CRS BOTY reviews and feedback...

[Mikey]

OK, I think there's going to be a stoning.

There seem to be some Frost* coloured glasses around.
Did I attend the same gig?
Yes, I was full of cold and feeling crap, (sorry JiB's if I didn't have much to say) but there's not a mention of all the bits that Jem forgot.
In 30 years of gigs, I can only recall one band ever having to stop & re-start a track. (Frost* again). The gig has been booked for months, at least TBE had learned his keys. I know somethings going on at the minute but I was very disappointed with Jems performance. Those gaffs aside however,

Dec was radiant; JJ was splendid; TBE played his socks off; JM was awesome

I would agree with the above.
The band seems to be developing very nicely as a unit, Dec especially becoming more accustomed with his role. It's a shame TBE is leaving.
The Peel was a different atmosphere, but I thought that as a band, Frost* were better at CRS.

End of year report....could do better.

[MikeEvs]

Mikey I can see your point of view but how many times have you seen Frost* live I'm guessing probably more than me and this was my 4th time.  The band can't be perfect every time and they'd be boring to watch if they were.

I admit if this was the first time I'd seen Frost* I might have been disappointed with Jem's performance but it wasn't an ok he didn't have his best gig by a long way but it didn't spoil the evening for me.  People make mistakes and at least when Frost* do it the band take it in their stride and smile about it and do it with a touch of humour, better that than the band trying to recreate the song exactly as it is on the record and scowling at each other when someone drops a note.

So I don't think it's a case of Frost* tinted glasses just that Jem's mistakes didn't spoil the enjoyment of  the evening at least that was the case for me.

[Jem]

In 30 years of gigs, I can only recall one band ever having to stop & re-start a track. (Frost* again)

Ah, well, you've not been going to the same gigs I have then Mikey.

Thomas Dolby had to stop and restart a song at the Brixton Academy once owing to a crashed Mac. Thomas Dolby at The Scala did the same for the same reason some 18 years later. ZZ Top at Donnington got lost in their backing track and had to restart. Tinyfish at the Peel had guitar synth issues and had to start Motorville again. TBE missed his cue into the keyboard solo of Hyperventilate at Summer's End and we had to start that bit again. Then there was Van Halen's classic version of Jump a semitone out to the backing track and although they carried on valiantly, I think they should have stopped and started again.

So you see, we're humans before we're muso's and I just had a bad night. And I did apologise already.

[Nellie]

In 30 years of gigs, I can only recall one band ever having to stop & re-start a track. (Frost* again)

Ah, well, you've not been going to the same gigs I have then Mikey.

Thomas Dolby had to stop and restart a song at the Brixton Academy once owing to a crashed Mac. Thomas Dolby at The Scala did the same for the same reason some 18 years later. ZZ Top at Donnington got lost in their backing track and had to restart. Tinyfish at the Peel had guitar synth issues and had to start Motorville again. TBE missed his cue into the keyboard solo of Hyperventilate at Summer's End and we had to start that bit again. Then there was Van Halen's classic version of Jump a semitone out to the backing track and although they carried on valiantly, I think they should have stopped and started again.

So you see, we're humans before we're muso's and I just had a bad night. And I did apologise already.

You see, if you'd come to the Peel and sent the stunt Jem to Rotherham, this would never have happened. AND you would've got a snog!

[RacingHippo]

So you see, we're humans before we're muso's

Bugger.
Bang goes the old Frost*-are-robots theory.

[Dave M]

I like humans .. I like the mistakes that come with humans playing music (as opposed to backing tracks - of which there is an enormous amount in use "live" these days) it's what makes seeing a proper band interesting.

Having played in bands for years, I know how difficult live performances can be for many, many different reasons, always expect the unexpected to throw a spanner in the works and affect your performance in one way or another.

Given the complexity of the songs Frost play, I take my hat of to you guys for the performances I have seen .. 3 so far, each one different, each one excellent, each one with cock ups and imperfections ... If you want perfection listen to a CD, if you want the fun of watching a band play, warts and all, go see them live.

Because of the nature of Frost, it's unlikely to ever be the most polished and slick live band, so I think it's reasonable to expect the odd cockup .. afterall Jem was probably so upset about being 2nd to a dep keyboard player in Yes, it affected his performance .. we know what a fragile, shrinking violet he is  

As for bands and cockups ... how about Aerosmith ..  they changed the set list towards the end of a long tour, being slightly worse for wear on their various "medications", they played the closing song first and rushed off stage heading for the limo's ... I can see it now ... The Lord of Rock heading for the Conaught

Or Robbie Williams live on TV (from Roundhay Park), in front of millions, forgetting lyrics and having to restart a song.  

(BTW .. Mikey, I'm not having a pop at you, you're more than welcome to your feelings on the matter   )

[MikeEvs]

In 30 years of gigs, I can only recall one band ever having to stop & re-start a track. (Frost* again)

Ah, well, you've not been going to the same gigs I have then Mikey.

