New live VdGG releases!

This came out of left field...I didn't realise it was coming. Then again, I don't have Peter Hammill's news page bookmarked, only the lyrics page. Must remedy that. In any event, onward...

Now here's something exciting! The Trisector trio of Hugh Banton, Guy Evans and Peter Hammill performing an almost 2 hour concert with a great set-list in front of a tremendously enthusiastic crowd on April 14, 2007, all captured professionally.

"The Paradiso has been the scene of several epic shows in VdGG's past. This one's a gem of an addition to the collection. This was our first tour as a trio and by the time we arrived in Amsterdam we were well into our stride, having played nine previous shows. There's a mixture of old, new and rediscovered material here. The emphasis, though, is on looking forward rather than backward."-Peter Hammill

1. Lemmings
2. A Place To Survive
3. Lifetime
4. (In The) Black Room
5. Every Bloody Emperor
6. All That Before
7. Gog
8. Meurglys III, The Songwriter's Guild
9. The Sleepwalkers
10. Man-Erg
11. Scorched Earth

This is available on both CD and DVD, with the DVD also featuring an interview with PH from 2009. Looks like a must have!

(thanks to Steve F. from Wayside/Cuneiform for posting this and bringing it to my attention!)

Acoustic Strawbs tour details

The Strawbs will be touring as an acoustic trio this summer in the United States. Dave Cousins, the group's leader, is bringing his bandmates: guitarist Dave Lambert and bassist Chas Cronk for 14 shows (eight with Van Der Graaf Generator, six on its own).

Formed first in 1965 at the Strawberry Hill Boys, the group soon included Sandy Denny who recorded an album's worth of pop-flavored songs written by Cousins, and also the first recording of Denny's mesmerizing "Who Knows Where The Time Goes." Before a label could be found, Sandy decided her future lay elsewhere, and the album ALL OUR OWN WORK stayed in the can until PART OF THE UNION charted in 1973.

The Strawbs became the first UK act signed to Herb Alpert's A&M Records in 1969, and then added Rick Wakeman (who went on to join Yes), and Richard Hudson and John Ford on drums and bass respectively.

The 1972 ground-breaking album, GRAVE NEW WORLD brought Dave Lambert, and a harder rock style. The song "Lay Down" became a major hit for the group, and recently appeared on the BBC's TV show, "Life On Mars." Hudson and Ford left, and former Nashville Teens' keyboardist John Hawken joined, with Stealers Wheel's Rod Coombes, and bassist Cronk. The classic album HERO AND HEROINE and GHOSTS were released. This five-piece lineup has toured the States over the past few years, tho' Hawken retired from touring in 2008.

This summer (2009) the Strawbs will be performing as a three piece, including songs from the Acoustic Strawbs' 2001 album, BAROQUE AND ROLL.

JUNE ACOUSTIC STRAWBS US GIGS

Sunday 21 June - Nokia Theatre, New York NY w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Monday, 22 June - Stephen Talkhouse, Amagansett NY
Tuesday, 23 June - Regent Theatre, Arlington, MA w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Wednesday 24 June - State Theatre, Falls Church VA w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Thursday 25 June - Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland OH w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Friday 26 June - The Abbey, Chicago IL w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Saturday 27 June - Shank Hall, Milwaukee WI w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Monday 29 June - The Tralf, Buffalo NY w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Tuesday 30 June - Rex Theatre, Pittsburgh PA w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Wednesday 1 July - Ram's Head, Annapolis MA
Thursday, 2 July - Sellersville Theatre, Sellersville PA (opening: Jann Klose)
Friday, 3 July - Strand Theatre, Lakewood NJ
Saturday, 4 July - Towne Crier, Pawling NY
Sunday, 5 July - Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs NY

Full VdGG tour details

It's nearly on us...here's the full itinerary for the VdGG tour, with Strawbs supporting most, if not all, gigs:

