Camel Live 2013 (w/spoilers)

[Squigelyfox]

i have to concur with everything posted above, The Barbican show was staggeringly moving, the outpouring of love from the audience before a note had been played was spine-tingling. The band was so tight, everybody played beautifully, and the emotional tone and fluidity of Andy's guitar was without compare. Call it hyperbole if you wish, but that was one of the best gigs I have ever attended. I took my girlfriend along and she had never heard one note of Camel, but approached it with a very open mind and quite honestly she was blown away, and was giving a standing ovation along with the rest of us by the close of set one. How music of this quality is still such a specialist item beggars belief.

I bought the new CD but arrived home to a power cut due to the storms and so have not had a chance to hear it yet.

Did they finish earlier as planned?

[ChrisXymphonia]

Someone mentioned Never Let Go in a "new" arrangement: this wasn't a new arrangement but it was the great 1992 tour version which I find to be the best version of this song.

[Squigelyfox]

Someone mentioned Never Let Go in a "new" arrangement: this wasn't a new arrangement but it was the great 1992 tour version which I find to be the best version of this song.

Me too!

[calyx]

Did they finish earlier as planned?

Well, the band seemed to hurry a bit to come back for the encore, as if fearing they might hit the curfew... By the end of the encore, it was clear they wouldn't come back and the lights went back on in seconds.

No sightings of former members in the audience. I did see Steve Rothery in the lobby after the now (no other Marillos), I've been told he wrote enthusiastically about the show on Facebook or some other "social network".

[Obscured]

[ChrisXymphonia]

Well, the band seemed to hurry a bit to come back for the encore, as if fearing they might hit the curfew... By the end of the encore, it was clear they wouldn't come back and the lights went back on in seconds.

Plus I think they were well aware of the travel disruptions that were still going on at that point (I think Circle line was still total mayhem and several main trainlines weren't operating at all) and as such wouldn't want people to get stranded. Fortunately we had no trouble getting back to our hotel at all. Flew home yesterday and tonight it is Camel again but now in Bochum, Germany :-).

[Iceman]

Attended the Barbican gig and was totally blown away. It was like they’d never been away never mind 10 years since their last concert. You could get a feeling for how it was going to go as soon as the guys walked on stage they couldn’t start for a good 2-3 minutes for the crowd cheering. It seemed to take AL aback a bit. I know it’s been said but his guitar playing was sublime and a joy to hear and was worth waiting 10 years for.

The Snow Goose was subtlety different and was a pleasure to hear in its entirety and with the addition of an ‘extra’ keyboard player made all the difference. Second half of the show was devoted to old and new although Nod and a Wink (Foxhill) is hardly a new album! Perhaps should say old and latest.

Never come across this before and wonder if anyone out there has but Denis Clement took a break off the drums a couple of times to play bass guitar very successfully I might add. I know you sometimes see keyboard players playing guitar (and it was done during this concert as well) but anyone know of any other groups where members of the group have played a different instrument to what they are known for during a live performance?

Fingers crossed that they might play a few gigs next year one can only hope.

[gallen1964]

Was also at Barbican and was also thinking about drummers coming out from behind kit to play bass? Can't think of any. Also was he playing a Jaco replica Fender fret less. ? I was a long way back

[Camelogue]

What is the capacity of the venues Camel is playing at?

[Nov]

What is the capacity of the venues Camel is playing at?

The Barbican Hall holds just under 2000 and it was packed

[Squigelyfox]

What is the capacity of the venues Camel is playing at?

Not sure, but think they vary in size.

[Dodie]

The Barbican Hall holds just under 2000 and it was packed

I'd have thought the Barbican main hall held rather more than that... it's a big place. Not the O2 or Wembley, of course. But it's pretty much the biggest serious classical music (i.e. full-scale Mahler symphony orchestra) venue in London along with the Royal Festival Hall.

[will90]

Was also at Barbican . Made it over from Dublin with my prog-loving mate Bren, despite flight cancellation due to inclement weather. Totally worth the hassle. Fabulous night of music and not a little emotion. The warm welcome for Andy was positively spine-tingling. Snow Goose sounded great and the quality never dipped for the rest of the gig. Always get a lump in the throat when I hear For Today. This time it was coupled with a speck of dust in the eye. Great gig.

