tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32465190585564728562024-02-19T08:29:58.724+01:00Long Live MusicTalking about rock, musicals and guitarbettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-61782057971126024522009-10-10T14:17:00.002+01:002009-10-10T14:21:53.031+01:00Europe - Last Look at Eden (2009)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzH9b-Deslu2YWB4GF2yGf5enLzhs-x2HEM4Xv4IHEyzx0Jt1kAygh9b9eli7xNy1wmeb48Dri3KErHeKJ6ljcrv7GR3BEXCwz-TLAe7diY73UF4CDrr1I5BNvCJ_gHfL4RFAjH2fnSk/s1600-h/europe_eden_cd.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzH9b-Deslu2YWB4GF2yGf5enLzhs-x2HEM4Xv4IHEyzx0Jt1kAygh9b9eli7xNy1wmeb48Dri3KErHeKJ6ljcrv7GR3BEXCwz-TLAe7diY73UF4CDrr1I5BNvCJ_gHfL4RFAjH2fnSk/s200/europe_eden_cd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390960225357225074" border="0" /></a>I know I might sound biased, since I've always loved this band, but the new album of Europe, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Last Look at Eden</span>, is really great!<br /><br />Probably the best since their re-union!<br /><br />The first song, the title track, (together with an instrumental prelude) is amazing and strikes you out of the sudden!<br /><br />There's a nice ballad, <span style="font-weight: bold;">New Love in Town</span>, and a very interesting song, <span style="font-weight: bold;">No Stone Unturned</span>, which probably is not quite typical them, but one of my favorite.<br /><br />Look forward to seeing them live!bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-83370704096099749632009-06-11T20:12:00.003+01:002009-06-11T20:17:52.564+01:00Super Trouper Twenty One - Photos<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEjWIps9MPStu_f99zt1rtflncgkZwdc8EFXVSe3eWHKzc45ObfjwaIW7vQK4d7IjEuwcoVtO1vgxpWzMAXgJiR0cnDQB192ZMU_eJvE6KShJYQ-oP5Bfh2NAkYs6dQsaA3yDrDH1AE0/s1600-h/_DSC0985.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEjWIps9MPStu_f99zt1rtflncgkZwdc8EFXVSe3eWHKzc45ObfjwaIW7vQK4d7IjEuwcoVtO1vgxpWzMAXgJiR0cnDQB192ZMU_eJvE6KShJYQ-oP5Bfh2NAkYs6dQsaA3yDrDH1AE0/s400/_DSC0985.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346151323260602994" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Many thanks to Lucio Conte who shot some photos of our band Super Trouper when playing at Twenty One! Here's the link to the album:<br /><br /><table style="width: 194px;"><tbody><tr align="center"><td style="background: transparent url(http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat scroll left center; height: 194px; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lorenzo.bettini/SuperTrouperTwentyone?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_UtmZWQ8OFEM/Sg2XkkETwiE/AAAAAAAABbg/0siM5hOC5Zo/s160-c/SuperTrouperTwentyone.jpg" style="margin: 1px 0pt 0pt 4px;" width="160" height="160" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lorenzo.bettini/SuperTrouperTwentyone?feat=embedwebsite" style="color: rgb(77, 77, 77); font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">super trouper twentyone</a></td></tr></tbody></table>bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-20998137420577074252009-04-15T19:42:00.003+01:002009-04-15T19:46:59.909+01:00Super Trouper live at Twenty One<a href="http://www.myspace.com/supertrouperabba">Super Trouper</a>, ABBA cover band, will play live at Club TwentyOne, via Cimatori 13R, Firenze, Italy on Friday 17th April, 2009. Be there :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNpMamA5hxjfpo8emvvsjXLNGhlzrdQESoit1NU10qRx2sk0zcZGkgIyKtYk5yOpTM5Ka2Mbrqwa5LZEJ4oMQ28xk7RvaQJPRYrr_Z8mXK1mZsEMwU58LPO7MuR3IaaSJ5AwQBXMkdUY/s1600-h/super+trouper+flyer1+small.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNpMamA5hxjfpo8emvvsjXLNGhlzrdQESoit1NU10qRx2sk0zcZGkgIyKtYk5yOpTM5Ka2Mbrqwa5LZEJ4oMQ28xk7RvaQJPRYrr_Z8mXK1mZsEMwU58LPO7MuR3IaaSJ5AwQBXMkdUY/s400/super+trouper+flyer1+small.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324991203918507218" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3_Gk9ekHi-vEnQJzZmIpcqVYAUiDcaU2cuK_HQhYEbH-WnlGmL38N_ewCNqaU3mdmGrXc3w1Cq8B4nAJbe2c3HUIy14Icq0FqTGtmkiVPDOYzG-IrGjSU36gwNXLwtbT4xrAMka0VpM/s1600-h/super+trouper+flyer2+small.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3_Gk9ekHi-vEnQJzZmIpcqVYAUiDcaU2cuK_HQhYEbH-WnlGmL38N_ewCNqaU3mdmGrXc3w1Cq8B4nAJbe2c3HUIy14Icq0FqTGtmkiVPDOYzG-IrGjSU36gwNXLwtbT4xrAMka0VpM/s400/super+trouper+flyer2+small.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324991414261153202" border="0" /></a>bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-88620151943969175342009-03-01T18:23:00.003+01:002009-03-01T18:32:54.565+01:00It Bites are back: "The Tall Ships"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvy3RNEG7x7xFQIQ08Cb9bjRJfayavTfGWcWwSBltJx3dz0xD4BEP0XmEESQx6UC0nBOlv4_yST4iQUlgUQOJvbaokZYy3XW4Z3Bk5fRDYdghieDnxAqHkl5Ed9ccmJLvke4A_k3ctCzA/s1600-h/tall+ships.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvy3RNEG7x7xFQIQ08Cb9bjRJfayavTfGWcWwSBltJx3dz0xD4BEP0XmEESQx6UC0nBOlv4_yST4iQUlgUQOJvbaokZYy3XW4Z3Bk5fRDYdghieDnxAqHkl5Ed9ccmJLvke4A_k3ctCzA/s200/tall+ships.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308271842703199234" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.itbites.com/">It Bites</a> are finally back, with their new studio album, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Tall Ships</span>, since 1989! I've been waiting for this moment for soooo long!<br /><br />It Bites are one of my favorite bands ever, and I've known them since the eighties when they release 3 wonderful studio albums!<br /><br />They're a mixture of pop and progressive, and probably in the eighties that wasn't the right time.<br /><br />In this new album there's only John Beck and Bob Dalton of the original lineup, and the singer/guitarist, Francis Dunnery, is now replaced by the equally skilled John Mitchell.<br /><br />I may be biased, but I really think this is one of the greatest album in the last few years, and they actually sound like the original It Bites: the style hasn't changed!<br /><br />I had already enjoyed the Live album they released a few years ago, <span style="font-style: italic;">When The Lights Go Down</span>, and I was already happy at that time, because It Bites were together again.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74cupXgCqAOCG69wnSt3gkb3HGQCpEDPuMa04uzT5wKnzNdfY-MYw79MTeNp3xhwNk-ksBNyDsivYRORSvv9u2PzgI8GPOvoh0QnEJofW9csvacNkBSXKUoMRicd_dc3vr9Rl_IOzBvc/s1600-h/live-cd-cover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74cupXgCqAOCG69wnSt3gkb3HGQCpEDPuMa04uzT5wKnzNdfY-MYw79MTeNp3xhwNk-ksBNyDsivYRORSvv9u2PzgI8GPOvoh0QnEJofW9csvacNkBSXKUoMRicd_dc3vr9Rl_IOzBvc/s200/live-cd-cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308273498979246050" border="0" /></a></div><br />Enjoy the listening :-)bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-6374918871460947432008-12-22T20:06:00.006+01:002009-04-15T19:51:45.779+01:00Super Trouper's live videosOn 8th November 2008 Super Trouper Abba cover band, I play in, did a live concert <span id="feed_item_Zx4DA4xg9IMHNc-5dP78bw_expanded" style="display: inline;"> at <a href="http://www.ju-bamboo.it/">Ju Bamboo</a>, Savona, Italy. We really had a great time (thanks to the wonderful organization and to the warm and excited audience)!<br /><br />Unfortunately, we were not able to record all the performance, but we managed to film some songs (though the quality of the video and audio are not that good); we thus created a space on youtube, hoping you enjoy what remains of that evening:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/supertrouperabba">http://www.youtube.com/supertrouperabba</a><br /><br />Finally, here are some photos of the backstage of that wonderful trip!<br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/oU74uMgxEEdZsH4Fl5U_nQ?authkey=oqADxfH2VWU&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBiZp-2uzSbeeki9xufyysckkVQU8XXO67D8iVZ4_i7cgIuIGn6ghlZrnHsELAGigZWO6RKd8FjFQWz2wzxzam198gXE3wwq2gSX_aaalRZsfe0oBDg3YDImgDu6_-iNE8DEheLCBeXA/s144/200811080058.JPG" /> </a><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QJoO7eWGGmnMmuW_eu49vg?authkey=oqADxfH2VWU&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtEm6EtcKFj2ymjGlnJUZqSKdurzxGtScAnFs032uvpQBilyw7_tQq2jYWUENeAt2LcR48P3tIuq6UXlhv-cnSuDCtWK3OxZPh1mhdI5VhnQUbwmXzMlEfLmDhKqicfFL2u5eJ9Urz2GM/s144/200811080063.JPG" /> </a><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/BxmEVf8HMRawJm4otwggaA?authkey=oqADxfH2VWU&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabh9Jqhan04-tvlkJMYOrc5t5lEbA4jEhZZ0gnRCjkDewiVWbxIXNLt7xhtvJI8j0tzH_64NX3-SgUOLXIEd5FJqtK7I-l98DpMqijvvXm4fN_g75xbw4pjsovxDQjbDP1qzUezMGpOY/s144/200811080064.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xh4dTyLQunMf3tN-KTO44A?authkey=oqADxfH2VWU&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqihzjsLAdRRt5HCp_jnXjf4V3Jkv9qaub22Kz4lhqp4RUudkRTfzBcgIHMlpll4onG3JknS1joSnyrSQaCN1YORzwpzX6LInRHN9vosEcvfbSgQTbWCpWFYFUmmjIbkR76XAAiTwJM4g/s144/200811080068.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2iDQ57Ujh8P2EuHrDG1deQ?authkey=oqADxfH2VWU&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLk_dE9TYJoqepLBMowN2W90sSg9BXaac4jirfF52uiMxAFndEt_JosUDJH1qu8fgYb9m_d8aoJILGlfTXjpHlCdAb9Ad1A1E_Afje9Da_dHM7BoiPSUTP8MF9OhDTwDG8YMUcpP067A/s144/200811080069.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nAPM8weonv1qRar5HA_yJw?authkey=oqADxfH2VWU&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQftEGDq4177PdY8EMtIWKJmfYtVYIdgOZh0DCOLMLmaoEUZX9BdKeS9gzOXxxycvwUrUCFMywz5AHH38lg_OrlQSOXMRX4le1ksVq-uu5V5xbREPvQy6ithEq7nTrc_zh85bp_EhCXM/s144/200811090075.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/WEIJF60hxKopWj72FY3lcQ?authkey=oqADxfH2VWU&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7EBxtX-a07XkfR9z5q6KilIznlGN9vl3Nsv-OvY6wfbON6jQIyfYT8Lct4dks3DgjmdO_BYQW3OlN3h_0nLHxsdsBE2PDH1kuq0YnoeqxDwlB_T4uhZZQi3DhA3V8nF_KoW5TvuOPzI/s144/200811090079.JPG" /></a><br /></div>bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-35990160170416161392008-10-03T10:47:00.003+01:002008-10-03T10:54:49.340+01:00Extreme's new album<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirc6tO2GGk7pikVY0p8x2AdNMP8m0Ga4RizyXn4YeP3tqcu9sFG1hcOe3zCbwlRYvQbnqj6SqOLd_gyEJABG9SWaXUU6MWLcFUP4Nj30p7-gmo6CqvE2wH-kaeYK3yNLZo7RsIBrVtZLA/s1600-h/extreme.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirc6tO2GGk7pikVY0p8x2AdNMP8m0Ga4RizyXn4YeP3tqcu9sFG1hcOe3zCbwlRYvQbnqj6SqOLd_gyEJABG9SWaXUU6MWLcFUP4Nj30p7-gmo6CqvE2wH-kaeYK3yNLZo7RsIBrVtZLA/s200/extreme.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252863113386739362" border="0" /></a>Oh My God, <a href="http://extreme-band.com/site/">Extreme</a> are finally back! This is one of the bands I was missing more!<br /><br />When I saw the new CD "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Saudades de Rock</span>" at the music shop I had no choice but to buy immediately, and I wasn't disappointed! Extreme seem to be back for good, with basically their original sound :-)<br /><br />The record of theirs I like most is surely "III Sides to Every Story", while their last record date 1995 "Waiting for the Punchline"... well... kind of disappointed me. With this new record they seem to have found their original energy, and Nuno is still a wonderful guitar player (God he plays sooooo great)!<br /><br />Welcome back!!!bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-74533510317902132372008-09-27T18:12:00.004+01:002008-09-27T18:35:00.172+01:00Tygers of Pan Tang: Animal Instinct (2008)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcv0vzOiuLlJkd46eXw8JEYBNUTtSewwWd6MegZryipxHFwTpw3FVLSt3ZxoZxhqLTZeuoNKE66wOwUwK3BIQ35wM1hnYc6Kr2_HV-T-oldvlxPQ7r6ZwRBQJTBRxDW6LCxE4Zn0_6EI/s1600-h/animal+instinct.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcv0vzOiuLlJkd46eXw8JEYBNUTtSewwWd6MegZryipxHFwTpw3FVLSt3ZxoZxhqLTZeuoNKE66wOwUwK3BIQ35wM1hnYc6Kr2_HV-T-oldvlxPQ7r6ZwRBQJTBRxDW6LCxE4Zn0_6EI/s200/animal+instinct.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250750910241507922" border="0" /></a>I finally made it to put my hands on the new CD of <a href="http://www.tygersofpantang.com/">Tygers of Pan Tang</a>: Animal Instinct.<br /><br />I cared a lot about this, since the new singer of the band is my dear friend and music colleague (we play together in the Deep Purple cover band, <a href="http://www.purplesucker.com/">Purple Sucker</a>) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jacopo "Jack" Meille</span>.