Winter Tour 2015

[GubGub (Al)]

Enjoyable but sedate show in Worthing last night. I liked most of the new songs but am slightly shocked out how many of them come from outside the band. This must be the first album where they have relied so heavily on outside writers since before Chris joined. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to hearing the studio versions of Home & Weightless which were both performed expertly.

Much as i enjoyed the show though, I did think to myself that, had they performed this material at my first Fairport gig, it would not have created the excitement that caused me to follow the band for all these years. The musical "pyrotechnics" have gone and I do miss the instrumental medley at the end of Matty with Ric leaping all over the stage (yes I know he is 63).

Interestingly, lots of guitar from Chris last night. No fiddle, That would be enough to give at least one of our TAW friends apoplexy!  

[Shane (Skirky)]

Just look at recent set lists.

A non-cynic   might wonder if it wasn't a bit much of a faff to re-arrange all those keyboard, sequencer and electric guitar parts for mandolin when you've got, as Jules points out, about twenty years of 'recent' material to choose from. You may as well suggest they've been airbrushing Jerry Donahue out of the picture.  

[mickf]

Hoping to to spoil anything here so no details (but feel free to moderate if wanted) it does seem as if Maart has been airbrushed from Fairport history lately.

Just look at recent set lists.

I don't think it'll be as pointed as it may seem.  A band that has been going a long time tends to concentrate on two things when making up a setlist for a tour: songs from the new album that they are promoting; and old songs from their vintage years that their long-time fans will want to hear (either their hits or their classics, depending on what band we're talking about).  If there's any time left then they may add in a few "deep" tracks from elsewhere in their catalogue, and that's where the Maart-era songs might get a look in, but in the main it's this middle ground material (neither fresh nor classic) that tends to be discarded along the way.  Even somebody like Neil Young rarely plays songs from the past 25 years other than those he's just released.

Jules

I think this is the most likely explanation - seen it many times with other bands. Classics and most recent seems to be the norm.

[davidmjs]

I think this is the most likely explanation - seen it many times with other bands. Classics and most recent seems to be the norm.

Also the fact that the Maart era had a very different sound (big electric guitar/keyboard/synth/ etc) to today's band....that's a generalisation, of course, but it's still generally true.

[Andy]

Hoping to to spoil anything here so no details (but feel free to moderate if wanted) it does seem as if Maart has been airbrushed from Fairport history lately.

A cynic might whisper PRS.  

Did Maart contribute to writing music or lyrics then? I don't have notes of track authors.

[GubGub (Al)]

Hoping to to spoil anything here so no details (but feel free to moderate if wanted) it does seem as if Maart has been airbrushed from Fairport history lately.

A cynic might whisper PRS.  

Did Maart contribute to writing music or lyrics then? I don't have notes of track authors.

Yes, he co-wrote a few. Spanish Main, some instrumentals from Expletive Delighted. A few bits from Jewel In The Crown, including A Surfeit of Lampreys. That is just from memory. There are others I am sure.

[Andy]

" A Surfeit of Lampreys" hasn't been played since about 2007, has it?

[RobertD]

Enjoyable but sedate show in Worthing last night. I liked most of the new songs but am slightly shocked out how many of them come from outside the band. This must be the first album where they have relied so heavily on outside writers since before Chris joined. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to hearing the studio versions of Home & Weightless which were both performed expertly.

Much as i enjoyed the show though, I did think to myself that, had they performed this material at my first Fairport gig, it would not have created the excitement that caused me to follow the band for all these years. The musical "pyrotechnics" have gone and I do miss the instrumental medley at the end of Matty with Ric leaping all over the stage (yes I know he is 63).

Interestingly, lots of guitar from Chris last night. No fiddle, That would be enough to give at least one of our TAW friends apoplexy!  

Just for my own knowledge, he was playing electric guitar? I have long wished for him to pick up the electric again. I know it is not his natural instrument but thought it sounded good on Spanish Main

[YaBB Master (Colin)]

PRS

I wasn't specifically referring to Maart and actually it's the support act that really benefits, if they perform their own material. For Fairport it probably just means that Chris Leslie buys the beer.

The last time I looked the authors got an equal share of 3% of ticket sales, split proportionally depending on the total number of copyrighted songs performed.

[GubGub (Al)]

" A Surfeit of Lampreys" hasn't been played since about 2007, has it?

Probably not. Maybe longer. One of my favourites of their instrumentals though.

[GubGub (Al)]

Enjoyable but sedate show in Worthing last night. I liked most of the new songs but am slightly shocked out how many of them come from outside the band. This must be the first album where they have relied so heavily on outside writers since before Chris joined. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to hearing the studio versions of Home & Weightless which were both performed expertly.

Much as i enjoyed the show though, I did think to myself that, had they performed this material at my first Fairport gig, it would not have created the excitement that caused me to follow the band for all these years. The musical "pyrotechnics" have gone and I do miss the instrumental medley at the end of Matty with Ric leaping all over the stage (yes I know he is 63).

Interestingly, lots of guitar from Chris last night. No fiddle, That would be enough to give at least one of our TAW friends apoplexy!  

Just for my own knowledge, he was playing electric guitar? I have long wished for him to pick up the electric again. I know it is not his natural instrument but thought it sounded good on Spanish Main

No Rob, acoustic. Lots of electric Simon, though it did not really cut through the mix from where I was sitting.

