Mutual Admiration Society
moultano
Creator of ns_shiva. Join Date: 2002-12-14 Member: 10806Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Gold, NS2 Community Developer, Pistachionauts
Creator of ns_shiva. Join Date: 2002-12-14 Member: 10806Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Gold, NS2 Community Developer, Pistachionauts
<div class="IPBDescription">Best. Concert. Ever.</div> I just got back from Cleveland. 4 hour drive. Worth every second of it.
For those who haven't heard of it, the Mutual Admiration Society started as a collaboration between Nickel Creek (probably the best newgrass band around) and Glen Phillips (the creative force behind Toad the Wet Sprocket). Glen Phillips appeared as a guest on Sean Watkins' song "Let it Fall" and the resulting friendship produced a studio album called the "Mutual Admiration Society" that was released this summer.
Nickel Creek recruits guest bassists for their tours, and for this tour, on a whim they decided to ask John Paul Jones (of Led Zeppelin) and much to their surprise he accepted. They also recruited drummer Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello & The Attractions).
All the events prior to the concert pretty much sucked. We got into Cleveland later than we had hoped, rushed through dinner at an overpriced **** chinese place in which some very loud fat lady was conducting astrology readings for her depressed middle aged friends. My friends let me off at the club so I could pick up the tickets from will call while they parked the car, and though it was not listed anywhere on the website for this place, they charged me an extra two bucks to get in since I'm not yet 21. I missed the first song waiting for my friends to get back. By the time I got into the venue, the place was packed (sold out show) and there really wasn't anywhere decent to stand. I was in a very bad mood at this point and the prospects weren't looking good for me enjoying the concert.
Thankfully, my frustration didn't last long. The band broke into a moving rendition of the Toads song "Windmills" that was enough to drive any of my prior inconveniences out of mind. I was giggling with glee for most of the rest of concert.
The first half of the set was relatively tame. It consisted mostly of songs from the Mutual Admiration Society album, with a little additional jamming. Highlights included Nickel Creek's "Smoothie Song" on which John Paul Jones' bass runs added a perfect touch.
At the midpoint of the show, things started to get crazy. The first sign of a gear shift was when Sara, Chris, Glen, and John performed one song singing around a single mike with Sara playing the Ukulele. After this John Paul Jones picked up the mandolin and Sean Watkins joined him on guitar for a beautiful instrumental version of Led Zeppelin's "Going to California." Glen Phillips came out and played a song on his own.
As the last of these little vignettes, Chris Thile played Bach on his mandolin! The crowd went absolutely crazy at this. They were pin drop silent for the entire piece and absolutely exploded when it was finished. Chris Thile has got to be one of the best mandolin players in the world. When the rest of the band came back on stage, Glen quipped, "there's probably something illegal about playing Bach in shorts."
After a few more songs with some great solos from Sean and Chris they finished out the set with a medley, the highlight of which was a crazy transition from Nickel Creek's "The Fox" to Led Zeppelin's "The Immigrant Song."
There were two encores.
"And now we're going to play an old english folk song," Sara said with a smile as the popped back on stage. They launched into Led Zeppelin's "Gallows pole" which ended at an absolutely frenetic pace. Chris must have been inches from breaking strings.
They played "You Don't Have to Move that Mountain" a fast gospel tune for their second encore, and improvised all over the place. Every member of the band took at least one solo. They finished with a goofy little dance for the last few chords and left the stage grinning amidst thunderous cheers.
The most amazing thing about the concert was how much fun they were all obviously having. They would grin at eachother after particularly hot solos, goof around on stage. John Paul Jones did timid little dances with his shoulders. It was interesting seeing John Paul Jones, international rock superstar, reacting to the completely different concert style of an acoustic bluegrass band playing in a small club. As he joked, "Its a lot quieter up here."
To top it all off, they passed out sampler cds after the show with tracks from the band members' solo albums. We waited around after the show for the artists to come out. I got my picture taken with Sean Watkins (who has been quite an inspiration for my own guitar playing) and I got the sampler cd signed by Sean Watkins, Chris Thile, Glen Phillips, and Joh Paul Jones.
We finished off the night with some great icecream at a local parlor.
This concert absolutely made my month. If you have any opportunity of seeing them before the tour ends, DO IT! It was the best $28 I've ever spent.
For those who haven't heard of it, the Mutual Admiration Society started as a collaboration between Nickel Creek (probably the best newgrass band around) and Glen Phillips (the creative force behind Toad the Wet Sprocket). Glen Phillips appeared as a guest on Sean Watkins' song "Let it Fall" and the resulting friendship produced a studio album called the "Mutual Admiration Society" that was released this summer.
Nickel Creek recruits guest bassists for their tours, and for this tour, on a whim they decided to ask John Paul Jones (of Led Zeppelin) and much to their surprise he accepted. They also recruited drummer Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello & The Attractions).
All the events prior to the concert pretty much sucked. We got into Cleveland later than we had hoped, rushed through dinner at an overpriced **** chinese place in which some very loud fat lady was conducting astrology readings for her depressed middle aged friends. My friends let me off at the club so I could pick up the tickets from will call while they parked the car, and though it was not listed anywhere on the website for this place, they charged me an extra two bucks to get in since I'm not yet 21. I missed the first song waiting for my friends to get back. By the time I got into the venue, the place was packed (sold out show) and there really wasn't anywhere decent to stand. I was in a very bad mood at this point and the prospects weren't looking good for me enjoying the concert.