<br /><br />I must admit that I don't know the previous works of this band, but this new record really sounds very good!<br /><br />I would define it nor heavy metal neither hard rock either, but a good mixture of both; the result is a collection of songs that sound good and pleasant to listen to, even from the very first play, where good melody is always taken care of.<br /><br />Jacopo does a wonderful job as a signer (and I'm not saying that just because he's my friend :-) and the two guitar players, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Robb Weir</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dean Robertson</span> manage to build a solid sound which has a direct impact without being too aggressive (of course the whole band sounds great, but as a guitar player myself, I tend to listen to guitar first ;-)<br /><br />I know I might sound biased, but believe me I'm not! You guys really rock!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkeEqZs-43UhpSRIq5k2QPk094SplsG4SudHC9N6joayjKTUNKeO5P3HcRW_u0QJopXnjPmhHRiiHW8KMgKkVKq5LG33PoULy3-QENaLVhfxlf0oNZ9K6AWk3gkXHB3wOcE8kIqt_2ZM/s1600-h/tygers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkeEqZs-43UhpSRIq5k2QPk094SplsG4SudHC9N6joayjKTUNKeO5P3HcRW_u0QJopXnjPmhHRiiHW8KMgKkVKq5LG33PoULy3-QENaLVhfxlf0oNZ9K6AWk3gkXHB3wOcE8kIqt_2ZM/s400/tygers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250755274181689122" border="0" /></a>bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-62420938135762234272008-08-08T09:49:00.005+01:002008-08-08T09:57:46.593+01:00King's X<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King%27s_X">Wikipedia says about this band</a>:<br /><blockquote>King's X is a critically acclaimed American hard rock band noted for its sophisticated music that combines progressive metal, grunge, funk and soul with vocal arrangements influenced by gospel, blues, and British Invasion pop groups.<br /></blockquote>apart from the "grunge" I agree!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6np6gF8ck71rI5YbOpHma3JhozzqJkGtd3vDiYV_Iwtz6yTpMm8qq99zK1cTRf6Ueqv-I9yC7BJx4CBWoXbQFqbUCNUigYUlqjL5lXANslQ4S-2SFTxk88JgMXxBkcYwjc2evNDBDgM/s1600-h/kingsx+pose.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6np6gF8ck71rI5YbOpHma3JhozzqJkGtd3vDiYV_Iwtz6yTpMm8qq99zK1cTRf6Ueqv-I9yC7BJx4CBWoXbQFqbUCNUigYUlqjL5lXANslQ4S-2SFTxk88JgMXxBkcYwjc2evNDBDgM/s200/kingsx+pose.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232066939555837698" border="0" /></a>I definitely hate grunge, while I really enjoy this band which I discovered lately, and I don't hear any grunge influence in their music.<br /><br />I'm listening to some of their records and they are really powerful!<br /><br />I actually already knew some songs from <span style="font-weight: bold;">Faith Hope Love</span> (1990) and I already liked them, but also the other records are really pleasant to hear.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwbJeI_0BDypdz-7UiSsExYFtcLXHG3GvXaGb06jpeCkFVda0d16codbwRcHvkv0nvzv8fZLT1ayfTohUWDh-1vYCMO0IdaLBA7-fbvRsBBCppesVcx5lHcaaL6553-Fj5n6xyw4h2Ps/s1600-h/200px-Faith_hope_love_album_cover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwbJeI_0BDypdz-7UiSsExYFtcLXHG3GvXaGb06jpeCkFVda0d16codbwRcHvkv0nvzv8fZLT1ayfTohUWDh-1vYCMO0IdaLBA7-fbvRsBBCppesVcx5lHcaaL6553-Fj5n6xyw4h2Ps/s200/200px-Faith_hope_love_album_cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232067953394860034" border="0" /></a>Moreover, I remember that I liked the singer <span style="font-weight: bold;">Doug Pinnic</span> (who also plays bass in the band) in the song "Lines in the sand" by Dream Theater where he appeared as a guest singer. Now probably I also understand better the choice of having him as a guest star: many songs of King's X remind me of Dream Theater style!<br /><br />If you like power rock/metal, take a listen to this band!<br /><br />Hope you enjoy it as I'm doing right now :-)bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-51255944203944248882008-07-13T13:51:00.008+01:002008-07-13T14:10:47.991+01:00Musicals in London (December 2007)I've always forgotten to write this post, shame on me :-)<br /><br />The Musicals in London goes on!<br /><br />This time I went to London with my good friends Alessia, Tommaso and Barbara, just for 3 days (two nights). We left on November 30th very early in the morning from the Florence airport, and got to London at about 10 o'clock; so we had the time to get to the hostel (yes, in order to save money for the musicals we chose the youth hostel :-)<br /><br />Since we arrived from the airport to Victoria station, we could soon see the Wicked wonderful theatre<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEIJV7t8L9cImQ_JCy69tZJ_qXEvL8Imky3RllG_osBW7O61quBlqyby3-pDmYTmDS_yIgfgkY8yMFUOkurJBcI-3iB_0zBdDe0S5LOHBB9m9_dkP3YByrXf90etk40VUQgN3FwrXvT8/s1600-h/IMG_3960.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEIJV7t8L9cImQ_JCy69tZJ_qXEvL8Imky3RllG_osBW7O61quBlqyby3-pDmYTmDS_yIgfgkY8yMFUOkurJBcI-3iB_0zBdDe0S5LOHBB9m9_dkP3YByrXf90etk40VUQgN3FwrXvT8/s400/IMG_3960.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222482036281362306" border="0" /></a><br />The musical tour started in the afternoon with our beloved <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mamma Mia</span>! Although we were in the very last rows we had a nice visual, and the show is always funny, even from there :-) The evening... <span style="font-weight: bold;">Avenue Q</span>! We had quite cheap tickets for the second row! That was the second time I saw Avenue Q, but for my friends it was the first time... we laughed, laughed, laughed til we cried! This show is sooooo funny :-D<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjas0Gezmfc6NlNXQwtb1N788rEle8UDiAJouwOBdPlCeeP6LktymZkBOjunZh2pJqokFA_upCX2FEoVTCIMky89Q4Ct1u-LP-ZIWblbYngYUsYMdSOXo3Rr7Uw3Rd9DcBkmRVTwQhcyWk/s1600-h/IMG_3993.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjas0Gezmfc6NlNXQwtb1N788rEle8UDiAJouwOBdPlCeeP6LktymZkBOjunZh2pJqokFA_upCX2FEoVTCIMky89Q4Ct1u-LP-ZIWblbYngYUsYMdSOXo3Rr7Uw3Rd9DcBkmRVTwQhcyWk/s400/IMG_3993.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222483069699352546" border="0" /></a><br />Back to the hostel room... well... not so comfortable, but we were tired anyway<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7O40d5lCq4t0gHaG-QYvJbgDJOM5gn-O-56HOkjIO4FU-KRlx269MO_nicUqo9U3tLCPM9976IKzfA2XwygQICOuAJOrvcltTjsT1WPZEoLzgri5Oly7wZASJWUpf4S40-hU1_xzeKw/s1600-h/IMG_4029.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7O40d5lCq4t0gHaG-QYvJbgDJOM5gn-O-56HOkjIO4FU-KRlx269MO_nicUqo9U3tLCPM9976IKzfA2XwygQICOuAJOrvcltTjsT1WPZEoLzgri5Oly7wZASJWUpf4S40-hU1_xzeKw/s400/IMG_4029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222483434615813474" border="0" /></a><br />The second day! For the matinee we chose the classical <span style="font-weight: bold;">Phantom of the Opera</span>! No way I could get tired of that :-) And for the evening, the grand finale. I had seen <a href="http://longlivemusic.blogspot.com/2007/08/musicals-in-london-august-2007-day-5.html">this musical on August</a>, and I really couldn't wait to see that again: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wicked</span>! The seat was not bad (surely better than my previous time), and the house was full! Unfortunately, Kerry Ellis (Elphaba) was probably having some problems with her voice, but she was wonderful anyway, although she did not sing at her best; Dianne Pilkington (Glinda) was very good and funny as usual. A great show! One of the best currently!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbPXH9frPx0HTtncD8eZpUThiE-n2QRLPfIhltjHtvfpqCagXxydHN2imJdk8tQJf6XUE9amG7_cpVXz-Ye2OD_YJyBN6IlLO4C7phLSC_KcML8dzUEif32vwdCb9HB8IFX6e7tpH_P8/s1600-h/IMG_4113.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbPXH9frPx0HTtncD8eZpUThiE-n2QRLPfIhltjHtvfpqCagXxydHN2imJdk8tQJf6XUE9amG7_cpVXz-Ye2OD_YJyBN6IlLO4C7phLSC_KcML8dzUEif32vwdCb9HB8IFX6e7tpH_P8/s400/IMG_4113.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222484877964853234" border="0" /></a><br />Another night at the hostel, and then on Sunday back to the airport and back to Italy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSr1FKuTx81P401UhQ1xeWsr7KgnjY6DWQgYHWDXp7HxDeI7RkGfKgOo9fJ_6O36Sgurh9PczRK89YltYbzIR0-jqO43viPeNH4D1chldeJOD7qI24dVCf2js3PQfLOP8QV-O1cVk4EI/s1600-h/IMG_4030.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSr1FKuTx81P401UhQ1xeWsr7KgnjY6DWQgYHWDXp7HxDeI7RkGfKgOo9fJ_6O36Sgurh9PczRK89YltYbzIR0-jqO43viPeNH4D1chldeJOD7qI24dVCf2js3PQfLOP8QV-O1cVk4EI/s400/IMG_4030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222485167969831682" border="0" /></a><br />Another magical musical tour: 4 musicals in 2 days :-)<br /><br />hope to get there back soon.<br /><br />Tommy, thanks for the photos :-)bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-17121519044589242292008-03-23T19:35:00.001+01:002008-03-23T19:37:17.772+01:00Trentatre: a new music blogTogether with two friends and colleagues of mine, we opened a new blog, where we talk about the records we could not make without. Take a look: <a href="http://itrentatre.blogspot.com/">http://itrentatre.blogspot.com</a> :-)<br /><br />It's in Italian though...bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-62617517593068229832008-02-23T10:58:00.004+01:002008-08-08T09:59:07.960+01:00The Roaring Boys - House Of StoneUh, look what I found on Youtube.com!<br /><br />I've always loved this song and also the video! I remember when I used to enjoy this video in the 80s, when I was watching Deejay Television!<br /><br />I don't know much about this band, and I only know this song of theirs, which reminds of Roxy Music's sound.<br /><br />This song is so 80s and also its video (which is quite good, considering the age), and I love 80s music :-)<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QW2hALIqxDw&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QW2hALIqxDw&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object>bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-42060975032450651112007-12-29T19:20:00.001+01:002008-08-08T09:59:46.887+01:00Eagles - Long Road out of Eden<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6me9ul0lOPn9Hy6H8SQeJdYY-PHbFrIKaQWeLfVj7Tmrjn3HaffJnXyRYQNuGSoJXq7KAiW1PoWJNh5Y5puSVmq6n5PAG-H7RyoRuNuIsDxbtBMMstd8i9ACfIbmfrLtLAW2fwwqoHE/s1600-h/Eagles_LongRoad_CoverArt_wideweb__470x427,0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6me9ul0lOPn9Hy6H8SQeJdYY-PHbFrIKaQWeLfVj7Tmrjn3HaffJnXyRYQNuGSoJXq7KAiW1PoWJNh5Y5puSVmq6n5PAG-H7RyoRuNuIsDxbtBMMstd8i9ACfIbmfrLtLAW2fwwqoHE/s200/Eagles_LongRoad_CoverArt_wideweb__470x427,0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149464324572968146" border="0" /></a>Here's the brand new album by Eagles, after more than 20 years! I've always loved Eagles (and I also have an Eagles cover band: <a href="http://longlivemusic.blogspot.com/search/label/kings%20of%20hollywood">Kings of Hollywood</a>).<br /><br />Of course, after such a long time, I was kind of skeptical about this new album, by the way, it's a double CD!<br /><br />Instead, right after the first listening I was really pleased with it, and still I am. I keep on listening to it with much pleasure. Don't expect anything new from it: it's still Eagles, but that's a nice thing to me, since their sound (which is one of the reasons I like them) is basically still the same.<br /><br />Don Felder is not in the band anymore, and that's a pity, since I loved this guitarist: he has a very nice musical touch; don't get me wrong, I like Joe Walsh too, but I preferred Don :-)<br /><br />However, the other guitarist in the band, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steuart_Smith">Steuart_Smith</a>, is very very skilled and he has a wonderful touch too.<br /><br />The sound is still the same, although a little bit more modern; the record is of course played very well, and with lots of country/melody (typical of Eagles).