Interview: Dean Ween

“Catch” what Dean Ween of Ween is doing these days when he’s not playing rock and roll in this Spinner.com interview I did with him recently. Photo by Chris Gately.

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Feature: Ladies and Gentleman, The Fabulous Stains

Check out my interview with the Tubes’ Fee Waybill, who appeared in the 1981 cult rock n’ roll movie Ladies and Gentleman, the Fabulous Stains, starring Diane Lane and Laura Dern, in Spinner.com.

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CD Review: David Gilmour

David Gilmour
Live in Gdansk
Columbia
By David Chiu

With the recent passing of keyboardist Richard Wright, Pink Floyd may never perform again on stage. So this recent album by guitarist David Gilmour, recorded in Poland from his 2006 solo tour, is the closest one will ever get to hearing a piece of Floyd live either by him or bassist/chief songwriter Roger Waters. This 2-CD set draws material from Floyd’s back catalog (“Breathe,” “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” “Wish You Were Here,” and the 26-minute epic “Echoes”) and tracks from Gilmour’s most recent album On an Island. The musicianship is absolutely superb in recreating Floyd’s atmospheric and dense sound live, and Gilmour’s underrated yet brilliant soaring guitar work continues to dazzle (Check out the solos during his performance of “On an Island,” and of course “Comfortably Numb”). What makes this recording also poignant is the appearance of Wright here—Live in Gdansk was just released around the time of his death. Until something else comes out of the archives, Live in Gdansk will satisfy fans appetite for new Floyd stuff.

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Live: Goldfrapp at Radio City Music Hall

Goldfrapp
Radio City Music Hall
September 12, 2008
By David Chiu

Just like the approach of their most recent album, Goldfrapp’s recent performance at Radio City Music Hall was kind of toned down a bit—not the spectacle or extravaganza I thought I was expecting to see based on what I heard about their previous shows. (No one wearing antelope heads this time). Still, it doesn’t take away from a solid performance by the band fronted by the always visually charismatic Allison Goldfrapp, whose feathery, white-colored outfit reminded me of Queen’s Freddie Mercury and Brian May wearing those early ‘70s flowing outfits.

The show’s set list drew a lot from the new album Seventh Tree, whose songs were very lush and elegant, especially tracks like “Clowns,” “Little Bird,” and the poppy “Happiness.” It was only the second during the show in which the momentum picked up with some of the beat-heavy tunes from the 2005 album Supernature (“Ooh la La,” “Number 1”). The excitement was brought down to earth with the wistful ballad “Some People,” the evening’s encore.

On stage the band did a pretty good job in creating the layered sound of their previous albums. Overall Goldfrapp’s show was a mix of atmospheric electronic music and dance tunes.

Set-list (based on my notes, though not definitive):

Utopia
A&E
Cologne Cerrone Houdini
You Never Know
Satin Chic
Eat Yourself
Monster Love
Clowns
Little Bird
Number 1
Happiness
Ooh La La
Caravan Girl
Train
Lovely Head(?)

Encore: Some People

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News: Richard Wright of Pink Floyd 1943-2008

A live performance of "Wearing the Inside Out," recorded from David Gilmour's solo tour, featuring the vocals of Richard Wright, who died yesterday.  Courtesy of YouTube.

"The Great Gig in the Sky," from Pink Floyd's 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon, written by Richard Wright. Courtesy of YouTube.

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