Marillion will be appearing as a special guest of Deep Purple on the following German tour dates:
13 Nov Sat Trier Germany Arena Trier
14 Nov Sun Frieburg Germany Rothaus Arena
16 Nov Tues Mannheim Germany Mannheim SAP Arena
18 Nov Thurs Memmingen Germany Eissporthalle Memmingen
19 Nov Fri Munchen Germany Olympiahalle München
20 Nov Sat Nurnberg Germany Arena Nürnberger Versicherung
22 Nov Mon Berlin Germany Max-Schmeling-Halle
23 Nov Tues Rostock Germany Stadthalle Rostock
24 Nov Weds Braunschweig Germany Volkswagen Halle Braunschweig
26 Nov Fri Oldenburg Germany Weser-Ems Halle
27 Nov Sat Hamburg Germany Sporthalle Hamburg
28 Nov Sun Essen Germany Grugahalle
30 Nov Tues Stuttgart Germany Stuttgart Schleyerhalle
The band will be playing a 1 hour set at all shows.
For more information, including ticketing info:
http://www.marillion.com/tour/index.htm
Showing posts with label Marillion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marillion. Show all posts
30 August 2010
17 March 2009
New Marillion live releases
From the band:
"Hello all!
A quick word from the Racket Office team before we depart for the biggest & hopefully the best ever Marillion Convention at Centre Parcs in sunny Holland.
As we are about to jump on the bus, there's just time to let you in on some exciting new releases which we will be selling at the weekend ....read on for more!
The first is a 2 Disc 3 concert live DVD - filmed at the 2007 Convention titled 'This Strange Convention'. It features the whole of 'This Strange Engine' performed live, plus the Saturday and Sunday nights as released on the live CD's 'Friends' and 'Family'. You can check out a couple of the songs at www.youtube.com/marilliononline and get a glimpse of some of the delights awaiting you on 'This Strange Convention' ...enjoy!
Second is the first new Racket Records Live CD since 2007: 'Happiness is Cologne' is a 2CD live album from the band's 2008 Happiness is the Road performance at the E-Werk in Cologne. This concert has been beautifully mixed & mastered to a high quality & serves as a fantastic document to what has proved to be a hugely successful tour."
DVD link: http://www.marillion.com/music/dvd/tsc.htm
CD link: http://www.marillion.com/music/racket/cologne.htm
"Hello all!
A quick word from the Racket Office team before we depart for the biggest & hopefully the best ever Marillion Convention at Centre Parcs in sunny Holland.
As we are about to jump on the bus, there's just time to let you in on some exciting new releases which we will be selling at the weekend ....read on for more!
The first is a 2 Disc 3 concert live DVD - filmed at the 2007 Convention titled 'This Strange Convention'. It features the whole of 'This Strange Engine' performed live, plus the Saturday and Sunday nights as released on the live CD's 'Friends' and 'Family'. You can check out a couple of the songs at www.youtube.com/marilliononline and get a glimpse of some of the delights awaiting you on 'This Strange Convention' ...enjoy!
Second is the first new Racket Records Live CD since 2007: 'Happiness is Cologne' is a 2CD live album from the band's 2008 Happiness is the Road performance at the E-Werk in Cologne. This concert has been beautifully mixed & mastered to a high quality & serves as a fantastic document to what has proved to be a hugely successful tour."
DVD link: http://www.marillion.com/music/dvd/tsc.htm
CD link: http://www.marillion.com/music/racket/cologne.htm
15 November 2008
Script for a Jester's Tour part the second
Ex-Marillion drummer Mick Pointer continues his celebration of the music that brought him to public attention in the early 1980's with a second Script for a Jester's Tour, featuring, as before, Nick Barrett, Mike Varty, Ian Salmon, and the man they call Brian "Brish" Cummins.
Tickets and info at http://www.wiventertainment.com/jester/
see them here........
16/01/09 - UK London The Peel
17/01/09 - UK London The Peel
18/01/09 - UK Dudley JB's
19/01/09 - UK Manchester Academy
20/01/09 - UK York The Duchess
21/01/09 - UK Frome Cheese & Grain
23/01/09 - NED Zoetermeer De Boerderij
24/01/09 - NED Uden De Pul
25/01/09 - BEL Verviers Spirit of 66
26/01/09 - GER Aschaffenburg Colos-Saal
27/01/09 - GER Stuttgart LKA Longhorn
28/01/09 - GER Lorsch Musiktheater Rex
29/01/09 - SUI Pratteln Z 7
30/01/09 - GER Dinslaken Kulturkantine
31/01/09 -GER Cologne Live Music Hall
02/02/09 -GER Berlin Frannz Club
03/02/09 -POL Bielsko Biala Club Pomarancza
04/02/09 -POL Krakow Club Studio
05/02/09 -POL Warszawa Club Progresja
07/02/09 -ITA Milano Rolling Stone
08/02/09 -ITA Roma Staziona Birra
10/02/09 -FRA Paris Scene Bastille
Tickets and info at http://www.wiventertainment.com/jester/
see them here........