<br /><br />One of my favorite song of the first CD is probably <span style="font-style: italic;">"I don't wanna hear anymore"</span>, which is much closer to a pop ballad, than to a country song, but that's fine, since I like pop too. While, concerning the second CD I have no doubt: the title track <span style="font-style: italic;">"Long Road out of Eden" </span>is my favorite. It's kinda strange actually, and probably not like the Eagles I used to, but it's very interesting and it hit me right from the beginning. I must admit there's one song that I really can't manage to like: <span style="font-style: italic;">"It's your world now"</span>... but in a double cd that's OK :-)<br /><br />I heard that some critics are against this record, saying "it's nothing new", but I wouldn't expect anything else, after such a long period, if a band produces a new album, that's the least you could expect from the critics, couldn't you? ;-)<br /><br />Well, I've also heard that probably these songs had already been written so many years ago, and that they were now re-used for a new album... don't know whether that's true... but I like this record anyway :-)<br /><br />Happy listening!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhges7an7AIKKo33HigmQXraZv_Mpg-pcGnndkChcqwZH2kTkkkP8UOuu7k3mA30m-I4l0F0g4_y74_q-l4IRowl1lxHMoUwVQQHpHzjPgPDgh_p7csXbi31rbMkH4tbjRaP9j0dXBl8fE/s1600-h/eagles_now.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhges7an7AIKKo33HigmQXraZv_Mpg-pcGnndkChcqwZH2kTkkkP8UOuu7k3mA30m-I4l0F0g4_y74_q-l4IRowl1lxHMoUwVQQHpHzjPgPDgh_p7csXbi31rbMkH4tbjRaP9j0dXBl8fE/s400/eagles_now.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149464964523095266" border="0" /></a>bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-6491147533188092702007-11-27T22:49:00.001+01:002008-08-08T10:00:00.805+01:00Queensryche - Mindcrime at the Moore<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid10jHUpNzfjJC8RPx6j2tnh9Bo2j56EkGQwBt0a3qlzhcE2EIzCoctDqeKbKd7zmRPziBrff7dH5k09J74VGIh_q8zQbvgfOAEkvPf0eqDFjz7r_XMG1t_ggRCsu1VZtqgDOLzaaUBhk/s1600-h/mindcrime-at-the-moore_cd-cover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid10jHUpNzfjJC8RPx6j2tnh9Bo2j56EkGQwBt0a3qlzhcE2EIzCoctDqeKbKd7zmRPziBrff7dH5k09J74VGIh_q8zQbvgfOAEkvPf0eqDFjz7r_XMG1t_ggRCsu1VZtqgDOLzaaUBhk/s200/mindcrime-at-the-moore_cd-cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137641616136572850" border="0" /></a>As soon as I saw this CD on the music store I had no doubt at all: I had to buy it!<br /><br />A little regression...<br /><br />I've always liked Queensryche and in particular, the concept album, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Operation Mindcrime</span> was one of my favorites ever. The live they recorded during the Empire tour, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Operation Livecrime</span>, when they perform the whole album, is even better than the studio version: so rich of sounds and so filled with energy. The video version of Operation Livecrime is a masterpiece and I enjoy seeing it over and over again: the band is sooo cool, and the moment Pamela Moore enters the stage, performing Sister Mary is emotional!<br /><br />In my opinion, that was the time the band was at its best. Actually, I still prefer Operation Mindcrime, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Empire</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Promised Land</span> to their previous works (which sounded too heavy metal for me).<br /><br />I was disappointed by this band when they released, after Promised Land (which was kind of experimental in some sense), <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hear in the New Frontier</span>... I still can't listen to that record, I can't stand it... the sound turned to Grunge, which I hate :-) That was not the Queensryche I was used to.<br /><br />That record is also sad since it represents the last album before <span style="font-weight: bold;">Chris De Garmo</span> left the band. Chris was a great guitarist, a great vocalist (his background vocals were great!) and last, but not least, a great composer. Together with the singer <span style="font-weight: bold;">Geoff Tate</span>, he wrote the most beautiful songs of Queensryche.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYW3S4Q8G2k1VCw8Vmh85Bkv96407dzPU2TpZfLfS93qCKAnSr6aNnzHuZ9SbcIHSeF9ld5gC52BrQhKOWpqtZCppxsKfTty1W3Yuxfh2_YNZsjh9lNo2tupMy9h7-7fdCJj05pO0c-c/s1600-h/MichaelWilton_ChrisDeGarmo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYW3S4Q8G2k1VCw8Vmh85Bkv96407dzPU2TpZfLfS93qCKAnSr6aNnzHuZ9SbcIHSeF9ld5gC52BrQhKOWpqtZCppxsKfTty1W3Yuxfh2_YNZsjh9lNo2tupMy9h7-7fdCJj05pO0c-c/s320/MichaelWilton_ChrisDeGarmo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137646911831248834" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold;">Micheal Wilton & Chris De Garmo in the good ol' days</span><br /></div><br />Then, comes <span style="font-weight: bold;">Q2k</span>, which I didn't even buy: I was too disappointed by the previous record, and without Chris... well... it's not Queensryche anymore. I listened to it later... well... it's not that bad, but I didn't like it either.<br /><br />Then, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tribe</span>, where Chris rejoined the band for some songs... I bought that one, and I didn't mind it; I didn't love it either, but I can listen to it.<br /><br />Finally, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Operation Mindcrime II</span>! It is no competition with the original Operation Mindcrime but it had some nice songs and the concept was still appealing.<br /><br />Summarizing, I was really curious about hearing the live version of both Operation Mindcrime and Operation Mindcrime II!<br /><br />Well... I was disappointed again, about the performance of Operation Mindcrime I. Needless to say: I miss Chris... the recording doesn't sound the same... Actually it sounds worse. I definitely don't like the new guitarist, Mike Stone, I don't like his touch, I don't like his sound. Micheal Wilton is still great but without Chris... Geoff doesn't have that voice anymore and in many high parts he changes the melody lowering down. He's still a great singer, though, and his vocals are nice anyway. But, again... without Chris... :-)<br /><br />Even the way they rearranged some songs does not convince me much.<br /><br />I must admit, on the contrary, that the performance of Operation Mindcrime II is far better; probably the band is more comfortable with the new material and they do a good job. I also appreciated the songs much more.<br /><br />The encores: Walk in the Shadows and (one of my favorite, from Empire) Jet City Woman; needless to say, I was disappointed by the version of Jet City Woman... even the intro theme is not played correctly!<br /><br />Well... I don't regret buying the cd, but I could do without it ;-)<br /><br />Still, I'd really love to see this band live again! I saw them live in Milan during the Promised Land tour, and at the Gods of Metal, before Tribe was coming out; in the latter live they only played 30 minutes, which was really a pity... if only Chris rejoined the band! :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik22wjGdHKhMqKV-4VkIcxTr2pVu_ADlUd3EYW_ebDxLiDvkHQ5zfV_RoVlNcp2qhL2Sq5QRroYhLsnENdGpKNjG9XroWCEVdyI-qkrKPw8z7qwSrFXglCnWIWoy7LRvArbX7FJLWcF9Q/s1600-h/DeGarmo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik22wjGdHKhMqKV-4VkIcxTr2pVu_ADlUd3EYW_ebDxLiDvkHQ5zfV_RoVlNcp2qhL2Sq5QRroYhLsnENdGpKNjG9XroWCEVdyI-qkrKPw8z7qwSrFXglCnWIWoy7LRvArbX7FJLWcF9Q/s320/DeGarmo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137649536056266706" border="0" /></a>bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-56936020824589578142007-10-26T17:59:00.001+01:002008-08-08T10:00:19.893+01:00Dream Theater Live, Paladozza, Bologna, 25 October 2007<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJ1txWnCucYfS1x7wsKHugxzcl3FK8whRMXvlV-9T2wHw2msDi1aB8GO41ZywbVpsKtdNLBb6DnPAMU7gj6Ngm2cMd79dXdc_POMJUEhi2pNlNtwI6FvFMbCX2BckCyoEgc3csinojRs/s1600-h/dreamtheater_systematicchaos.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 172px; height: 177px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJ1txWnCucYfS1x7wsKHugxzcl3FK8whRMXvlV-9T2wHw2msDi1aB8GO41ZywbVpsKtdNLBb6DnPAMU7gj6Ngm2cMd79dXdc_POMJUEhi2pNlNtwI6FvFMbCX2BckCyoEgc3csinojRs/s320/dreamtheater_systematicchaos.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125691778990367474" border="0" /></a>On 25 October I went to see a concert of one of my favorite band: <a href="http://www.dreamtheater.net/">Dream Theater</a>! I've been following this band since 1992, when, after listening to their second album Images and Words, I got really astonished by their music (I'm not talking about virtuosities and technique).<br /><br />I actually lost the count of the times I saw Dream Theater in concert... probably 18 times I guess!<br /><br />Whenever they come to Italy I do my best to reach the nearest place of their concert, and this time it was Bologna.<br /><br />It's always a great emotion to see them live, and it's still hardly believable the way they play live!<br /><br />This is the tour after their last record, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Systematic Chaos</span>. I cannot say it's one of my favorites, but I don't mind it, apart some too heavy metal songs... unfortunately they played such songs at this concert... too bad... :-)<br /><br />They only played one entire song from my favorite album, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Images and Words</span>, i.e., <span style="font-weight: bold;">Take the time</span>, (they also played one short excerpt of Learning to live during the encore medley), but probably they cannot always play songs from that record.<br /><br />However, it was a great concert, and it was kind of funny to see Jordan Rudess play the keyboard guitar (keytar)! Great concert, great band, great songs! :-)bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-18534672658369652412007-08-23T10:46:00.000+01:002007-08-23T10:56:49.545+01:00Musicals in London (August 2007) - PhotosHi there! The musical tour is over, and I'm already missing it :-)<br /><br />Here are the photos of the theaters of the musical I saw (in chronological order). Unfortunately, I can't find the one of Mamma Mia!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1OPgxGqUQGgfTfG2ihWcAOhGKC4fM2kJQHdOI9kh2uIfMeSCnF3SI9BRi8ZFzbFir9bNjyLkKxVf1qvKYfv0rJdQWfsLWKjoQ_MJKPFcXjAVWA9TlrdA4rMtYSCfLQ6B4QQ8xi26aak/s1600-h/sc_DSCF0002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1OPgxGqUQGgfTfG2ihWcAOhGKC4fM2kJQHdOI9kh2uIfMeSCnF3SI9BRi8ZFzbFir9bNjyLkKxVf1qvKYfv0rJdQWfsLWKjoQ_MJKPFcXjAVWA9TlrdA4rMtYSCfLQ6B4QQ8xi26aak/s320/sc_DSCF0002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101830814711135042" border="0" /></a>Mary Poppins<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhQXgQs5M4HblmNp_v45AQXP1ubbtaOekDqdgHvQuTn649yKpLN5gK3vuVj2m97PTvzLQ3c1ylLA4iKH9QHEUOILeSpwzDh0dnYTEt6lD5eozD0B_jHKvwD9saWY9okkf2ghqccALzxM/s1600-h/sc_DSCF0004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhQXgQs5M4HblmNp_v45AQXP1ubbtaOekDqdgHvQuTn649yKpLN5gK3vuVj2m97PTvzLQ3c1ylLA4iKH9QHEUOILeSpwzDh0dnYTEt6lD5eozD0B_jHKvwD9saWY9okkf2ghqccALzxM/s320/sc_DSCF0004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101830990804794194" border="0" /></a>Les Miserables<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEnBIQ-fEEwR1TrhEtAqICypfokCnsDrKGNnfYRFZqZzlDzeMHKQe5o6VBOlVYJpIOZ_LSQsBc850jziBHePWghitbW0Ot_5AjXQZRUU49R5LX1VL6KqrIwJKXODUWeZi-gTxkuPTjjo/s1600-h/sc_DSCF0009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEnBIQ-fEEwR1TrhEtAqICypfokCnsDrKGNnfYRFZqZzlDzeMHKQe5o6VBOlVYJpIOZ_LSQsBc850jziBHePWghitbW0Ot_5AjXQZRUU49R5LX1VL6KqrIwJKXODUWeZi-gTxkuPTjjo/s320/sc_DSCF0009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101831106768911202" border="0" /></a>Grease<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvptb2gv6EItCrNQfjIOInw5Ne84aIDmm1Yy1nXav1qAfag4aQykxXOIDYHYLXxK15uUguJ7AH7FHbSgYDbungddvSGvVVTxerhTXs9YYVO-95BM0MWwWICTZA2KclydKRRO5KBMoNvA/s1600-h/sc_DSCF0011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvptb2gv6EItCrNQfjIOInw5Ne84aIDmm1Yy1nXav1qAfag4aQykxXOIDYHYLXxK15uUguJ7AH7FHbSgYDbungddvSGvVVTxerhTXs9YYVO-95BM0MWwWICTZA2KclydKRRO5KBMoNvA/s320/sc_DSCF0011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101831196963224434" border="0" /></a>Billy Elliot<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMF0u7HkeIUitqiUhftmLcKbQIrkESLQ-EOdsg6n0XdM840S_6jizYKK_ELiHcnPiXar5McBxwSGl9G-sfBm2BG1-BKPlgzR7mlMD3cZ_4JSd2ZjpbZSxvY1H0GXU-1qKYGSEFpFc4wk/s1600-h/sc_DSCF0015.