Pat Metheny Group - Pabst Theater, Milwaukee, WI

[Aftab]

Went and saw PMG on Monday night - it was the first time I had ever seen them live, and to be honest, it changed me somehow. I have never seen a better display of pure musicianship than at this concert.

I knew Pat was a good player, but he just blew me away - the tastefulness, speed, cleanliness, and grace in his playing were nothing short of amazing.

Lyle Mays was awe-inspiring - not only by his playing and compostions. but by his ability to control 10 different keyboards and a laptop at once, all with one foot, while never leaving the piano.

Of course, the tunes were fantastic compositions as well - especially "The Way Up', their new 68:00 minute masterpiece.

I knew very little about Antonio Sanchez - WOW! He's a monster - but with taste and finesse.

The backline of Gregoire Manet (harmonica), Cuong Vu (trumpet), and guest Nando Lauria (guitar) were nothing short of amazing - not only did they play their principle instruments, they each played marimba, various percussion, guitar, vocals, and Lauria even played some trumpet.

Steve Rodby - awesome - played upright and electric fretless - it is always great to see someone fly on the upright.

They opened with "The Way Up" in its entirety - by the time the tune was done, each member of the group (including Mays and Sanchez) had played either guitar or bass. Simply amazing.

Then they went into some classic PMG material including James, Minuano and First Circle.

To top it off, we got to hang out with them at a private party afterward - got to talk to Lyle, Steve, Antonio, and Pat (very briefly, as a bunch of his family were there) - what a bunch of class acts and really cool guys.

If you have the opportunity to go see them in your town - do it - I'll never miss a PMG show again. and I'm kicking myself for all the times I could have gone to see them live but didn't.

Edited February 24, 2005 by Aftab

[Joe G]

Thanks for the post. I missed Detroit and Chicago (the latter because of the snow storm). I'm considering flying to St Louis to catch them there. Call me crazy.

[Free For All]

Of course, the tunes were fantastic compositions as well - especially "The Way Up', their new 68:00 minute masterpiece.

How do they do this one live?

It is an "excerpted" version?

[Parkertown]

Of course, the tunes were fantastic compositions as well - especially "The Way Up', their new 68:00 minute masterpiece.

How do they do this one live?

It is an "excerpted" version?

I doubt it, FFA.

Thanks for the review Aftab. I've got balcony tickets for their March 9 show at the Paramount Theater in Denver. Wow! They trade off on instruments? Totally cool!

Can't wait! B-)

[Free For All]

I doubt it, FFA.

So they do the whole 68 minute version each concert? That's interesting- I wonder how much variation each performance has. There would have to be some otherwise it would become boring for the players. Too much variation and it won't connect w/the audience. You can't really treat it like a regular-type tune.

[Aftab]

Yes - they do the whole tune (!) - this is why there were so many instrument changes - and though I haven't listened enough to the CD to say this for sure, I believe (according to some other folks) that they remain as true to the recorded work as possible - I think this is why they added Lauria to the touring ensemble - it was too much for 6 guys to reproduce (without sampling a bunch of it).

I overheard Pat saying the Milwaukee show was the first time the tune really 'gelled' and they are starting to have fun with it.

Again, just an incredible show.

[rachel]

Aftab, I really enjoyed reading your comments since you have never seen them before live. I saw the Chicago show the night before Milwaukee, and I understand what you mean about it 'changing you'. I have seen Pat Metheny many times and have been a fan for many years, but this was different for me, somehow. I was able to sit down front and center for this show, and it was simply amazing to watch this unfold before my eyes. I truly felt like I was experiencing the creation of something great and timeless--the creative energy from that stage was breathtaking. I reacted to this show the same way I did when I saw my first Renoir.

The Way Up, as a recording, is beautiful and complex... but live.... there just aren't adequate words. I was so energized and inspired after the show that I didn't sleep all night. I was curious, too, to see how it would all come together live. It was seamless. They altered the ending, leaving off the last few minutes; however, with the extended soloing and some compositional additions throughout I believe it was well over 70 minutes. It seemed to be completed before I could take my next breath... and that was only the first third of the show!

