Newsboys/Third Day/Plankeye concert...
Jerry B. Ray
Well, I went to the Atlanta Civic Center to see the Newsboys, Third Day,
and Plankeye in concert last night. I didn't find out that tickets were
on sale until about a week or two before the show, but I went ahead and
bought my one ticket anyway. Turns out that I got a $20ish "Artist's
Circle" seat, and when I got to the Civic Center, it turns out that
it was in the front row, extreme stage-left. Right in front of about
a sixth of their speakers (another sixth on the other side, floor level,
and the rest up in the rafters). Can anybody else hear that ringing,
or is it just me? :-)
Anyway, after I said "hi" to the one person that I saw that I knew, I
found my seat and listened to the pre-show _VoL_ music. Then a
not-totally-dorky MC told some old jokes and got the crowd hyped up.
Plankeye played first, and they were, well, better than I expected.
I'm not interested in buying their CDs, but they were perfectly
tolerable for their 5 or 6 song set.
Next up came Third Day, the band I was most interested in seeing.
My seats were good for the first two bands, who played on the front
edge of the stage. I have to say, as much as I love Third Day,
they were a bit disappointing. Part of it might be that I've seen
them several times already, and the most interesting parts of their
show have been cut for their role as openers. Part of it might
be the somewhat muddy sound, partly because they were the opening act
and partly because the speakers were 6' from my face. But they
were still good-they played a couple of new songs from their album
due in August (they just finished recording it a couple of weeks
ago) and most of the must-play songs from their debut. Mac talked
to the crowd a little bit, as usual, and mentioned the airplay that
"Nothin' At All" has been getting. All in all, a competent show,
but I've seen them do better.
After a World Vision video and the MC pimping merchandise, there was
an intermission for a set change accompanied by all sorts of "space
music" like Star Wars, 2001, and Star Drek. Then the Newsboys took
the stage, descending from the ceiling on three "flying saucer"
platforms onto their "Martian landscape" stage with a space background
befitting the _Take Me To Your Leader_ tour. As usual, they played
mostly new songs (one from _Not Ashamed_, a couple from _Going Public_,
and the rest from _Leader_). If I have one complaint about the 'boys,
it's that they don't mix up their live show enough. This show was
nearly identical to their Atlanta Fest show last year, with a few more
production tricks thrown in for good measure.
My seats worked against me during their set-I couldn't see Peter or
the keyboard player at all behind the speakers. And the crowds out
on the fringes are pretty dead, so I mostly just leaned against the
wall and watched the show. (I think Phil, the bassist, made a bit
of fun of me at one point, leaning lazily against the speaker
stack and looking my way, but the downside of "high energy" showed
itself a few minutes later as he backed over his monitor and flipped
right onto his butt in the middle of a song. He got ragged a bit
by the guitarist, but he seemed to be OK. :-)
There were a couple of surprises, notably, "Funkytown" worked into
the middle of "Reality," and a bit of U2's "Running To Stand Still" worked
into their ballad medley. Also, inexplicably, Billy Smiley from Whiteheart
joined the band on guitar during "God Is Not A Secret."
The mostly-teenaged crowd (man, these kids were barely WALKING the first
time I saw the Newsboys...) seemed to enjoy the show, and so did I.
It's just that I've seen it all before, really. I'd have liked it a
lot more if there was a bit more variety from tour to tour.
Also (and you knew this was coming), I find myself missing the "old
days" of Newsboys shows. Yeah, they're a lot better musically than
they used to be, and that's good. But their early shows had more
of an "anything can happen" feel to them that's sort of disappeared
in the last few years. Now, they try to be "zany" sometimes, but
it has a real scripted feel to it. It just ain't the same... :-)
The show came to a somewhat unnerving close, as a few hundred kids
rushed the stage during the closing strains of "Breakfast." A bit
of a security breakdown, I guess-the crowd was pretty well-behaved
until the very end, and once a couple of kids from the front jumped
up on stage to sing with the band and the security folk showed a
little indecision about tossing them off, the floodgates opened. But
nobody seemed to get hurt, and it was the last song, so I guess
it's OK after all...
JRjr
--
%%%%% vap...@prism.gatech.edu %%%%%%%% Jerry B. Ray, Jr. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
"I am so amazingly cool you could keep a side of meat in me for a month.
I am so hip I have difficulty seeing over my pelvis."