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMF0u7HkeIUitqiUhftmLcKbQIrkESLQ-EOdsg6n0XdM840S_6jizYKK_ELiHcnPiXar5McBxwSGl9G-sfBm2BG1-BKPlgzR7mlMD3cZ_4JSd2ZjpbZSxvY1H0GXU-1qKYGSEFpFc4wk/s320/sc_DSCF0015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101831660819692418" border="0" /></a>Avenue Q<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgvFxW0FINimRADITDEpuAA5Derz5oH9Cjx2RNs6nwTtfwcDohnfSlTSJUnaPe7q1yrmCbzhiNunRUlsQQ5KXe7MyKevlyejBHxfCqt2ARacCnD8nI1p-pjkj441Y0l1ITgu3f3Num1E/s1600-h/sc_DSCF0018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgvFxW0FINimRADITDEpuAA5Derz5oH9Cjx2RNs6nwTtfwcDohnfSlTSJUnaPe7q1yrmCbzhiNunRUlsQQ5KXe7MyKevlyejBHxfCqt2ARacCnD8nI1p-pjkj441Y0l1ITgu3f3Num1E/s320/sc_DSCF0018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101831802553613202" border="0" /></a>The Sound of Music<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh92TazMz2zHHW8pRJxkyPsD7uxpfi6GU7KfGugRIGAWXrYIo2ylopJCTt3YkLo4kVTNeOMSID0_B-YjrTHVMPSzYmEhQVSGpzmayJ-2aPmx8uqu1KdVqtYuTdgMJfR3e2kCJoos7IrP8U/s1600-h/sc_DSCF0021.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh92TazMz2zHHW8pRJxkyPsD7uxpfi6GU7KfGugRIGAWXrYIo2ylopJCTt3YkLo4kVTNeOMSID0_B-YjrTHVMPSzYmEhQVSGpzmayJ-2aPmx8uqu1KdVqtYuTdgMJfR3e2kCJoos7IrP8U/s320/sc_DSCF0021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101831935697599394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXM1675YenFVEfuwGmTmz-boMcqcWiqVM9MVB12lNfJhESoUZSooQt0bIPXXm1CJYVOWBuAQj6Og8rzhi9d9jbln7BGY_odMg7i2MQnDdCb0LADaNXElcBnQJNzdaDH6ZT8THj4WcRmSg/s1600-h/sc_DSCF0022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXM1675YenFVEfuwGmTmz-boMcqcWiqVM9MVB12lNfJhESoUZSooQt0bIPXXm1CJYVOWBuAQj6Og8rzhi9d9jbln7BGY_odMg7i2MQnDdCb0LADaNXElcBnQJNzdaDH6ZT8THj4WcRmSg/s320/sc_DSCF0022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101832073136552882" border="0" /></a>The Phantom of the Opera<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdepF1gq0jp1ZZBoFpXhVXH9skLt8TTedSXeQ7ARu_ZLRBRCDNNORxaUNhrkGs__lX6FpjdR-jo32F0VEcO_lQAYZDpHFz8zglZkS9rEfSXyoWWiNO1x-WTUfWbYvEybZtR5IztNEYuI/s1600-h/sc_DSCF0025.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdepF1gq0jp1ZZBoFpXhVXH9skLt8TTedSXeQ7ARu_ZLRBRCDNNORxaUNhrkGs__lX6FpjdR-jo32F0VEcO_lQAYZDpHFz8zglZkS9rEfSXyoWWiNO1x-WTUfWbYvEybZtR5IztNEYuI/s320/sc_DSCF0025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101832210575506370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSy72TjRHuTZwLnQJGToO-G-OQY6jaliu6nDfEaud6FLPQ9YOaq3qRyACb3HaCTEq5CLoSi8dM6Ru_UwruURVc-X-XvTcjNvLsfNFgpKwzTc6mKCNkoxSaK-JU8IE1X3HeAnqsBS247g/s1600-h/sc_DSCF0028.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSy72TjRHuTZwLnQJGToO-G-OQY6jaliu6nDfEaud6FLPQ9YOaq3qRyACb3HaCTEq5CLoSi8dM6Ru_UwruURVc-X-XvTcjNvLsfNFgpKwzTc6mKCNkoxSaK-JU8IE1X3HeAnqsBS247g/s320/sc_DSCF0028.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101832429618838482" border="0" /></a>Wicked<br /><br /></div>What fabulous days! Hope to get back there soon :-)bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-26240727749682955802007-08-15T11:45:00.000+01:002007-08-15T12:19:21.208+01:00Musicals in London (August 2007) - Day 5Here's the report of yesterday (14th August); my musical tour finished yesterday, since today I'm going back home.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHTTC4VjbKvirIUiWDuAFBZm5ujiAzDHC_l_l6R4wbWgt-ciGz9oO7_lPwORX6a43g5CLXWaGd8OCjeVSflcyEU61GCGp9BGuj1KPG8gw9_1WzflHBqjolXTAxip0FsHRzXj5PfRA-kw/s1600-h/phantom.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHTTC4VjbKvirIUiWDuAFBZm5ujiAzDHC_l_l6R4wbWgt-ciGz9oO7_lPwORX6a43g5CLXWaGd8OCjeVSflcyEU61GCGp9BGuj1KPG8gw9_1WzflHBqjolXTAxip0FsHRzXj5PfRA-kw/s200/phantom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098878069535381282" border="0" /></a>For yesterday matinée I went at the opening of the box office of the <a href="http://www.thephantomoftheopera.com/">Phantom of the Opera</a>, to see if I could find a day ticket or any discount. Unfortunately, there was no day ticket, but they had a good price for the stalls: 30 pounds instead of 55, in row K! Since I had seen the phantom before (that was my 5th time) but never in a really good seat, I had no hesitation, and went for that ticket :-)<br /><br />Ah! The phantom! it's always an emotion to see this show, and I guess I'll never get tired of that, never! Since the seat was really good, I could enjoy every minute of it. The phantom is now played by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Earl Carpenter</span>, who was great, with a very powerful voice! As for Christine, there are two alternates in this production; at this performance there was <span style="font-weight: bold;">Robyn North</span>. She's very young, but yet really good! Probably, she's not the best Christine I've ever seen, but she was very moving in singing and acting, trying to interpret the song, instead of just thinking about a perfect execution. Since this was not a recording, but a live show, I think this was for the best. Indeed, I noticed, that every one tried to think more about the interpretation, and that made the show very good.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wendy Ferguson</span> was playing as Carlotta, and she was very funny. Probably she missed some notes and went slightly out of tune in those high parts (the finale of Prima Donna), but she was great in the show. Also Raoul, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Michael Xavier</span>, was good, and he had a very powerful voice too. So, it was a very nice experience to enjoy the phantom once again :-)<br /><br />By the way, after the show I went to the Stage Door, and got the autographs of Earl, Robyn, Michael and of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lindsey Wise</span> (Meg) :-)<br /><br />Basically, I had seen all the musicals I wanted to see, so for the evening I could pick up one of any choice. I was tempted to see The Little Shop of Horrors, but I had seen it in Italy (in Italian) and wanted to try something different.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1j_-OGXhxrBEQ5t4wI7QVvhjVmXVahZaqcL2zTqiVJ4Ahij57WeNpcUS4XR2KSauAPCOZtEuVSblHqMMbbbxoQguE6IBwnHJJrg4TC_Jmn409sR_xhe3pSXIC24CAJC7AxYRcME1jhw/s1600-h/wicked.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1j_-OGXhxrBEQ5t4wI7QVvhjVmXVahZaqcL2zTqiVJ4Ahij57WeNpcUS4XR2KSauAPCOZtEuVSblHqMMbbbxoQguE6IBwnHJJrg4TC_Jmn409sR_xhe3pSXIC24CAJC7AxYRcME1jhw/s200/wicked.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098883210611234626" border="0" /></a>I heard many good things about <a href="http://www.wickedthemusical.co.uk/">Wicked</a>, so I though I'd give it a try. Since I had been at the box office of the phantom for the opening (10 am) when I arrived at the Wicked's theater, there already was a small queue, and could find any day tickets. Actually there were few seats (this musical seems to be a success), and only found a 15 pound seat, very far, but with a nice view of the stage.<br /><br />Well, Wicked is basically an alternative version of <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Wizard of Oz</span> and it is based on the novel "Wicked" (1995) by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gregory Maguire</span>. It is The Wizard of Oz, but viewed by the wicked witch of the west (who, as you'll see, probably was not so wicked) and it tells the story of her "career" as a which.<br /><br />The story is very nice and also the show was brilliant! In particular, the two main singers <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kerry Ellis</span> (Elphaba) and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dianne Pilkington</span> (Glinda) were absolutely wonderful! I suggest to see this musical. I bought the book to be sure I got the plot right ;-)<br /><br />By the way, the witch of the west has green skin, and she goes to Emerald, a green city and there was a lot of green in the show... well, green is my favorite color, so I might be biased? ;-)<br /><br />Well, this musical tour is over :-)bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-32306722512485366932007-08-14T12:39:00.000+01:002007-08-17T09:39:33.889+01:00Musicals in London (August 2007) - Day 4<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMYhD8u9UwKO_G-bTA_9wE7rPiz8VN7oGBUVEQ5c29AgtRQwECjvwL-LCN6Kf7U3i9yedyZqy_RQadrJ-Rk3PW0OwaRYRkGn5SrR7hzZJw69EAQqvKOAQoC24gR6DvBYcH04avU2yJS8/s1600-h/soundofmusic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMYhD8u9UwKO_G-bTA_9wE7rPiz8VN7oGBUVEQ5c29AgtRQwECjvwL-LCN6Kf7U3i9yedyZqy_RQadrJ-Rk3PW0OwaRYRkGn5SrR7hzZJw69EAQqvKOAQoC24gR6DvBYcH04avU2yJS8/s200/soundofmusic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098522175660332802" border="0" /></a>Yesterday (Monday 13 - on Sunday there's only The Lion King and I had already seen it... and didn't like it that much) there was no matinée and I decided to go for <a href="http://www.soundofmusiclondon.com/">The Sound of Music</a> which I had never seen (of course I saw the movie many times and love it).<br /><br />Once again, I was lucky enough to find a day ticket: 20 pounds for the first row (they consider first row as a restricted view, but it's a wonderful sit! And you can also see a little of bit of the orchestra which is nice in my opinion).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiGqP-EGOz1n69dkJm-q4n4NlFHzjxR3mHBHULeaAYqdniGYYS5dlepkH7fyeXAOViybc3iHwMYoMrFhvsAFgw7O4dysPz0bfkgTlNS6hiWexVQBoHuWHDsJE-oot6f4dJ8PdczUDxLY/s1600-h/Aoife.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiGqP-EGOz1n69dkJm-q4n4NlFHzjxR3mHBHULeaAYqdniGYYS5dlepkH7fyeXAOViybc3iHwMYoMrFhvsAFgw7O4dysPz0bfkgTlNS6hiWexVQBoHuWHDsJE-oot6f4dJ8PdczUDxLY/s200/Aoife.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098522995999086354" border="0" /></a>At this performance, the role of Maria was played by the alternate Maria, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Aoife Mulholland</span>. She was very very good at singing and acting! The role of Captain Georg von Trapp was played by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Christopher Dickens</span> and he was good too!<br /><br />Probably, the most impressive performer was <span style="font-weight: bold;">Margaret Preece</span>, playing Mother Abbess (i.e., the one singing the wonderful "Climb every mountain"). There's no doubt about it, also considering she's been playing the role of Carlotta in The Phantom! By the way, by looking at her biography, you also find out that she's the one singing the parts of Carlotta in the Phantom movie (Minnie Diver does not sing those parts).<br /><br />The show was really great and I enjoyed every minute of it! Many compliments to the whole cast!<br /><br />At the end of the show I went to the Stage Door, and managed to get the sign of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sophie Bould</span> playing the role Liesl (very bright in her performance, and so cute and wonderfully kind after the show at signing! - by the way, she also played the role of Maria sometimes) and also the one of Christopher. Unfortunately Aoife wasn't coming out and I didn't want to be too late.bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-81842565237833930992007-08-12T19:20:00.000+01:002007-08-13T15:17:15.456+01:00Musicals in London (August 2007) - Day 3Here's the report for yesterday (11 August).<br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjLkpd3ja6v_axJMIF-YutU-RZ02VGkfd50M_dNPEqnnFmEHK5a4IPBPU9Chqi0zug5HRnWql6cKJtLyjySy27iQEeEiJWq7bxlP3vjfKGKbHuUzBWhBhSexVYq72K5h_fh2jxHErUx4/s1600-h/billyeliott.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097889660121618098" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjLkpd3ja6v_axJMIF-YutU-RZ02VGkfd50M_dNPEqnnFmEHK5a4IPBPU9Chqi0zug5HRnWql6cKJtLyjySy27iQEeEiJWq7bxlP3vjfKGKbHuUzBWhBhSexVYq72K5h_fh2jxHErUx4/s320/billyeliott.jpg" border="0" /></a>Since it was Saturday I knew in advance that it would have been quite hard to find any good ticket (if not any ticket at all) since that's the most crowded day for musicals.