Gary
Praetorian Guard
Posts: 84
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Post by Gary on Nov 25, 2005 20:41:31 GMT
What's the story with this show? I heard that it was just Philip performing for ten minutes!
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Post by sypha666 on Nov 25, 2005 22:58:07 GMT
That's what I heard too. If that's the truth, then I'm really glad I didn't bust my ass trying to get there.
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Gary
Praetorian Guard
Posts: 84
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Post by Gary on Nov 25, 2005 23:16:56 GMT
That's what I heard too. If that's the truth, then I'm really glad I didn't bust I disagree trying to get there. Yeah, it was a good thing you didn't! Here in the UK I'm just awaiting news of the London show, apparently it will be next year now. I'll be travelling from Liverpool, but luckily I have two mates in London (who i got into Whitehouse!) to stay and attend the gig with. Cant' wait. Been a fan for ten years but never seen a WH concert!
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Post by Susan Lawly on Nov 28, 2005 0:36:16 GMT
Boston show was cancelled by the promoters at the original venue Middle East, some DIY promoters took up the option of the concert but failed to provide the band with the requested equipment, thus half of the band's gear couldn't be used. Sound engineer was also useless apparently. This was why it ended up being a de facto Consumer Electronics show with WB not being on stage, it was the best they could do in the disappointing situation even though as always the band are the ones to get the blame when this happens.
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Post by ljp on Nov 28, 2005 20:49:59 GMT
Boston show was cancelled by the promoters at the original venue Middle East, some DIY promoters took up the option of the concert but failed to provide the band with the requested equipment, thus half of the band's gear couldn't be used. Sound engineer was also useless apparently. This was why it ended up being a de facto Consumer Electronics show with WB not being on stage, it was the best they could do in the disappointing situation even though as always the band are the ones to get the blame when this happens. I thought that was the gist of it. Yeah, people were kinda down on that show especially on the Wolf Eyes Yahoo Group. The show in NYC was great though! Anyways there's another tour in the spring and it sounds to me like there will be newer material on the set, right?
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Post by Susan Lawly on Dec 5, 2005 2:52:46 GMT
I'd just like to add what has already been correctly commented about the Boston debacle - the promoter 'Ben', apart from not providing the simple technical rider we requested enabling the concert to function, was as elusive as al-Zarqawi all night long, then proceeded to lie through his teeth on various bulletin boards to cover his own backside from blame that lies firmly at his own sorry door. We have no plans to ever go back to Boston which is too bad because there clearly are a lot of genuine people there who understood all too well the real circumstances.
WB.
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Post by dmcclain on Dec 5, 2005 21:52:30 GMT
Huh, so you guys didn't leave w/ psychic paramount's money?
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Post by theotherjohn on Dec 6, 2005 0:18:04 GMT
Well, if they did I don't think Psychic Paramount were too bothered about it. I saw them a few nights ago playing in Carlisle and asked Ben (the bassist) afterwards about the shows with Whitehouse in the USA and he gave nothing but praise, before pausing for a brief moment and making a Whitehouse impression complete with clenched fist (!). Deserves a thumbs up Caligula-style in my book.
The Psychic... were a very enjoyable group by the way I thought; powerfully loud, deliriously noisy and quite hypnotic. Did you guys in the USA see the unofficial fourth member armed with Super 8 and a million watt lamp (well let's be honest, if you did how could you miss him)?
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Post by ljp on Dec 6, 2005 3:25:09 GMT
Well, if they did I don't think Psychic Paramount were too bothered about it. I saw them a few nights ago playing in Carlisle and asked Ben (the bassist) afterwards about the shows with Whitehouse in the USA and he gave nothing but praise, before pausing for a brief moment and making a Whitehouse impression complete with clenched fist (!). Deserves a thumbs up Caligula-style in my book. The Psychic... were a very enjoyable group by the way I thought; powerfully loud, deliriously noisy and quite hypnotic. Did you guys in the USA see the unofficial fourth member armed with Super 8 and a million watt lamp (well let's be honest, if you did how could you miss him)? I remember that! Kinda reminded me of this not-bad but apparently nasty-minded psychedelic-rock band that played my town with very-bright lights and a laser-pointer aimed directly at the audience and then sneered "We've got CD's for sale" after the performance. No, Psychic Paramount weren't anything nasty like that (except their music, and in a good way!) and definitely much better than the former. Did talk to the bass player, who definitely seemed cool...