I loved how they were softly playing a loop of the very beginning of the intro as we entered the theater. It was almost a subliminal whisper of what was to come, building the anticipation. What turned out to be exquisite was Pat entering the theater and quietly sitting down with his Manzer Baritone and improvising "This is Not America" over the loop. Yep, this is his protest record, all right...

It was also great seeing Steve Rodby's face beaming at the extended ovations he received on his homecoming to Chicago. The entire band seemed pleased and maybe a little surprised at just how much the audience responded to Pat and Lyle's latest creation. The guitar "choreography" is pretty impressive too. Carolyn Chrzan, his guitar tech, is absolutely amazing during the show.

It was nice to hear some old favorites, especially from 'Secret Story' featuring Gregoire Maret on harmonica. Lone Jack was also on a whole other level from what I've heard in the past. This show is still living inside my head... it's hard to get my work done!

[Aggie87]

I'd love to see this tour! Saw him on the Missouri Sky duets Euro tour with Haden, and really enjoyed it. I'd love to see this tuneperformed live!

I also just discovered that "The Way Up" isn't the first seriously long recording that Pat's been involved with. I recently picked up a 3 disc set called "The Sign of 4" from 1997 on Knitting Factory Works, with Metheny, Derek Bailey, Gregg Bendian and Paul Wertico. The first disc is one tune only, called "A Study in Scarlet", and is 62 minutes in length. I haven't spun it yet, but the snippets i heard were more avant styled than PMG-ish. Anyone else have this set?

[Joe G]

If you want to go, you'd better get tickets quick!

[Aftab]

Being that Lyle is from WI, he was the 'man of the night' so to speak, receiving a few thunderous ovations as "Wisconsin's own Lyle Mays - WI's most important export other than the Packers" (Pat quote)

[Parkertown]

I just recently traded in "The Sign of 4" and "No Tolerance for Silence."

Not worth my time...no tolerance...just noise...

[Guest ariceffron]

I LIKED THE CONCERT--- I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY EXCITING. THE NEW ALBUM STILL SOUNDS HELLA 80S BUT IT WAS VERY GOOD. I LIKED ALL THE MARIMBA TOO. I NEVER SAW THE PAT METHENY GROUP B4 SO IT WAS ALL NEW TO ME.

[Bright Moments]

I'd love to see this tour! Saw him on the Missouri Sky duets Euro tour with Haden, and really enjoyed it. I'd love to see this tuneperformed live!

I also just discovered that "The Way Up" isn't the first seriously long recording that Pat's been involved with. I recently picked up a 3 disc set called "The Sign of 4" from 1997 on Knitting Factory Works, with Metheny, Derek Bailey, Gregg Bendian and Paul Wertico. The first disc is one tune only, called "A Study in Scarlet", and is 62 minutes in length. I haven't spun it yet, but the snippets i heard were more avant styled than PMG-ish. Anyone else have this set?

so did you like the sign of 4?

[DTMX]

I recently picked up a 3 disc set called "The Sign of 4" from 1997 on Knitting Factory Works, with Metheny, Derek Bailey, Gregg Bendian and Paul Wertico. The first disc is one tune only, called "A Study in Scarlet", and is 62 minutes in length. I haven't spun it yet, but the snippets i heard were more avant styled than PMG-ish. Anyone else have this set?

I do - it's a better recording if you think of it as a Derek Bailey recording and not a Pat Metheny recording. "A Study in Scarlet" sounds (to me) like a wall of noise, not much variation in the sound. The second disc - whose title escapes me - is a studio recording of shorter tracks (some acoustic) and is a lot more interesting - again, given that you are approaching this as a Bailey recording and not a Metheny recording. The third disc is live, but has five shorter pieces with more sonic variety in them than the "Scarlet" work.

Me, I like it. Never got in to Zero Tolerance for Silence though...

[CJ Shearn]

news: Metheny/Mehldau vol. 2 in March, new trio record in Fall, a Question& Answer remaster in fall too, and a Secret Story remaster with 5 unreleased tracks!