<br /><br />I first tried with the <strong>Sound of Music</strong>, but they had really high prices and only one "cheap" available sit (very far and with restricted view). Too bad. I tried with <a href="http://www.billyelliotthemusical.com/">Billy Eliott the musical</a>. Well, there was an acceptable queue for day tickets but fortunately I found one for 25 pounds in the second row. This was intended as a restricted view, since you had to keep you are very near the stage which was a little bit high. However, it wasn't restricted at all! That was really a very good sit and I could see everything and very well!<br /><br />The show started very well and looked pretty good! In particular all the kids were very good at dancing and also singing. The music was not that impressive in my opinion. The show lasts 3 hours and I found it pretty long... many numbers might also be removed without losing anything, I think. Moreover there were many kitsch parts... for instance, the one sung and "danced" by the grandmother and most of all the encore after the finale... well... I guess it might have been better... I'm not saying I hated the show, but I've surely seen better ones, and I'm sure I wouldn't want to see it again.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRa-yEhJU7E6wnV0xNfO47gU54N1InqEpyx9Q1BWVNKErDFeqMc1IxSUMIIfWr6dnL-7Aaq0yZ0qvuxmtYPz5uuAVxFO9QVuwwSwdBQdW4DgvN7_wnHLS7o69575JqNo9nt-thcCQKV1o/s1600-h/avenue-q-london.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRa-yEhJU7E6wnV0xNfO47gU54N1InqEpyx9Q1BWVNKErDFeqMc1IxSUMIIfWr6dnL-7Aaq0yZ0qvuxmtYPz5uuAVxFO9QVuwwSwdBQdW4DgvN7_wnHLS7o69575JqNo9nt-thcCQKV1o/s1600-h/avenue-q-london.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrBSE-hZaB6gm3M1hmoYorh9F1GzydrKAZ9qo5cJ2lYsRwmul30z4cfCT3YlPmLLchL5GVxufkuSKXp007mqCcL3lkpdp3P91NrtbBe7NfPHLDzPjF-BUb7LOXvpraMs9ezkfdu33oJI/s1600-h/avenue-q-london.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097890235647235794" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrBSE-hZaB6gm3M1hmoYorh9F1GzydrKAZ9qo5cJ2lYsRwmul30z4cfCT3YlPmLLchL5GVxufkuSKXp007mqCcL3lkpdp3P91NrtbBe7NfPHLDzPjF-BUb7LOXvpraMs9ezkfdu33oJI/s320/avenue-q-london.jpg" border="0" /></a>For the evening, I found another 25 pounds dayticket, fourth row in the stalls, for <a href="http://www.avenueqthemusical.co.uk/">Avenue Q</a>. I knew nothing about this show but it was suggested to me by some friends and I thought I should give it a try... Thanks a lot to those who suggested it! That's one of the most funniest show I've ever seen! I laughed and laughed and laughed till I got misty eyes, really!<br /><br />The characters of the show are both "humans" and puppets (that are moved by actors that act together with the puppets themselves while they're singing) who live in Avenue Q. It's incredible how the actors moving the puppets succeed in creating such expressions in the puppets! And, both the actor's and the puppet's several face expressions are the same. The show is really meant to be funny: really, nothing serious, even though it tries to provide a moral, which is nothing new, but not even wrong.<br /></div><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuXhfuZUMFzfb1UQvV_JkTGYEXyFkyL9lBmLEXjaoU1XmwRt33FaaAlkEhdKTmL2IJaxllyEgqg3bqjU6Giox3ZmM8lGChsnNR2I-qJ2UHxgCAgiuK7FvrnAdT75DcpCuxkpe_zIuvRM/s1600-h/aveqlogo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuXhfuZUMFzfb1UQvV_JkTGYEXyFkyL9lBmLEXjaoU1XmwRt33FaaAlkEhdKTmL2IJaxllyEgqg3bqjU6Giox3ZmM8lGChsnNR2I-qJ2UHxgCAgiuK7FvrnAdT75DcpCuxkpe_zIuvRM/s200/aveqlogo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098188864723326706" border="0" /></a>The cast was really greeeeattt! Only six persons; 3 of them acting as "humans" and 3 of them moving the puppets (these 3 often played more parts at the same time). They were great at singing and also at acting (and at moving the puppets). Unfortunately, I missed some jokes, due to the English language, but for most of the time I laughed and had fun.<br /><br />If you have the chance, please do not hesitate, and enjoy this show! :-D </div><br /><div></div>By the way, without knowing it in advance, <span style="font-weight: bold;">I happened to attend the 500th performance of Avenue Q</span> :-)<br /><div></div>bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-33442875420947915732007-08-11T18:24:00.000+01:002007-08-11T18:46:12.614+01:00Musicals in London (August 2007) - Day 2OK, so here's the report about the second day (10th August, which, by the way, was also my honomastic)!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRby8T-52vDT49domMFNlqDgjM-jGISWvkb48bIqi3JpDNzqIUYqiEJa6ZL6kg-k888bNiilZnPo2Qc5G2fCvxXCR74NzWmU49iy3_jcMV33q7KWVMSraWpUOdpLDfBdfNteLcbx1-Ns/s1600-h/grease.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRby8T-52vDT49domMFNlqDgjM-jGISWvkb48bIqi3JpDNzqIUYqiEJa6ZL6kg-k888bNiilZnPo2Qc5G2fCvxXCR74NzWmU49iy3_jcMV33q7KWVMSraWpUOdpLDfBdfNteLcbx1-Ns/s320/grease.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097497791600498322" border="0" /></a>For the matinée I tried to go to the theater of <a href="http://www.greasethemusical.co.uk/">Grease</a>. I had seen this musical in Italy and I enjoyed it, so I thought I could see it in West End :-) I was actually quite skeptical about seeing it in the West End, since I happened to read on a magazine here in London, that critics about it were not quite good, although the audience loved it. However, I found a day ticket, 20 pounds, first row (yeah, really first row).<br /><br />Well, the audience was right: it was a really, really, funny show! The cast was absolutely brilliant! Everyone! They were good at singing, at dancing, and most of all, at acting! And this makes Grease a really enjoyable show that I suggest to everyone that also likes to have fun and laugh at musicals :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPAvrag56cvTGfcjEGv21Q16V7YnAMXy0fFnKy0q5wo88QSKqLvtCOUZ9tuKSgdw2Ld99j4UhHyE_Bp67_gvyU7ke-UTzQD4KdotaTn8LRqJx038tXK5l3dCoCVc_9XJdVvN_57SWwXE/s1600-h/mammamia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPAvrag56cvTGfcjEGv21Q16V7YnAMXy0fFnKy0q5wo88QSKqLvtCOUZ9tuKSgdw2Ld99j4UhHyE_Bp67_gvyU7ke-UTzQD4KdotaTn8LRqJx038tXK5l3dCoCVc_9XJdVvN_57SWwXE/s320/mammamia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097498667773826722" border="0" /></a>For the evening, I decided to see one of my favorites: <a href="http://www.mamma-mia.com/">Mamma Mia</a>! this was the third time I was seeing this musical.<br /><br />This is one of those funny musicals, where you really laugh a lot (well, probably if you're mother tongue, you'll probably laugh more than me, since I miss some jokes: you know, when the audience suddenly laughs and you don't know why :-)<br /><br />Abba songs are carefully and ingeniously embedded in a funny comedy!<br /><br />Well, I must admit that the cast was not so brilliant in singing... but they really compensated that with their acting: they were perfect for this comedy! Every moment, every expression was meant to make you laugh. I had a very good place (sort of day ticket) about 10th row, perfectly central, so I could see every single blinking eyes, and every single minimal face expression of the cast. So, this was definitely my best Mamma Mia performance.<br /><br />Mamma mia is a must see, in my humble opinion! I might be biased, though: I love Abba music :-)<br /><br />So, this musical day was indeed a funny musical day!bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-31681197717009070822007-08-10T11:11:00.000+01:002007-08-11T18:24:13.916+01:00Musicals in London (August 2007) - Day 1I made it! I made it again! I'm back in London to see musicals, <a href="http://longlivemusic.blogspot.com/2007/02/musicals-in-london.html">similarly as I did in 2002</a> :-)<br /><br />I arrived yesterday (9th August) in the morning, so I had the chance to enjoy 2 musicals already!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0_kZCF8JlWZQwaU1ZtLO_HyOiywmlQCBAj56DI2bEKhVyfZyWWVDlUwQqIlc3-ZeboN7WWhYd24dEjPdxwhLvC7Oa8esyws_vRUHCdnoFnzkWdiS8wOZCbzByUkt07EVkgHYr7CgBJM/s1600-h/mary-poppins.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0_kZCF8JlWZQwaU1ZtLO_HyOiywmlQCBAj56DI2bEKhVyfZyWWVDlUwQqIlc3-ZeboN7WWhYd24dEjPdxwhLvC7Oa8esyws_vRUHCdnoFnzkWdiS8wOZCbzByUkt07EVkgHYr7CgBJM/s320/mary-poppins.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097014010779244146" border="0" /></a>The first one was the matinée of <a href="http://www.marypoppinsthemusical.co.uk/">Mary Poppins</a> the musical. This musical features the original songs plus some new written songs (just for the musical I guess). The original songs are lovely, while the new songs... well... they look like they're there only to fill some gaps... probably I'm saying this only because I heard them once.<br /><br />However, the cast was great and also the choreography was brilliant; there were also lots of special effects (Mary actually "flights" with her umbrella also over the audience and Bert walks upside down on the stage).<br /><br />I cannot say it's the best musical I've ever seen (and don't know whether I'd like to see it again), but I surely enjoyed it, and I feel like suggesting it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_H2fD7v0rwcRFhsA_ihJzn3GWCINebhGHdQvyaHh3p1BdiMXHdcCznFdgsYiWYQKTGuAskqN5eb399gswFOCgSTkgMmW8ODrlPjIZe4j66zKzaVJy4ikIi5qx-6n8hjOOl8vPZ8mYB9A/s1600-h/les-miserables.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_H2fD7v0rwcRFhsA_ihJzn3GWCINebhGHdQvyaHh3p1BdiMXHdcCznFdgsYiWYQKTGuAskqN5eb399gswFOCgSTkgMmW8ODrlPjIZe4j66zKzaVJy4ikIi5qx-6n8hjOOl8vPZ8mYB9A/s320/les-miserables.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097018262796867202" border="0" /></a>For the evening... I special musical, one of my favorites... <a href="http://www.lesmis.com/">Les Miserables</a>! This is always a fantastic show! Absolutely! That was my third time but it's always magic! Moreover, this time, there was something I really had to see, John Owen-Jones performing Jean Valjean (the main character). John played the Phantom for 4 years in the West End (I saw him in that musical too), and he's really great. He did not disappoint me in Les Miserables, his voice is really great. I must admit, though, that I was a little bit disappointed about his acting... that was not really good, but after all he was great. I'd have some critics also about some other performers: Hans Peter Janssens as Javert and Edward Baruwa as Enjolras... I think they didn't really fit their role (especially Edward: his voice was not really perfect for the role). But this is just to find something wrong in this fabulous show ;-)<br /><br />Well, stay tuned for some more news ;-)<br /><br />At the moment, I found a 20£ ticket for Grease, this afternoon. Now I'm trying to find a good one for Mamma Mia for tonight!bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-63252008320702948412007-08-04T14:37:00.001+01:002009-04-15T19:53:16.494+01:00Purple Sucker, Live Legri 30 June 2007<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.purplesucker.com/galleries/Legri_06_30_2007/IMG_0063.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 388px; height: 187px;" src="http://www.purplesucker.com/galleries/Legri_06_30_2007/IMG_0063.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.purplesucker.com/">Purple Sucker</a> is a Deep Purple cover band I've been playing with since 1999. We perform only songs by the great Deep Purple! You can also find us on <a href="http://www.myspace.com/purplesuckerband">MySpace</a>.<br /><br />Here are some photos from our concert in Legri, on 30th June 2007. You can find the whole photo gallery <a href="http://www.purplesucker.com/#img_legri_06_30_2007">in this section of our home page</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.purplesucker.com/galleries/Legri_06_30_2007/IMG_0055.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.purplesucker.com/galleries/Legri_06_30_2007/IMG_0055.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jacopo Meille</span> - Vocals<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.purplesucker.com/galleries/Legri_06_30_2007/IMG_0056.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.purplesucker.com/galleries/Legri_06_30_2007/IMG_0056.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lorenzo Bettini</span> (myself) - Guitar<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.purplesucker.com/galleries/Legri_06_30_2007/IMG_0059.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.purplesucker.com/galleries/Legri_06_30_2007/IMG_0059.