Soft Machine

[Facelift]

You have control over some kind of Army of Facelifters that follow your commands? Wow, what a frightening thought...

No, but I know some people who would otherwise attend who won't, after I explain to them why they shouldn't.

Steve likes to make himself feel better by belittling other people, and while his belittling comments might nevertheless be true if I was the only person who I affect insofar as attending a show, that's not the case.

[aith01]

I'm gonna go, but say on Progressive Ears that I didn't go.

Now this made my day.

[Steve F.]

Steve likes to make himself feel better by belittling other people...

that's pretty rich, coming from you, Nestor.

[Staun]

After all this, I'm going to tell them not to show up here.

[walt]

This life long New Yorker(born here,too) just printed out his ticket for the 8pm show.


Alert the media.

[DocProgger]

This life long New Yorker(born here,too) just printed out his ticket for the 8pm show.


Alert the media.

Watch out for the Facelift Goon Squad....

[walt]

Watch out for the Facelift Goon Squad....

[calyx]

No, but I know some people who would otherwise attend who won't, after I explain to them why they shouldn't.

[Steve F.]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[chalkpie]

You're absolutely right. This tour is a disgusting joke and despite being as huge a SM fan as there is, there's no way in good conscience I can support this.

Wow, what a surprise.....

[arturs]

I'll just chime in and paraphrase what I said recently in a Kansas thread. If there was a Soft Machine cover band coming to your area, you would go, right? Right?? And you would enjoy it... So just view this is a SM cover band if you don't think it is a legitimate incarnation of SM.

If someone doesn't want to go only because the use of the name offends them morally, that is their choice I guess. But I think even more so than with Kansas, this is as good as it will get. Of the SM members who are potentially more legit than the current crew, 5 out of 8 have passed on (Allen, Ayers, Hopper, Dean, Holdsworth), one is paraplegic, one says he has no interest in music anymore, and one has become a platinum-selling pseudo-classical composer. And I may be wrong, but I think very few ticket-holders will show up expecting to see Wyatt or Ratledge. So I don't think they are trying to fool anyone.

Just my $.02. I very much look forward to seeing them at Progtoberfest.

[polmico]

Fuck. I’d go if I could. Good music played by good musicians is good music. Call it “Let’s kick Polmi in the balls all night—no, I mean it” and I’d still go if I could.

[chalkpie]

“Let’s kick Polmi in the balls all night”

^That's one hell of a unit. Tight as balls, and they can really swing.

[GuitarGeek]

So wait...who's actually in the band at this point?

[Steve F.]

^ ^ ^

John Etheridge
Roy Babbington
John Marshall
Theo Travis

[Kanukisbrave]

I'd go if I could. That is a excellent lineup and I don't have an issue with them using that name. I thought that Soft Machine Legacy cd's are all worthwhile too.

[moecurlythanu]

I'm gonna go, but say on Progressive Ears that I didn't go.

I'll go grudgingly, but hope that they cover a couple Yes tunes.

[GuitarGeek]

^ ^ ^

John Etheridge
Roy Babbington
John Marshall
Theo Travis

Interesting. I'll have to see if they're coming here. While I'm not that crazy about the post Hopper era Soft Machine, this could still be a good band to see.

[moecurlythanu]

If they play anywhere near, the curiosity factor will be enough, given the pedigree.

[GuitarGeek]

Well, what do you know, it looks like they're playing the Beachland Ballroom in October. I may have to go see this.

[jcarr73729]

I saw them in Liverpool a few weeks ago and enjoyed it.
I came to SM during the mid-1970's, so this line-up is perfectly valid for me.
They have their own compositions over the last decade to choose from, so they are not pretending to be a tribute to something from the distant past.
Enjoy them for what they are, not what you want them to be.

[MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER]

So, don't go. They won't notice or even miss you. I guarantee it.

I will gladly take his seat!

[Conti]

I can speak from my own experience. A couple of years ago I travelled 600 km to see them playing in São Paulo and I didn't regret it (it cost me more than I could/should pay at the time). It was a great show with many outstanding tunes from their golden years plus fine new compositions. Great performances from all players.

In a nutshell, if any band with John Marshall, Roy Babbington and John Etheridge would come anywhere around me I would do my best to see them. We are talking of people who have played not only in Soft Machine, but also with Nucleus, Delivery, Eberhard Weber, Jack Bruce and many other luminaires. I have countless albums with them.

These guys are not getting any younger and still play very, very well. Go see them!

[Scrotum Scissor]

^ ^ ^

John Etheridge
Roy Babbington
John Marshall
Theo Travis

I take it back. I'd go.

[Interstellar]

The presence of Theo Travis would be enough for me to go, whatever the name.