Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Community => Gigs => Topic started by: ox_junior on October 28, 2004, 07:38:53 PM
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Friends,
See below for a link to some pics from our last gig at the Normandie Theater in LA. Kinda fuzzy but for those that are interested, the new improved upgraded Spyder is there for all to see.
I'll just keep this a running thread for anyone interested and will post new photos of new shows. Of course, there are many pictures of us on our website, www.thewhoshow.com (http://www.thewhoshow.com).
Enjoy! Mike Bisch
http://leecegee.deep-ice.com/music/tws-normandie2.html
(Message edited by ox_junior on October 28, 2004)
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Mike,
Great site! It's good to see your wife is looking so mighty fine after her extreme make-over. She's looking beautiful!
Your band rocks man!
Hollis
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Hello all,
Catch The Who Show at the Pala Casino in Temecula, CA on Saturday December 4 at 8pm. This is for our extreme SoCal (as in San Diego area) people...so come on down! The Spyder will be fully fired up and ready to go! Hope to see you there...
Mike
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Next stop for The Who Show:
Saturday April 2 at the Canyon Club, Agoura Hills, CA. Three excellent bands - Led Zepplica, The Who Show, and Fallout - a tribute to The Police. Should be amazing!
More info at www.thewhoshow.com (http://www.thewhoshow.com) or www.tributecity.com.
Cheers, Mike
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Hey Mike, Looks like tons-o-fun. Good to keep the spirit of the Ox alive.
stoney
(again, great page....)
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Stoney, clever profile. Quote: Don't quote me on this! Age: varies from year to year. Gave me a good laugh.
Mike B., please post here if the Who Show ever makes it to Colorado. A friend and I would like to go to the Show.
Rich
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Hey Rich..I hoped that someone would get a good chuckle out of that page.......they left out the photo when I was around 6 years old....standing beside my baby grand in my 'Mozart' wig..... OY!!!
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Next gigs:
5/7 at Thee Parkside, San Francisco. Two sets - the first all mod material from 1965, the second featuring their greatest hits. Costume changes will be interesting - tight black suit to tight denim and suede!
5/15 at The Good Hurt, West Los Angeles. All mod set.
5/21 at Soho Music Club, Santa Barbara - opening for Led Zepplica.
5/30 at the Hermosa Beach Memorial Day festival - 3 to 6 pm in the beer garden (hiccup).
6/11 at Zen Sushi, Silver Lake - all mod set
6/26 live in the studio at 95.9FM The Octopus in Ventura County. Playing live and interviews. It will be, as Pete would say, incredibly nasty!.
We've also added Hiwatt Amplification to our list of endorsers!
Come see us if you're in California...
And here's a pic of me at our Canyon Club gig 4/2:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/18199.jpg)
Cheers, Mike Bisch
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Congrats guys on the Hiwatt ad!
Jonathan
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Holy Geez it's been a long time since I updated this page!
July 16 - Ojai Classic Rock Festival, Ojai, CA
July 23 - Private Party (but you can get in if you're interested- just e-mail me), Woodland Hills, CA
Aug 6 - DiPiazza's, Long Beach, CA
Aug 13 - Pala Casino, Temecula, CA
Oct 8 - Blue Cafe, Long Beach, CA
Nov 19 - Grove of Anaheim, CA
With their successful show at Live 8 (successful in that they managed to get through 2 songs without flubbing it and kicked a*$ at the same time!) we hope to see a resurgence of popularity for The Who, as they have come under fire recently for failing to deliver a new album/tour as they originally promised their fans this year.
Our Nov 19 show will be VERY special....more news on this later...
Thanks Johnathan re: Hiwatt. Our guitarist is very happy! I am working on a deal with the folks who are managing the newly revitalized Trace Elliot brand for our Nov 19 show (as I said...very special...can't wait to break the news to you all!)
Cheers and steady on,
Mike Bisch
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More Pics!!!
These are from our July 16 gig in Ojai, CA:
http://photos.yahoo.com/thewhoshowbeyond (http://photos.yahoo.com/thewhoshowbeyond)
All that tie-dye made my head spin!
Mike
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Nice! Actually, your Spyder goes nicely with the tie-dye! What was the setlist?
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Great pics!
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Setlist for Ojai show was:
I Can't Explain
Substitute
Pinball Wizard/Bargain (medley)
Behind Blue Eyes
Baba O'Riley
The Real Me
Summertime Blues
Magic Bus
Won't Get Fooled Again
My Generation (after which an unfortunate Strat copy was reduced to kindling wood and electronic bits)
This was a fun show but it was SO hot out, it was difficult to not pass out!
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Nice!
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Nice pics mike, looks like alot of fun too.