-- Zaphod Beeblebrox
Jeff Holland
Jerry B. Ray (vap...@prism.gatech.edu) wrote:
: There were a couple of surprises, notably, "Funkytown" worked into
: the middle of "Reality," and a bit of U2's "Running To Stand Still" worked
: into their ballad medley. Also, inexplicably, Billy Smiley from Whiteheart
: joined the band on guitar during "God Is Not A Secret."
I THOUGHT that's who I saw playing guitar during "God Is Not A
Secret". That's pretty cool.
: The mostly-teenaged crowd (man, these kids were barely WALKING the first
: time I saw the Newsboys...) seemed to enjoy the show, and so did I.
Yeah, for humor value I wore the oldest concert shirt I could find
that wasn't in rags and wondered if my _shirt_ was older than some of
the kids there. (No, but not far off...)
: Also (and you knew this was coming), I find myself missing the "old
: days" of Newsboys shows. Yeah, they're a lot better musically than
: they used to be, and that's good. But their early shows had more
: of an "anything can happen" feel to them that's sort of disappeared
: in the last few years. Now, they try to be "zany" sometimes, but
: it has a real scripted feel to it. It just ain't the same... :-)
Maybe, but the spaceships and spacesuits and cowboy hats were
pretty nifty.
A very good show. Bassist Phillip Urry is a wonderful addition to
the band, he sings, plays bass and acts goofy, just as a Newsboy should.
Jeff
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fly, outside of time. See the thin line. Between what you love and hate
And try to realize. That what you despise
Is lying and being lied to.
77's - Indian Winter jhol...@cc.gatech.edu
JC
On 6 Apr 1997 16:38:21 -0400, vap...@prism.gatech.edu (Jerry B. Ray)
wrote:
>Well, I went to the Atlanta Civic Center to see the Newsboys, Third Day,
>and Plankeye in concert last night.
Saw one of these elesewhere (and one last winter w/G. Moore instead of
Third Day.
> Turns out that I got a $20ish "Artist's
> Circle" seat, and when I got to the Civic Center,
Yes I thought tickets were way high. $20 for regular seats here
(Baltimore)...
> Can anybody else hear that ringing,
>or is it just me? :-)
Hey. I was in the back and my friend and I's ears were ringing. I'm
surprised you can hear anything at all if you were that close ;-)
>Plankeye played first, and they were, well, better than I expected.
>I'm not interested in buying their CDs, but they were perfectly
>tolerable for their 5 or 6 song set.
This may offend some, but I've seen them twice now and neither time
did I think they were even tolerable. My friend, "Noise Merchants"...
>Next up came Third Day, the band I was most interested in seeing.
>My seats were good for the first two bands, who played on the front
>edge of the stage. I have to say, as much as I love Third Day,
>they were a bit disappointing. Part of it might be that I've seen
>them several times already, and the most interesting parts of their
>show have been cut for their role as openers. Part of it might
>be the somewhat muddy sound, partly because they were the opening act
>and partly because the speakers were 6' from my face.
>All in all, a competent show, but I've seen them do better.
I agree with you 100% here. My conclusions were:
1) "Success" may have gotten to them???
2) They're playing down to the crowd... There's no excuse for that
ever though...
3) It was too loud. They couldn't hear what they were doing? Maybe,
I'll but that...
4) The better parts of the show WERE edited out to shorten it up.
Having seen them before headlining I was extremely disappointed.
I had been telling my friend how great they were, and boy did I feel
stupid after that set...
> If I have one complaint about the 'boys,
>it's that they don't mix up their live show enough. This show was
>nearly identical to their Atlanta Fest show last year, with a few more
>production tricks thrown in for good measure.
I thought they had actually changed it around a little since I had
seen them in November. Not a lot of changes, but enough to keep it
interesting. Frankly, I was expecting the "straight set", so this
didn't bother me... With them the show (and entertaining) seems to be
the focus. Don't get me wrong: the music is very professioanlly done
(especially at the volumes they play at) and certainly is competant,
but if I want to hear virtuoso playing, I know not to look for it at
their show...
>There were a couple of surprises, notably, "Funkytown" worked into
>the middle of "Reality," and a bit of U2's "Running To Stand Still" worked
>into their ballad medley.
Same ones, but new compared to the last leg...
>Also, inexplicably, Billy Smiley from Whiteheart
>joined the band on guitar during "God Is Not A Secret."
Now that's different...
>The mostly-teenaged crowd (man, these kids were barely WALKING the first
>time I saw the Newsboys...)