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pierluigi Pozzi</span> - Bass and Backing Vocals<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.purplesucker.com/galleries/Legri_06_30_2007/IMG_0057.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.purplesucker.com/galleries/Legri_06_30_2007/IMG_0057.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alessio Olmastroni</span> - Drums<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.purplesucker.com/galleries/Legri_06_30_2007/IMG_0060.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.purplesucker.com/galleries/Legri_06_30_2007/IMG_0060.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dario Scovacricchi</span> - Organ<br /><br /></div>On our YouTube section, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/purplesucker">http://www.youtube.com/purplesucker</a>,<br />you can see some of our live videos!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.purplesucker.com/galleries/Legri_06_30_2007/IMG_0061.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.purplesucker.com/galleries/Legri_06_30_2007/IMG_0061.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-70886018332407126412007-06-15T11:10:00.000+01:002007-06-15T11:43:00.983+01:00Super Trouper: ABBA Cover BandI'm very proud to announce that we finally made it to put up a new cover band: an ABBA cover band!<br /><br />We had this project in mind for a long time but finally we found all the ABBA's fans to complete the lineup and so... <span style="font-weight: bold;">Super Trouper</span> is coming!<br /><br />We will perform live for the first time on <span style="font-weight: bold;">22nd June 2007</span> at OMI, Scusa Mario, Osmannoro, Sesto F.no, Firenze, Italy.<br /><br />For the moment we don't have a real web site, but we have a MySpace page: <a href="http://www.myspace.com/supertrouperabba">http://www.myspace.com/supertrouperabba</a>.<br /><br />Here's the lineup:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ZviCjkHqg2wgzDdEN4fd2J38zEQ4933dhOfT23ChLUWLTDy2SUEpI6kRmr_wHRN5Oxk6MoL37jBhSVd53USYsLzTYHGJH0swmZSF6YLpGPtYK_sqOyzwZga2n8FGLxWnQgXxOxaTYtI/s1600-h/AlessiaWEB.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ZviCjkHqg2wgzDdEN4fd2J38zEQ4933dhOfT23ChLUWLTDy2SUEpI6kRmr_wHRN5Oxk6MoL37jBhSVd53USYsLzTYHGJH0swmZSF6YLpGPtYK_sqOyzwZga2n8FGLxWnQgXxOxaTYtI/s400/AlessiaWEB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076234948767214034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alessia Alessandri</span> - vocals<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJViqcOCNy7BG30wClE2zyKmAE-zvKovWcWbiDymulyJZl4-KDduX1bkVxGiZ3zIHERyqouUSF4D37_rLm-azq4gEE_kBghhjTHKSRQWYbbdwIfid_TniBJfZFMT1wIKCMzlwmef3-_B0/s1600-h/lucia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJViqcOCNy7BG30wClE2zyKmAE-zvKovWcWbiDymulyJZl4-KDduX1bkVxGiZ3zIHERyqouUSF4D37_rLm-azq4gEE_kBghhjTHKSRQWYbbdwIfid_TniBJfZFMT1wIKCMzlwmef3-_B0/s400/lucia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076235365379041762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lucia Sargenti</span> - vocals<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OG5xqz7m0k0_OCAq2HtBVX5EZctdILxf79m0W2IZWLufL6_x0TqYsdPxYUzbts0FMTlg761sqayr5g9GuIVp9ugqzKH-43uxMHS-5zLdqVlysvrfiUSjRbVMXSA7o4_cCTiEwYitQgY/s1600-h/alessandro.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OG5xqz7m0k0_OCAq2HtBVX5EZctdILxf79m0W2IZWLufL6_x0TqYsdPxYUzbts0FMTlg761sqayr5g9GuIVp9ugqzKH-43uxMHS-5zLdqVlysvrfiUSjRbVMXSA7o4_cCTiEwYitQgY/s400/alessandro.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076235979559365106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alessandro Barbi</span> - drums and backing vocals<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPFGSi5JRJ8nEh9Fuwyaarhg3cLxuEIRmypETInKl2yT_66l7IHarpz2qhni3MK5nBVIGxfggmlZE5sj-qhStsGNf0QrhZHSuIfvf0hFc4qfu5uR-lb8Htu7UB5ECFYT5jvXGS0A-aGM/s1600-h/lore_lucca_small.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPFGSi5JRJ8nEh9Fuwyaarhg3cLxuEIRmypETInKl2yT_66l7IHarpz2qhni3MK5nBVIGxfggmlZE5sj-qhStsGNf0QrhZHSuIfvf0hFc4qfu5uR-lb8Htu7UB5ECFYT5jvXGS0A-aGM/s400/lore_lucca_small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076237487092886018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lorenzo Bettini</span> (myself) - guitar<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ogWGPp33COMjJQDmJarzIyxqSV2wglDDtXwG3n6vjC_zSPgEQGU1AyXXedSvBc-60PtUAA1958xDmRgJ-O5VadrV7JqKCPFZgNnguuI3AglTLrIlqXRFIQeUXsY6JeIuOBTnEf96Drw/s1600-h/tommy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ogWGPp33COMjJQDmJarzIyxqSV2wglDDtXwG3n6vjC_zSPgEQGU1AyXXedSvBc-60PtUAA1958xDmRgJ-O5VadrV7JqKCPFZgNnguuI3AglTLrIlqXRFIQeUXsY6JeIuOBTnEf96Drw/s400/tommy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076237852165106194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tommaso Paba</span> - keyboards<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtdoAwNobMnCqCeS-l8Qwu-aieFXW-gVW_zst7YGWYnKLWr3pOR7Vk5rtR_cvaFQpAbI0PI2x7_X0H8Lh5LOF1ybwtTQLl7vkET4Z6lauJI3mtnb4XYDAbceQKy4P2cJQr3wzacdvRYc/s1600-h/pierlu_lucca_small.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtdoAwNobMnCqCeS-l8Qwu-aieFXW-gVW_zst7YGWYnKLWr3pOR7Vk5rtR_cvaFQpAbI0PI2x7_X0H8Lh5LOF1ybwtTQLl7vkET4Z6lauJI3mtnb4XYDAbceQKy4P2cJQr3wzacdvRYc/s400/pierlu_lucca_small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076238431985691170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pierluigi Pozzi</span> - bass and backing vocals<br /></div><br />Since the 22nd will be our first concert, for the moment we don't have any live recording; we plan to make one on that occasion, so stay tuned for that :-)<br /><br />Hope you like ABBA fabulous music, so full of joy and melody, and hope you'll take a chance and come to our concerts ;-)bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-68932262497294179022007-03-29T20:25:00.000+01:002007-03-30T08:49:00.547+01:00Starlight Express the musical<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCurfWECWZUSX7AbmIw2dYqiQ5uBtKFJQkj5CLFT7HLGmXna2cpH3qRXNUQo3N3z2_vqgc0HxuD8x7D2XruFU1IriGeJTZ1TtJqW1fIULibZSyp3cMZm0nrolaWw0ACS9mu5HsNQVaUQ/s1600-h/ensemble.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCurfWECWZUSX7AbmIw2dYqiQ5uBtKFJQkj5CLFT7HLGmXna2cpH3qRXNUQo3N3z2_vqgc0HxuD8x7D2XruFU1IriGeJTZ1TtJqW1fIULibZSyp3cMZm0nrolaWw0ACS9mu5HsNQVaUQ/s400/ensemble.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047412795682957842" border="0" /></a><br />If you've never seen this musical, you've missed a lot! It's one of the most spectacular, let alone funniest, musical I've ever seen. It is a rock musical with music by <span style="font-style: italic;">Andrew Lloyd Webber</span> and lyrics by <span style="font-style: italic;">Richard Stilgoe</span>. It has a spectacular choreography, since it is <span style="font-weight: bold;">performed entirely on roller skates</span>!<br /><br />The music is spectacular too, don't get me wrong (I might be biased since I adore Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals :-) but what really strikes you is seeing those singers/dancers/acrobats on the skates. Indeed, the characters of the musical interpret trains!<br /><br />This is the plot of the musical (borrowed from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlight_Express">wikipedia page</a>):<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">In a child’s dream, a racing tournament takes place on a model railway, with engines from all over the world competing. Representing the USA is Greaseball, an arrogant diesel locomotive who bears a strong resemblance to Elvis Presley, whose girlfriend is Dinah the dining car. He is accompanied by the Greaseball Gang, also diesel locomotives. In the yards lives Rusty, a steam engine who dreams of winning the race but who is seen as slow and old-fashioned by everyone else. He is in love with Pearl the observation car, but when he asks her out she turns him down. A late entry to the race is Electra, a state-of-the-art electric locomotive who bears some resemblance to David Bowie, with the Components, his own personal freight cars. He convinces Pearl to race with him. Poppa, an old steam engine and past racing champion, serves as Rusty's mentor. To bolster his confidence, he tells him the legend of the Starlight Express, a midnight train who helps engines in distress.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnr4L16kAD66oaKU8pH3wD4kAiAZzqSMhtYzFnpOz6flW4MwFL-HANEu6Q8pLZZ32FkywVhnpC70H7LVzFvmq1qoG3IIA4nLr3YkRodmy_HVQA-J_PCRRAGb1ny94PU7WiqNK2vz7pKg8/s1600-h/greaseball+and+dinah.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnr4L16kAD66oaKU8pH3wD4kAiAZzqSMhtYzFnpOz6flW4MwFL-HANEu6Q8pLZZ32FkywVhnpC70H7LVzFvmq1qoG3IIA4nLr3YkRodmy_HVQA-J_PCRRAGb1ny94PU7WiqNK2vz7pKg8/s400/greaseball+and+dinah.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047610256804391522" border="0" /></a>Dinah & Greaseball<br /></div><br />In 1992 the plot was slightly changed, some characters were removed (e.g., Belle the sleeping car and BC), some songs were removed (e.g., "Only him") and others added (e.g., one of my favorite, "Next time you fall in love", which, like many of Webber's songs, immediately hits you, in spite of its simplicity)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLf9d8Jr46KW27GbRu8RkJwkLyOGdvW91X2yZ2m5RgUbTIWQlK8kvtNnAJAwDp94uh-lceiB3lmTEjxKg14G0jn_aBWhR7a7xjAo1RexXr47DUDHs3YgHI81p_FzfisyvqRVqVF2jh_CM/s1600-h/electra+and+the+gang.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLf9d8Jr46KW27GbRu8RkJwkLyOGdvW91X2yZ2m5RgUbTIWQlK8kvtNnAJAwDp94uh-lceiB3lmTEjxKg14G0jn_aBWhR7a7xjAo1RexXr47DUDHs3YgHI81p_FzfisyvqRVqVF2jh_CM/s400/electra+and+the+gang.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047610548862167666" border="0" /></a>Electra & his gang<br /></div><br />I happened to see this musical, almost by chance, in 2000, at the Apollo theatre, near Victoria station, in London (when I was working in Cambridge). I knew basically nothing about it, and never heard any of its song. After the first song ("Rolling stock") I was already hit by the show and started to adore it and enjoy every minute of it. At the end of the show, I loved it!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQVxJyX-M1mPxCR8GEDRgWOtVzUX-qq7BzW7EDpQ-4r_Tc9u6YDFBc7eLsD3olJIN8Ji9By6yenQ77fumxGZ5PtdtX-pIYwG2k0GtII34SS7Gv_ESkPmqMONvSZZYw9vOdVzRT1W58Wg/s1600-h/the+coaches.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQVxJyX-M1mPxCR8GEDRgWOtVzUX-qq7BzW7EDpQ-4r_Tc9u6YDFBc7eLsD3olJIN8Ji9By6yenQ77fumxGZ5PtdtX-pIYwG2k0GtII34SS7Gv_ESkPmqMONvSZZYw9vOdVzRT1W58Wg/s400/the+coaches.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047612107935296130" border="0" /></a>The Coaches (Buffy: the buffet car, Ashley: the smoking car, Dinah: the dining car, Pearl: the observation car)<br /></div><br />The show closed the year after (if I remember well) and started a <a href="http://www.starlightexpresstour.co.uk/">UK tour</a>, which is still on. Keep in mind that the stage in the theater was built especially for this show. Well, this is quite typical of London show (e.g., Cats) but in this case the stage spreads through the audience with many tracks throughout the theater that are by the trains... ehm... the actors when they perform the races (at high speed actually).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5buoCqAVa7wjcmCa6UjRUvxNuqQ2j2185CzjW2m3c9fj1ptCghhML-bheMtZ1-R2g4tPpjiPSDCKZZkp0qW2P_rvlzgaNh9XYL0GO2EX4bWby7t6jLm3DQOoSAArF5jeChUZbThAPHw/s1600-h/greaseball+and+the+gang.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5buoCqAVa7wjcmCa6UjRUvxNuqQ2j2185CzjW2m3c9fj1ptCghhML-bheMtZ1-R2g4tPpjiPSDCKZZkp0qW2P_rvlzgaNh9XYL0GO2EX4bWby7t6jLm3DQOoSAArF5jeChUZbThAPHw/s400/greaseball+and+the+gang.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047614294073649810" border="0" /></a>Greaseball & his gang<br /></div><br />Then, in 2005, I went to Edinburgh for a conference... when I landed there, at the airport I happened to see a brochure saying the Starlight Express was touring there in those days! You can't imagine my surprise and happiness! Of course, I went to see the show (twice :-)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4d4BgC8N4PlC-XB59NBgNgs68kUcUOBWmh8ILyGSWiGCLw48PXULWDvNxwukNUX_L7118Ns07M9JaZLhTjIfOHYgGc66U1HwJelIl65qewvr-4WetC1dPhYMnpZbqaNmEly3iD-hRqUM/s1600-h/pearl+and+rusty.