Harmony In Diversity - Blackwood Miners Institute 24/03/07

[Jonah]

Muff and I took a trip down to deepest South Wales last night to watch and hang out with Peter, Nick, David and Jamie, the rookie roadie. It was an exciting journey down that involved a left turn into the middle of nowhere, negotiating a very dodgy road around on the very edge of a very dodgy mountain and skulking around the garden of a hotel that we suspected was someone's house and not a hotel at all.

The support acts for the night were (we later found out after meeting them in the bar) Chris and Christina, from Magenta and Ezra. After chatting to Chris, we decided that we really should go and see Magenta the next time they were around.

Harmony in Diversity is an improvisational band, taking their cues from each other; usually Nick, the bass player or
David, the drummer, begin a piece with a basic motif around which a piece of music develops. This produces many sublime moments, some truly exciting moments and some moments when it doesn't quite, er, work! The point is that absolutely anything can happen.

What HiD also does is show just what a great guitarist Peter Banks is. I can't remember seeing a guitarist so inventive - either with soundscapes, or the ability to take the basic of licks and develop it into a tour de force. The rythm section of Nick and David works so well. This was only Davd's third gig, but Muff and I both commented on how much he has added to this band.

We had a great night in their company and arrived back in the Midlands at some stupid hour, minus one windscreen wiper that was stolen while we were parked.

Go and see HiD!

[Jonah]

Actually, the date should have been 24/03/07. Where did that day go?

[Buglunch]

Is Norm going to post photos here? He threatened to slap some up during Wakeyradio show today.
:sneaky:

If not, put the URL here.
Norn should have gotten up to sing when asked!

[True Believer]

Sounds like a great night, Jonah.

[Simon B]

Ohhh Brave Intrepid Yesfans!

Aren't we all getting a bit old for this?


Naaaaahhhhhh!!!!

[muff]

Thanks for starting this thread Jonah,

What a trip, that left turn to the road up the mountain and wandering around the garden of the hotel with me humming the welsh national anthem, I don't think for a minute I could sing it even with an autocue, :D

It was wonderful to meet up with Nick again and meet the new drummer David who is a member of yesfans and also this young lad, Jamie, who Pete had told me beforehand was the rookie roadie, I christened him, Jamie and the magic torch to help me remember his name, :D

Pete came down from getting ready and gave me a big hug, and the evening began with us all making our way to the venue in various cars, back down this twisting winding road into Blackwood.

The venue was quite unlike I was expecting, both Jonah and I thought it would be some rectangular building with a bar at one end and a small stage like so many small working mens clubs but it was an old theatre with an amazing auditorium and various twists and turns in itself, at reception we recieved complimentary tickets which Pete had put by for us and we found our way up to the auditorium where, Chris and Christina, from Magenta were doing thier set, Christina has a very lovely voice and we stood quietly for a couple of songs before finding our way backstage to rejoin Pete.

We, Pete, Jonah, Jamie and myself all went down to the bar on the ground floor after chatting for a while where we spent quite some time all chatting together and haveing a great time, Nick and David had been for a meal and joined us for a drink and shortly before they were due to go onstage we made our way back upstairs, Jonah and I, to the auditorium while Pete, Nick and David went to get ready to perform.

I must say, David the new drummer seems to fit in really well with the music, Pete and Nick play, the show was reaaly enjoyable, like Jonah says its totally improvised music and there are times when it seems to falter but when they get into the groove it really works well, towards the end of the evening, Pete was on fire, he was playing out of his skin at times really enjoying himself bouncing up and down, swinging his guitar this way and that whilst still playing holding it aloft like that other guitarist who, Who does something similar, :D

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m318/muff_yesfan/Pete.jpg

He reminded me of the Pete I had seen so many years ago while playing his heart out for Yes, I really enjoyed the evening and at one point I caught a few bars of "Time and a Word" :D

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m318/muff_yesfan/NickandDavid.jpg

The final track they played seemed to drift into the theme from "The Pink Panther" much to everyones enjoyment, I,m sure I am not alone in saying those there had a wonderful time, I only took a few photo's has my camera is somewhat limited but Jonah took quite a few which I hope came out.

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m318/muff_yesfan/Peteagainbright.jpg

After the show, both Jonah and myself made our way backstage to thank Pete and everyone for a great evenings entertainment, we chatted with Pete and exchanged feelings about how the show had gone down, and we said our goodbyes, Pete giving both Jonah and myself hugs and we made our way back to Jonah's car which had been vandalised, the only thing to spoil an otherwise excellent evening out with some great friends.

I thank Jonah from the bottom of my heart for his fantastic company and being a great friend, also for a wonderful, excursion into the wilds of South Wales, it must have been very late when he got home, :winknudge

[Simon B]

Excellent Norm! (well apart from the bit about Jonahs car!)

Reminded me of seeing D'WHO in Cardiff - we parked in a street of terraced houses near the venue. When we came back to the car we were accosted by an old Welsh Lady who said 'Was it you making all that racket?' I didn't know what to say? Errrr, no Ma'am - it was the biggest touring sound system in the world (at that time)!

[muff]

Is Norm going to post photos here? He threatened to slap some up during Wakeyradio show today.
:sneaky:

If not, put the URL here.
Norn should have gotten up to sing when asked!

Hope you like the photo's Bruce,

I,ve been told there are many more to come, ;)

[muff]

Excellent Norm! (well apart from the bit about Jonahs car!)


Thanks Simon,

if you get a chance to see Harmony in Diversity, go, :winknudge

[True Believer]

Good pix, Norm.

Bummer about your car, Jonah.