BTW, where's the 4x10?
graeme
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I dropped it for the Ojai gig. When we're in those uncontrolled festival situations, I can't count on the sound man to give me enough guitar through the monitors. Even though our guitarist is playing thru a Hiwatt 100 4x12, when I play with my full rig (especially when I have my 4x10 at ear level), I can't hear him. If I dial up the highs I can still get a good sound thru the 2x15 although it doesn't pop quite as much.
Alembic Spyder + Trace Elliot AH600SMX + 4x10 + 2x15 + Fulltone Bass Distortion Pedal = THUNDER OF THE GODS!
Mike
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More gigs (all in California):
Saturday October 8 at the Blue Cafe, Long Beach
Thursday November 3 at the Canyon Club, Agoura Hills
Friday and Saturday, November 18 & 19, at the Grove Theater of Anaheim - A TRIBUTE TO QUADROPHENIA starring Steven Schareaux and The Who Show! More details on this later, just giving you all a sneak preview....
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Here's ticket ordering information for THE QUAD TRIBUTE:
www.thewhoshow.com/quad1.html (http://www.thewhoshow.com/quad1.html)
Enjoy and hope to see some Alembicians there!
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Great site Mike! Wish I could attend, but the commute's too far. Can you get some vid/audio clips for us?
What kind of sound are you guys going to use? With your Spyder, I would assume the bass will sound very different from the Fenderbird on the studio recording and '73 tour. What about your guitarist - cleanish studio sound, heavily distorted Les Paul '73 sound, or other? Or maybe you're going for the '96-'97 sound? And what are you doing for the solo on 5:15?
I have a boot of 1 of their 6 shows at Madison Square Garden in '79 (Roger sings happy birthday to Kenney Jones) - they did phenomenal versions of Punk Meets the Godfather and Drowned, the latter featuring great improv work by Pete and John on his Spyder. That tour was a great showcase for what can be done on a Spyder.
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Hi Zn,
Vid/audio availability is TBD at this point. We haven't decided if we're going to make any recordings public after the show...many factors there. I will, of course, post pictures.
I am having a Fenderbird built for me as we speak, hope to use it a little for this production. I will probably play at least 75% of the show using the Spyder though. Will most likely be closest to that 1979 tone. There will be a bass solo on 5:15, but it will be very short. I'll just do a few hammer-ons, that should be enough flash.
Since we are only using one guitarist for the show, Darren will be switching between a clean sound (using a Boss acoustic simulator pedal) and a distorted '73 tone. He will be using a Les Paul Deluxe as his main axe, through his Hiwatt PT-model head.
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I understand the problamatic nature of releasing recordings - it would be great to get even a couple of snippets, if possible. Sounds like you guys have a nice blend of sounds from different periods, should go over well. But you can't do a short solo, that would ruin the main reason for the show! ;-)
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Well...the more I study John's 5:15 solos (especially the version from the RAH 2000 DVD), I realize I don't measure up. Not even close. Why mess with perfection? This is the only part of the show that makes me nervous.
If we can use snippets of sound, we'll put them up for sure.
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The seeds of that solo were sown in '89 - listen to the short runs he did during the down time late in the song on the Join Together live album. By '96, he was doing the big overpowering solos, but they started out much simpler and shorter (ref. the Prince's Trust concert at Hyde Park) and evolved over the years. A lot of the bread and butter runs aren't that difficult for one who has John's basic playing style down - you shouldn't have any problem with them, according to the vid clips I've seen of you.
5:15 got voted down in our Who shows, but I used some of those lines in the solo bridge between Amazing Journey and Sparks - that got some of the biggest applause at the shows. At the first one I used my Epic through my GK 12 into the desk. At the others I used my new Rogue through a Fender Bassman 15, a GK 1x15 + 4x10 into the desk, and my GK into the desk respectively. I didn't use my Zoom pedal, so the tone wasn't even juiced up/Buzzardized the way it should have been.
So I'm encouraging you to pull out all the stops (or at least a bunch of them) - John's legacy, your equipment, the opportunity, and your own talent are all screaming for it!
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We'll see what I can pull off. Thanks for the clips, I'll be viewing those shortly.
That solo bit in Sparks is fun to play. For this show, in addition to 5:15, of course I get to play The Real Me, and they let me go off at the end of Dirty Jobs, which is fun. I'll be using my standard amp set-up at the Quad shows (Trace Elliot AH600SMX/4x10/2x15).
The Fenderbird I'm having built is the body of an Epiphone reverse T-Bird, in Seafoam Green, with a Mighty Mite replacement blonde Fender neck and chrome Schaller tuners. For pickups, I've settled on Gibson Les Paul bass pickups with custom-made mounting rings that will give me the width I need to replace the current P/J set-up currently on that bass. I understand these pickups have quite a bit of rumble to them, they were described to me as a Thunderbird on steroids, which should be cool. I've had no luck locating the vintage chrome T-Bird pickups, so this is the closest I can get at the moment. Should be an interesting instrument when it's done. I'll post photos when it's done in a couple of weeks.
