R.E.M. at the Greek in Berkeley

johnashfield · Post by **johnashfield** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 11:19 am

I saw REM on Friday at the greek. Awesome show, even the new songs sounded wonderful!

Peter had his mud flap girl 360 jetglo, a 360 jetglo without the mudflap girl, and a 330 whioch was either burgandyglo or marroon, it was hard to tell exactly.

At one point Peter Buck broke a string or something and really violently ripped off the 360 and threw it on the ground right at the tailpiece, and let it fall over! I was sure he would have killed the guitar. He then ran over to grab another, and this is where he played the non mudflap 360. The tech guy picked it up, and by the next song Buck was playing the mudflap 360 again.

I have 2 360's so I know they are a real sturdy guitar, but it really looked rough when he tossed it down!

The band sounded awesome, and they didn't talk politics much at all, which was nice, and since they were in Berkeley it wasn't really neccesary either.

wormdiet · Post by **wormdiet** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 5:18 am

"even the new songs sounded wonderful!"
Whatcha think of the new album?

johnashfield · Post by **johnashfield** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 11:04 pm

I am planning on picking it up tomorrow. "walk unafraid" sounded amazing live, but on "up" it's kinda ok, but limp.

Hopefully the new album sounds good. But you know, even "freedom" seemed like a good song when I saw McCartney sing it. Charisma really can mess your mind up!

jaymi · Post by **jaymi** » Thu Oct 21, 2004 9:52 am

Too bad Mills is sticking to the P bass...

rkbsound · Post by **rkbsound** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 6:52 am

Thanks for the show review! I have the new album and don't like it....I think it's REM's poorest showing so far. I'll try listening some more. As with past albums, some take more time to get used to than others. I am only now really listening to their last effort more regularly.

PS: I am a HUGE REM fan, and wish they would stick to rocking it out!

wormdiet · Post by **wormdiet** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 7:13 am

I just did not hear much new ground broken on this album. . . a lot of the arrangements and Stipe's vocal affectations are getting cliched. I, to, am a huge REM fan of all of their eras. I loved the last two albums.

Yup, I wish they'd make an album with one drum kit, one 360, one AC 30, and a bass rig. Quit hiding bland songs behind overly complex arrangements.

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:23 am

Bass rig with Rick bass, of course!

It is too bad about Mike Mills and his P-Bass - is it me, or does his playing get progressively more boring the longer he plays that thing?

corey · Post by **corey** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 1:31 am

I wouldn't call E minor to G an "overly complex arrangent"

I've never considered R.E.M. a rock band, either. It's just good, sort of rootsy mid tempo stuff.

Bland songs? Ouch. You're not going to make "Murmur" when you're 45, folks.

spencer · Post by **spencer** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 4:14 am

I hate to say it, but I haven't heard an REM record that I liked after 'Document'. As soon as 'Stand' came out, I woefully looked away.
But I should also say that I'm a huge fan up until then, I've seen them five times or so. IMHO, they peaked around 'Fables' and 'Pageant'.
Once, my stepdad got some backstage passes through the music store he worked at and I got to meet them. They were great guys. Michael Stipe wanted to buy my hat from me, A bit weird, but I just spent the time talking to Peter Buck, he's a hero to me and one of my major influences.
It was really cool. I'd still like to see them again.

wormdiet · Post by **wormdiet** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 5:06 am

As always, music remains subjective

I would still see them for sure. . .their live arrangements are always a bit different.