(This is being posted separately to AMMK and UKMG because of UKMG's policy against cross-posting. It'll probably end up being expanded and blogged later, too.)
I was at Manchester last night. It was absolutely astonishing, more than I expected and I expected a lot. Bryan, in particular, was insanely great, playing impossible lines with only a slight grimace showing any effort, hitting high harmony lines with apparent ease and doing percussive things on the body of the bass at appropriate moments.
Both he and Bryan were signing and chatting before and afterwards; I had quite lengthy conversations with each of them. Bryan told me to go and buy a particular Michael Landau record, which I shall be doing real soon <grin>.
The place was absolutely packed; they had laid on about 50 chairs, but there were people standing all the way to the back of the shop. There weren't many questioners or requesters; I got the impression that most of the people there weren't all that familiar with Mike's music, and also that this would be changing soon. I myself took three curious friends and left with three Keneally fans.
The power to the little stage section failed completely right at the end of one number ('I will', I think, but could be wrong) and they just got us all to gather in a little closer, came right down to the edge of the stage, and played and sang the rest totally unplugged. It was even better this way, I think. I was sat about two or three feet from Bryan at this point, a little further from Mike.
They were both just great people to be around, as well as genuinely ridiculous musicians.
No taping that I noticed, I'm afraid. I didn't write down a setlist; most of it was from requests, and here's what I remember (not necessarily in order):
'Lightning Roy' - this was first 'Killer Fish' 'Dancing' 'I Will' Bryan played a John Patittuci song solo, which I didn't know. 'We'll Be Right Back' (my first request. God, I love that song.) 'Voyage to Manhood' (Mike couldn't remember most of the words, so it was almost entirely instrumental) closed with: 'Inca Roads' (after a request for 'some zappa'
'Live in Japan' (my second request. Yay!)
Stunned and happy,
- rfb