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Enjoy the clips, I hope they're useful! You can always use John's trick of soloing over bridges and g**t*r solos. ;-)
Check out http://www.thewho.net:16080/whotabs/equipment/bass/equip-entwistlegear-endorsements.html (http://www.thewho.net:16080/whotabs/equipment/bass/equip-entwistlegear-endorsements.html). About halfway down the page is a prototype Fenderbird by Lakland which was to become a production model. Lakland scrapped the project when John died.
Your Fenderbird project sounds cool, I hope it comes out the way you want it. A T-Bird on steroids would be perfect. John apparently got his big, ranuchy Fenderbird sound by having Gibson make him thicker T-Bird bodies (to accomodate the P neck) and moving the bridge slightly, plus the pickups that are no longer available. It's the difference between the Lynyrd Skynyrd bass sound (Leon Wilkeson) and John's incredible sound from '73-75.
Personally, I want to get rich playing my Rogue so I can get a Buzzard-2. I want to get richer still from that, so I can take the Alembird idea in a somewhat different direction. Dreaming doesn't hurt.... ;-)
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Getting REAL close to The Quad Tribute - so I thought I'd repost the URL to get tickets:
www.thewhoshow.com/quad1.html (http://www.thewhoshow.com/quad1.html)
The Who's licensing arm has given their blessing on the show. If you're on MySpace, you can get more info at:
www.myspace.com/quadtribute (http://www.myspace.com/quadtribute)
Hope there are some of you here in southern CA that can come out!
Cheers, Mike
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The Quad Tribute - Phase One was an outstanding success!!!
Two write-ups in the LA Times, an official blessing from The Who's licensing arm (as we helped to sell copies of the new Tommy/Quadrophenia Live DVD), a complete sell-out crowd Saturday night, who were on their feet for Love Reign O'er Me and did not sit down again - as we killed 'em with My Generation after the curtain call - a smashing good time!!!
Here's me with my Alembic Spyder, hopefully doing justice to John's memory:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/22670.jpg)
Hope to have more pictures and reviews soon.
Cheers, Mike
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Bravo!
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Mike, congrats on a great show! Wish I could have been there. Would love to see more pix (and audio files if possible). With such a big project under your band's belt, the sky's the limit!
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We now have a 5-minute promo video available of QUAD - take a look (be patient with the long download time, it's worth it):
www.quadtribute.com (http://www.quadtribute.com)
Enjoy!
Mike
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Mike,
It's great.
Keith
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Hey, Mike, only a few glimpses of you, but you're all OVER the sound track. Sounded great through my Mackie sub-woofer :-).
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Mike,
That's quite a production you guys have done and it sounds great.
Rich
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George -
Wish I could take credit for it, but the soundtrack to the video is the actual Who.
I vote in favor of more shots of those lovely dancers than me anyday!
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Very cool, Mike! Congrats and Good Luck, er,um, I mean break a leg. When are you and those honeys bringing Quad to the Right coast? LOL!
Cheers,
Kevin
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Mike,
Great vid! Great production! When do we hear some of The Who Show's sound clips from it? John Entwistle redid his bass parts for the Quad movie in '79 with his Spyder, and some of the greatest moments of the '79-'82 Who were Quad songs with John really stepping out. Would love to hear you guys doing it!
Zvi
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Kevin -
Phase Two of the show is a higher profile show in Los Angeles at a larger venue - we're looking at mid-February for this. Phase Three is hopefully either a national tour, a residency in Las Vegas, or maybe Broadway??? We're not sure but we're hopeful. Taking it step by step.
Zvi - we do have a direct audio feed from the board but it would have to be remixed in order to be made public. Not sure if we're going to take that step with what we have from Phase One. Perhaps the next LA show we will have that capability and make some audio available.
I can tell you that a lot of the comments we got from the first shows was along the lines of you guys HAD to be playing to pre-existing tracks, it sounded so much like the record. What a great compliment! Everything we did was played and sung live. There was some keyboard sequencing happening on Dr. Jimmy and Quadrophenia, but that's it. Everything else was live.
I played my Spyder for the majority of the show. I used my custom-made Fenderbird for one song, and my Danelectro Longhorn for a retro sequence (won't give away the details of the show). But it was mostly the Spyder and it performed wonderfully! My approach to the material was a mix of the original record mixed in with stolen licks from the '96 tour. Best of both worlds. It was very challenging but so much fun. I'm ready for the next step!
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Sounds great Mike! I for one am extremely jealous! You are living what amounts to a dream at best for players like me. Keep up the good work and may all your dreams come true!
Happy Holidays!
Cheers
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Oh believe me...it's a dream for me too!
