Now that we have chimed in,I saw Tull 3 times at Fillmore West and one time at the Bezerkley auditorium.Clive Bunker sounds the same using his full kit with 2 bass drums and all of the toms. AND with a simple 4 piece kit with 3 cymbals. FANTASTIC DRUMMER Fluid sound comes to mind.Watched him play "Nothing is Easy" from the side of the stage behind the PA amps.on the small kit.It was a thing of beauty to watch..V

> I asked him about it and he said that's the way it sounds best to create that good bass groove. And he be right.

I learned about playing just slightly behind the beat from an older, experienced musician many years ago. The old cats know the trick and they automatically incorporate it into their playing. It's such a subtle thing that unless you know what the player is doing, it goes by unnoticed and it comes off sounding very natural. The only way I can describe it is; it just sounds 'right.'

It's not as easy a trick to pull off as it sounds either. Takes a bit of skill and a really good ear to pull it off successfully. It's all 'feel' really. It's easy for a drummer to throw the band off-time if the technique is not being executed cleanly, accurately. Levon Helm was a Master of playing behind the beat. It's a big reason why his drumming grooves always sounded so strong/heavy. Listen to how Mitch approaches the 1 on Little Miss Lover. He almost ghost note's it out, implies it, without hitting it hard. He's playing just behind the music. Gives it a pushing/driving/forward moving feel. Brilliant stuff.

Enough, I don't want to derail the thread, but I did want to respond to you.

Back to the Pig!

John

John,we probably were.It's funny how you could light up doobies in the Fillmore,but no booze allowed.

I used to sneak in my bottle of Boones Farm Apple wine, in the sleeve of my denim jacket hung over my shoulder, that was washed 900 times so it was faded and soft.

I really miss that place,so many memories.I remember watching 3-4-5 bands a night,and amature nights,seeing the Who perform "Tommy".The Joshua Light Show......far out.

Cream,Hendrix,Traffic,Edgar/Johnny Winter, Led Zep.The list goes on and on.

Some of those shows would last into the wee hours.Those were the days my friend.

Steve B

Ian Anderson said that Clive " wanted to be forever the amateur". He was commenting on his leaving Tull, the reason being that they were getting too big and Clive wanted to play in a less rigorous band, less famous band.

Hey Mr. Purdieshuffle glad you're back! I sure wish I lived near you could and take some lessons with ya. I'll bet you could 'splain me some things. I love how you guys kinda remember those days at the Fillmore. You know what they say about remembering the sixties-haha. If you all haven't read Bill Graham's book you really should, his life was unbelievable. Might help ya remember a few more things as well! Anyways have a good day, I'm goin' to play drums now...

It's good to be back, Dr. Watts. Thank you for the kind words.

And I remember the sixties just fine... parts of it anyway! LoLoLoLo

John - Tune in, turn on, drop out. - Timothy Leary

It's not so much memories as..............flash backs.(yes that was an LSD reference,can you say orange sunshine or purple ozzlies)Kidding....

Although i did my fair share,I never seemed to over do it.I seem to have a built in survival/don't lose control instinct.

So although I don't remember ALL of those shows,I do remember quite a few at the Fillmore,as well as Madison Square,The other end,the bitter end,The Capitol theater,The Beacon theater,the Electric Circus and various other venues.

In those days,somebody big was playing somewhere 7 days a week,and usually for 2.50 to 7.50 a show with 2-5 bands.Bands that actually had record deals and airplay.

Steve B

never did get to see them but a great band....

Steve - "the Electric Circus" My old band were regulars there! The first year the Circus was open, we played at least 20 - 30 gigs there. Remember the Pig Light Show, the jugglers, the trapeze act, the never ending strobe lights, the music, the weed, the acid, the chicks, the insanity!

Jackie Cassen and Rudy Stern (The Pig Light Show) used to travel with our band whenever we did out-of-state gigs. We had the same producers so they used to package us as a psychedelic rock show and book us all over the place. Great days man, fun times. I got a ton of stories. Ahh, to be 18 and in a working band in the late 60's was something I'll crack a smile over ever time I remember it as I rock back and forth in my creaky chair at the old age home!

BTW, our band was called, Rain. Rain was composed of all the session/studio guys from Ben-Gor Studios over on Bleeker St. Do you recall the name at all? We were -all over- the clubs and bars in the Village. We played the Electric Circus at least twice a month, they were always Friday or Saturday night gigs. That place was always crawling with people, you couldn't move around in there. That low stage was no protection either! It was always fun for me to watch the dancers/the crowd bobbing up and down in rhythm to my drumming. At times it really was huge fun. If you were hanging out back then, (67' - 69') you 'might' have heard us. It would be cool if you did.

[IMG]http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n632/PurdieShuffle/ad_zps2d59dc35.jpg[/IMG]

John

That was you?I was 15 the first time I went there and I don't know how....but I do remember that and thought it was a cool name.....Wow.

All these years later.NYC as big as it is ,seems smaller now.What are the chances.

I don't remember a lot from that night,except it was hot and crowded.You didn't even need to light up.You could get a contact high just standing there.

The trapeze,the light show and the noise of the crowd was almost overwhelming at times.

Those were great times Johnflowers2

Steve B