Sunday, July 17, 2005

X, The Plimsouls and The Pacific Amphiteater's "Wall Of Mud"

The Plimsouls and X take the stage in Costa Mesa

You may remember The Plimsouls as the band in the 80's, coming of age flick, "Valley Girl". "A Million Miles Away" is the song they are best known for. Here's something you may not have known: The Plimsouls were the first band ever to play at the Pacific Amphitheater back in 1983.

Judging from last Friday's concert, the sound system at The Pac Amp hasn't changed much. It reduced what should have been the shimmering pop/ rock of the Plimsouls to a muddy cacophony. Think of listening to a bell with earmuffs on. So much for a triumphant return for our New Wave Heroes.

History has shown that this is not an isolated incident. Other Pac Amp concerts, including last years' Roxy Music show, suffered the same fate. Apparently the sound system is inherently unclear and distorted and no matter what the act.

With Friday's headling band, punk icons X, it didn't seem to matter quite as much. Their lyrics are often difficult to decipher even under the best of conditions. And the fanatical crowd didn't seem to mind. Still it would be nice to have SOME aural clarity.

It's nice that The OC Fair can pull in some big name acts. But until something is done to improve the sound quality at The Pac Amp, make the drive to somewhere else to see your favorite bands.

-DJ Craig

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Live 8

Bob Geldof's consciousness raising, one day mega-concert produced some memorable performances. There was much to choose from as Saturday's Live 8 was broadcast live from hosting venues in London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Philadelphia, Barrie, Tokyo, Moscow and Johannesburg.

Twenty years after taking the stage for the original Live Aid, Madonna provided one of the musical highlights with an electric performance of "Like a Prayer."

The show in London's Hyde Park opened with a historic collaboration between U2 and Sir Paul McCartney, who kicked off the show by teaming up for a live performance of "Sgt. Pepper's."

A seemingly impossible reunion took place when Pink Floyd founder/lyricist Roger Waters joined his bandmates onstage for the first time in more than 20 years. The group never sounded better as their renditions of "Breathe", "Money, "Wish You Were Here" were spot on. They encored with their classic "Comfortably Numb," from The Wall.

Geldof's promised "greatest concert ever" may have lived up to it's hype. Millions watched the globe-spanning concerts in person and an estimated billion or more tuned in to the broadcast for what will likely be the most-watched music event in history.

For more check http://www.live8live.com/ and http://www.one.org/

-DJ Craig