16/01/09 - UK London The Peel
17/01/09 - UK London The Peel
18/01/09 - UK Dudley JB's
19/01/09 - UK Manchester Academy
20/01/09 - UK York The Duchess
21/01/09 - UK Frome Cheese & Grain
23/01/09 - NED Zoetermeer De Boerderij
24/01/09 - NED Uden De Pul
25/01/09 - BEL Verviers Spirit of 66
26/01/09 - GER Aschaffenburg Colos-Saal
27/01/09 - GER Stuttgart LKA Longhorn
28/01/09 - GER Lorsch Musiktheater Rex
29/01/09 - SUI Pratteln Z 7
30/01/09 - GER Dinslaken Kulturkantine
31/01/09 -GER Cologne Live Music Hall
02/02/09 -GER Berlin Frannz Club
03/02/09 -POL Bielsko Biala Club Pomarancza
04/02/09 -POL Krakow Club Studio
05/02/09 -POL Warszawa Club Progresja
07/02/09 -ITA Milano Rolling Stone
08/02/09 -ITA Roma Staziona Birra
10/02/09 -FRA Paris Scene Bastille
14 November 2008
Marillion: it's their world...
...we only live in it.
Yet another adventure in harnessing the power of the internet, courtesy of the boys from Aylesbury:
We have decided to take a brave step - to record every night of our Happiness on the Road tour straight off the mixing desk, and upload it for you to buy THE NEXT DAY. But this is an experiment for us, so here's what you need to know:
If you are familiar with the Front Row Club, these recordings will be of similar quality. The source will be the main outputs of the live mixing desk - so while the audio will be of high quality, it is being mixed for the venue, and each release will have a slightly different character. But you will be getting the entire show from start to finish as it happened!
Next, because many venues we are playing do not have high-speed reliable internet connections, we will be compressing the audio as 256 kbps MP3 audio before uploading it to our server. This is to help speed up the process and avoid a lot of potential errors and problems - so we won't be able to offer the shows in any other (i.e. FLAC) audio format.
Minimal artwork including a track listing will be provided with each download - we intend to list the individual track listings on this page rather than creating individual 'discography entries' for each show; you can also check the 2008 Tour History web page for updated set lists from the show.
We will do our best to make every show available - but there may be technical problems or other issues that arise meaning some gigs may not be available. In the same way, there may be a delay of a day or two before some gigs are on sale due to the availability of an internet connection at or near the venue.
Finally, the band will have ultimate 'veto' power. Should the decide that for some reason they don't want a show to be made available, well, it won't be! But they have all said they want to make every show - no matter what goofs, hiccups, or error may happen! - available.
This is an experiment for us, so we will be learning as we go along, too... bear with us! If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to post on the Marillion Forums or contact us directly via email.
Three shows are currently available (ABC, Glasgow - 9 November 2008; The Basement, Newcastle - 10 November 2008; Colston Hall, Bristol - 11 November 200), with the most recent show from Leeds due to be available sometime this evening.
Yet another adventure in harnessing the power of the internet, courtesy of the boys from Aylesbury:
We have decided to take a brave step - to record every night of our Happiness on the Road tour straight off the mixing desk, and upload it for you to buy THE NEXT DAY. But this is an experiment for us, so here's what you need to know:
If you are familiar with the Front Row Club, these recordings will be of similar quality. The source will be the main outputs of the live mixing desk - so while the audio will be of high quality, it is being mixed for the venue, and each release will have a slightly different character. But you will be getting the entire show from start to finish as it happened!
Next, because many venues we are playing do not have high-speed reliable internet connections, we will be compressing the audio as 256 kbps MP3 audio before uploading it to our server. This is to help speed up the process and avoid a lot of potential errors and problems - so we won't be able to offer the shows in any other (i.e. FLAC) audio format.
Minimal artwork including a track listing will be provided with each download - we intend to list the individual track listings on this page rather than creating individual 'discography entries' for each show; you can also check the 2008 Tour History web page for updated set lists from the show.
We will do our best to make every show available - but there may be technical problems or other issues that arise meaning some gigs may not be available. In the same way, there may be a delay of a day or two before some gigs are on sale due to the availability of an internet connection at or near the venue.
Finally, the band will have ultimate 'veto' power. Should the decide that for some reason they don't want a show to be made available, well, it won't be! But they have all said they want to make every show - no matter what goofs, hiccups, or error may happen! - available.
This is an experiment for us, so we will be learning as we go along, too... bear with us! If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to post on the Marillion Forums or contact us directly via email.
Three shows are currently available (ABC, Glasgow - 9 November 2008; The Basement, Newcastle - 10 November 2008; Colston Hall, Bristol - 11 November 200), with the most recent show from Leeds due to be available sometime this evening.
01 November 2008
Brief Thoughts toward a Marillion review
Some brief thoughts about the new Marillion album...
I am planning a far more in-depth review of the new 2-CD Marillion album Happiness is the Road for another outlet (while this is my primary outlet for writing, I do have one other site that requests some exclusivity for their material), but I would be remiss if I didn't write at least something about it here.
The new release is 2 separate discs with unique subtitles. The first volume is titled Essence and is 10 thematically bound tracks. The material is fairly mid-tempo throughout, with emotional Steve Hogarth vocalisation. Keyboards are incredibly prominent here...Mark Kelly showcases a wide range of sounds, from piano through treated organ and more traditional synth textures. Pete Trewavas and Ian Mosley are solid as ever holding down the rhythm...some have said Mosley has lost a touch off the top, but I find his playing to be beautiful in its restraint, playing deep in the pocket and adding flourishes here and there to change things up. I wish Steve Rothery was a bit higher in the mix...this is a complaint I have had for years now, and it doesn't seem to be something that is going to change. When I hear him playing, his singular instrumental voice remains as incisive as ever...I just wish there was more to be heard.
Highlights on volume 1 include "This Train is my Life," "Woke Up," the title track "Happiness is the Road," and the 'hidden' bonus track "Half Full Jam."
