the new APC album I raised a questioning
eyebrow, wondering how it could be pulled off with the dynamics of
this band. That eyebrow was set firmly back in place once the song was
presented live. Maynard's soft endearing melody carried the beauty of
it to new heights, with Billy's soaring tones and Jeordie's deep
swaying bass rumble adding colors previously unseen to The Nurse.
The final song, Judith, was the closest to a crowd sing-along that
Hollywood could muster. As James tore through what had always been
Billy's final solo, adding new dynamics althroughout, the full effect
of what I was witnessing took hold. It was obvious that there was a
sense of accomplishment radiating from the band. They shook off the
rust flakes while stretching and flexing new muscles. This had been
the first live performance with the new lineup, and, minor technical
difficulties aside, the show was a mighty triumph for A Perfect
Circle.
Aftershow story:
Billy explains the last-minute gear fuckups
Danny Carey and Adam Jones
Charlie Clouser of NIN
ExcitedExcitedleavingtomorrowforthetour
Calvin & Scott
Buzzmelvin and the orange county fair conversation
Vandals in the corner
A very cool Jeordie
A very quiet Iha
Coming soon...
By Johnny Firecloud
AIM: Diamondshore
Email: JohnnyF...@hotmail.com-in-your-mouth
Comments, Questions, Breasts, feel free to contact anytime...