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4d4BgC8N4PlC-XB59NBgNgs68kUcUOBWmh8ILyGSWiGCLw48PXULWDvNxwukNUX_L7118Ns07M9JaZLhTjIfOHYgGc66U1HwJelIl65qewvr-4WetC1dPhYMnpZbqaNmEly3iD-hRqUM/s400/pearl+and+rusty.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047615689938021026" border="0" /></a>Pearl & Rusty<br /></div><br />The tour version of the show is a little bit different, starting from the stage that could not be the same of the original one: you should change the theater almost completely. Thus, there were not tracks and the races were not actually performed live: they were shown on big screens in 3d (you get the special 3d glasses at the theater). The plot was changed too, and basically it was more similar to the original plot than to the 1992 plot. However, the cast was reduced, and some characters were missing (in particular, Belle, some national trains and some gangs characters). Some songs were changed too ("Lotta locomotion" was completely changed, in worse way, in my opinion) and "Next time you fall in love" was removed :-(<br /><br />However, I enjoyed the show anyway, since it was still spectacular, and it was emotional to see one of my favorite musicals ever!<br /><br />Here are some videos found on YouTube. They're not the most spectacular moments of the show, and it's not like being there, but you might get an idea :-)<br /><br /><br />"Crazy"<br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zwnoDq4Y0Q4"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zwnoDq4Y0Q4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />"Whole lotta locomotion"<br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vdn5Qj8LXy0"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vdn5Qj8LXy0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />"I am the starlight" and "Light at the end of the tunnel"<br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/p9X9ltNg0Y8"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/p9X9ltNg0Y8" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />"Next time you fall in love"<br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zg3sqn_aC2o"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zg3sqn_aC2o" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhJhsjBJxDw">"Coda of Freight"</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlRG-VtFag0">A race and the finale "Light at the end of the tunnel"<br /></a><br />If this show ever comes near you, don't miss it! :-)bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-55686868373342891282007-02-26T13:41:00.001+01:002009-04-15T19:52:28.850+01:00Mad Mice - Live at Rex Cafe - 31 Jan 2007Mad Mice is an acoustic cover band I play guitar in, together with my mates (also in our Deep Purple Cover Band, <a href="http://www.purplesucker.com/">Purple Sucker</a>), <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jacopo Meille</span> (voice and guitar) and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pierluigi Pozzi</span> (bass and backing vocals). See also this <a href="http://longlivemusic.blogspot.com/2007/01/mad-mice-acoustic-cover-band.html">previous post</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_chn4L3bwXPLviw9X5RcXuKhEhcIUQwtjInDMsZ6fTl-fKTNKBilG3IVg-kJUZyBUlkCv3Jb8PeINRU_vyGuqma3xyjtGkMhx8R8o_QEVxqu1dIojAvQNwnElQ4QbsxCFxdJxIceklXQ/s1600-h/sc_dscf0026.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_chn4L3bwXPLviw9X5RcXuKhEhcIUQwtjInDMsZ6fTl-fKTNKBilG3IVg-kJUZyBUlkCv3Jb8PeINRU_vyGuqma3xyjtGkMhx8R8o_QEVxqu1dIojAvQNwnElQ4QbsxCFxdJxIceklXQ/s320/sc_dscf0026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035825612902612642" border="0" /></a><br />We played at <a href="http://www.rexcafe.it/">Rex Cafe</a> on 31st January 2007 and here are some links to the songs we recorded live that evening (the quality is not that good since it's a live recording with a non professional recorder):<br /><br /><table><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/icons/sound2.gif" alt="[SND]" /></td><td><a href="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/%7Ebettini/madmice/Rex_31_1_2007/01-Layla.mp3">01-Layla.mp3</a></td><td align="right"><br /></td><td align="right"><br /></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/icons/sound2.gif" alt="[SND]" /></td><td><a href="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/%7Ebettini/madmice/Rex_31_1_2007/02-Heart%20of%20Gold.mp3">02-Heart of Gold.mp3</a></td><td align="right"><br /></td><td align="right"><br /></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/icons/sound2.gif" alt="[SND]" /></td><td><a href="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/%7Ebettini/madmice/Rex_31_1_2007/03_Survival.mp3">03_Survival.mp3</a></td><td align="right"><br /></td><td align="right"><br /></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/icons/sound2.gif" alt="[SND]" /></td><td><a href="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/%7Ebettini/madmice/Rex_31_1_2007/04_Old%20Love.mp3">04_Old Love.mp3</a></td><td align="right"><br /></td><td align="right"><br /></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/icons/sound2.gif" alt="[SND]" /></td><td><a href="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/%7Ebettini/madmice/Rex_31_1_2007/05_God%20Put%20a%20Smile%20Upon%20Your%20Face.mp3">05_God Put a Smile Upon Your Face.mp3</a></td><td align="right"><br /></td><td align="right"><br /></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/icons/sound2.gif" alt="[SND]" /></td><td><a href="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/%7Ebettini/madmice/Rex_31_1_2007/06_Wonderwall.mp3">06_Wonderwall.mp3</a></td><td align="right"><br /></td><td align="right"><br /></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/icons/sound2.gif" alt="[SND]" /></td><td><a href="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/%7Ebettini/madmice/Rex_31_1_2007/07_No%20Expectation.mp3">07_No Expectation.mp3</a></td><td align="right"><br /></td><td align="right"><br /></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/icons/sound2.gif" alt="[SND]" /></td><td><a href="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/%7Ebettini/madmice/Rex_31_1_2007/08_Sunshine%20of%20Your%20Love.mp3">08_Sunshine of Your Love.mp3</a></td><td align="right"><br /></td><td align="right"><br /></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/icons/sound2.gif" alt="[SND]" /></td><td><a href="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/%7Ebettini/madmice/Rex_31_1_2007/09_Behind%20Blue%20Eyes.mp3">09_Behind Blue Eyes.mp3</a></td><td align="right"><br /></td><td align="right"><br /></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/icons/sound2.gif" alt="[SND]" /></td><td><a href="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/%7Ebettini/madmice/Rex_31_1_2007/10_Dead%20Flowers.mp3">10_Dead Flowers.mp3</a></td><td align="right"><br /></td><td align="right"><br /></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/icons/sound2.gif" alt="[SND]" /></td><td><a href="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/%7Ebettini/madmice/Rex_31_1_2007/11_For%20What%20It%27s%20Worth.mp3">11_For What It's Worth.mp3</a></td><td align="right"><br /></td><td align="right"><br /></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/icons/sound2.gif" alt="[SND]" /></td><td><a href="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/%7Ebettini/madmice/Rex_31_1_2007/12_Wanted%20Dead%20or%20Alive.mp3">12_Wanted Dead or Alive.mp3</a></td><td align="right"><br /></td><td align="right"><br /></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/icons/sound2.gif" alt="[SND]" /></td><td><a href="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/%7Ebettini/madmice/Rex_31_1_2007/13_Sittin%27%20on%20the%20Dock%20of%20the%20Bay.mp3">13_Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay.mp3</a></td><td align="right"><br /></td><td align="right"><br /></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/icons/sound2.gif" alt="[SND]" /></td><td><a href="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/%7Ebettini/madmice/Rex_31_1_2007/14_Thank%20You.mp3">14_Thank You.mp3</a></td><td align="right"><br /></td><td align="right"><br /></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/icons/sound2.gif" alt="[SND]" /></td><td><a href="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/%7Ebettini/madmice/Rex_31_1_2007/15_Honky%20Tonk%20Women.mp3">15_Honky Tonk Women.mp3</a></td><td align="right"><br /></td><td align="right"><br /></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/icons/sound2.gif" alt="[SND]" /></td><td><a href="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/%7Ebettini/madmice/Rex_31_1_2007/16_Babe%20I%27m%20gonna%20leave%20you.mp3">16_Babe I'm gonna leave you.mp3</a></td><td align="right"><br /></td><td align="right"><br /></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/icons/sound2.gif" alt="[SND]" /></td><td><a href="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/%7Ebettini/madmice/Rex_31_1_2007/17_I%20Saw%20Her%20Standing%20There.mp3">17_I Saw Her Standing There.mp3</a></td><td align="right"><br /></td><td align="right"><br /></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/icons/sound2.gif" alt="[SND]" /></td><td><a href="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/%7Ebettini/madmice/Rex_31_1_2007/18_Eyes%20Without%20a%20Face.mp3">18_Eyes Without a Face.mp3</a></td><td align="right"><br /></td><td align="right"><br /></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/icons/sound2.gif" alt="[SND]" /></td><td><a href="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/%7Ebettini/madmice/Rex_31_1_2007/19_Horse%20With%20No%20Name.mp3">19_Horse With No Name.mp3</a></td><td align="right"><br /></td><td align="right"><br /></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/icons/sound2.gif" alt="[SND]" /></td><td><a href="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/%7Ebettini/madmice/Rex_31_1_2007/20_Woman%20From%20Tokyo.mp3">20_Woman From Tokyo.mp3</a></td><td align="right"><br /></td><td align="right"><br /></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/icons/sound2.gif" alt="[SND]" /></td><td><a href="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/%7Ebettini/madmice/Rex_31_1_2007/21_Ramble%20On.mp3">21_Ramble On.mp3</a></td><td align="right"><br /></td><td align="right"><br /></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/icons/sound2.gif" alt="[SND]" /></td><td><a href="http://rap.dsi.unifi.it/%7Ebettini/madmice/Rex_31_1_2007/22_You%20Can%27t%20Always%20Get%20What%20You%20Want.mp3">22_You Can't Always Get What You Want.mp3</a></td><td align="right"><br /></td><td align="right"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />On that evening we tried an experiment: perform <span style="font-weight: bold;">Woman From Tokyo</span> (the famous song of Deep Purple) unplugged. We actually didn't even rehearse it :-)<br /><br />And here are some photos of that evening (and yes, the ropes are for real :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBlVmTge2mJaVBNaqJCquyu6y7D6yNONBpHgjTwe0fODf76nfQBtkSt0IdA3EiVHlmrr4gdmqyna3CvUipcqxrPn1sP_XAFM8aoX9AnfUorbvk7sWYrA6SShsaVqy6a04hN9e6eAJzj4/s1600-h/sc_dscf0013.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBlVmTge2mJaVBNaqJCquyu6y7D6yNONBpHgjTwe0fODf76nfQBtkSt0IdA3EiVHlmrr4gdmqyna3CvUipcqxrPn1sP_XAFM8aoX9AnfUorbvk7sWYrA6SShsaVqy6a04hN9e6eAJzj4/s320/sc_dscf0013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035825230650523234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhcE32M0RoxpvJjRhGyirawdzdY0T2DO-RPJ10I6SKfuw6BtGke4syGJWHc6d1KKMgLVILPwBOPc1T2AFW0F8u90VF8gWPSmwVwBw0B-_kB2_l2pwQ-6daL7rdu8p7_O4Vn2CgHOIiyk/s1600-h/sc_dscf0022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhcE32M0RoxpvJjRhGyirawdzdY0T2DO-RPJ10I6SKfuw6BtGke4syGJWHc6d1KKMgLVILPwBOPc1T2AFW0F8u90VF8gWPSmwVwBw0B-_kB2_l2pwQ-6daL7rdu8p7_O4Vn2CgHOIiyk/s320/sc_dscf0022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035825466873724546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBv-gSIxWMnhzwZRVRYUqyzWv4SBbKmThurbvJjhXZ4Dq_lqQ4_7Y3ZAcrg55knsCM2zCELFBD_GxPZ3qQUTVa25Llt1DdXk_rcs5ltFs6UKCwZjyLUcLnDZrNFJp78rKrwwsXiKmJmc/s1600-h/sc_dscf0025.