Volume 2 is subtitled The Hard Shoulder and is made up of additional tracks written and recorded at the same time which did not fit the themes presented on Essence. A more diverse collection of tracks in general, it still flows in the smooth mid-tempo Marillion has been exploring pretty heavily the past several albums. There's a bit more electronica ("The Man From Planet Marzipan"), some typical Marillion darkness ("Real Tears for Sale"), and the kind of quirkiness that has been a more visible bit of the band's raison d'etre for much of the Hogarth era ("Thunder Fly").
As a whole I don't think Happiness is the Road reaches the same kind of stratospheric heights the band found on albums like Marbles...yet I find it more consistent in general than much of their output since 1998. It's still too early to tell, but if I had to rank the band's studio output since 1998 right now, I'd have to say...
1) Marbles
2) Happiness is the Road
3) marillion.com
4) Anoraknophobia
5) Radiat10n
6) Somewhere Else
23 October 2008
Marillion 'official bootleg' boxed set details
I have been a Marillion fan since my misspent college days, having discovered a clutch of their albums at the old college radio station. For reasons that are not germane to this blog, I find it easier to listen to Hogarth era material than Fish era material, but it is the period from 1981 through 1987 that connects most viscerally with most progressive music fans.
The band is releasing a 6-CD boxed set of live recordings from the BBC and other radio station archives, and it's just the kind of thing that interests me...especially as I probably have a number of these performances from audience or off-air recordings. If you love early Marillion, this set is for you.
"The Early Stages" - Official Bootleg Box Set 1982-1987
6 CD box set, released by EMI Records Ltd., release date 17th November 2008, all previously unreleased.
Packaged in a cardboard fold around dedicated CD box.
CD 1: Live At The Mayfair, Glasgow 13/9/1982
01. Garden Party [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer/Jelliman/Minnett] (8.18)
02. The Web [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer/Jelliman/Minnett] (10.28)
03. He Knows You Know [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer/Jelliman/Minnett] (5.22)
04. She Chameleon [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas] (5.38)
05. Three Boats Down From The Candy [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer] (5.18)
06. Market Square Heroes [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer/Minnett] (6.19)
07. Forgotten Sons [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer/Jelliman/Minnett] (10.24)
All songs published by Charisma Music Publishing Co. Ltd. Recorded live at The Mayfair, Glasgow on September 13th, 1982 and broadcast by Radio Clyde.
(P) 2008 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by Bauer Media Ltd.
Fish: vocals
Guitars: Steve Rothery
Bass and vocals: Pete Trewavas
Keyboards: Mark Kelly
Drums: Mick Pointer
CD 2: Live At The Marquee, 30/12/1982 (part 1)
01. Garden Party [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer/Jelliman/Minnett] (8.28)
02. Three Boats Down From The Candy [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer] (6.49)
03. Grendel [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer/Jelliman/Minnett] (19.54)
04. Chelsea Monday [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer/Jelliman/Minnett] (9.20)
CD 3: Live At The Marquee, 30/12/1982 (part 2)
05. He Knows You Know [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer/Jelliman/Minnett] (8.22)
06. The Web [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer/Jelliman/Minnett] (11.49)
07. Script For A Jester's Tear [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer] (10.20)
08. Forgotten Sons [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer/Jelliman/Minnett] (12.03)
09. Market Square Heroes [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer/Minnett] (7.39)
10. Margaret [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas] (11.15)
All songs published by Charisma Music Publishing Co. Ltd. Recorded live at The Marquee Club, London, December 30th, 1982.
Produced by Nick Tauber
Engineered by Simon Hanhart
Mixed by Peter Mew at Abbey Road Studios, London mid 2007.
(P) 2008 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by EMI Records Ltd.
Fish: vocals
Guitars: Steve Rothery
Bass and vocals: Pete Trewavas
Keyboards: Mark Kelly
Drums: Mick Pointer
CD 4: Live At The Reading Festival 27/8/1983
01. Grendel [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer/Jelliman/Minnett] (18.07)
02. Garden Party [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer/Jelliman/Minnett] (6.46)
03. Script For A Jester's Tear [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer] (9.00)
04. Assassing [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas] (7.45)
05. Charting The Single [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer] (5.21)
06. Forgotten Sons [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer/Jelliman/Minnett] (11.41)
07. He Knows You Know [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer/Jelliman/Minnett] (5.42)
08. Market Square Heroes [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer/Minnett] (10.21) (incorporates - 0.13 of The Jean Genie [David Bowie] Publisher: North America - Tintoretto Music (BMI) administered by RZO Music, Inc., Screen Gems-EMI Music, Inc. (BMI) o/b/o EMI Music Publishing Ltd., Chrysalis Songs (BMI). Rest of World - Tintoretto Music/RZO Music Ltd., EMI Music Publishing Ltd., Chrysalis Music Ltd. And 1.07 of The Web [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer/Jelliman/Minnett])
All songs published by Charisma Music Publishing Co. Ltd. except as stated on track 8.
Recorded live for BBC Radio 1's Friday Rock Show at the Reading Rock Festival, The Thames Side Arena, Reading, August 27th, 1983.
(P) 2008 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by BBC Released by arrangement with BBC Music.
