To: elp-digest-web@reluctant.com From: "Edward S. Zuckerman" Subject: ELP-The Chance, Aug 3rd review Date: 8/17/98 1:43 PM Emerson, Lake & Palmer, 8-3-98, The Chance, Poughkeepsie, NY ELP is embarking on a pretty huge US tour these days, sandwiched between Dream Theatre & Deep Purple (The Headliner). They're due to swing thru NJ's PCN Arts Center later this week. Thru the wonders of the internet, and a running the keyword "Emerson" thru Ticketmaster's Search function, I all of a sudden stumbled upon a late addition to ELP's tour schedule...an "ELP Only" show up in Poughkeepsie! (This show had been mistakely reported as the first of the DT/ELP/DP shows). My choices were: Drive 1.5 hours South, See a 1hr. ELP sampler show from the lawn with 15,000 people *OR* Drive 1.5 hours North, and see a *real* (full) ELP show in some small club...a tour rehearsal show.....guess what I chose :-) I rattled up there alone last night. Glad I made the effort! Got there about 5:30pm, and hung out as the crowd gathered. ELP fans are a unique bunch. ELP seems to attract the strangest of the strange. Lots of Engineers. Lots of Computer geeks.. Lots of musicians who know everything about every device on the stage (or at least loudly proclaim they do!)..... Seems to be an insatiable desire to be "ELPer Than Thou".. i.e.,"Oh Yeah, well I met Emerson when he was 17years old, and he played his Hammond Organ in My Living room, which is where I gave him the idea to start ELP in the first place!!!" "Oh yeah, Well, I handed Carl his first set of drumsticks and taught him how to keep a beat!!!" "Oh Yeah, well I introduced Greg's Mom to Greg's Dad!!!! Etc......" Suffice it to say that I rolled my eyes and shook my head alot ;-) [Before I get flamed, I better tell you that I'm an engineer, a computer geek, a musician who really does know what every device onstage does (or at least loudly proclaim I do!) :-)...and I'm sure if I thought about it long enough, could probably devise some plausible story about my importance in the ELP world :-)]. But I digress.... anyway: Turns out that "The Chance" is this little teeny weeny theatre in a somewhat depressed town. Couldn't hold any more than maybe 600 people. It had a charm of it's own, even though the place looks like it hasn't been changed (or even dusted) in 75 years. From what I can gather, this is a popular place for rehearsals for large acts about to embark on tours....If walls could talk! I was firmly planted on the railing of the first balcony when ELP came on. I'll bet there was 100 feet between myself and Emerson's bank of keyboards. Spectacular view :-) I was in heaven. 8:30PM 1 Intro Jam> 2. KarnEvil 9, First Impression 3. Hoedown 4. The Sherriff 5. Touch & Go 6. Keith's Piano Concerto #1, 3rd Movement 7. Cest La Vie 8. Honky Tonk Train Blues 9. Knife Edge 10. Time & a Place 11. Lucky Man 12. Tarkus 9:50 13: Encore Fanfare Tease> 21st Century Schizoid Man> Fanfare for the Common Man Including: Carl's Solo, Phantom of the Opera Theme, Rondo 10:14 Bits of interest: -Hoedown included a small Emerson Harmonica Solo before his Moog Ribbon Controller solo. -Ces't La Vie included an Emerson Accordian Solo (wearing a beret.) -Honky Tonk Train Blues-Had the house ROCKING! :-) -Time & A Place- First Time Live (according to Keith) -Tarkus-Complete Version (including Aquatarkus, excluding "Confusion, will be my epitaph..") -Encore: Emerson didn't have the room for his usual organ wrestling, so he improvised by standing on his grand piano, and playing one of his keyboards upside down and backwards. Review: Generally not a bad show at all. For the most part, they played well, although there were a few stumbles here and there. I'm pretty sure ELP had difficulty hearing each other due to the wierd acoustics, smallness of the place, and everything else that plays a role in the sonics of a live concert. I did notice that Greg Lake was pissed off towards the end of his show with his ear monitor malfunctions. They didn't seem to be having as much fun as they normally do, they were a bit more serious for this show...but every so often, they'd joke around a bit. Still, they pounded thru the stuff, got thru the show...and even pulled off some really good versions of songs. They are, without a doubt, well seasoned performers. Comments: Carl: The consistent one of the bunch, who has kept up and improved his chops over the years. He is utterly amazing. Carl alone is worth seeing ELP. Alot of times, for me, an ELP show turns into "The Carl Palmer Show". This one was no exception. His solo was outrageous. Emerson: Always fun to watch. Cool to check out exactly how he gets those sounds and textures. I'm sort of amazed how he remembers which keyboard to dive at. With MIDI, I noticed that every single one of his keyboards was reprogrammed with a different voice almost every song. On the down side, I found Emerson's improvisations missing the mark a few times.. Greg: Strong Vocals. KILLER bass Playing. If you see these guys, don't fall into the trap of spending all your time watching Carl or Keith... Greg is a powerful bass player, but not necessarily "eye candy". All in all, I had a blast in a very unique setting. I'm so used to seeing ELP in the big sheds that this was such a breath of fresh air. EDDIE Z.