Word from The Jemster

gr8gonzo · April 17, 2011, 01:53:01 PM

So, it's not Frost*. So, it's not even prog. It's Jem. And Jem is brill.

sawtooth · April 18, 2011, 01:55:43 PM

Quote from: "D S"He lives!
Very interesting although the big question is... who's going to go for the franchise?! Actually, if it were to be a true franchise, there could be lots of Frost*s!

Well I've always wanted to be in a band LIKE Frost* but -

A - my keyboard skills are nowhere near good enough
and
B - Frost* is more than the music. The franchise would need a scriptwriter, comedian, P/R man, juggler, general 'good egg' and more other personnel than I could mention, things that previously Jem covered by himself.
In fact there would probably end up being more support staff than actual musicians

Mooncat · April 18, 2011, 02:34:47 PM

QuoteB - Frost* is more than the music. The franchise would need a scriptwriter, comedian, P/R man, juggler, general 'good egg' and more other personnel than I could mention, things that previously Jem covered by himself.

That being a big part of the issue

gr8gonzo · April 18, 2011, 02:42:00 PM

I'd like to see a cover band called Fro* doing roller disco interpretations of Frost* songs. Strip away the widdly bits and get your groove on.

Perhaps, I should have coffee before posting such things.

E.S. · April 18, 2011, 02:44:15 PM

And someone has to pay for the whole thing. Even without the frantic "buy keyboard - scrap keyboard routine", making music is far from free. This can't be done without excellent musicians, and they don't work for free.

IMO it will never be Frost* without Jem anyway. Covering the back catalog and writing new Frost*-inspired music simply won't do.

sawtooth · April 18, 2011, 04:40:00 PM

Quote from: "gr8gonzo"I'd like to see a cover band called Fro* doing roller disco interpretations of Frost* songs. Strip away the widdly bits and get your groove on.

StarFrost* Express?
I'd pay to see that...

Trapezium Artist · April 18, 2011, 05:56:47 PM

Just a brief addendum to my post in the "It feels like it's all over ..." thread, posted here merely to cover both "End of Frost*" threads.

I was at the first night of the iO Pages festival at Zoetermeer on Friday, where Dilemma, Yogi Lang (from RPWL), and Pallas played. I was there for Pallas, who I have followed on and off ever since the early 80s, but haven't seen play live since about 1983-1984, but I have to say that Yogi Lang and his band blew my socks off: fantastic stuff.

The Pallas set mainly comprised of tracks from XXV which, despite my saying I have been following the band, I had only heard once before, when Wilf featured it on The European Perspective. Indeed, I appeared to have been in the minority, because when Graeme Murray asked the audience who had yet to buy the album, I was the only person who put his hand up (although in conversation after the show, another audience member told Graeme that he reckoned many others were too frightened to admit it 8-) ).

While I found XXV a bit heavy going (and too bloody loud, Mr Les Patterson :shock: ) in that almost-first-time-of-listening context, a number of older favourites (including Rat Racing, Midas Touch, and others) were played brilliantly, and I have to say that Paul Mackie was excellent. I had a nice chat about photography (!) with him after the gig, as well briefly with the estimable Mike Bentley, who was rather grumpy that everything had run so late ahead of Pallas getting their slot (the evening finished at just after 1am and my feet were screaming).

Anyway, what's this all got to do with Frost*? Well, I also had a good chat with the lady (Lizzie?, Les' partner) who was running the Pallas merchandising stall aided by a couple of local (I think) women. At one point, they all agreed that Frost* had the best merchandising around, because they weren't afraid to use colours other than black for shirts, and that the Frost*erisk logo made it easier to make things without having to explicitly say the band's name.

More surprisingly, however, one of the Dutch lasses took grave objection to my saying that, on top of being a great musical act, Frost* were also the funniest band around by far. She said "I don't want funny; I just want the music played!". She also objected to the fact that Frost* tend to muck around with their songs live, again not something she wanted. Strange: it takes all sorts to make the world go around, but I suspect many people here would side with me on this one: these are the things which are Frost*.

But, most poignantly, especially since I don't think either she or I had read Jem's recent blog post at that point, was her friend's annoyance at the fact that "Frost* split up too often!". Too true; if only they were to reform just as often ... 8-)

p.s. I saw a couple of Frost* shirts at the gig; anyone here?

