oysterhead - 10-27-01 - Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles, CA

Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 19:12:54 EST
From: MHession36@aol.com
To: dws@netspace.org
Subject: 10-27 Oysterhead show.
 
I saw the 10-27 Oysterhead show and was quite impressed. More energy than I've
seen in a show in a long time.  There were, of course, plenty of complaints
about the security, but it didn't bother me.  I got there early cause I wanted
to see the opening act, which was tight but reminded me a little too much of
the Radiators.  I waited only a few minutes and passed through the security.  
It was tight, no doubt, and they took my zigzags, but offered me the
opportunity to return them to my car, if I wanted. I didn't want to waste the
time, so I didn't. I have little patience for those complaining about the
security for two reasons: (1) they didn't let cigarettes in and that's fine
with me.  Some women got hers in and insisted on smoking stick after stick in
the crowd in front of the stage. It was disrespectful and frankly annoying.
Ganga smells good. Tobacco doesn't.  (2) As for the pat-down, there is a
terrorist war going on right now. The more security the better. I don't have
a! nything to hide, and frankly the
 crowd was getting a little too upset about it, comparing the security guards
to Nazis. If anyone thinks that the security guards at this venue had any
similarities to Nazis, I'd suggest a history book.  It was no big deal. Live
with it and stop your bitching. We were there to listen to music, and we got
to do just that.
 
As for the show itself, it was tight and loud and hard, just the way a
power-trio rock show should be, and this is one of the strongest power-trios
I've seen in years (like a Hendrix, Mitchell, Redding combo, no doubt).  
Claypool has stage presence dripping out of his ears and it was contagious --
Trey seemed as charismatic as I've ever seen him.  He did give a somewhat
annoying speech about how the crowd should be quiet during the slow tune,
which is respectable but when you spend half an hour getting a crowd full of
fast, hard energy, its a little much to ask them to suddenly be absolutely
still.
 
As for an over-crowded venue, the complaints are somewhat puzzling to me.  
Yeah, the front was crowded, but there was plenty of room in the back to dance
and chill. It was fairly easy to go back and forth and had a really intimate
feel to it.
 
In sum, a very strong show in a small venue. Thumbs up and looking forward to
the next one. 

 
Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 12:14:59 -0800 
From: Gary Barnes gbarnes3@san.rr.com 
Subject: Review of Oysterhead 10/27/01
 
 
The show at the Palladium was a hassle for the most part and besides 5-6
songs the band played which sizzled, the rest of the experience was not one
I want to dwell on for very long. The band seemed tight, happy and did
mention the crowd was one of the liveliest they remember in LA. They played
every song except Wield the Spade and most were high energy fun.
 
The venue was not good. I arrived with my friends at 7:40 expecting to get
in and see the opening band and then get front row for OH. Boy, was I
mistaken. There was a line bending all the way through the parking lot and
up this long sidewalk to get in. Everyone we talked to was stunned with
this and soon we realized security was the issue. Once we got to the
parking lot, they held us up in 10 minute shifts. Then we got to the
security check, the first was to check for lighters, cigs, pipes and
anything else deemed "risky" by these guards. The second check was a full
pad down and empty the pockets search. The guy even went through my wallet
before I snatched it out of his hand in anger. He glowered at me, but then
let me pass. They were not wearing arm bands, but it was pretty close.
 
Once inside, the heat jumped about 50 degrees and the smell of the place
was ripe. I do not know where that came from, either sweat, dirt or
something dead inside the walls, but it really was not pleasant. Then we
decided to get a drink-$7 for a mixed drink and not much liquor included.
The place was absolutely jammed with people, we slowly moved out into the
crowd and tried to get up close. OH had been playing for 2 songs now and I
was frankly angry I missed them. I started to dance and then Trey stepped
up to sing.
 
The sound was terrible. His voice did not even register and I was only
maybe 9 rows back from the stage. I could see him trying to sing louder,
but Les's bass and Stew's drums were drowning him out. Les had more success
when he sang, but his bass was still miked way too high and the mix between
drums, guitar and bass was not even. As we were leaving after our Mr.
Oysterhead encore, I stumbled into another guy after being pushed from
behind. I apologized and he said no problem. Then I recognized he was one
of the roadies trying to get to the back of the stage. I chatted with him
for a second and he mentioned he had overheard Les yelling at the sound guy
before the encore. I suppose that is why we did not get a second encore.
 