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Post by Karlheinz on Dec 13, 2005 22:01:21 GMT
Hello, this is Karlheinz. I opened for Whitehouse that night. I wrote about the show in detail on my webpage, which is here: www.khznoise.net/karlheinz/live/110705.htmShort version: I have nothing but respect for Ben and Phillip.
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Post by sypha666 on Dec 15, 2005 5:54:23 GMT
Thanks for the info. I don't know, I'd be willing to give the band a second chance if they'd come back here (maybe they could play in Providence?) It does seem like a pretty shoddy way to treat the fans though, especially those who have been fans for years and who have spent quite a bit of money on their products. I recall an interviw once where WB said something along the lines of that extreme music and art could be created from simple tools like rocks, then he refuses to play because of a technical issue? Sounds prima donna to me. I would of improvised myself and seen what would come out of that, but that's just me.
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Post by Susan Lawly on Dec 15, 2005 14:12:30 GMT
OK, this is my final comment on the Boston show.
Let me get this straight, we travelled 3,000 miles and WE gave Boston a chance and THE PROMOTER there failed on several levels to provide for our VERY SIMPLE requests which would have enabled there to be a VERY SUCCESSFUL concert (just like the others in the States) for all the fans that also travelled from far and wide. I'm not going to even mention the other bullshit that I know all about, it's not my style.
As stated previously, the band are always the ones to get the blame for this type of situation - we accept that as part of the territory. Further to that, the utter ignorance and petty hatefulness of some of the subsequent responses that I've seen, heard, and read about regarding this (and will no doubt have to put up with) is further vindication that a) we did the right thing and b) we can get a friendly welcome anywhere we want so why go back and give a second chance? We're not trying to win some fucking popularity award and we're very passionate about what we do. Having said all that, I really wish to reiterate that there are in fact many individuals there that totally do get it, and it sincerely disappoints me for them to be disappointed.
WB.
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Post by Karlheinz on Dec 15, 2005 17:14:54 GMT
Look, not that it's really my business, but I was personally involved in the show as well, and you're being tremendously unfair here.
After the first venue cancelled becuase of lack of ticket sales (something no promoter wants to hear), Ben took on the show (at others' prompting), at a week's notice, set it up at a fairly decent club (soundman notwithstanding), did as much promotion as possible against fairly steep odds, and paid you exactly what he told your tour manager that he would - despite the fact that you didn't play. In return, all he gets from you is complaints that he didn't offer what he never actually said he would, and a very angry Psychic Paramount who believed erroneously that he took their money. (I don't know if this last issue worked out or not - I assume from a previous post that it did - but I was one of the people who had to deal with their anger afterwards, and I don't like that sort of thing any more than anyone else.)
Obviously there were failures and miscommunications on a lot of levels, but laying ALL of the blame on Ben is just simply wrong. (Consider that another show had to be delayed for over an hour because of the same technical rider, and also the fact that the Middle East show was cancelled in the first place, and I think you might be looking in the right direction.)
As for the negative feedback: You certainly seemed capable of performing - since you went through a soundcheck, had your equipment onstage during PP's set, and (to my knowledge) gave no indication you weren't going to play until it was actually time for you to go on. You do, of course, have every right to make that decision, but it was yours to make, and you should therefore accept whatever consequences come your way.
Had you not blamed Ben - and Ben alone - for the whole debacle, I would not be writing this right now. I've worked with him several times before, and I've found him to be nothing if not resolutely honest. For you to publicly claim that he is a liar and a cheat is utterly unacceptable in my book.
To be fair - I got to play to a decent crowd and made enough to cover my expenses, which was actually more than what I expected. It was my own fault that I expected more professional behavior out of people I admired, so if I'm angry or disappointed, I suppose I have nobody but myself to blame.
-Karlheinz.
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