Fish: vocals
Guitars: Steve Rothery
Bass and vocals: Pete Trewavas
Keyboards: Mark Kelly
Drums: John Martyr
Percussion: Andy Ward
CD 5: Live At Hammersmith Odeon 14/12/1984
01. Assassing [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas] (6.50)
02. Garden Party [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer/Jelliman/Minnett] (6.52)
03. Cinderella Search [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Mosley] (6.16)
04. Punch & Judy [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Mover] (3.30)
05. Jigsaw [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas] (7.02)
06. Chelsea Monday [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Pointer/Jelliman/Minnett] (8.13)
Misplaced Childhood part 1:
07. Pseudo Silk Kimono [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Mosley] (2.53)
08. Kayleigh [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Mosley] (3.53)
09. Bitter Suite [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Mosley] (6.02)
10. Heart Of Lothian [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Mosley] (4.24)
11. Incubus [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas] (9.08)
12. Fugazi [Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Mosley] (10.32)
All songs published by The Charisma Music Publishing Co. Ltd. Recorded live for BBC Radio International at the Hammersmith Odeon on 14th December, 1984.
(P) 2008 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by BBC Released by arrangement with BBC Music.
Fish: vocals
Guitars: Steve Rothery
Bass and vocals: Pete Trewavas
Keyboards: Mark Kelly
Drums and percussion: Ian Mosley
CD 6: Live At Wembley Arena 5/11/1987
01. Slainte Mhath (5.03)
02. White Russian (6.01)
03. Incubus (8.56)
04. Sugar Mice (7.03)
05. Fugazi (8.15)
06. Hotel Hobbies (4.07)
07. Warm Wet Circles (4.30)
08. That Time Of The Night (The Short Straw) (5.53)
09. The Last Straw (6.13)
10. Kayleigh (4.28)
11. Lavender (2.23)
12. Bitter Suite (8.08)
13. Heart Of Lothian (3.56)
All songs written by Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas/Mosley except Incubus written by Dick/Kelly/Rothery/Trewavas All songs published by The Charisma Music Publishing Co. Ltd.
Recorded for BBC Radio 1's In Concert at Wembley Arena, London, November 5th, 1987. First transmitted 7th November 1987
(P) 2008 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by BBC Released by arrangement with BBC Music.
Fish: vocals
Guitars: Steve Rothery
Bass and vocals:
Pete Trewavas
Keyboards: Mark Kelly
Drums and percussion: Ian Mosley
Backing vocals by Corie Josias
Mastered by Peter Mew at Abbey Road Studios, London
20 October 2008
Now Playing...
I took an enforced weekend off...spent it in bed with a nasty cold. I'm back on my feet and will be updating furiously this week...or as furiously as my time will allow ;-)
In any event, here are the albums that are currently getting a lot of spins here...
NEW RELEASES:
Marillion - Happiness is the Road Volume 1: Essence
Marillion - Happiness is the Road Volume 2: The Hard Shoulder
Cardboard Amanda - Cardboard Amanda
Karmakanic - Who's the Boss in the Factory
CATALOGUE RELEASES:
Strawbs - Hero & Heroine
Strawbs - Ghosts
The Enid - In the Region of the Summer Stars
The Enid - Aerie Faerie Nonsense
"I used to be half empty, but now I'm half full..."
In any event, here are the albums that are currently getting a lot of spins here...
NEW RELEASES:
Marillion - Happiness is the Road Volume 1: Essence
Marillion - Happiness is the Road Volume 2: The Hard Shoulder
Cardboard Amanda - Cardboard Amanda
Karmakanic - Who's the Boss in the Factory
CATALOGUE RELEASES:
Strawbs - Hero & Heroine
Strawbs - Ghosts
The Enid - In the Region of the Summer Stars
The Enid - Aerie Faerie Nonsense
"I used to be half empty, but now I'm half full..."
03 October 2008
REVIEW: Marillion - Somewhere in London
No one can accuse Marillion of failing to provide new product for their devoted fanbase to devour. Not a year goes by without some live album, DVD, boxed set, or whatever, for Freaks (or Anoraks, I’ve been out of their scene long enough that I still consider myself a Freak, being a fan from the earlier days) to enjoy.
While there’s a pile of new stuff coming out (a new double album, now officially ‘leaked’ on P2P sites, a 6-CD boxed set of Fish era live concerts), today we’re taking a look at Somewhere in London, the newest double live DVD to come from the band. It covers a pair of London shows from the tour to support Somewhere Else, the band’s most recent (and fanbase-polarising) release.
Long time fans know Marillion doesn’t sit on their laurels. The setlist for this release mirrors this; there is but a single Fish-era track performed here (and that only on the ‘bonus’ second disc); the rest of the performance draws from the 10 albums the band has recorded with ‘new’ lead singer Steve ‘h’ Hogarth. It’s no longer fair (and hasn’t been fair for a long time now) to call him the ‘new’ lead singer; his tenure in the band far outstrips that of Fish’s time with the Marillos. While fans of the ‘classic’ new wave of British prog rock (NWOBPH) sound may no longer find much in common with what Marillion is doing these days, no one can deny that each album has been different from the one previous…each album is a reaction to the one before, and has no bearing on what will follow. Somewhere Else was no exception, and I now it was a very polarising release…as much of the fanbase embraced it and called it their best ever as tossed it aside and called it dross. From that standpoint, perhaps Marillion succeeded beyond their wildest expectations…certainly an album that elicits such wide disparity in opinion has something to offer (my take, in case you were curious…it did very little for me).
However…
Live, the material from Somewhere Else takes on a whole new life. “Most Toys,” “Faith,” and “Thankyou Whoever You Are” come across much stronger here then they did in the studio. Additionally, earlier songs such as “Fantastic Place” and “Neverland,” from the very fantastic Marbles double album are almost impossibly powerful here. Both songs cause goosebump moments for me in this live performance, and I have to admit to being driven damned close to tears on “Neverland.” Three other older tracks, the rarity “The Release,” "King" from Afraid of Sunlight (1995), and “Splintering Heart” from 1991’s Holidays In Eden, are the only tracks on the main programme in excess of a decade old…everything else comes from This Strange Engine and forward.