19 JUN 09 USA, Bethlehem, PA, NEARfest Map
21 JUN 09 USA, New York City, NY, Nokia Theatre Map
23 JUN 09 USA, Arlington (Boston), MA, The Regent Theatre Map
24 JUN 09 USA, Falls Church (Washington), VA, The State Theatre Map
25 JUN 09 USA, Cleveland, OH, Beachland Ballroom Map
26 JUN 09 USA, Chicago, IL, The Abbey Pub Map
27 JUN 09 USA, Milwaukee, WI, Shank Hall Map
29 JUN 09 USA, Buffalo, NY, The Tralf Music Hall Map
30 JUN 09 USA, Pittsburgh, PA, Rex Theatre Map
01 JUL 09 USA, Annapolis, MD, Rams Head Tavern Map
04 JUL 09 Canada, Toronto, The Opera House, Toronto Jazz Festival Map
05 JUL 09 Canada, Hamilton, Hamilton Place Studio Theatre Map
08 JUL 09 Canada, Ottawa, Bluesfest Map
09 JUL 09 Canada, Montreal, Theatre Maisonneuve, Montreal Jazz Festival Map
10 JUL 09 Canada, Quebec City, Quebec City Summer Festival Map

VdGG - shows starting to trickle out

Looks like Van Der Graaf Generator will be traveling a bit further west on their upcoming jaunt to the US for NEARfest. Just announced:

NEW SHOW IN THE BEACHLAND BALLROOM

Thursday, June 25, 8 pm VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR & THE STRAWBS (acoustic )

Tix are $33.ADV/$35. DOS through www.beachlandballroom.com or 216-383-1124

Addendum to the Hammill NPR piece

Thanks to reader Robert Brandt for sending me the link to the profile on the NPR site:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96712715

There's some interesting commentary going on as well :-)

BTW...the gentleman who did the interview/profile, Chris Boros, has passed along through Robert that he is certainly interested in feedback. You may contact him through the link above...he wants NO SPAM, so please remove it from the address ;-)

Van der Graaf Generator January tour dates announced

A short run, this, but the best things come in small packages, to be savored briefly and intensely before they once again vanish into the mist...

January dates:

21st BUDAPEST, Hungary Palace of Arts, Bartok National Concert Hall
22nd PRAGUE, Cech Republic, Palac Akropolis
23rd MUNICH, Germany, Metropolis

26th MALAGA, SPAIN, Teatro Cervantes

Oh, an edit already...

From Phil at www.vandergraafgenerator.co.uk:

Due to a problem with the venue, VdGG won't be playing at the Metropolis in Munich on Jan 23rd. An alternative is being sought...

Peter Hammill news update

From his WEBSITE:

Many moons have passed...but you may be interested, now, to go and check out www.peterhammill.com where, finally, some lyric-labyrinthine adventures await, thanks to the indefatigable labours of adrian. more on this anon, but it's only right to let you know that something's been/is afoot there....

Also, of course, I'm back sane and safe (-ish) in mind and body from the Spanish tour. Very enjoyable but tiring in spite of days off - the distances to travel are *big*. A nice collection of grand pianos for the most part and a variable collection of songs.

And now.... Well, apparently my visa for the US has been approved, so it looks as though all systems are go for the tour. I still have to do the face to face interview (8 am Monday morning at the Embassy in London, have to stay overnight in the city, have to get in the queue an hour and a half beforehand) and then my passport has to get back to the office in time for me to pick it up before flying. Small considerations!

In the slightly later on, an extra date has now been added to the VdGG Tokyo story...

VdGG Japan:

27/28/29th June, O-West, Shibuya, TOKYO, Japan
extra date:
30th June Astro-Hall, TOKYO, Japan

PH solo USA:

15th June Jammin' Java, VIENNA, VA.
17th June The Cutting Room, NEW YORK, NY Tickets
18th June Colony Cafe, WOODSTOCK, NY
19th June Sellersville Theatre, SELLERSVILLE, PA
21st June NEARFEST festival, Bethlehem, PA, USA

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...