The other weird thing was HBO was there filming this concert for their show
Reverb. It supposedly airs sometime in November. One of my friends thought
they did not do another encore specifically a cover because of the
royalties that would need to be paid to air that song on TV or to play it
live at all. Phish must pay a lot of royalties because they cover hundreds
of songs so this did not make sense to me, but I am fairly sure they would
have played a cover encore had the environment been better. Too bad because
they sounded very good on certain songs.
 
One complaint I still do have is with Trey. IMO, he needs to slow down,
play chords and learn how to play coherent integrated solos. He loves
rythym so much that I find he falls back on playing variations on the basic
rift and staying there all night. Or if he does solo, it is one high long
note followed by finger tapping or some notes tripled so fast it is hard to
hear what he is doing. I am a huge Zappa fan so people will understand
where I hope Trey gets to, but I just have not seen the growth I would
expect from him as a player in several years. I have been to many Phish
shows, saw his solo tour this summer and now saw OH. I was hoping his work
with Les and especially Copeland may give him more structure, but I did not
see it.
 
Nonetheless, it was a good show not a great one because of all the hassles
with the venue and the sound. I would see OH again, but only in the right
place and those are becoming hard to find nowadays.
 
Gary Barnes
San Diego

Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2001 15:52:23 -0800 (PST)
From: George Laird George_Laird@excite.com
Subject: review of oysterhead in hollywood
 
I just want to say thank you...
 
 
thank you to the Hollywood Palladium for overselling by over 1000 people.
While the owner enjoys his surf and turf tonight on all the extra money he
made, I hope he thinks of all of us in the front rows being squashed like
bugs becuase there wasn't enough room.
 
thank you to the Palladium for charging us almost $2.00 just for a fucking
empty cup.
 
thank you for all of the extra searches and not letting us take lighters or
matches in. I love when guys in suits and metal detecters get off by
treating hippies like criminals. Hands down the worst I've ever seen. $35
bucks and I couln't even get stoned to enjoy the madness that Oysterhead
created.
 
thanks to all the Palladium staff for the negative vibes and treating us
like shit.  Everyone around me got slack from staff.  If anyone was trying
to have a good trip, they got no help from the upper level staff.
 
thanks to all the security gaurds giving tapers hell in line and telling
them to return their equiptment to the car becuase you can't tape a show.  I
watched a guard yell at a taper and tell him he was stupid to think he could
actually tape a show.
 
thanks to all the hollywood loosers for not shutting up during Trey's
acoustic song.  I understand the temp. was at least two thousand degress and
we were all antsy but that was just rude.  I thought Trey was going to walk
off stage.
 
thanks to the Allman Brothers...I mean North Mississippi Alstars for playing
a solid set.  I like the guitar player and the bass player but someone needs
to tell the drummer to leave his double bass pedal home.
 
and last but not least, thank you Oysterhead for a solid rockin show. Thank
you for making all the bullshit worth while.  The energy was great.  They
blew my mind again.  I did think that the Berkley show was better by a mile,
but they boys rocked out with every bit of energy that was packed in the
room.  Again, thanks guys.  You pulled through like I knew you would.  It
was worth every penny!

Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 03:38:53 -0800
From: Joshua LeBar JoshuaLebar@hotmail.com
Subject: the palladium
 
Well OWell again
 
Very differnet venue then Berkleys Greek coming home for me to Hollywood.
First I have never in 6 years of shows been searched like so.  I thought the
security was going to take me out to dinner afer the pat down I got.  No
cigs..lighters..gum...and metal detectors....Saw a few glass pipes go to
severe waste.  ANyway We were told by a security guard while waiting in line
at 4 for Gen Admin..that It holds 3500 but they sold 5000 tics to make some
dough.  that to me was a bit of a dowfall..because I had to elbow for roomfar
more then usuasl in the 4th row....  But the show was solid but they were not
as talky.  Les did say..It was one of the best LA crowds he had seen...So
whatever its worth...wo hoo!!  Trey ..just a mad scientest at work as far as
i see it...Les is really a great complimet...in the operating room....and
stewart Know when to pass the scapul....So I was open again so the operating
could be done...and it was in this packed tight room that looked like it
could of been used for a wedding reception!!!  But these guys will just get
better as they go east.  This was not the best venue for this type of
work...Why not play the greek here..I dont know...that to me was the number
one biggest difference from last night ..was the limits of the venue.  But I
have seen my two shows that I can see..and I know the surgical gloves will be
pulled on many more nights for all of you Oysterheads to enjoy..In reflection
These guys open up a Labratory type enviroment...for Phns to step in..and You
feel like at times Your in the beaker..and trey and les take turns shaking it
��up....yeah thats what it like??Really!  

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