I’m not totally enamoured of the filming…occasionally darker than my tastes like, with more quick cuts than I like to see as well, the video is certainly less ADD-ridden than some concert videos of recent vintage, yet cut more quickly than I think is necessary. It’s nice to see crowd shots, but when the crowd takes up 2/3 of the screen with the band just a side note (and visible at the same time), I find it distracts a bit more than I like. I have no qualms about the audio mix, however…it’s nice and ‘present,’ with good instrument separation and good clarity.
The show doesn’t end with the end credits on the first DVD; Marillion has packed in a second disc filled with all kinds of extras. The first portion is called “here’s some we played earlier…” and is made of of other songs from the same pair of shows filmed for the main programme. We get our only Fish-era song (“Sugar Mice”), a solid if somewhat disappointingly average take on the epic “Ocean Cloud” (which I think ultimately comes across better in the studio), the poignant “Afraid of Sunlight” and “Estonia,” and three other London performances. See my criticisms of the main programme above for similar comments I’d otherwise just be copying and pasting here.
The second bit is subtitled ‘Racket Club Rehearsal,’ and covers a radio station contest where winners were whisked off to the band’s studio for a special private concert/rehearsal. The background to the performance is cool and helps set the stage for the show. We get alternate versions of “Estonia” and “Neverland,” both played during the main show sets, as well as three tracks from Somewhere Else. Finally, four 5.1 remixes of tracks from the Somewhere Else album round out the package.
Somewhere in London offers good evidence that the band is in as strong shape musically as they have ever been. While they have pretty much left the past behind (for better or for worse, depending on what era your fandom centers around), they remain a vital musical entity, exploring avenues that energise and exicte them.
Disc 1
Splintering Heart
The Other Half
You're Gone
No Such Thing
Faith
Thankyou Whoever You Are
Fantastic Place
The Wound
A Voice from the Past
Somewhere Else
Man of a Thousand Faces
Between You and Me
King
The Release
Neverland
Disc 2
HERE'S SOME WE PLAYED EARLIER
Ocean Cloud
Afraid of Sunlight
Beautiful
Most Toys
Estonia
Sugar Mice
Easter
RACKET CLUB REHEARSAL
The Last Century for Man
Estonia
Neverland
Faith
See it Like a Baby
SURROUND SOUND ALBUM MIXES
The Wound
A Voice from the Past
No Such Thing
Somewhere Else
While there’s a pile of new stuff coming out (a new double album, now officially ‘leaked’ on P2P sites, a 6-CD boxed set of Fish era live concerts), today we’re taking a look at Somewhere in London, the newest double live DVD to come from the band. It covers a pair of London shows from the tour to support Somewhere Else, the band’s most recent (and fanbase-polarising) release.
Long time fans know Marillion doesn’t sit on their laurels. The setlist for this release mirrors this; there is but a single Fish-era track performed here (and that only on the ‘bonus’ second disc); the rest of the performance draws from the 10 albums the band has recorded with ‘new’ lead singer Steve ‘h’ Hogarth. It’s no longer fair (and hasn’t been fair for a long time now) to call him the ‘new’ lead singer; his tenure in the band far outstrips that of Fish’s time with the Marillos. While fans of the ‘classic’ new wave of British prog rock (NWOBPH) sound may no longer find much in common with what Marillion is doing these days, no one can deny that each album has been different from the one previous…each album is a reaction to the one before, and has no bearing on what will follow. Somewhere Else was no exception, and I now it was a very polarising release…as much of the fanbase embraced it and called it their best ever as tossed it aside and called it dross. From that standpoint, perhaps Marillion succeeded beyond their wildest expectations…certainly an album that elicits such wide disparity in opinion has something to offer (my take, in case you were curious…it did very little for me).
However…
Live, the material from Somewhere Else takes on a whole new life. “Most Toys,” “Faith,” and “Thankyou Whoever You Are” come across much stronger here then they did in the studio. Additionally, earlier songs such as “Fantastic Place” and “Neverland,” from the very fantastic Marbles double album are almost impossibly powerful here. Both songs cause goosebump moments for me in this live performance, and I have to admit to being driven damned close to tears on “Neverland.” Three other older tracks, the rarity “The Release,” "King" from Afraid of Sunlight (1995), and “Splintering Heart” from 1991’s Holidays In Eden, are the only tracks on the main programme in excess of a decade old…everything else comes from This Strange Engine and forward.
I’m not totally enamoured of the filming…occasionally darker than my tastes like, with more quick cuts than I like to see as well, the video is certainly less ADD-ridden than some concert videos of recent vintage, yet cut more quickly than I think is necessary. It’s nice to see crowd shots, but when the crowd takes up 2/3 of the screen with the band just a side note (and visible at the same time), I find it distracts a bit more than I like. I have no qualms about the audio mix, however…it’s nice and ‘present,’ with good instrument separation and good clarity.
The show doesn’t end with the end credits on the first DVD; Marillion has packed in a second disc filled with all kinds of extras. The first portion is called “here’s some we played earlier…” and is made of of other songs from the same pair of shows filmed for the main programme. We get our only Fish-era song (“Sugar Mice”), a solid if somewhat disappointingly average take on the epic “Ocean Cloud” (which I think ultimately comes across better in the studio), the poignant “Afraid of Sunlight” and “Estonia,” and three other London performances. See my criticisms of the main programme above for similar comments I’d otherwise just be copying and pasting here.
