Van Der Graaf Generator/Peter Hammill

You are now in the House Of Van Der Graaf. The door is bolted shut. There will be no escaping.
 
 

ORIGINAL: Salmacis

You are now in the House Of Van Der Graaf. The door is bolted shut. There will be no escaping.

 
LOL.
 
Thanks to this forum, I've been turned on to alot of different bands, VDGG, TMV, PT, Pinnacle, Saga, The Tangent, and rediscovered SB, Genesis, Maiden, KC,  and ELP.
 
But what I enjoy the most is getting turned on to bands that I've never heard of before like it was with TMV and VDGG.  I love it when a band I've never heard of makes me do this........
 
Keep the suggestions coming. 

ORIGINAL: Salmacis

You are now in the House Of Van Der Graaf. The door is bolted shut. There will be no escaping.

Actually if we could open it for an hour or so, with Christmas rapidly approaching we should probably at least pick up some tinsel to throw over the Gog and Magog statues...plus we're out of toilet paper.
 
 
 
 
 

I was doing some searching this morning, and I read that VdGG got back together a couple of years ago and did a show and they said they were going to be recording/releaseing a 2CD of new material.
 
Did that ever happen?

ORIGINAL: musicfan

I was doing some searching this morning, and I read that VdGG got back together a couple of years ago and did a show and they said they were going to be recording/releaseing a 2CD of new material.

Did that ever happen?

Yes.

Present was the result.  1 CD songs, 1 CD improvs.  There's also a 2 or 3 CD live set, Real Time, and they are workingon new material at this time in a trio format sans Jaxon.  They played about 18 shows this summer, and debuted two new songs over the tour, "Spex" and "In a Lifetime," IIRC.

So are the new VdGG remasters any good? When they first appeared I read that they
weren't necessarily an improvement over the original CDs, what do you guys think?

ORIGINAL: Kyo

So are the new VdGG remasters any good? When they first appeared I read that they
weren't necessarily an improvement over the original CDs, what do you guys think?

I don't have the originals, but the remasters sound good, and the bonus tracks are real neat.

Yes, the remasters are an improvement. I don't have all of them yet, but one of the most improved is The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other.
 
 

Hey Salmacis, I think it was you in another thread where I told you about a little record store in NJ and the owner is a really big VDGG fan. I asked him if he had anything out of the odinary and he says he would be very surprised if you had this one DVD.
Pictured below on the left. Enjoy the rest of the pics. The Peter Hamill CD is a Boot. If there's anything here you want, let me know and I'll either get you in touch with Lloyd at Rock & Groove records or I'll pick it up and send it out for you.
 
I just picked up the full Jeff Beck performace on CD from the Crossroads 2007 festival from him!! Sounds like a soundboard recording!!!
 

 

 

 
Sorry i could get a cleare pic was using my crappy kodak Digital Camera

 

 

 

 
 

STRAT - I have audio copies of both of those shows, but not the dvds. I also don't have that particular Hammill boot but I do have several. If I were a rich man....
 
That's a great selection of official titles he provides too! Very rare to see that many.
 
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't tempt me right now.  I just spent 90 bucks on Marillion dvds, and after Christmas shopping, my credit card bill is going to be astronomical. I don't have the PH solo remasters yet and it's killing me!!!!!
 
 

ORIGINAL: Salmacis

STRAT - I have audio copies of both of those shows, but not the dvds. I also don't have that particular Hammill boot but I do have several. If I were a rich man....

That's a great selection of official titles he provides too! Very rare to see that many.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't tempt me right now.  I just spent 90 bucks on Marillion dvds, and after Christmas shopping, my credit card bill is going to be astronomical. I don't have the PH solo remasters yet and it's killing me!!!!!

 
When ever you're ready, just let me know

@ STRAT:

Looks like those first two VDGG DVDs are boots.  The Forum Leverkusen one has been circulating on dimeadozen for a little while...great quality.  If that Royal Festival Hall DVD is what I think it is, then it's an audience shot DVD.

The Godbluff Live dvd is cool as well...too bad the band doesn't get any money from that one since it's one of those Classic Rock Productions things.

ORIGINAL: STRAT

I just picked up the full Jeff Beck performace on CD from the Crossroads 2007 festival from him!! Sounds like a soundboard recording!!!

 
Don't mean to hijack the thread, but does he have that performance on DVD as well?  On the last "Audiophile Imports" e-mail update, I was told to e-mail a guy who's supposed to have the whole Beck (11 songs) and McLaughlin (3 songs) sets on DVD, but he's never e-mailed me back.  I don't know if this is the same guy or not (?).  You can PM me if you want so we're not getting too far off the subject within this thread.
  

^^ Never mind about that.  He just e-mailed me back with his whole catalog.  A fusion fan's wet dream.....
 

PH is coming to the USA!!!!!!

NEARFEST PRESS RELEASE
December 19, 2007

Peter Hammill to perform at NEARfest X!

We are extremely honored to announce that Peter Hammill will perform
as a solo artist on the Saturday slate of NEARfest X. Over his nearly
forty year career, Hammill has recorded numerous solo albums featuring
his unique and emotive vocal style and thoughtfully penetrating lyrics
probing all aspects of the human condition. Whether performing solo or
with his famed group Van Der Graaf Generator, Hammill presents an
emotional depth and range that is unparalleled in contemporary music.

Hammill's 100-minute set will be sure to feature songs from the
breadth of his vibrant and iconoclastic career. With hundreds of songs
in his repertoire, no two shows are ever alike. As it has been ten
years since Hammill has graced a stateside stage, be sure not to miss
his performance at the tenth anniversary NEARfest!

* Peter Hammill's performance is pending an expected successful visa
application.

^^ Oops, just found that here after posting a new thread.