[ChrisXymphonia]

There are some excellent Amsterdam videos of this Camel tour up on Youtube of which this is one of them. Was really good to hear that Andy resurrected the Never Let Go 1992 arrangement. For me personally seeing Camel live is always a very emotional thing. There is simply no band around that conjures up the same emotional response within me at a concert. They always deliver and they always manage to lift up my spirit massively. They are also the only band that I have seen 5 times over a one week period (the Harbour of Tears and Rajaz) tour. And I would have been at both Dutch gigs wasn't it for the fact that by the time those dates were announced I already had tickets for the Barbican show plus a short holiday in the UK booked incl. airline tickets (which collided with those Dutch dates). Gladly we were back just in time to catch the Bochum (Germany) show last night. That show felt totally different then the Barbican. We were closer to the stage and saw more of the great interaction between the players on stage. Andy was in a boisterous mood it seemed, very energetic. And his guitarplaying is simply faultless, he packs more emotion in a single note then pretty much all of my other favourite guitarplayers combined. One of the highlights of the set that hasn't been mentioned so far is the inclusion of Tell Me, what a great sweet ballad that is and it was perfectly placed within the set. Here is a recording from a few days ago and it again features Denis Clement on bass stepping admirably in some large shoes to fill i.e. Richard Sinclair:"

[Hour Candle]

Sadly, it was the very last show of the tour tonight, in Fulda Germany. Anybody here that saw the band in Germany (3 dates)? I miss them already and this comeback tour won't be forgotten!

[calyx]

Here is a recording [of "Tell Me"] from a few days ago and it again features Denis Clement on bass stepping admirably in some large shoes to fill i.e. Richard Sinclair.

Well, it was Colin Bass who replaced Richard Sinclair in this case, as Richard only sang the original song - it was Latimer playing bass on the recording, as with "Skylines" - I guess those the backing tracks for those were recorded before Sinclair became involved.

This being said, Clement did play the bass for that song very accurately.

[Squigelyfox]

Well, it was Colin Bass who replaced Richard Sinclair in this case, as Richard only sang the original song - it was Latimer playing bass on the recording, as with "Skylines" - I guess those the backing tracks for those were recorded before Sinclair became involved.

This being said, Clement did play the bass for that song very accurately.

Actually Richard Sinclair was in the band at the time, he just doesn't play bass on those tracks.

[Squigelyfox]

Sadly, it was the very last show of the tour tonight, in Fulda Germany. Anybody here that saw the band in Germany (3 dates)? I miss them already and this comeback tour won't be forgotten!

Do you have a setlist or know how long they played for?

[Obscured]

Here's the entire new Snow Goose- Enjoy-

[calyx]

Actually Richard Sinclair was in the band at the time, he just doesn't play bass on those tracks.

Isn't this exactly what I wrote ?

[Squigelyfox]

Isn't this exactly what I wrote ?

No. You said: " I guess those the backing tracks for those were recorded before Sinclair became involved."

Sinclair was involved at the time, but didn't turn up for the recordings of those tracks, although he should have been there.

[calyx]

Sinclair was involved at the time, but didn't turn up for the recordings of those tracks, although he should have been there.

Is this your interpretation of the "AWOL" credit on one of the tracks, or do you have a specific account that this is what happened ?
Based on an interview with Sinclair that I read, the other three had already begun recording when he got the call. Which is why I assumed they'd begun recording some songs with Latimer playing bass.

[Squigelyfox]

Is this your interpretation of the "AWOL" credit on one of the tracks, or do you have a specific account that this is what happened ?
Based on an interview with Sinclair that I read, the other three had already begun recording when he got the call. Which is why I assumed they'd begun recording some songs with Latimer playing bass.

There is an account somewhere on the internet, but it's a long time since I saw it. Something about it on Camel's 'CV' DVD too. Anyway, more than one side to every story isn't there?!

[Nov]

I'd have thought the Barbican main hall held rather more than that... it's a big place. Not the O2 or Wembley, of course. But it's pretty much the biggest serious classical music (i.e. full-scale Mahler symphony orchestra) venue in London along with the Royal Festival Hall.

I did research the capacity before posting

From the Barbican web-site:

Barbican Hall has a total capacity of 1943 over three levels as follows:
Stalls 855
Circle 767
Balcony 321

36 Wheelchair positions are located at the rear of the stalls, infrared headsets are available to assist people with hearing aids with a T setting.

[Nathan Mahl]

The Hammond is real, the Rhodes is real and the Moog is real :-).

Are the keyboard sounds vintage?