[RobertD]

Enjoyable but sedate show in Worthing last night. I liked most of the new songs but am slightly shocked out how many of them come from outside the band. This must be the first album where they have relied so heavily on outside writers since before Chris joined. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to hearing the studio versions of Home & Weightless which were both performed expertly.

Much as i enjoyed the show though, I did think to myself that, had they performed this material at my first Fairport gig, it would not have created the excitement that caused me to follow the band for all these years. The musical "pyrotechnics" have gone and I do miss the instrumental medley at the end of Matty with Ric leaping all over the stage (yes I know he is 63).

Interestingly, lots of guitar from Chris last night. No fiddle, That would be enough to give at least one of our TAW friends apoplexy!  

Just for my own knowledge, he was playing electric guitar? I have long wished for him to pick up the electric again. I know it is not his natural instrument but thought it sounded good on Spanish Main

No Rob, acoustic. Lots of electric Simon, though it did not really cut through the mix from where I was sitting.

Thanks Al. Don't ever recall seeing or hearing him play acoustic before but since he already plays every instrument available, why not!

[GubGub (Al)]

Enjoyable but sedate show in Worthing last night. I liked most of the new songs but am slightly shocked out how many of them come from outside the band. This must be the first album where they have relied so heavily on outside writers since before Chris joined. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to hearing the studio versions of Home & Weightless which were both performed expertly.

Much as i enjoyed the show though, I did think to myself that, had they performed this material at my first Fairport gig, it would not have created the excitement that caused me to follow the band for all these years. The musical "pyrotechnics" have gone and I do miss the instrumental medley at the end of Matty with Ric leaping all over the stage (yes I know he is 63).

Interestingly, lots of guitar from Chris last night. No fiddle, That would be enough to give at least one of our TAW friends apoplexy!  

Just for my own knowledge, he was playing electric guitar? I have long wished for him to pick up the electric again. I know it is not his natural instrument but thought it sounded good on Spanish Main

No Rob, acoustic. Lots of electric Simon, though it did not really cut through the mix from where I was sitting.

Thanks Al. Don't ever recall seeing or hearing him play acoustic before but since he already plays every instrument available, why not!

I'm sure someone will correct me but it might have been some sort of hybrid. It was guitar shaped and sized and sounded like a guitar but from where I was sitting it looked like it had 8 strings in four sets of two.

Did I dream this? Anyone?

[Shane (Skirky)]

I'm sure someone will correct me but it might have been some sort of hybrid. It was guitar shaped and sized and sounded like a guitar but from where I was sitting it looked like it had 8 strings in four sets of two.
Did I dream this? Anyone?

Possibly the Strat-lite bouzouki he tinkered with at Cropredy early on in his FC career?

[Jay Peter]

Enjoyable but sedate show in Worthing last night. I liked most of the new songs but am slightly shocked out how many of them come from outside the band. This must be the first album where they have relied so heavily on outside writers since before Chris joined. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to hearing the studio versions of Home & Weightless which were both performed expertly.

Much as i enjoyed the show though, I did think to myself that, had they performed this material at my first Fairport gig, it would not have created the excitement that caused me to follow the band for all these years. The musical "pyrotechnics" have gone and I do miss the instrumental medley at the end of Matty with Ric leaping all over the stage (yes I know he is 63).

Interestingly, lots of guitar from Chris last night. No fiddle, That would be enough to give at least one of our TAW friends apoplexy!  

Just for my own knowledge, he was playing electric guitar? I have long wished for him to pick up the electric again. I know it is not his natural instrument but thought it sounded good on Spanish Main

No Rob, acoustic. Lots of electric Simon, though it did not really cut through the mix from where I was sitting.

I haven't been able to hear much of Simon's guitar for years. Don't know if it's my ears or what.

[GubGub (Al)]

I'm sure someone will correct me but it might have been some sort of hybrid. It was guitar shaped and sized and sounded like a guitar but from where I was sitting it looked like it had 8 strings in four sets of two.
Did I dream this? Anyone?

Possibly the Strat-lite bouzouki he tinkered with at Cropredy early on in his FC career?

Wasn't that solid bodied? This was acoustic.

[Jules Gray]

I'm sure someone will correct me but it might have been some sort of hybrid. It was guitar shaped and sized and sounded like a guitar but from where I was sitting it looked like it had 8 strings in four sets of two.
Did I dream this? Anyone?

Wasn't that solid bodied? This was acoustic.

Sounds like some sort of mandolin/guitar hybrid.  If it was tuned like a mando it would make sense, what with Chris playing it.

Jules

[Greg]

Could just be a bouzouki?  Sometimes they turn up with a guitar-style body rather than the teardrop type shape.  In fact I believe Maart had his 'bouzar' which is much the same thing.

[Shankly (Peter)]

I'm sure someone will correct me but it might have been some sort of hybrid. It was guitar shaped and sized and sounded like a guitar but from where I was sitting it looked like it had 8 strings in four sets of two.

Did I dream this? Anyone?

It did have 8 strings as you said - one of the advantages of being on the front row at the Atkinson in Southport is that you are almost part of the band, so I could see this quite clearly!

[Dan O.]

Chris was playing his Ozark guitar-shaped bouzouki or "bouzar" last night.