A lot of the ones at the show were barely past the learning to walk
stage... It makes me wonder about permanent ear damage though. Young
people (and even old people) shouldn't be subjected to that kind of
volume... They know they attract a young crowd, they ought to be a
little more concerned. The show's exciting enough anyway, they really
don't need to blast it...
I too enjoyed the 'boys show, but with a few minor improvements, it
could have been a better experience overall...
PEACE:
Jerry B. Ray
In article <5i93u7$a...@solaria.cc.gatech.edu>,
Jeff Holland <jhol...@cc.gatech.edu> wrote:
>: Also, inexplicably, Billy Smiley from Whiteheart
>: joined the band on guitar during "God Is Not A Secret."
> I THOUGHT that's who I saw playing guitar during "God Is Not A
>Secret". That's pretty cool.
I nearly didn't recognize him. I knew he looked familiar, but I
couldn't place him until they said "Billy Smiley from Whiteheart!"
at the end of the song. Is he like their tour manager or something?
Kind of odd that he'd just show up...
>: The mostly-teenaged crowd (man, these kids were barely WALKING the first
>: time I saw the Newsboys...) seemed to enjoy the show, and so did I.
> Yeah, for humor value I wore the oldest concert shirt I could find
>that wasn't in rags and wondered if my _shirt_ was older than some of
>the kids there. (No, but not far off...)
Heh. I did see a guy with one of the old OI! shirts on. My old
Newsboys shirt has, unfortunately, been washed to a white t-shirt
with a couple of neon green and pink stains. :-)
> A very good show. Bassist Phillip Urry is a wonderful addition to
>the band, he sings, plays bass and acts goofy, just as a Newsboy should.
Yep, he definitely seems to fit into the "Newsboys" mold pretty well.
What's with this "Phil John" name that they always introduce him with,
though?
Jerry B. Ray
In article <33483556....@daria.cdnow.com>,
JC <jhc...@maranatha.net> wrote:
>Hey. I was in the back and my friend and I's ears were ringing. I'm
>surprised you can hear anything at all if you were that close ;-)
It wasn't really THAT loud, actually. I've seen the Newsboys play
a lot louder in the past. It might just be because I was down front
in front of a few speakers rather than farther back in front of ALL
of them.
Oops, I deleted your comments about Plankeye. To me, they weren't
noisy ENOUGH through most of their set. If you're gonna do that
sort of noisy stuff, then do it all-out, y'know? I've heard them
mentioned, I think, as CCM's "as visceral as Nirvana" band. It
just ain't so.
>>Next up came Third Day, the band I was most interested in seeing.
>>All in all, a competent show, but I've seen them do better.
>I agree with you 100% here. My conclusions were:
>1) "Success" may have gotten to them???
Nah, I don't think that's it, really. (Doesn't have much to do with
the quality of the show, anyway.) Their on-stage performance doesn't
seem to have changed much from the small churches to the arenas that
they're playing in now, anyway.
>3) It was too loud. They couldn't hear what they were doing? Maybe,
>I'll but that...
Probably more a case of "the sound is geared toward the Newsboys,"
if I had to guess. That, and maybe they really aren't used what I
assume are the different dynamics of playing to several thousand
people in midsized venues versus a couple hundred in a church.
>4) The better parts of the show WERE edited out to shorten it up.
That seemed to be the biggest thing to me.
Gabe White
JC (jhc...@maranatha.net) wrote:
(About Plankeye)
: This may offend some, but I've seen them twice now and neither time
: did I think they were even tolerable. My friend, "Noise Merchants"...
Excuse me.
I've seen Plankeye three times now... Twice when they were the headliners
and once with the Newsboys... They really are a LOT better when they're the
headliners. Believe me. Don't trash them because of the Newsboys show.
(About Third Day)
: I agree with you 100% here. My conclusions were:
: 1) "Success" may have gotten to them???
: 2) They're playing down to the crowd... There's no excuse for that
: ever though...
: 3) It was too loud. They couldn't hear what they were doing? Maybe,
: I'll but that...
: 4) The better parts of the show WERE edited out to shorten it up.
: Having seen them before headlining I was extremely disappointed.
: I had been telling my friend how great they were, and boy did I feel
: stupid after that set...
I've seen them headlining, and really, they weren't that great... I mean,
Mac does have a great voice, but musically, they're a pretty bland band.
Good for hearing on a CD, or on the radio, but not something that's that
enjoyable in concert.