The second bit is subtitled ‘Racket Club Rehearsal,’ and covers a radio station contest where winners were whisked off to the band’s studio for a special private concert/rehearsal. The background to the performance is cool and helps set the stage for the show. We get alternate versions of “Estonia” and “Neverland,” both played during the main show sets, as well as three tracks from Somewhere Else. Finally, four 5.1 remixes of tracks from the Somewhere Else album round out the package.
Somewhere in London offers good evidence that the band is in as strong shape musically as they have ever been. While they have pretty much left the past behind (for better or for worse, depending on what era your fandom centers around), they remain a vital musical entity, exploring avenues that energise and exicte them.
Disc 1
Splintering Heart
The Other Half
You're Gone
No Such Thing
Faith
Thankyou Whoever You Are
Fantastic Place
The Wound
A Voice from the Past
Somewhere Else
Man of a Thousand Faces
Between You and Me
King
The Release
Neverland
Disc 2
HERE'S SOME WE PLAYED EARLIER
Ocean Cloud
Afraid of Sunlight
Beautiful
Most Toys
Estonia
Sugar Mice
Easter
RACKET CLUB REHEARSAL
The Last Century for Man
Estonia
Neverland
Faith
See it Like a Baby
SURROUND SOUND ALBUM MIXES
The Wound
A Voice from the Past
No Such Thing
Somewhere Else
08 April 2008
Marillion Weekend Canada 2009
http://www.marillionweekend.com/canada/index.htm
Details coming soon. Tickets on sale in June, according to the newsletter:
"Hello all!
We're very pleased to announce that in 2009 there won't just be one Marillion Weekend but TWO!
The first Marillion Weekend will take place March 20th-23rd, 2009, at CenterParcs Port Zélande in the Netherlands - this will be the same structure as the previous Marillion Weekend held there in 2007. We will be taking over the whole park and supplying accommodation and 3 nights of Marillion concerts. Full details can be found by heading over to www.marillionweekend.com - bookings for Marillion Weekend 2009 - Netherlands will start the week commencing 5th May 2008. Whey hey!!
The SECOND Marillion Weekend in 2009 is provisionally scheduled to take place in Montreal, Canada from April 3rd-5th, 2009. This will be a slightly different affair as we will not be providing any accommodation as part of the package; but Montreal is full of great hotels, hostels, and B&B's to house you.
The plan will be the same three concerts that we perform at the Marillion Weekend 2009 - Netherlands. This convention is still a work in progress, though, and we hope to add some additional information to the website in the coming weeks. The tickets for this event should go on sale sometime in June 2008. Updated details can also be found at www.marillionweekend.com as they become available - sorry it's a bit sketchy at the moment, but we thought you'd like to know even it it's not 100% confirmed yet...
If you have been to one of our Marillion Weekends before then you know how much fun they are. If you've never been, then take a look at the website and you can read some of the feedback from past attendees. We'd love you to come and be a part of it!
Mark, Ian, H, Pete and Steve "
Details coming soon. Tickets on sale in June, according to the newsletter:
"Hello all!
We're very pleased to announce that in 2009 there won't just be one Marillion Weekend but TWO!
The first Marillion Weekend will take place March 20th-23rd, 2009, at CenterParcs Port Zélande in the Netherlands - this will be the same structure as the previous Marillion Weekend held there in 2007. We will be taking over the whole park and supplying accommodation and 3 nights of Marillion concerts. Full details can be found by heading over to www.marillionweekend.com - bookings for Marillion Weekend 2009 - Netherlands will start the week commencing 5th May 2008. Whey hey!!
The SECOND Marillion Weekend in 2009 is provisionally scheduled to take place in Montreal, Canada from April 3rd-5th, 2009. This will be a slightly different affair as we will not be providing any accommodation as part of the package; but Montreal is full of great hotels, hostels, and B&B's to house you.
The plan will be the same three concerts that we perform at the Marillion Weekend 2009 - Netherlands. This convention is still a work in progress, though, and we hope to add some additional information to the website in the coming weeks. The tickets for this event should go on sale sometime in June 2008. Updated details can also be found at www.marillionweekend.com as they become available - sorry it's a bit sketchy at the moment, but we thought you'd like to know even it it's not 100% confirmed yet...
If you have been to one of our Marillion Weekends before then you know how much fun they are. If you've never been, then take a look at the website and you can read some of the feedback from past attendees. We'd love you to come and be a part of it!
Mark, Ian, H, Pete and Steve "
03 March 2008
Script for a Jester's Tour
2008 marks the 25th anniversary of the classic Marillion debut Script For A Jester's Tear. Founding member Mick Pointer will celebrate the occasion with a live performance of the entire album. After the successful "try out" in Swindon (UK) last January, the rest of Europe gets the opportunity to experience this unique event in April 2008!
Besides Mick, the band consists of Nick Barrett (Pendragon) on guitars, Mike Varty (Credo) on keyboards, Ian Salmon on bass and Brian Cummins (Genesis tribute band The Carpet Crawlers) on vocals. In addition to the entire Script album, the set list will contain the songs "Charting The Single," "Three Boats Down From The Candy," "Market Square Heroes," "Grendel" and "Margaret."