Thankfully, my frustration didn't last long. The band broke into a moving rendition of the Toads song "Windmills" that was enough to drive any of my prior inconveniences out of mind. I was giggling with glee for most of the rest of concert.
The first half of the set was relatively tame. It consisted mostly of songs from the Mutual Admiration Society album, with a little additional jamming. Highlights included Nickel Creek's "Smoothie Song" on which John Paul Jones' bass runs added a perfect touch.
At the midpoint of the show, things started to get crazy. The first sign of a gear shift was when Sara, Chris, Glen, and John performed one song singing around a single mike with Sara playing the Ukulele. After this John Paul Jones picked up the mandolin and Sean Watkins joined him on guitar for a beautiful instrumental version of Led Zeppelin's "Going to California." Glen Phillips came out and played a song on his own.
As the last of these little vignettes, Chris Thile played Bach on his mandolin! The crowd went absolutely crazy at this. They were pin drop silent for the entire piece and absolutely exploded when it was finished. Chris Thile has got to be one of the best mandolin players in the world. When the rest of the band came back on stage, Glen quipped, "there's probably something illegal about playing Bach in shorts."
After a few more songs with some great solos from Sean and Chris they finished out the set with a medley, the highlight of which was a crazy transition from Nickel Creek's "The Fox" to Led Zeppelin's "The Immigrant Song."
There were two encores.
"And now we're going to play an old english folk song," Sara said with a smile as the popped back on stage. They launched into Led Zeppelin's "Gallows pole" which ended at an absolutely frenetic pace. Chris must have been inches from breaking strings.
They played "You Don't Have to Move that Mountain" a fast gospel tune for their second encore, and improvised all over the place. Every member of the band took at least one solo. They finished with a goofy little dance for the last few chords and left the stage grinning amidst thunderous cheers.
The most amazing thing about the concert was how much fun they were all obviously having. They would grin at eachother after particularly hot solos, goof around on stage. John Paul Jones did timid little dances with his shoulders. It was interesting seeing John Paul Jones, international rock superstar, reacting to the completely different concert style of an acoustic bluegrass band playing in a small club. As he joked, "Its a lot quieter up here."
To top it all off, they passed out sampler cds after the show with tracks from the band members' solo albums. We waited around after the show for the artists to come out. I got my picture taken with Sean Watkins (who has been quite an inspiration for my own guitar playing) and I got the sampler cd signed by Sean Watkins, Chris Thile, Glen Phillips, and Joh Paul Jones.
We finished off the night with some great icecream at a local parlor.
This concert absolutely made my month. If you have any opportunity of seeing them before the tour ends, DO IT! It was the best $28 I've ever spent.
Comments
-Louis
When I talked to Sean Watkins after the show I suggested that they come to Pittsburgh, and a couple of people behind me agreed. He said they might be up there in October, and if so, I'd definately go again. I'm sure Rolli will want to go again, and probably Dwight Bussman also. If they come, I'll be in touch.
Here are some <a href='http://www.fishwaterinc.com/masp.htm' target='_blank'>pictures</a> that someone took of one of their earlier shows with MAS.
Here are the current tour dates for MAS and nickel creek. I would LOVE to hear them with the LA philharmonic! I have got to get some bootlegs of these!
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->08/12/04
Boston, MA
Paradise Club
Venue Format: GA/PS
Glen Phillips & Chris,
Sean & Sara
Time: 9:00 PM
On Sale: Now
Phone: 617.562.8801
08/13-08/14/04
New York, NY
Bowery Ballroom
Venue Format: GA/SR
Glen Phillips & Chris,
Sean & Sara
Time: 10:00 PM
On Sale: Now
Phone: 212.260.4700
08/15/04
Charleston, WV
Mountain Stage Radio Show
Glen Phillips & Chris,
Sean & Sara
Time: 7:30 PM
On Sale: Now
Phone: 304.556.4911
08/17/04
Lexington, VA
Theatre at Lime Kiln
Venue Format: GA/SR
Glen Phillips & Chris,
Sean & Sara
Time: 7:30 PM
On Sale: Now
Phone: 540.463.3074
08/18-08/19/04
Alexandria, VA Birchmere
Venue Format: GA/SR
Glen Phillips & Chris,
Sean & Sara
Time: 7:30 PM
On Sale: Now
Phone: 703.549.7500
UPCOMING NICKEL CREEK TOUR DATES
09/03-09/04/04
Hollywood, CA
Hollywood Bowl
Venue Format: Am
Reserved Seating
With: LA Philharmonic
Bowl Box Office: 323.850.2000
09/08/04
Saratoga, CA
Mountain Winery
Venue Format: GA & Res.
Time: 7:30 pm
On Sale: Now
Venue Phone: 408.741.2824<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
*checks to see whether they're going to ever be in the NYC area*
*checks to see whether they're going to ever be in the NYC area*<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Nice! <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
If anyone wants to check them out, I just found
<b><span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'><span style='color:red'>FREE LEGAL BOOTLEGS!!!!</span></span></b>
<!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<a href='http://www.archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=17148' target='_blank'>Hollywood, CA</a>
<a href='http://www.archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=17173' target='_blank'>Seattle, WA </a>
The first of the two concerts was recorded much more effectively. The second sounds like it was taped from the back of an airplane hangar, but its still good. I've already downloaded them, tagged them, and converted them to high quality musepack files. If anyone is interested in those, contact me on aim (screenname: moultano) and I'll be happy to send them over if I'm home.
just my luck, they're playing in NYC tomorrow and the day after and I probably can't afford tickets even if there ARE any to buy...