New York, New York!
The Adrian Belew Power Trio on stage at BB Kings in New York City August 8, 2006
Greetings from Buffalo, where we'll be playing tonight at The Icon.
Wow, what a difference this leg of the tour is.
We opened on Tuesday night at B.B. Kings. Since my mom is also blogging about the tour, she really wrote it up nicely and I'm too humble and embarrassed to copy it here so I'll just give you the link to that and you can read all about it from the audience's point of view.
But it was amazing. I love New York.
I was afraid we were all going to be sad because of Kengineer's recent death but when we saw the crowd and felt the energy in the place, we relaxed and had an awesome time on stage.
It was also a great relief to have all of our equipment -- nothing lost, nothing broken, everything fine. I mean, when we first started the tour in Indiana, we had everything but it was our first time on stage and yeah, I was nervous during those first three gigs. Now, with many shows under our belts including all of the challenges we faced in Europe, we have really come together as a band.
Adrian Belew is an incredible musician and human being. Julie and I are having the time of our lives. I don't know what else to say other than right now, I feel like the luckiest man in the universe.
On Wednesday night we played in Long Island. We didn't have a huge crowd but the people who were there were enthusiastic and fun and we had a great time.
Last night in Piermont, NY was a sell-out. Only problem was they had a small stage and I was a bit cramped up there - I like to be able to really wail on the drums and move when I play but I managed.
I'm really looking forward to tonight. The Icon looks like a great venue. Tomorrow night we play one of my favorite venues on the east coast, The Club Cafe in Pittsburgh. I played there in May with Project Object and it's truly wonderful.
But...the show I'm looking forward to the most is Monday night in Philadelphia. I have so many friends and family coming it's going to really rock. I thrive on positive crowd reaction -- it takes me to new levels as a drummer. The show is at 7:30 at World Cafe Live and it's selling out quickly. Here's the link to order tickets.
Anyway, gotta run for now. I will try and come back and talk about some of our adventures but to be honest, so far this part of the tour has been adventure free and Julie and I are pretty happy about that.
Though I bet the Acoustic Planet Tour in Atlanta on August 16 where we rotate on the stage with Bela Fleck and Umphrey's McGee will be more than interesting. All of the members of the various bands shift and jam for three hours.
I live for this stuff.
See you soon! This Monday, Philadelphia! Be there or be...
Never mind. Just joking. But I do hope we pack the World Cafe Live!
posted by Eric Slick at 9:52 AM
6 Comments:
Nervous??! Are you kidding? HAHAHAHAHA
Hey Eric. YOU ROCK!
Tuesday's show in Times Square was one of the best shows I've seen in years. You Rock kid. I hope you have a great career. I saw Mr. Belew on the flight from Frankfurt to Newark and I assume you were the young man with the School of Rock T. I'm sorry about your friend Ken. That was a tragedy.
I didn't know what to expect on Tuesday night, but you guys performed like the pros you are and just blew us away. Having just seen Zappa plays Zappa at the Beacon about a month ago, my buddy and I looked at each other after Ampersand and said "This kid is better than Bozzio." Have fun in Philly, you deserve to enjoy it. You've earned it.
See Eric. :) I remember after the first show in Indy telling you that your Ampersand was the best. I think the drumming you do on that is just amazing. So fast. It's what I looked forward to the most the next night in Ohio.
How cool Joe. I saw the ZPZ show out west in San Francisco. Terry was injured, but I believe you when you say Eric is as good. Wait. I think you said better.
I look forward to the tour coming out west.
Yup, Bozzio must've blown out his arm for a reason, age does matter. It's nothing for us old guys to be ashamed of. Just don't tell Mr. Belew, obviously he doesn't believe it.
Bozzio was great at the Beacon in June, but Eric was amazing at BB's the other night.
Maybe it is because I respect and admire Mr. Belew so much and I empathized with his recent personal loss, but I was just pulling for this band. Eric and his sister really did Adrian a solid and held up their end with class, enthusiasm and style. We spotted the barefoot sis before Adrian pointed it out, and by that time she had really caught our attention with her suberb mastery of the bass. Eric kind of hits you between the eyes right away and then builds from there.
My other friend said, "I knew it would be good, but I had no idea it would be this good." I felt the same way. I new Adrian Belew would be great, but I can't believe the level that Eric and his sister performed at. It was truly amazing and exciting.
Thanks for a great show Eric!.
Eric...Julie...Adrian,
I have seen every show that Adrian has played here in Pittsburgh for the past few years. I am extremely excited for tonights show. I read this entire blog at 5AM and really enjoyed the perspectives...especially Julie's description of the trip to Europe from Nashville.
I hope that you all have some time to chill after the show, at least for a bit...I have to run to another show where my drummer is jamming with another band.
Also, "Joe" said that he couldn't believe the level that you and your sis' played at....would he expect anything less from Adrian? Would the "White Rhino" tour with mediocrIty? I think not! The Side One tour threw "Big Mike" on the Bass with amazing results...not bad for a guitar player!
Just a word on Club Cafe...."They old gray mare ain't what it used to be" When The Bears recorded their DVD there, you could sit and enjoy a show. Now the production company likes to play the Sardine Game by taking out the tables and chairs and packing us in, SRO, for the $$$$....sad thing is that the club only gets revenue from the bar....not the door....who knows, maybe tonight will be different.
Good Luck, Have Fun,
Esta Noche'
Ice
Hey Eric ~ I was at the St. Pete show and you're right, it rocked. I took a bunch of pictures and put together a website of it. Take a look, brotha:
http://www.JayYarbrough.com/adrian-belew.html
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