Here's a bonus I just found out about -
Catch an EXCLUSIVE glimpse of Love Reign O'er Me performed LIVE from the QUAD tribute - found ONLY at our website!!
Go to: www.thewhoshow.com (http://www.thewhoshow.com)
Click on the video page and select Love Reign O'er Me!
Unlike the preview video, the audio is LIVE from the show! It's a room mic (as opposed to from the board), but it sounds pretty good!
(Message edited by ox_junior on December 24, 2005)
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Wow! What a powerful performance! You all did great, and particular kudos go to the Jimmy actor, who belted out vocals second only to Daltrey in his heyday! I just feel sorry for your singer, who didn't get to sing.
That was truly spine-tingling.
I hope you guys get to go bigger with it, as you mention above.
And everybody - check out the other vids on The Who Show's site while you're there - you can hear Mike's Spyder in all its glory on the Baba O'Riley vid.
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Wow! That Love Reign O'er Me is pretty powerful! Great sound, great vocal!
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Mike,
You and your bandmates should be very proud of your performance. A very powerful Love Reign O'er Me. I hope this show tours nationally so I can catch it back east.
I wonder what the remaining members of the Who would think of the show? I would think they would be thoroughly impressed!!
Best Wishes
Pete
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Let's hope so Pete. Thanks for the kind comments.
In fact, we've taken the video down, as we are not quite sure they will be satisfied with it. We're not positive that the mix is of the quality we'd like it to be when we present it to The Who's organization.
Of course I'll keep everyone informed of next steps...
Cheers and happy holidays, Mike
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Luna C Productions presents The Who's QUADROPHENIA, Friday March 10, at the Avalon Theater in Hollywood!!
This first-ever major theatrical presentation of Pete Townshend's masterpiece appears for ONE NIGHT ONLY!!!
Adapted for the stage by Bill Schultz. Starring Stephen Shareaux as Jimmy, and featuring The Who Show (tribute act) as The Who. Directed by Peter Uribe.
See www.quadtribute.com (http://www.quadtribute.com) for information about tickets and a sneak preview of the show. More information also available at:
www.avalonhollywood.com (http://www.avalonhollywood.com)
www.thewhoshow.com
Here are some screen grabs of the video from the first performances last November:
(http://alembic.com/club/messages/65124/25246.jpg)
(http://alembic.com/club/messages/65124/25247.jpg)
(http://alembic.com/club/messages/65124/25248.jpg)
In addition to this pretty major event, we are also playing Friday March 3 at the world famous Whisky-A-Go-Go, March 11 at the Hollywood Palladium (private event), and April 1 at Martini Blues in Huntington Beach, CA!
E-mail me or go to www.thewhoshow.com (http://www.thewhoshow.com) for details on our act.
Cheers, Mike
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Here's a video of my final gig with The Who Show. I'm only sharing this because you can actually hear the bass on this. Forgive the quality of the rest of it, especially the drummer and the singer. Moving on from this band to greener pastures with a yet-to-be-named band, more details later...
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Oh. It would help if I posted the link.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1088674995 (http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1088674995)
When my new band gets going, I'll post a link with the new band name.
Cheers! Mike Bisch
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Mike,
You sound great.. I'm eager to hear where your next endeavor leads!
John
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Is that a Les Paul being thrown up into the air? Was it caught?...thanks...
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It is an Epiphone Les Paul Jr. $99. No real instruments were harmed in the making of this music.
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Mike,
Sorry to hear about the end of the Who Show gig, but only for selfish reasons: namely, my never getting to see you play out with those guys.
Congrats on your new gig. I'm sure I speak for others here who can't wait to see where your next gig leads.
Break a leg and all that happy horse pucky!
Cheers,
Kevin
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quote:No real instruments were harmed in the making of this music.Mike, I seem to remember an incident involving a microphone and a V peghead.
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You remember that? I've tried to block it out. Like a bad traffic accident.
Yes, real instruments have already been sacrificed. But Alembic came through and made her better than new!
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Mike
Personally I prefer the cone peghead to the V.
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Me too, that's why I got it. The V proved to be too....much of a target.
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But the V does admittedly have some advantages. Suppose you're playing a gig in the Amazon jungle and a crazed groupie 25 ft. anaconda jumps (slithers?) on stage? You can use the V to pin down it's head and save the band! Alembic thinks of EVERYTHING! LOL
Bill, tgo
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I still have the fragments of my original V peghead. Once we get that all-important booking in the jungle, I will bring it along...
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I did a show with an all-star Who tribute last month in San Francisco. We called ourselves Amazing Journey, just as a one-off (having forgotten about the Sheehan/Portnoy/etc. band). This is me, Darren Lolk (also formerly of The Who Show), Barry Quinn from The Wholigans, and newcomer Rolly DeVore on drums. Have a look, there are several clips:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rolly+devore (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rolly+devore)