Boston
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OCT 6 - 6 pm
Yesterday was a pretty quiet day as a day off. l had the same online problems trying to work in the morning so more frustration. We drove to Boston at around midday - Nicko went off earlier to get some golf in. I was with Steve and Bruce and we chatted over some ideas for the future which is always fun, some good ones too but l am not going to reveal them now!
Drive took a couple of hours. Much better hotel in boston, got some lunch then set up laptop to work and .....isnt life great sometimes, it fired up online straight away when connected and at a really good speed. It makes such a difference when l am getting a lot of large files with art, film clips or photos and makes a huge difference to how you feel. Anyway pretty boring stuff for you all so lets move on.
Went out to a couple of bars near the hotel in the eventing with Steve, Gaddsy and a couple of Steve's mates from around here. Typical non-eventful day on the road really. Its really not that glamorous a lot of the time and we dont really get into the rock star lifestyle, whatever that is. We have been to a lot of these cities many times so know them pretty well and the band tend to spend time with people they have met there over the years. Friends in many ports l guess.
Woke up really early - jet lag l suppose - and basically have sat around for 12 hours just catching up on a load of stuff on the phone and laptop so I can get a break over the weekend. Must get to the gym tomorrow. Thank god its a gig tonight - some action again!! Very much looking forward to it. The first 3 shows are a bit smaller than usual as they are really warmups - it takes a gig or two for the band to start gelling, especially with complex material like the new album to play, but any set with a lot of new songs takes a while to really get there. Not that its sloppy, its just a matter of fact. That's why we usually do some smaller gigs first. Hartford was about 6000 capacity and was close to sell out but Boston (6000) and Camden near Philly (7300) have been sold out for a week or so.
About time to go so will jump in shower and get ready to for another bombardment of all the senses. More tomorrow about the gig - lets hope it goes well!!!
- Rod
Raport Rod'a Smallwod'a - BOSTON
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WICKER MAN
- -#Rainmaker
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- Rejestracja: pn mar 31, 2003 3:35 pm
- Skąd: Warszawa
Re: Raport Rod'a Smallwod'a - BOSTON
Boston #2
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BOSTON OCT 7 - 1 PM
Another blazing gig. Audience were fantastic, it was almost like playing at home. l love this show and think its the best we have ever done and that's saying something. If you think that's just manager bullshit "well he would say that wouldn't he" wait til its your turn to see it and eat your words!! Breeg went down a storm and there were more Breeg shirts in the audience than anything else. This is largely down to radio station WAAF who are one of the handful of US stations who give us some support and they have been for a long time so thank you WAAF for that support. You never know but the historical ignoring of Maiden by US radio may possibly change with Different World which went to radio here last week (but dont hold your breath!) so if you live in America get calling your local rock station and hammer them to play DW!! The vid for this will go up online soon - watch out for it - its effin 'great (cue "well he........" etc etc ad nauseum) but just check it out!
So the gig was great for me and (l think) the fans, at least those who don't bitch about "not enough favourites" and want to hear Run To The Hills all the time, but what about the band... sadly that's a different story. On stage sound problems spoiled it for them. Hartford was the same but we put some PA on stage to rectify it but there was a sort of whooshing bottom end feel apparently last night and Bruce couldn't hear his vocals so really had to strain. Its hard for the band to really enjoy a show irrespective of audience reaction if they find it hard to enjoy playing due to poor on stage sound. Also one of the guitars got mistuned (which l don't remember ever happening to us before) and really messed up The Legacy which happens to be my favourite track. The poor roadie was distraught and most apologetic but l think he was last seen hanging from Boston bridge. But that's what these smaller earlier shows are for - get the gremlins out, get the band flowing then everyone can relax and enjoy the playing, hopefully tonight in Camden will be better. Hope so cos after that its all the biggies coming up with Quebec already sold out at 10,500 and Montréal close to sellout at about 12,5000 tix sold and then NY area. Can't wait to get this show into the big halls, especially eastern Canada where live probably the best and the loudest fans on earth - yes possibly even more so than South America and southern Europe (and sometimes NY madness). Some of you may argue with this but l tell you its true - if your not from Quebec or Montreal you are just going to have to get you and more mates singing louder next time and restore some local pride!!
