yeah, tommy is such a gem, I alternate between feeling lucky that only a few
of us know his unspoiled sparkle, and wishing he was a world wide super
star.

----- Original Message -----
From: "blutterbunged" <prufrock_j_a@...>
To: <geggytah@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2002 3:20 PM
Subject: [geggytah] Re: Tommy at the Glass House 10/26/02


> Bongo's already reviewed the show but I hope you'll humor me -- it
> was my first Geggy Tah/Tommy concert after nearly 2 years of fanhood
> & I gotta share.
>
>
>
> As I got close to the
> > club, there were bands playing outside on every other street
> corner.
>
> Yeah -- reggae on one corner, He-Man novelty act on the next...
> Bizarre little street, that was.
>
>
>
> I
> > came to a weird, dimly lit area with kooky looking shops and
> buildings
> > that were painted with bright pastels as if they belong in a
> cartoon.
>
> Spooky! Turns out it was the set for the upcoming Cat in the Hat
> movie. Rats -- I guess this means I'll end up going to see the
> stupid thing. Walking through there after dark was like being
> dropped into the film version of Something Wicked This Way Comes.
> ("would you like some cotton candy, little boy? A walk through the
> fun house?" <evil laugh>)
>
>
>
> As for the performance, I was worried that since Tommy was opening
> for someone else the show would be painfully short & I'd leave still
> hungry. But it was a good-length set, considering, with some of my
> favorite songs -- enough to chew on for a good while. After his
> energetic entrance with the horn, spoons, Russian
> dancing/capoeira/what have you, he made some interesting sound
> effects by blowing into a bottle & alternating with some sort of
> vocalization -- it was very similar to the beginning of Mais Qu'est-
> Ce? from Zap Mama's Sabsylma album. Neat. And he also had some
> device (homemade, no doubt) that made a creaking sound, which he used
> to good comic effect as he walked around in his skeleton t-shirt and
> got situated on the drums. He mentioned that his theme for the night
> was death, and the black-painted room contributed to the desired
> effect. (Maybe Tommy could pick up where Boingo left off? Nah. Waste
> of talent.)
>
> The first song (Last Word) was startling. Geggy Tah records are so
> layered and complex I wondered how they could be successfully
> transfered to the stage, even supposing Tommy really could play four
> instruments at once. You've all talked about what a remarkable live
> act he is, but I figured you meant more his stage presence. that
> song made me a believer -- it was completely different and I liked it
> better than the album version, which is saying a lot, since it's one
> of my favorite songs. With the very prominent steel drum it had an
> ethereal, liquid sound -- it was mesmerizing. My kid brother (who
> beyond WYA had not listened to any GT music and had accompanied me to
> CA largely out of the kindness of his heart) was captured from that
> moment and let out a "wah.." It sounded like a "wow" that he didn't
> get around to finishing. Tommy mentioned that he'd like to try doing
> more with live performances in future records -- after that
> experience, I"m all for it.
>
> As the show went on and reality retreated into sur-reality, I
> remembered less and less of what happened, so the detail decreases
> from here on...
>
> Shed was done in the same vein as Last Word and so was decidedly less
> loud and raw, though the car alarm still brought a laugh.
>
> Sweat was also on steel drum -- a good change, though I like the
> album version slightly better. "Geez, check out his range," said my
> brother.
>
> Space Heater was a revelation -- I love the lyrics but had struggled
> to appreciate the music. The stage version was a vast improvement --
> definitely more accessible (which is good or bad depending on your
> point of view). And I felt like it served the words better somehow,
> though I can't remember just how. I wish I could relive the moment
> with a less muddled brain and come away with something more
> concrete. But a rare bird weeping solar systems -- that's good
> stuff. He mentioned a bit more on the whole glazed shower door thing -
> - apparently it was the impending demise of the penguin stickers on
> his Granddad's shower door inspired him to buy the house in Pomona.
>
> Holly Oak was very good but didn't stand out for me -- I'm sure it
> was different than the album version, but the overall effect on me
> was the same -- good song with a neat little beat. I do remember
> being impressed that he could hit those notes in a concert. Again,
> my brother turned to look at me, shook his head in disbelief, then
> turned back again. It was cute.
>
> Dumb Submarine -- I love Dumb Submarine, so it's hard to think of
> anything I didn't like except that it was over too soon. The song
> lends itself well to a sparser instrumentation, I think.
>
> The new song that Bongo called "Mother," -- I remember the theme more
> than the music -- running around with his sisters, trying his
> mother's patience -- I think. ??? Oh, for a better memory or the
> courage to bootleg. It was emotional, but not overbearingly so -- a
> sweet little tribute. Beyond that, I don't remember much, and I do
> agree that it's hard to judge a song after hearing it just once. I
> hope it won't disappear.
>
> The Rumi song was the opposite -- the MIddle EAstern tint in the
> music struck me, but I don't remember the theme of the poem he used.
> He did mention that he was introduced to Rumi's poetry by a woman who
> was happy on her deathbed. Hard to resist a testimonial like that --
> I wanna read what you read, I wanna think what you think -- if I
> could do that, I'd be happy!
>
> And of course they left with the long PVC horn & the spoons. Everyone
> stood there, as if waiting for the hypnotist to snap his fingers.
>
> As for cutting off some of the songs, didn't he say something about a
> medley? It wasn't exactly a medley, but it was fun to hear at least
> parts of many of my favorite songs. It's sort of a toss-up from my
> point of view -- if you can only visit Paris for one day, do you
> spend all day combing the Louvre, or do you take a bus tour and snap
> pictures of landmarks as they whizz by? Tough call -- with either
> one you feel you need to return. I"ll just have to return.
>
> It's exciting to see someone perform who successfully strikes the
> balance between enthusiasm and artistry. I didn't feel tumbled along
> by a wave of empty stage energy as I have at some concerts, and at
> the same time we didn't have to wade through navel-gazing
> artiste-ness to have a good time (exhibit A: Tori Amos. yicchhy
> bleechhy blech.) I can now opine with even greater confidence that
> we have, among the throngs of musicians clamoring for our admiration,
> chosen wisely. Yeah us. And there's at least one new GT fan on the
> planet, as little bro wrote me the day after we returned: "Well,
> between you and Tommy you've gotten me hooked on Geggy Tah." Am I a
> good sister, or what? Converting the world, one unsuspecting
> bystander at a time :)
>
> Marie
>
> Bongo, why didn't you come say hi to me? I figured you were probably
> there, but I don't know what you look like. I swear I'm not this
> obnoxious in person -- more timid, really. Speak when spoken to,
> slow on the uptake, glassy stare.
>
>
>
> Check out the official Geggy Tah website:
> http://www.geggytah.com/
>
> Visit our Geggy Tah chatroom:
> http://www.egroups.com/chat/geggytah
>
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>
>