The dates confirmed so far are:
16/04/08 UK Riffs Bar Swindon
17/04/08 NED Zoetermeer De Boerderij
18/04/08 GER Erfurt Gewerkschaftshaus
19/04/08 GER Cologne Live Music Hall
20/04/08 GER Lorsch Musiktheater Rex
21/04/08 GER Aschaffenburg Colos-Saal
22/04/08 GER Stuttgart LKA Longhorn
23/04/08 SUI Pratteln Z 7
24/04/08 BEL Verviers Spirit of 66
25/04/08 GER Bochum Zeche
26/04/08 NED Uden De Pul
27/04/08 GER Braunschweig Meier Music Hall
28/04/08 GER Hamburg Fabrik
29/04/07 POL Warsaw TBC!
30/04/07 POL Krakow TBC!
Besides Mick, the band consists of Nick Barrett (Pendragon) on guitars, Mike Varty (Credo) on keyboards, Ian Salmon on bass and Brian Cummins (Genesis tribute band The Carpet Crawlers) on vocals. In addition to the entire Script album, the set list will contain the songs "Charting The Single," "Three Boats Down From The Candy," "Market Square Heroes," "Grendel" and "Margaret."
The dates confirmed so far are:
16/04/08 UK Riffs Bar Swindon
17/04/08 NED Zoetermeer De Boerderij
18/04/08 GER Erfurt Gewerkschaftshaus
19/04/08 GER Cologne Live Music Hall
20/04/08 GER Lorsch Musiktheater Rex
21/04/08 GER Aschaffenburg Colos-Saal
22/04/08 GER Stuttgart LKA Longhorn
23/04/08 SUI Pratteln Z 7
24/04/08 BEL Verviers Spirit of 66
25/04/08 GER Bochum Zeche
26/04/08 NED Uden De Pul
27/04/08 GER Braunschweig Meier Music Hall
28/04/08 GER Hamburg Fabrik
29/04/07 POL Warsaw TBC!
30/04/07 POL Krakow TBC!
23 February 2008
EMI to release Fish-era Marillion boxed set
From the official forum:
NOT CONFIRMED STILL BEING JIGGLED SUBJECT TO CHANGE ETC PROPOSED TRACKLISTING:
A Live Anthology 1982 – 1988
CD 1/2: Live - At The Marquee, 30/12/1982
CD 3: Live - At The Reading Festival 27/8/83
CD 4: Live - tbc
CD 5: Live - At Hammersmith Odeon 14/12/84
CD 6: Live - At Wembley Arena 5/11/87
Bonus CD E.P.
DVD: Live & TV performances at the BBC (in CD size mini sleeve)
New Mark Wilkinson artwork
Replica of original an Marquee or similar early Tour Poster
Early replica tour T-shirt
Booklet to feature pictures, memorabilia and memories of each gig by band members and fans.
NOT CONFIRMED STILL BEING JIGGLED SUBJECT TO CHANGE ETC PROPOSED TRACKLISTING:
A Live Anthology 1982 – 1988
CD 1/2: Live - At The Marquee, 30/12/1982
CD 3: Live - At The Reading Festival 27/8/83
CD 4: Live - tbc
CD 5: Live - At Hammersmith Odeon 14/12/84
CD 6: Live - At Wembley Arena 5/11/87
Bonus CD E.P.
DVD: Live & TV performances at the BBC (in CD size mini sleeve)
New Mark Wilkinson artwork
Replica of original an Marquee or similar early Tour Poster
Early replica tour T-shirt
Booklet to feature pictures, memorabilia and memories of each gig by band members and fans.
04 February 2008
Upcoming reissues from Caroline Records
from MusicTap:
You should watch for some interesting things coming down the pike from our friends at Caroline Records. They have upcoming 2CD reissues of some Marillion titles that include Fugazi (1984), Clutching at Straws (1987), Misplaced Childhood (1985), Script for a Jester's Tear (1983), as well as Season's End (1989). All of these previous Import titles will be domestically released on March 25.
And if those weren't enough, the label will also reissue 8 Van der Graaf Generator titles in the Japanese-styled mini-LP sleeves. The titles will include Godbluff (1975), H to He Who Am The Only One (1970), The Least We Can Do is Wave to Each Other (1969), Pawn Hearts (1971), The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome (1977), Still Life (1976), Vital - Live (1978), and World Record (1976). These, like their previous announcements, are scheduled for March 25.
My assumption is the Marillion reissues will be the same as the EMI issues from 1997-ish, and as such, no need to purchase, as I have the complete set of 1997 reissues, including the mostly superfluous Best of Both Worlds 2-CD comp...no clue on the VdGG issues, though if these are coming out at domestic prices, I might plump for the VdGG releases. I am only missing Godbluff and Vital/Live of the 'original' band, but I might not be able to resist the lure of a complete set of mini-LP esque issues.
Once they are in hand, I'll let you know how they compare to the EMI/Charisma releases.
Oh, and don't forget...Van der Graaf Generator's new album, Trisector (their first as a trio of Hammill/Evans/Banton), is due out on 17 March.
corrected for typo in dating on one album release, thanks to reader brucekg for pointing this out to me...this will teach me to check things I get from other sites...
You should watch for some interesting things coming down the pike from our friends at Caroline Records. They have upcoming 2CD reissues of some Marillion titles that include Fugazi (1984), Clutching at Straws (1987), Misplaced Childhood (1985), Script for a Jester's Tear (1983), as well as Season's End (1989). All of these previous Import titles will be domestically released on March 25.
And if those weren't enough, the label will also reissue 8 Van der Graaf Generator titles in the Japanese-styled mini-LP sleeves. The titles will include Godbluff (1975), H to He Who Am The Only One (1970), The Least We Can Do is Wave to Each Other (1969), Pawn Hearts (1971), The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome (1977), Still Life (1976), Vital - Live (1978), and World Record (1976). These, like their previous announcements, are scheduled for March 25.