Most of the band were a bit downbeat after the show but they went through all the problems with the crew straight after show. We have a good crew, they will sort it, spirits were soon lifted when we got to a very good (and we recommend it to you) bar called Foleys (would you believe the Hyatt bar closed at 12 - pathetic - don't stay there guys) where the barman was from Warrington and a rugby league fan so we had a good chat. As to what followed, see the photos....says it all!!!
Finally got a good sleep last night so up late, breakfast and started this. We leave about 3 for Camden so l will leave you for now. Back tomorrow hopefully with good news about our onstage sound and singing the praises of the Philly fans!!
- Rod
PS nearly forgot this.
If any of you were wondering where his diary had got to, Nicko asks me to tell you that his laptop is knackered but he will get a new one when he gets time in NY next week and he will then get onto it as usual. But why any of you would wish to follow his insane 'kin rambling and weird 'kin norff london language is beyond me.. ouch!!
- Rod
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BOSTON OCT 7 - 1 PM
Another blazing gig. Audience were fantastic, it was almost like playing at home. l love this show and think its the best we have ever done and that's saying something. If you think that's just manager bullshit "well he would say that wouldn't he" wait til its your turn to see it and eat your words!! Breeg went down a storm and there were more Breeg shirts in the audience than anything else. This is largely down to radio station WAAF who are one of the handful of US stations who give us some support and they have been for a long time so thank you WAAF for that support. You never know but the historical ignoring of Maiden by US radio may possibly change with Different World which went to radio here last week (but dont hold your breath!) so if you live in America get calling your local rock station and hammer them to play DW!! The vid for this will go up online soon - watch out for it - its effin 'great (cue "well he........" etc etc ad nauseum) but just check it out!
So the gig was great for me and (l think) the fans, at least those who don't bitch about "not enough favourites" and want to hear Run To The Hills all the time, but what about the band... sadly that's a different story. On stage sound problems spoiled it for them. Hartford was the same but we put some PA on stage to rectify it but there was a sort of whooshing bottom end feel apparently last night and Bruce couldn't hear his vocals so really had to strain. Its hard for the band to really enjoy a show irrespective of audience reaction if they find it hard to enjoy playing due to poor on stage sound. Also one of the guitars got mistuned (which l don't remember ever happening to us before) and really messed up The Legacy which happens to be my favourite track. The poor roadie was distraught and most apologetic but l think he was last seen hanging from Boston bridge. But that's what these smaller earlier shows are for - get the gremlins out, get the band flowing then everyone can relax and enjoy the playing, hopefully tonight in Camden will be better. Hope so cos after that its all the biggies coming up with Quebec already sold out at 10,500 and Montréal close to sellout at about 12,5000 tix sold and then NY area. Can't wait to get this show into the big halls, especially eastern Canada where live probably the best and the loudest fans on earth - yes possibly even more so than South America and southern Europe (and sometimes NY madness). Some of you may argue with this but l tell you its true - if your not from Quebec or Montreal you are just going to have to get you and more mates singing louder next time and restore some local pride!!
Most of the band were a bit downbeat after the show but they went through all the problems with the crew straight after show. We have a good crew, they will sort it, spirits were soon lifted when we got to a very good (and we recommend it to you) bar called Foleys (would you believe the Hyatt bar closed at 12 - pathetic - don't stay there guys) where the barman was from Warrington and a rugby league fan so we had a good chat. As to what followed, see the photos....says it all!!!
Finally got a good sleep last night so up late, breakfast and started this. We leave about 3 for Camden so l will leave you for now. Back tomorrow hopefully with good news about our onstage sound and singing the praises of the Philly fans!!
- Rod
PS nearly forgot this.
If any of you were wondering where his diary had got to, Nicko asks me to tell you that his laptop is knackered but he will get a new one when he gets time in NY next week and he will then get onto it as usual. But why any of you would wish to follow his insane 'kin rambling and weird 'kin norff london language is beyond me.. ouch!!
- Rod