Greg Lake - Live

[omega4]

Greg Lake has just finished a tour in the UK with a new band. I am not sure that he has ever toured so many towns in Britain, and certainly not in the same decade. We were always left out on the ELP world tours,; for example they didn't play here between 1974 and 1992, and despite touring until 1997 never played here again!

So it was a huge surprise that Greg Lake played in Stevenage, a town about 35 miles north of London, in a converted sports hall. And wow, what a gig! He has assembled a fantastic band, including one of the finest young guitarists, a German, Florian Opahle. He covered songs from King Crimson, ELP, and yes, "I believe in Father Christmas." Brilliant performances all round, and a rather surprisingly different, and very good, version of "Take a Pebble" based around acoustic guitar instead of piano. And the show was filmed for an imminent DVD release. I really can't wait to see the show again.

Part of the tour merchandise is a DVD titled "Welcome Backstage." It covers rehearsals for the tour, it's in widescreen and DD and DTS (but it not planned to be available in stores - I think you can also order it from his website http://www.oneshoprock.com/products....HS&SubCatID=51
The sound is excellent. In fact the sound on the night of the show was probably the finest live presentation I've ever heard, and that includes all of the big name bands such as Yes, Floyd, etc. It didn't matter how many instruments and voices were in the mix on the night you could distinguish every single one.

If you get the chance to see Greg Lake take it, you will not be disappointed (or order the DVD!!)

[MC Maniac]

Thanks for posting the info omega..

I'm glad to see Greg doing something musically productive as none of the 3 ELP members have much to show since they broke up..

I did order the DVD and look forward to hearing Greg again..

[timw]

Thanks for posting this info. I'm looking fwd to the release of the concert DVD also!!
Tim

[omega4]

I also meant to mention that I saw the Carl Palmer Band two days before Greg Lake, in a local small music venue owned by Cleo Laine and John Dankworth (one for you jazz lovers!) He is also on tour in the UK, and soon Europe, to celebrate 35 years of ELP. As he said, "ELP are on tour again - just not in the same room!" His band is a trio with lead and bass guitars, but no vocals at all.

The Keith Emerson Band are currently touring Italy.

I think that there are common pieces in all their acts, definitely Fanfare... They are all quite different, and not surprisingly Carl Palmer's version is a bit (OK a lot) more percussive than the other two!!! (I saw KE about 2 years ago, so I can make a recent comparison.)

Speaking as a massive KE fan, I think Greg Lake's show probably has the edge, definitely for the live sound. I didn't mention in my first posting, but Greg is very generous with his famous guitar pieces. He is content to allow his fellow band members to pick up those. He never even gets near a bass guitar either.

Finally, the very best song by Greg for me was "From the Beginning" from Trilogy. I can't remember him doing it live before, but with a full band and backing singers it was fantastic. See the DVD when it's released for that one.

[VACamper]

That's interesting. I just discovered that both Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer are playing (separately) at my favorite local venue (The Birchmere, Alexandria, VA) over the next few months, but not Greg Lake. Too bad they can't get together and do a real ELP concert!

[MC Maniac]

That's interesting. I just discovered that both Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer are playing (separately) at my favorite local venue (The Birchmere, Alexandria, VA) over the next few months, but not Greg Lake. Too bad they can't get together and do a real ELP concert!

yeah really..

Greg plays mostly ELP stuff anyways - I've read Carl's band is pretty awful..

don't know much about Keith's band..

damn shame they can't kiss and make up and get back together..

[ssully]

ELP had 'From the Beginning' in their set on the last or next-to-last tour, several years ago.