To: arnold@reluctant.com From: themincs@juno.com (frank p mincarelli) Subject: ELP concert @ Harvey's Lake August 11 Date: 8/17/98 9:45 PM I attended my first ELP concert last Tuesday in the remote lake side town of Harvey's Lake twenty minutes north of Wilkes Barre, PA and hours away from my house. I went with two of my friends who weren't nearly as big of an ELP fan as I am. I was disappointed that ELP wasn't top-billed but that didn't seem to bother them; they seemed to be looking forward to DP as much as ELP. We arrived at the Bud Light Amphitheater right before Dream Theater started to play. We thought the place would have been full by then but it was only about 1/3 full. Dream Theater played a straight forward, 45 minute gig (they even started early!) but was sadly a little more metal than I wished. The place began to fill and finally ELP came out after the traditional intro: "Ladies and gentleman, Emerson, Lake and Palmer!!!" They began with a rocking but unrecognizable intro and then went into Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part Two. Before the concert I was tentative about hearing what I feel is an out of context cut but at the concert I couldn't help but to get caught up in "Welcome back my friends..." and "See the show." After "KE9 1,2" they immediately went into "Hoedown" complete with Keith on harmonica and his pyrotechnic display which had the first two rows covering their faces! Carl, just like on the studio version, really makes that arrangement kick. Next was "A Time and a Place" off the Tarkus album which was a real surprise and a nice version. "Knife-Edge" was next, with extended beginning, middle, and end. Greg and Carl left for Keith to improvise, in his words, "based on the third movement of my piano concerto." It was a good version of "Toccata con Fuoco" and Keith really made up for the lack of an orchestra or anything behind him. Up until that point I had been standing, and I think that I was the only person in the entire first section standing. I sat for "Toccata Con Fuoco" but stood again as Greg came back for his acoustic guitar solo. "C'est la Vie" was a perfect piece to choose for his acoustic set (I'm not a fan of "Still..." or "Lucky Man" sans Keith and Carl). Keith made it all the more enjoyable by coming out with a beret and a real accordion. He and Carl played on the second half of the song. Still with acoustic guitar in hand, Greg played a few random notes but there was no fooling me... it was time for "Lucky Man!!!!!" Although Keith played two great solos, he seemed bored with the song. O well. They closed the set with an AWESOME version of Tarkus. Keith improvised forever in the middle of Stones Of Years and finally got really into the whole gig at that point. Battlefield was also really nice, where Greg and Keith would alternate keyboard/electric guitar solos. At the end of Battlefield they acted as if they were going to end it right there, but they fittingly ended with an also extended Aquatarkus. Even the DP metal heads (some of them, anyway) were on their feet. The trio walked off to the computer programmed end of KE9. Only a couple minutes later the Fanfare theme summoned them back to play their encore. They began with "21st Century Schizoid Man", then went back into "Fanfare." Carl then soloed forever! Anyone that says that drum solos are boring should watch him play. Keith then scaled his grand piano to give Carl the right amount of credit. Keith, from on top of his piano, then broke the solo by playing Bach's "Toccata En Fugue" backwards!!!!!! My friend who is a great pianist in his own right was astounded. They finished with Rondo. I'm a fan of the original Brubeck version, and although Keith's is much more overt I like his, too. Although Rondo was a great piece with which to end the concert, I still wished they could have played longer. The Deep Purple set was anticlimactic. I had lost my voice and energy before they even started playing, but it didn't matter because I wasn't that much into them. Keith, Greg and Carl can be happy that their concert there converted my two friends into fans. At 18 years old we would love to be part of a new generation of ELP fans but sadly I believe my generation is lost on the road of pop-driven, trite, repetitive music or punk. Hopefully next year ELP can tour again as a headliner and play a longer set. Also, I wish there was more information on the concert. It took me forever to find tickets and although we had decent 14th row seats, if we would have known when tickets went on sale we could have gotten first row seats. ELP is the greatest band ever and I am glad I got to see them even if they're not in their prime. Jan Paul Mincarelli Mincarel@pilot.msu.edu _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]