September 26th, Second MK Warm Up Gig, Tower Bridge Bussiness Complex, London

[Eddie Fox]

Btw:

Guy explained something about the special sound of Gator Blood - with drums, room, mic's, etc. I did not really understand it. Was MK standing next to the drums when they recorded them and sang through the drum mic's? Or what did Guy exactly mean with his explanation?   

LE

I might be mistaken but my understanding is that they tried and used several different approaches during the recordings. Some songs such as Dream of the Drowned Submariner and Kingdom of Gold seem to have had the instruments recorded separately. Others like Blood and Water and Haul Away sound live but in separate rooms. Gator Blood, if I got it right, was recorded with no isolation at all, the wolf pack playing together in the same room, each mic picking up a bit of everyone's outcome and so on. That's old school sort of recording, which I particulary dislike...

[Eddie Fox]

Re the setlists, Sonny Liston, Knoxville and Marbletown make no sense to me anymore.

[dmg]

Re the setlists, Sonny Liston, Knoxville and Marbletown make no sense to me anymore.

Most interesting to me was that Knoxville made it into the set both nights.  Makes sense that it's the sort of song to be played once every three or four shows, but looks like it may be a staple on this tour.  I quite like it.

[Marikablue]

I think that " Knoxville " is close to " Beanstalk " on the new album. Songs who haven't a big apeal to me 

[dmg]

I think that " Knoxville " is close to " Beanstalk " on the new album. Songs who haven't a big apeal to me 

Yes, kind of bluegrass.  Beanstalk is okay I think but Knoxville is much better.

[superval99]

Re the setlists, Sonny Liston, Knoxville and Marbletown make no sense to me anymore.

To my knowledge, "Daddy's Gone......"  has only been played live a couple of times - the first night in Amsterdam 2008 and, according to Mossguitar, in Oslo 2006, so it hasn't exactly been overplayed.   I like it!   

[dmg]

Sonny Liston is played for Bob because it's supposed to be his favourite isn't it?

Marblebore is played to showcase the other band members (if the audience can stay awake long enough)!

Knoxville deserves another chance.

[a visitor]

Knoxville sounds very cabaret too me, almost parodical. Maybe it's the new Done With Bonaparte?

Come to think of it - Dylan has a few songs that are in the style of Knoxville, doesn't he?

[marky49]

Hi,

Just a few words from me us I'm waiting for boarding...I shoot a car race at Nuerburgring tomorrow.
I met Paul outside the studio and had a quick chat. The complex is an old factory place, in a not so nice area. Guy, Mike and Richard said hello when we were brought in to the rehearsal room and I was standing right infront MK, little bit to the right. No photos allowed and we were watched tight!
The sound was bad at the beginning, MK's guitar very loud, his voice too low. It improved over time.
My favourite was 'kingdom' great playing of MK. Mike also played guitar and drums, Knoxville not my cup of tea.

Guy lost a lot of weight, nice haircut and shaved!

[dmg]

I don't want to sound negative all the time but I'm not keen on too many multi-instumentalists;  jack of all trades, master of none springs to mind.  These guys can't be word class at playing everything, maybe they should just stick to what they specialise in or maybe Mark should just not use them in alien positions.  There is a great drummer and a pretty good guitarist in the band so why is Mike playing drums and guitar?

The factory site was, according to Guy the old Peek Freans biscuit factory!  Inventors of the Twiglet (yuk), garibaldi and the bourbon cream among others.  They don't trade under that name in the UK any more, I think it's United Biscuits.

[NicoMK]

I don't want to sound negative all the time but I'm not keen on too many multi-instumentalists;  jack of all trades, master of none springs to mind.  These guys can't be word class at playing everything, maybe they should just stick to what they specialise in or maybe Mark should just not use them in alien positions.  There is a great drummer and a pretty good guitarist in the band so why is Mike playing drums and guitar?

I wouldn't want to sound negative either but this drum thing sounds weird indeed. First Danny no more, then Mike playing drums on some songs apparently

[a visitor]

I'm sure Mike plays drums on only something really rudimentary. Plus, Mark wouldn't allow any half-assed playing, so they have to have a certain standard.

[superval99]

I don't want to sound negative all the time but I'm not keen on too many multi-instumentalists;  jack of all trades, master of none springs to mind. 

Having heard John and Mike play outside of MK shows, I would never in a million years call them jack-of-all-trades!   They are very accomplished musicians and masters of the instruments they play!   

[allen]

Thank marky49 for your quick review.  Glad you got a very good position enjoying the gig.  It made me recheck the pics Guy posted. 

Wishes
Allen

[dmg]

I don't want to sound negative all the time but I'm not keen on too many multi-instumentalists;  jack of all trades, master of none springs to mind. 

Having heard John and Mike play outside of MK shows, I would never in a million years call them jack-of-all-trades!   They are very accomplished musicians and masters of the instruments they play!

I can fully understand where you're coming from and I've no problem with Mike playing whistles and pipes, John playing fiddle and cittern because they are in the same musical "locality."  However, drums require Mike to use his passport!  Just completely out of his comfort zone and not the style of musical instrument he is good at playing.  The same when John goes for a wee shot on the guitar.