Thomas Dolby had to stop and restart a song at the Brixton Academy once owing to a crashed Mac. Thomas Dolby at The Scala did the same for the same reason some 18 years later. ZZ Top at Donnington got lost in their backing track and had to restart. Tinyfish at the Peel had guitar synth issues and had to start Motorville again. TBE missed his cue into the keyboard solo of Hyperventilate at Summer's End and we had to start that bit again. Then there was Van Halen's classic version of Jump a semitone out to the backing track and although they carried on valiantly, I think they should have stopped and started again.

So you see, we're humans before we're muso's and I just had a bad night. And I did apologise already.

And can I add some recorded performances,  Steve Vai on his Alive in an Ultraworld album at one point snaps a string so stops gets the string changed and starts again.  On Porcupine Tree's We Lost The Skyline Steven Wilson restarts the song Normal.

[Jem]

And I've just remembered that H goes into one of the tracks from Marbles on their Marbles DVD in the wrong key and they have to start again.

Phew, I was starting to get a complex for a minute back there.  :lol:

[RacingHippo]

Phew, I was starting to get a complex for a minute back there.  :lol:

Whoa, careful - your keyboard* parts are quite complex enough as it is.


*And drum parts. And guitar parts. And b.. actually, you could probably make that JJ fella work harder....

[Trapezium Artist]

Whoa, careful - your keyboard* parts are quite complex enough as it is.

*And drum parts. And guitar parts. And b.. actually, you could probably make that JJ fella work harder....

Indeed: both my two young kids kids are suffering deep existential crises at the moment from listening to Milliontown and EIMA, with conversations along the lines of:

"Sorry, Dad, how is it possible that all that stuff is being played by just five people???"

"Well, when it's done in the studio, they can play one thing, record it, play it back while playing something else, and so on, until it's all built up into what you now hear."

"Yes, yes, obviously, Dad ... but they do it live as well!!!"

By comparison, they've got the credit crunch well and truly worked out  

As for me, I'm definitely with the live-warts-n-all crowd: human is good. Then again, so is platypus, but for completely different reasons.

[gareth]

They've done some great things with technology in synths recently, but you can't hardwire them to your brain yet unfortunately.
Be relieved that Jem's mistakes were the result of Brain malfunction, and not Synth malfunction!

Although I doubt that would stop mr. "backed up across 23 hard drives and 67 USB thumb-drives".  

[Brom]

OK, The Peel Gig was not the best performance in terms of musicianship that I've ever been to, there were a few fluffs and gaffs. However, music is entertainment, I went there to be entertained, and came back home feeling fully entertained - at all levels. Yes, there were stops, and gaps, and to be honest Frost* could IMHO, do with a bit more rehersal time.

However, let us not forget that Frost is a hobby, a sideline, a fun thing generated by some talented guys who like a laugh whilst still excercising their abilities.

The important word here is time. There was (just about) sufficient time to put a very good CD together, as I've said before Mrs. G deserves a medal. I'm guessing that getting all the band under the same roof at one time for more than a day's playing together would be/was nigh on impossible.

Compare the actual total output (in all forms) from Frost* against any other band, and I think you'll see that we don't do too badly at all.

That's my view anyway.

[Pedro]

+1

[The Cosmic Lawnmower]

I like humans .. I like the mistakes that come with humans playing music (as opposed to backing tracks - of which there is an enormous amount in use "live" these days) it's what makes seeing a proper band interesting.

Having played in bands for years, I know how difficult live performances can be for many, many different reasons, always expect the unexpected to throw a spanner in the works and affect your performance in one way or another.

Given the complexity of the songs Frost play, I take my hat of to you guys for the performances I have seen .. 3 so far, each one different, each one excellent, each one with cock ups and imperfections ... If you want perfection listen to a CD, if you want the fun of watching a band play, warts and all, go see them live.

Because of the nature of Frost, it's unlikely to ever be the most polished and slick live band, so I think it's reasonable to expect the odd cockup .. afterall Jem was probably so upset about being 2nd to a dep keyboard player in Yes, it affected his performance .. we know what a fragile, shrinking violet he is  

For what it's worth, like Dave I've played in bands for years and I gotta say on those odd occasions when things do go tits up, I'd rather stop the song and (a) hopefully make a joke of it, or (b) blame the drummer   , then start it again and do it properly rather than blather though half cocked and stressed on the pretension that its 'unprofessional' to stop. JMHO

Oh and 2+ what Brom said.

[Bert]

So you see, we're humans before we're muso's and I just had a bad night. And I did apologise already.

I don't think you've anything to apologise for mate.

Frankly, I'd be happy to be good enough to do 1/100th of what any of the band do, cock-ups included.  

Maybe next time, we should have a panel of judges who can hold up the scores at the end of the gig. Or would that be a bit silly  :?