(About being TOO LOUD)
: A lot of the ones at the show were barely past the learning to walk
: stage... It makes me wonder about permanent ear damage though. Young
: people (and even old people) shouldn't be subjected to that kind of
: volume... They know they attract a young crowd, they ought to be a
: little more concerned. The show's exciting enough anyway, they really
: don't need to blast it...
I think you do have a point with the permanent ear damage thing. I've
been going to shows for awhile now... When I first started going, they DID
seem kind of loud... Now... Well, they don't.
Gabe
--
"Love is everything."
-Dime Store Prophets (Jezebel Eyes)
Jeff Holland
: Jeff Holland <jhol...@cc.gatech.edu> wrote:
: > I THOUGHT that's who I saw playing guitar during "God Is Not A
: >Secret". That's pretty cool.
: I nearly didn't recognize him. I knew he looked familiar, but I
: couldn't place him until they said "Billy Smiley from Whiteheart!"
: at the end of the song. Is he like their tour manager or something?
: Kind of odd that he'd just show up...
Well, with Whiteheart flying a holding pattern right now, I guess
he has some extra time on his hands. Though, Whiteheart is recording a
new album soon. :-)
: > Yeah, for humor value I wore the oldest concert shirt I could find
: >that wasn't in rags and wondered if my _shirt_ was older than some of
: >the kids there. (No, but not far off...)
: Heh. I did see a guy with one of the old OI! shirts on. My old
: Newsboys shirt has, unfortunately, been washed to a white t-shirt
: with a couple of neon green and pink stains. :-)
My friend and I wondered if any of kids there had even heard of
the Oi Boyz for that matter.
: Yep, he definitely seems to fit into the "Newsboys" mold pretty well.
: What's with this "Phil John" name that they always introduce him with,
: though?
Phllip John Urry, maybe? Just a guess...
Jeff
(oi)
NP: Yesyears: Disc 4
Brian Vinson
In article <5ib44p$c...@login.freenet.columbus.oh.us>,
gwh...@freenet.columbus.oh.us (Gabe White) wrote:
>(About being TOO LOUD)
>: A lot of the ones at the show were barely past the learning to walk
>: stage... It makes me wonder about permanent ear damage though. Young
>: people (and even old people) shouldn't be subjected to that kind of
>: volume... They know they attract a young crowd, they ought to be a
>: little more concerned. The show's exciting enough anyway, they really
>: don't need to blast it...
>
> I think you do have a point with the permanent ear damage thing. I've
>been going to shows for awhile now... When I first started going, they DID
>seem kind of loud... Now... Well, they don't.
>
> Gabe
>
Does it make me an old fogey since I always wear earplugs to concerts now?
Including Newsboys, et al?
Brian
Stay mellow.
Brian Vinson
b-vi...@nwu.edu
-------------------------------------------------
"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man"
-- Jebediah Springfield
-------------------------------------------------
JC
On Tue, 08 Apr 97 01:08:55 GMT, br...@cas.nwu.edu (Brian Vinson)
wrote:
>In article <5ib44p$c...@login.freenet.columbus.oh.us>,
> gwh...@freenet.columbus.oh.us (Gabe White) wrote:
>
>>(About being TOO LOUD)
>>: It makes me wonder about permanent ear damage though. Young
>>: people (and even old people) shouldn't be subjected to that kind of
>>: volume... They know they attract a young crowd, they ought to be a
>>: little more concerned. The show's exciting enough anyway, they really
>>: don't need to blast it...
>>
>> I think you do have a point with the permanent ear damage thing. I've
>>been going to shows for awhile now... When I first started going, they DID
>>seem kind of loud... Now... Well, they don't.
>>
>> Gabe
Kind of scary isn't it?
>Does it make me an old fogey since I always wear earplugs to concerts now?
>
>Brian Vinson
No. I think that just makes you smart. I tried the earplug thing
too, but it always clogs my ears up with wax, then I really *am* deaf
for several weeks, so I don't do that anymore :-(.
BACK TO THE THESIS: I really don't know why they feel compelled to
crank it up. Most shows are exciting enough whether loud or quiet...
Depending on the band, having it too loud can really screw up the
dynamics and make it hard or impossible to hear the nuances of the
performance.
In some bands defense though, they can't afford to hire their own
sound crew and thus wind up stuck with whoever shows up with the board
(seemingly the cheapest crew the promoter can find) mixing and running
the sound. If they've never heard the band before, they're very
unlikely to know what the heck it should sound like or how the mix
should be. I get the distinct impression this happens a lot...
JC