To: elp-digest@reluctant.com From: Tom Ace Subject: review: San Diego, August 31, 1998 Date: 9/10/98 3:33 PM I drove 300 miles from the mojave desert to see ELP in San Diego on 8/31/98. I chose this show because ELP was headlining, and I thought they might play longer than they would as an opening act. From other concert reports, though, it seems like it was a fairly standard show in this tour with about 80-90 minutes of performance. There was an opening act, but I skipped it to have dinner instead. I enjoyed The Sheriff quite a bit, but I felt the arrangement of A Time and A Place was somewhat weak. I liked the adaptation of the last movement of Keith's Piano Concerto #1; the portions that followed the original fairly closely were the parts I liked best. Some of the songs were shortened or simplified, and I found that a bit disappointing. When they played 21st Century Schizoid Man, I was really hoping that Emerson would play keyboard adaptations of the fast guitar parts--but they cut the song right at that point. I guess they were sticking to the portions of the song that Greg worked the most on writing, but I still think it would've been great to include at least some of the instrumental section. If time is an issue, I'd much rather they omit the Hammond abuse routine and instead play more real music. Overall it was a good show, but it was too much like the shows I'd seen last year and the year before. ELP seems to fall into ruts in their performances. I doubt I'll go to another show soon unless they have good new material that they're performing. When Keith climbed onto the piano (well, piano-like-object) lid, he stepped right on one of the electronic keyboards he'd been playing. The manufacturer might consider noting this in their marketing--it speaks well for the instrument's durability. Tom Ace crux@best.com