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBv-gSIxWMnhzwZRVRYUqyzWv4SBbKmThurbvJjhXZ4Dq_lqQ4_7Y3ZAcrg55knsCM2zCELFBD_GxPZ3qQUTVa25Llt1DdXk_rcs5ltFs6UKCwZjyLUcLnDZrNFJp78rKrwwsXiKmJmc/s320/sc_dscf0025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035825539888168594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoWGsS2hNNGfkdwj7qRptIxfQJTKeiup-lYdGA5ZHpxNcRBl3YXyZmDtQwh9jRy0akGJVA8Sda3H_Q_6lxhuyQ5-1ozzPFsKDDhw5SdTmPRT2wTwLtdN-vfNoWkIzdJCs5pWD0I9Faxw/s1600-h/sc_dscf0020.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoWGsS2hNNGfkdwj7qRptIxfQJTKeiup-lYdGA5ZHpxNcRBl3YXyZmDtQwh9jRy0akGJVA8Sda3H_Q_6lxhuyQ5-1ozzPFsKDDhw5SdTmPRT2wTwLtdN-vfNoWkIzdJCs5pWD0I9Faxw/s320/sc_dscf0020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035825372384444018" border="0" /></a>As usual, any comment is more than welcome :-)bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246519058556472856.post-87325416233370371002007-02-18T12:36:00.000+01:002007-02-18T14:28:57.463+01:00Musicals in London!Back on April 2002 (gosh already 5 years ago!), me and some friends of mine, we decided to do a so called <span style="font-style: italic;">musical tour de force</span> in London, i.e., go to London and see as many musicals as possible. In particular we stayed in London 3 whole days, and some of us managed to attend 5 musicals :-)<br /><br />Since we had to save money for the musicals we decided to stay at a hostel near the British museum: here's a morning photo of a musical day. Here's a photo of my mates for those wonderful days.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVkE1yaz0njC9qzuHduoKr_J6XSpCjRsvqqaxSY6g_Kb0JLNFrANyHI1m5EuroVkt8SptdVYLN6c1ikjCPxdmXU1-bqrROA75YKSPk6vE89SV9TnLaq8ejp7dYbkiyrFsH5Su6nXwtiA/s1600-h/sc_dscf0034.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVkE1yaz0njC9qzuHduoKr_J6XSpCjRsvqqaxSY6g_Kb0JLNFrANyHI1m5EuroVkt8SptdVYLN6c1ikjCPxdmXU1-bqrROA75YKSPk6vE89SV9TnLaq8ejp7dYbkiyrFsH5Su6nXwtiA/s320/sc_dscf0034.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032837299212107106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqk8mwPEWMdawWHr6O0BeYly5HPfqiUPyeChSiKHTx_wQWDjsL54aRHcE4ztMhp7ObkXO5-vMRJHG2EF8sd8BLm5izSdUeBJoma6m9XriALnjgz5HyHYZ7J4GhjeiEVWwdnz5zJ5j4yA/s1600-h/sc_dscf0024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqk8mwPEWMdawWHr6O0BeYly5HPfqiUPyeChSiKHTx_wQWDjsL54aRHcE4ztMhp7ObkXO5-vMRJHG2EF8sd8BLm5izSdUeBJoma6m9XriALnjgz5HyHYZ7J4GhjeiEVWwdnz5zJ5j4yA/s200/sc_dscf0024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032838265579748722" border="0" /></a>The tour started on thursday with a matinée of <a href="http://www.lesmis.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Les Miserables</span></a>! What a musical, what a cast... what everything :-) but this is quite usual of West End musicals: you get astonished by the great shows, the great live performed music, the great voices. But Les Miserables also has a great score so it was a good way of starting our musical journey :-)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobPecnbdsqMTBbmBZBm8Y9XRXI0J7YDPiH3cY9uJ8BxkPiEOX9_c6RXyO-NngUli8emdd2QMSHt2fswIH1N59IbINajO9wjy6mgGXvxsxmx8doT52f8Ef6eySYsbl6qjx-ToXwx4DX3g/s1600-h/dscf0026.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobPecnbdsqMTBbmBZBm8Y9XRXI0J7YDPiH3cY9uJ8BxkPiEOX9_c6RXyO-NngUli8emdd2QMSHt2fswIH1N59IbINajO9wjy6mgGXvxsxmx8doT52f8Ef6eySYsbl6qjx-ToXwx4DX3g/s200/dscf0026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032853856311033218" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here you can see some shots before and after the show.<br /><br />The typical safety curtain during the break (with the logo of the show). And the orchestra! Yes, in London all the music is always performed live... In Italy almost never :-(<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDE3NRYOYYhcyWmH4Oq1Nzh2_xqEa-z43lLdB6ni42pWKHJDcSCUEc6rw4MWMwZf16Rj-KfxO8DJLdHPXxmb5-o4gm_UdTkPHLDFdgTJkBz-vlfEABkWecdeYV9dK-U9f19w5Z9Yfqrqk/s1600-h/dscf0027.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDE3NRYOYYhcyWmH4Oq1Nzh2_xqEa-z43lLdB6ni42pWKHJDcSCUEc6rw4MWMwZf16Rj-KfxO8DJLdHPXxmb5-o4gm_UdTkPHLDFdgTJkBz-vlfEABkWecdeYV9dK-U9f19w5Z9Yfqrqk/s200/dscf0027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032854165548678546" border="0" /></a>And also the goodbye of the cast.<br /><br />The show has been running for 20 years now! No surprise it's still running.<br /><br />As I said, besides the songs, also the show is astonishing, and everyone that saw that has always told me it's an amazing experience.<br /><br />Well, yes, the show might be a little bit long, but you'll enjoy every minute!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cqvUUi35Sw1J2LImgL0MM7gZF4J2tunVX459MUtfTTP7ray3Kk2sD-IpbsNOB0je63DwkM9oqbQTW7gmaxcPCjZ2KPATlS8UQgcIzRgaD_JCJiRc5SKwlIz-rUprVzm7mBF5PH5QmTg/s1600-h/dscf0029.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cqvUUi35Sw1J2LImgL0MM7gZF4J2tunVX459MUtfTTP7ray3Kk2sD-IpbsNOB0je63DwkM9oqbQTW7gmaxcPCjZ2KPATlS8UQgcIzRgaD_JCJiRc5SKwlIz-rUprVzm7mBF5PH5QmTg/s200/dscf0029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032855982319844770" border="0" /></a>That very evening, we then went to <a href="http://www.mamma-mia.com/">Mamma Mia</a>! The songs of this show are the most famous <a href="http://www.abbasite.com/">ABBA</a> songs. And the story is a kind of funny comedy. Since I love ABBA music, I had no doubt I'd enjoy the music of this musical. But you'll also have a lot of fun and you'll laugh a lot, since the comedy is really funny. Well... actually... we didn't get all the jokes, and it was kind of frustrating not laughing when all the audience was laughing, but it was funny anyway ;-)<br /><br />Here you can see a shot of the stage with the safety curtain.<br /><br />The next day, Friday, there were no matinées, so we spent the morning at Camden town (yes we did also some sightseeing in those days)...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1TzU8nMNEnENqdSbDeFIy5wM1bgGES-teZMggN9KCeLyDTCOYWqPmfzZP36lMn2fXQL9MvgSYD9dzk36DuTRV-z9yEPRtULUmWsp8Juic8OEhe5qHsHijXlCjA9oRGtdwNE8kF_Ber0/s1600-h/dscf0040.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1TzU8nMNEnENqdSbDeFIy5wM1bgGES-teZMggN9KCeLyDTCOYWqPmfzZP36lMn2fXQL9MvgSYD9dzk36DuTRV-z9yEPRtULUmWsp8Juic8OEhe5qHsHijXlCjA9oRGtdwNE8kF_Ber0/s200/dscf0040.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032857073241537970" border="0" /></a>But the evening we enjoyed another magical experience... <a href="http://www.reallyuseful.com/rug/shows/cats/">Cats</a>! The show was closing that very may so we were very lucky to see it before it closed (after more than 20 years!). Well, I had already seen that show in London in 2000, but each time it's magic!<br /><br />The cast and the stage, besides music of course, make Cats one of the best musicals ever, and if you had a chance to see it you'll agree I guess. We had good sits (well, also very expensive sits :-) so we could see every bits of the show.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn45fxIRIQbttTs7k3WzfxHYajbTYYqhaUcC1rHWsX0rZdeb5HVsuT5dSBflbn6xlrYtTTsHRptBj40sBRf0_fsZ7m7qEw7wZoDxQEfV_OPGA9W1Xt56cuX4HoAfKoYnKQgPeSYJH9gNc/s1600-h/dscf0041.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn45fxIRIQbttTs7k3WzfxHYajbTYYqhaUcC1rHWsX0rZdeb5HVsuT5dSBflbn6xlrYtTTsHRptBj40sBRf0_fsZ7m7qEw7wZoDxQEfV_OPGA9W1Xt56cuX4HoAfKoYnKQgPeSYJH9gNc/s200/dscf0041.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032858447631072706" border="0" /></a>The cast consists not only of great singers and dancers but also of acrobats (e.g., Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer): seeing them sing while they dance that way is almost unbelievable!<br /><br />Their make up is perfect (how long will it take to get that make up done?!) and they actually act like real cats...<br /><br />It's a pity Cats closed in London... I hope it will reopen again :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKPmcI2hwvzPsllIvkmiXoMHNVnP9MyqoSEfi8lYKaOz2I67LGAlhkyvVCB3abC-mD5xX8Z5UNWFqJpAhkne_dmWSJYKoQ_-qqwT0-vRv26QIXHzvtv-wur-tzvC6Db5a5HU78c5tx8w/s1600-h/dscf0061.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKPmcI2hwvzPsllIvkmiXoMHNVnP9MyqoSEfi8lYKaOz2I67LGAlhkyvVCB3abC-mD5xX8Z5UNWFqJpAhkne_dmWSJYKoQ_-qqwT0-vRv26QIXHzvtv-wur-tzvC6Db5a5HU78c5tx8w/s200/dscf0061.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032860225747533266" border="0" /></a>On Saturday, as far as I know, all the West End musicals have a matinée and we decided to go and see the musical <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taboo_%28musical%29">Taboo</a> written by Boy George. Another funny show (well, no competition with the classical West End musicals, but still worth it!).<br /><br />It's an autobiographic musical so there are many sad moments, but you'll also laugh a lot thanks to some characters and to their sketches that also involve the audience... also in this case, to fully enjoy all the jokes you need to be English, so we missed some of them (and luckily we were not involved in any direct jokes :-)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPWf2Tg_lKNIdoQl0APj2R8q3eUsdh05SBBxVWGhzXphKgCkjqkErin5hqVqE-VGsjsaVPH0cWgDrtCn6obo1oYA3i12MZIURZOnLYHwv2mDvL28XoZiO6nb4vjgHRGGuolWR2iSHNLU/s1600-h/dscf0062.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPWf2Tg_lKNIdoQl0APj2R8q3eUsdh05SBBxVWGhzXphKgCkjqkErin5hqVqE-VGsjsaVPH0cWgDrtCn6obo1oYA3i12MZIURZOnLYHwv2mDvL28XoZiO6nb4vjgHRGGuolWR2iSHNLU/s200/dscf0062.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032860775503347170" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The audience is involved in the show also thanks to the stage and the theater itself... well, actually is not a real theater, as you can see from these photos. Indeed it's quite a small place but this lets you enjoy the show better since most sits were good sits.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDTROfx29C0-jfvocydV8YGIqFzQ78To9dEWIeAkIzS-8KN80GARdTsTV1FnLGcbB5cjJO2EiEbtQxaPkgN1rgFO-0PRpFUw6_f6B4HVG5AdCGSvXD8b-TEzXudhyAW2E8Cc0VSuF7LU/s1600-h/dscf0063.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDTROfx29C0-jfvocydV8YGIqFzQ78To9dEWIeAkIzS-8KN80GARdTsTV1FnLGcbB5cjJO2EiEbtQxaPkgN1rgFO-0PRpFUw6_f6B4HVG5AdCGSvXD8b-TEzXudhyAW2E8Cc0VSuF7LU/s200/dscf0063.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032861295194390002" border="0" /></a>You feel like you're part of the show! Another funny thing, that involves you in the show, is also the fact that the bar on the right side of the stage you can see in this last shot is actually part of the show itself, but you can drink there during the break :-)<br /><br />Summarizing, I can't say it's the best show I've ever seen, but I truly enjoyed it. By the way, the songs of the show are not Culture Club's songs (in spite of a little part of <span style="font-style: italic;">Do you really want to hurt me</span> and the final encore <span style="font-style: italic;">Karma Chameleon</span>): they are brand new songs written for the show.<br /><br />Alas, that was our last evening in the West End, and we couldn't choose a better final show than <a href="http://www.thephantomoftheopera.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Phantom of the Opera</span></a>. That was the second time I saw that show in the West End, but, again, I enjoyed it anyway. Actually we did not have very good sits (well, they were quite bad indeed, since we were very far and the left corner of the stage was almost completely hidden to us. But we had a real good time anyway.<br /><br />For those who, like me, love musicals, I guess there's no place like West End :-)<br /><br />Of course, to fully enjoy musicals, it's better to be in good company and I cannot but thank my wonderful friends for this!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_QBE2ywNQv3QeYQRC9Hg6qv1J9UPcSlqf2t8dJQuFncoUYU8MVC3EJVcwymTzTMYQTNun3l7SkFWd45set9A9cbvrUH5MnVRQL9xgbwMuB2GFSSIxe4_X7BmBJngVkP3hSa02vIfsFs/s1600-h/dscf0069.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_QBE2ywNQv3QeYQRC9Hg6qv1J9UPcSlqf2t8dJQuFncoUYU8MVC3EJVcwymTzTMYQTNun3l7SkFWd45set9A9cbvrUH5MnVRQL9xgbwMuB2GFSSIxe4_X7BmBJngVkP3hSa02vIfsFs/s200/dscf0069.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032863799160323586" border="0" /></a><br />This last photo was shot by <span style="font-style: italic;">Alessia</span>, who also shared with me the record setting of <span style="font-style: italic;">5 musicals in 3 days</span>! :-)bettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16462664783219149049noreply@blogger.com10