My assumption is the Marillion reissues will be the same as the EMI issues from 1997-ish, and as such, no need to purchase, as I have the complete set of 1997 reissues, including the mostly superfluous Best of Both Worlds 2-CD comp...no clue on the VdGG issues, though if these are coming out at domestic prices, I might plump for the VdGG releases. I am only missing Godbluff and Vital/Live of the 'original' band, but I might not be able to resist the lure of a complete set of mini-LP esque issues.
Once they are in hand, I'll let you know how they compare to the EMI/Charisma releases.
Oh, and don't forget...Van der Graaf Generator's new album, Trisector (their first as a trio of Hammill/Evans/Banton), is due out on 17 March.
corrected for typo in dating on one album release, thanks to reader brucekg for pointing this out to me...this will teach me to check things I get from other sites...
03 February 2008
I think we need to start seeing other people...
Quite the provocative title, no?
I don't want to pretend that I am some all knowing sage when it comes to progressive music. I've listened to a lot...this is true. And I tend to be all over the map...I'll go from zeuhl to neo to prog metal to RiO to Canterbury without so much as a blink of the eye. For me, music is music, and music I like is music I like. I try not to look at things...well, I do look at them deeper than that, but at the most elemental levels, it all boils down to that spark...the frisson that occurs when a band and a listener connect on some deeper level.
The problem occurs when that connection begins to wear out.
And it happens.
Often.
And when it happens, I am left wondering if there is actually fault to be laid. Have I grown to expect too much of a band, and they no longer meet expectations that perhaps they cannot in good faith ever meet? Or has the band moved past me...or me past the band?
I look at a band like The Flower Kings, perhaps the most currently in vogue band to bad mouth. For me, and despite the protestations of their most fervent fans, they have not released an album which has enthused and thrilled (OK, perhaps overkill there, but go with me on this) since Unfold the Future in 2003...and even there, only in part. Listening to them live, they certainly have the skills to pull off their compositions, and they play well live. But the material, for this listener, seems mired in a tried and true method, based around 20 minute epics on every album and a sound that has become trademark. Have I grown to a point where the familiar no longer exerts pull...or has the band become static?
I think it's really a combination of the two...and at the same time, one of us has changed, and the other hasn't.
Should I expect a band to follow my tastes? Not necessarily. At the same time, while I certainly want them to remain true to their muses (or muse, if it is a single band member who exerts the most influence on the band's oeuvre), growth...progress...progression...occurs when a band pushed beyond the familiar.
There are a number of bands I could say the same thing for. As an example, I find it odd that the release of a new Dream Theater album finds me suddenly realising that their previous release wasn't quite so bad, really. Spock's Beard is a band that has changed their sound radically, in much the same way Genesis did with the departure of Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett...and while I am glad they are staking out a new sonic arena in which to work, I find it generally of less interest to me these days. At the same time, I see a band like Marillion, who seems perfectly capable of releasing a brilliant album (Marbles) followed by utter dross (Somewhere Else), and doing so repeatedly. I'm sure each of these bands are following their muse...and more and more frequently, I am finding myself unwilling to follow.
There's more to explore here...but that will have to wait for another post, and another time.
93 93/93
I don't want to pretend that I am some all knowing sage when it comes to progressive music. I've listened to a lot...this is true. And I tend to be all over the map...I'll go from zeuhl to neo to prog metal to RiO to Canterbury without so much as a blink of the eye. For me, music is music, and music I like is music I like. I try not to look at things...well, I do look at them deeper than that, but at the most elemental levels, it all boils down to that spark...the frisson that occurs when a band and a listener connect on some deeper level.
The problem occurs when that connection begins to wear out.
And it happens.
Often.
And when it happens, I am left wondering if there is actually fault to be laid. Have I grown to expect too much of a band, and they no longer meet expectations that perhaps they cannot in good faith ever meet? Or has the band moved past me...or me past the band?
I look at a band like The Flower Kings, perhaps the most currently in vogue band to bad mouth. For me, and despite the protestations of their most fervent fans, they have not released an album which has enthused and thrilled (OK, perhaps overkill there, but go with me on this) since Unfold the Future in 2003...and even there, only in part. Listening to them live, they certainly have the skills to pull off their compositions, and they play well live. But the material, for this listener, seems mired in a tried and true method, based around 20 minute epics on every album and a sound that has become trademark. Have I grown to a point where the familiar no longer exerts pull...or has the band become static?
I think it's really a combination of the two...and at the same time, one of us has changed, and the other hasn't.
Should I expect a band to follow my tastes? Not necessarily. At the same time, while I certainly want them to remain true to their muses (or muse, if it is a single band member who exerts the most influence on the band's oeuvre), growth...progress...progression...occurs when a band pushed beyond the familiar.
There are a number of bands I could say the same thing for. As an example, I find it odd that the release of a new Dream Theater album finds me suddenly realising that their previous release wasn't quite so bad, really. Spock's Beard is a band that has changed their sound radically, in much the same way Genesis did with the departure of Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett...and while I am glad they are staking out a new sonic arena in which to work, I find it generally of less interest to me these days. At the same time, I see a band like Marillion, who seems perfectly capable of releasing a brilliant album (Marbles) followed by utter dross (Somewhere Else), and doing so repeatedly. I'm sure each of these bands are following their muse...and more and more frequently, I am finding myself unwilling to follow.
There's more to explore here...but that will have to wait for another post, and another time.
93 93/93
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