Hmm...no pressure, Paramenter.

Well that'll be fun. I wonder if I shouldn't look into that Hartford>Trenton train schedule after all...

Edit: Hartford>Trenton>Bill's car schedule.

ORIGINAL: Noware

Hmm...no pressure, Paramenter.

Well that'll be fun. I wonder if I shouldn't look into that Hartford>Trenton train schedule after all...

Edit: Hartford>Trenton>Bill's car schedule.

Bingo.

Updates from PH! http://www.sofasound.com/latest.htm  and  http://www.sofasound.com/nlnow.htm

New VDGG album Trisector in March!!!

Awesome

 
Bring on the new one!!!

 Only the three of us are on it. It contains nine tracks; shock, horror, five of these come in at under five minutes long.

 
Don't mean to sound like the 'never enough' guy when it comes to VDGG, but hopefully the Rockaplast DVD is released as well in the new year.

ORIGINAL: Oblivion86

Don't mean to sound like the 'never enough' guy when it comes to VDGG, but hopefully the Rockaplast DVD is released as well in the new year.

There's no further news at present of the Rockpalast 2005 DVD, but footage does exist of the trio and we are hopeful that we will be putting something out within the next few months. Further back from the archive, release is imminently expected of the "k group" Rockpalast performance in Hamburg Markthalle.

I probably wouldn't count on the 2005 DVD anytime soon, but hopefully we'll get some trio footage released!  It would be nice to have an official copy of that K Group Rockpalast performance as well to upgrade my boot.

Great news and thankfully it's relatively soon. Hopefully I'll catch a show around Europe

Nice. I just hope the trio version of the band works.

ORIGINAL: LeChuck

Nice. I just hope the trio version of the band works.

Based on hearing just about every 2007 performance, I'd say yes, it does.

Double post...heh 

Got this in my e-mail this AM:

"Hi Bill,

Rikki Nadir would like to be added to your MySpace friends list."

LOL!

ORIGINAL: Project2501

ORIGINAL: LeChuck

Nice. I just hope the trio version of the band works.

Based on hearing just about every 2007 performance, I'd say yes, it does.

Haven't heard those. I'm just a little skeptical because Jackson has always been an integral part to the VdGG sound for me.

ORIGINAL: LeChuck

ORIGINAL: Project2501

ORIGINAL: LeChuck

Nice. I just hope the trio version of the band works.

Based on hearing just about every 2007 performance, I'd say yes, it does.

Haven't heard those. I'm just a little skeptical because Jackson has always been an integral part to the VdGG sound for me.

More than understandable.  I was skeptical as well.  And I do know that for some people, his absence is a major stumbling block.  But I find that the trio is riskier, takes more chances, and pushes things more.  I like that.

This is great news!!
 
 

ORIGINAL: LeChuck

ORIGINAL: Project2501

ORIGINAL: LeChuck

Nice. I just hope the trio version of the band works.

Based on hearing just about every 2007 performance, I'd say yes, it does.

Haven't heard those. I'm just a little skeptical because Jackson has always been an integral part to the VdGG sound for me.

http://www.fabchannel.com/van_der_graaf_generator_concert

Check it out yourself

ORIGINAL: drumline0671

ORIGINAL: LeChuck

ORIGINAL: Project2501

ORIGINAL: LeChuck

Nice. I just hope the trio version of the band works.

Based on hearing just about every 2007 performance, I'd say yes, it does.

Haven't heard those. I'm just a little skeptical because Jackson has always been an integral part to the VdGG sound for me.

http://www.fabchannel.com/van_der_graaf_generator_concert

Check it out yourself

Oh, good link

Forgot about that one...

The following dates are confirmed and others will follow in due course...

Van der Graaf Generator:

29th March Rosignano, Livorno, ITALY

3rd April Queen Elizabeth Hall, LONDON

6th April GOUVEIA festival, Portugal

20th April B2, MOSCOW, Russia

PH solo:

Nearfest festival, Bethlehem, PA, USA, 21st June 2008 (subject to work visa).

Taken from progarchives.com
 





Phil Smart emailed me with the news that he posted the press release for the new VdGG album on his website:

 

Van der Graaf Generator's new album Trisector will be released on Monday 17th March 2008...

"There are nine pieces on the album, one of them instrumental. Unusually for VdGG, only one of these is more than ten minutes long - indeed, five come in at under five minutes. There are, of course, passages of great complexity but there's also a confidence about the group at the moment which allows them to leave some simple things as they are. These are songs which dictate their own terms, often with a healthy dose of gallows humour, always with a measure of invention.


"It's far from an over-manicured record. For the most part it is the sound of the three musicians both stretching and enjoying themselves in locked-on sympathetic playing. As ever, it doesn't sound like anyone else - even past versions of VdGG.
"But as ever, there isn't another group quite like Van der Graaf Generator."

Uhh...yeah...I'm excited!
 
On the other hand, I'd be interested to read an actual review when the time comes...not that PH's press releases don't cascade like a clear brook from his computer to our screen.

http://www.sofasound.com/latest.htm

Just preordered.

Tracklisting: http://www.sofasound.com/vdgcds/trisectcd.htm

Can't wait for this!!!   Cool cover, too. I like how the triangle is a kind of nod to the old logo, which they have apparently scrapped for this album.

Just found this: http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=180074

Thanks for the tip drumline.
 
Just pre-ordered this and the new one from The Tangent.  How much was yours from the link you provided?  Amazon has it for $13.99.

ORIGINAL: musicfan

How much was yours from the link you provided?  Amazon has it for $13.99.

It was 12.50 pounds...however much that is.  I saw Trisector on Amazon...and noticed that the release date said April 1st.  I figured I'd get it a little early and give more money to PH (sofasound is his site).