[muff]

Thanks Anne,

Jonah should have lots more photo's to post when he returns from his trip to China, :winknudge

[Buglunch]

Thanks Anne,

Jonah should have lots more photo's to post when he returns from his trip to China, :winknudge

You let him go to China first?? OW.
:p

Great to have pics, yay.
-------------------------------------------------------
How far was the gig from Caernarvon?

[pedro skychaser]

jonah has gone to shanghai,to visit the jade temple among other mercantile pursuits,a modern day marco polo ,one could call him,heading east with the sun in his face...looking forward to dispatches...

[InverYes]

I thought he'd gone to get a new wiper

[Jonah]

A little update on the wiper story.
I went to get a new wiper and noticed that Halfords offered a fitting service. Being useless at anything to do with cars, I decided to take advantage of the offer and a lad of about 7accompanied me to the car. After fifteen minutes of trying to force the wiper onto the arm, he decided the wiper was faulty and went to get a new one. He tried with the new one and it still didn't work. So, I took it off him to have a go and knocked the wiper arm so that it sprung back against the windscreen, smashing the corner of the glass like a spider's web! He continued for another few minutes while I tried to hold back the tears, before I sent him away to get someone else, who snapped it on it about three seconds. Why offer a service like that and then put someone who doesn't have a clue onto the job? A minor incovenience has now cost quite a few hundred pounds in new windscreen. It was my fault the arm dropped, and probably my fault for not doing the job myself.

Anyway, back from China last night and I will upload gig photos this week :)

[Simon B]

:lmao: :dog: :lmao: :dog:

I'm laughing with you, honest!!

[ToBeOver]

A little update on the wiper story.
I went to get a new wiper and noticed that Halfords offered a fitting service. Being useless at anything to do with cars, I decided to take advantage of the offer and a lad of about 7accompanied me to the car. After fifteen minutes of trying to force the wiper onto the arm, he decided the wiper was faulty and went to get a new one. He tried with the new one and it still didn't work. So, I took it off him to have a go and knocked the wiper arm so that it sprung back against the windscreen, smashing the corner of the glass like a spider's web! He continued for another few minutes while I tried to hold back the tears, before I sent him away to get someone else, who snapped it on it about three seconds. Why offer a service like that and then put someone who doesn't have a clue onto the job? A minor incovenience has now cost quite a few hundred pounds in new windscreen. It was my fault the arm dropped, and probably my fault for not doing the job myself.

Anyway, back from China last night and I will upload gig photos this week :)

This isn't really funny, but the way you're telling it, it really is, Jonah! :lmao:

I'm laughing with you, too!

I'd like to see some pics of the show and some pics of your windshield before you get it fixed, that is! ;)

Glad you had fun at the show, Jonah!

:lmao: :dog: :lmao: :dog:

I'm laughing with you, honest!!

You're such a bad, bad influence.... GO TO YOUR ROOM! :lmao:



:keyboard:

[ToBeOver]

Thanks for starting this thread Jonah,

What a trip, that left turn to the road up the mountain and wandering around the garden of the hotel with me humming the welsh national anthem, I don't think for a minute I could sing it even with an autocue, :D

It was wonderful to meet up with Nick again and meet the new drummer David who is a member of yesfans and also this young lad, Jamie, who Pete had told me beforehand was the rookie roadie, I christened him, Jamie and the magic torch to help me remember his name, :D

Pete came down from getting ready and gave me a big hug, and the evening began with us all making our way to the venue in various cars, back down this twisting winding road into Blackwood.

The venue was quite unlike I was expecting, both Jonah and I thought it would be some rectangular building with a bar at one end and a small stage like so many small working mens clubs but it was an old theatre with an amazing auditorium and various twists and turns in itself, at reception we recieved complimentary tickets which Pete had put by for us and we found our way up to the auditorium where, Chris and Christina, from Magenta were doing thier set, Christina has a very lovely voice and we stood quietly for a couple of songs before finding our way backstage to rejoin Pete.

We, Pete, Jonah, Jamie and myself all went down to the bar on the ground floor after chatting for a while where we spent quite some time all chatting together and haveing a great time, Nick and David had been for a meal and joined us for a drink and shortly before they were due to go onstage we made our way back upstairs, Jonah and I, to the auditorium while Pete, Nick and David went to get ready to perform.

I must say, David the new drummer seems to fit in really well with the music, Pete and Nick play, the show was reaaly enjoyable, like Jonah says its totally improvised music and there are times when it seems to falter but when they get into the groove it really works well, towards the end of the evening, Pete was on fire, he was playing out of his skin at times really enjoying himself bouncing up and down, swinging his guitar this way and that whilst still playing holding it aloft like that other guitarist who, Who does something similar, :D

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m318/muff_yesfan/Pete.jpg

He reminded me of the Pete I had seen so many years ago while playing his heart out for Yes, I really enjoyed the evening and at one point I caught a few bars of "Time and a Word" :D

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m318/muff_yesfan/NickandDavid.jpg

The final track they played seemed to drift into the theme from "The Pink Panther" much to everyones enjoyment, I,m sure I am not alone in saying those there had a wonderful time, I only took a few photo's has my camera is somewhat limited but Jonah took quite a few which I hope came out.

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m318/muff_yesfan/Peteagainbright.jpg

After the show, both Jonah and myself made our way backstage to thank Pete and everyone for a great evenings entertainment, we chatted with Pete and exchanged feelings about how the show had gone down, and we said our goodbyes, Pete giving both Jonah and myself hugs and we made our way back to Jonah's car which had been vandalised, the only thing to spoil an otherwise excellent evening out with some great friends.

I thank Jonah from the bottom of my heart for his fantastic company and being a great friend, also for a wonderful, excursion into the wilds of South Wales, it must have been very late when he got home, :winknudge

Thanks for the pics, Norm! Glad you and Jonah had a good time at the show. ;)


:keyboard: