US tour reviews and stuff

[rivaldo]

Ecstatic review for the first US show...great stuff....no new songs I notice:

http://spinningplatters.com/2012/03/13/ ... 3122012-2/

And some videos are already up:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_t ... aded&uni=3

[IanL]

Nice one. Sounds like an interesting version of Llaw=Wall. Don't think I've seen that live, other than the acoustic version at the clarks gig.

[martinhardee]

I went to the Meet & Greet on Tuesday (their first of these). It's was a lot of fun. Here's my account:

http://martinhardee.tumblr.com/post/193 ... meet-greet

Some show videos soon.

[martinhardee]

Here is a video of "Silent" from San Francisco Tuesday night:

Silent: http://youtu.be/YZqKwdY2IF0

More videos:

Magnifying Glass: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvBH41dv ... ature=plcp

Endtapes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suRugjTF ... ature=plcp

Whirring: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzBPVVgu ... ature=plcp

Pictures etc to follow.

[ericlered]

Nice account and pictures martinhardee, hoping to find myself into one of these on the East Coast.

Surprised they performed "Silent Treatment" When they premiered it last week during the special UK shows they strictly didn't want any cameras as they don't particularly want new songs being leaked everywhere months before the album. Maybe they will just let this one out of the bag. I'd be surprised if they air anymore new songs this tour.

[IanL]

Surprised they performed "Silent Treatment" When they premiered it last week during the special UK shows they strictly didn't want any cameras as they don't particularly want new songs being leaked everywhere months before the album.

Did anyone actually say that? I saw lots of signs, and there was an announcement at the start, to the effect that that they didn't want anyone taking photos or video during the acoustic set. I thought then (and still do now) that the reason was they didn't want the quiet, intimate setting disturbed. If they were more concerened about songs being leaked, surely they should have asked for no audio recording, and they wouldn't have been bothered about photos?

Anyway, glad you enjoyed the soundcheck and show, Martin. Nice pics

[Ste]

Is it possible we misinterpreted the band's request at the Clarks shows? The signs around the venue, as well as the announcer, made the point that no photos or videos were to be taken, but there was no mention of audio recordings being made. Was the point to maintain an intimate vibe, without the constant click-click-clicking of cameras, not to suppress the material itself?

Either way, with the cat now well and truly out of the bag, it would be nice if the band could confirm their agreement to the Clarks acoustic sets being shared.

@Ian: seems we have both come to the same conclusion, although I did receive word from an insider, before the Manchester show, that the acoustic sets were not to be posted publicly. But with "Silent Treatment" being played live in the States, in essentially the same arrangement, I don't see any reason for the cloak-and-dagger stuff to continue.

[ericlered]

Good points Ian & Steve.

However through chatting with the band after the Clark's gigs they made it pretty clear that they wanted to be quite careful of not putting too much "new stuff" out there when the album was still 6 or 7 months away from release.

Given the methodology behind previous releases, where A Balloon was given away as a free download and unreleased songs Magnifying Glass and Abacus came out over a year earlier than TBR on a limited live album i think this obviously confirms that the record company now have an influence on such matters.

Which in turn makes it all the more surprising that "Silent Treatment" was aired in San Francisco.

Like you say Steve, i don't see any reason why the Clark's acoustic sets need be kept under wraps now.

Maybe Joel would like to offer an official line?

[marra]

Which in turn makes it all the more surprising that "Silent Treatment" was aired in San Francisco

I like to think it was played especially for ESBC

[ericlered]

Which in turn makes it all the more surprising that "Silent Treatment" was aired in San Francisco

I like to think it was played especially for ESBC

I would hope so Ian!!

[perceptionnexus]

anybody get a good close inspection of the merch stand at any of the shows so far (items, prices)? I'd like to load up with swag when I see em next week.

[Dan]

They were great here in LA.

[Vetiver]

Good interview with Ritzy prior to tonights Denver show.
http://blogs.westword.com/backbeat/2012 ... idable.php

[martinhardee]

Surprised they performed "Silent Treatment" When they premiered it last week during the special UK shows they strictly didn't want any cameras as they don't particularly want new songs being leaked everywhere months before the album.

Did anyone actually say that? I saw lots of signs, and there was an announcement at the start, to the effect that that they didn't want anyone taking photos or video during the acoustic set. I thought then (and still do now) that the reason was they didn't want the quiet, intimate setting disturbed. If they were more concerened about songs being leaked, surely they should have asked for no audio recording, and they wouldn't have been bothered about photos?

Anyway, glad you enjoyed the soundcheck and show, Martin. Nice pics

Thanks. They seemed fine with it; I was right in front of Ritzy as I was making the video it, and she was smiling. At the M&G we had talked about her dad is a pretty dedicated taper.

P.S. Of course I'm glad to take it down if the band wishes.

[martinhardee]

Here is my write-up of the actual show, with more pictures and some of the videos in context:

http://martinhardee.tumblr.com/post/195 ... ur-friends