Pedro · April 18, 2011, 08:41:02 PM

Sounds like you met a real life female Prog dinosaur....that is one rare animal indeed. I don't mind 'recital' gigs every now and again but fun gigs win hands down for me.

JakeWorrell · April 18, 2011, 08:42:25 PM

Quote from: "Pedro"fun gigs win hands down for me.

yeah whats the point of a gig if its all the same as the album?

Prog nazis!

ich_bin_besser · April 18, 2011, 08:52:49 PM

I remember the first SB tour without Neal, supporting "Feel Euphoria". Enchant and the California Guitar Trio were support acts. As much as I love SB (and believe me, I really, really - even being a mod on their forum), I thought they were too silly. Enchant really blew them away, I thought.
What I'm trying to say: TA's observations have a point. Only got the chance to witness Frost* live once (supporting Pallas), and fortunately, they were not too funny. But I can understand people who prefer it differently.

Big Black Shed · April 19, 2011, 01:08:31 PM

I've read all of the posts, can understand most people's disappointment that Frost* is no more and can echo the supportive comments for Jem and what he will do next.

I wasn't aware that InsideOut had the option. And that changes my initial reaction to Jem's decision on the ending Frost*

I was under the impression that Frost* was InsideOut free. Free to write TDL and other things

without the pressure of a record company and deadlines. I was confused about the "playing it safe" comments. To me Frost* were never safe. Sure, I didn't LOVE all of it. But then the whole was far better than not at all.

If Jem was under obligation to release Frost* under InsideOut, then IMO that would be a pressure he could do without. Just watch the Frost* Reports of the creation of EIMA and some of Jem's comments and reactions towards deadline date about how much pressure he was under to deliver. It certainly did not look a fun place to be. And I think EIMA is testament to that.

I loved Frost* live. I've spent way too much money, at difficult times and driven half way round the country to watch them. I've also met some great people and laughed more than I should at a prog gig.

At least I was at Derby. For me the band looked it's most comfortable on stage. No disrespect to previous members but it looked effortless. Jem has stated that on stage the sound was terrible and the f*** up of the recording is well documented. But from where I was it was spot on. Above all he looked to be having fun.

Sure I'm disappointed that there will be no more Frost*. But if the new project becomes as successful and demanding what then? The problem might be that there is a partial captive audience waiting here to lap up what's offered. It's not going to be the Milliontown scenario. It's not a fresh start.

But I have a wardrobe full of Frost* merch that I shall continue to wear and I shall continue to proclaim Jem's genius to anyone with ears.

Toodle Pip.

Trapezium Artist · April 19, 2011, 01:14:39 PM

Quote from: "Pedro"Sounds like you met a real life female Prog dinosaur....that is one rare animal indeed. I don't mind 'recital' gigs every now and again but fun gigs win hands down for me.

I'm with you 100%, Pedro, but Frost* above all others proved that you can have huge fun at at a gig and play an absolute musical blinder. Unlike young Ms Progosaurus Rex at De Boederij last week, I don't think this is an either or thing: with Frost*, you could definitely have your cake and eat it ...

Dave M · April 20, 2011, 10:12:30 AM

There's having fun on stage and being able to deliver a blinding performance and then there's arsing around on stage, unable to concentrate or play properly. Whenever I saw Frost (3 times luckily) they were a blast to see .. both fun and entertaining AND brilliant musical performances.

Whats the point of going to watch some misserable feckers plod their way through a stale prog gig... dinosaurs died out because they couldnt adapt to their changing environment, traditional progsters are going the same way.

I'm glad Jem is back in action ... although because he's so bloody good at this musical larking about, I'm concerned he'll end up creating a rod for his own back again.

The pressure must have been considerable ... a new home (100's of miles from London), the demands of a successful day job, an expanding young family and a loss making, time robbing hobby called Frost* (for which he was never going to turn out a sub-standard album, as it had his name all over it). Add to that the pressures of learning songs for a few dates playing with one of the the worlds greatest guitarists and then the DVD cock up ... it must have been the straw that broke the camels back.

I can't wait to hear some more Jemtastic music, whatever genre it fits into.

Now ... hands up who wants to see the video of Jem doing donuts in his car on the lawn

Frost*ies

Word from The Jemster

gr8gonzo

sawtooth

Mooncat

gr8gonzo

E.S.

sawtooth

Trapezium Artist

Pedro

JakeWorrell

ich_bin_besser

Big Black Shed

Trapezium Artist

Dave M

Fogeyspasm

Pedro