Gil Scott-Heron in Tripod
May 3rd, 2010 by Jim Kennedy
Gil Scott-Heron played in Tripod last night - a very bluesy, relaxed affair heavily featuring his band Amnesia Express - a trio on congos, harmonica, and various wind instruments. The gig was brief, with a feeling that the man had just stopped off to play a few tunes for you and tell a few jokes. Entertaining, warm, and gentle, the set comprised mostly the older tunes, few in number and stretched out with instrumental solos from various band members.
None of the usual suspects have uploaded any footage, at least that I can find, so here a clip of Gil Scott-Heron and the same band at Coachella in April doing a medley of The Other Side and Home Is Where The Hatred Is, which he also did in Dublin.
A thoroughly perfect way to spend the Sunday night of a holiday weekend. Gil Scott-Heron and Amnesia Express play Electric Picnic in September, so you have a second chance. While you’re at it, get yourself a copy of his new album I’m New Here, which I’ve already pegged as one of the albums of the year.
I lifted the cool picture from Tartalom’s Flickr stream.
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Last night! Argh.
Very nice, but I’ll admit I had to give up half way through the repetition of ‘I’ll give up tomorrow’. Everytime I read “Scott-Heron is perhaps best-known for the classic The Revolution Will Not Be Televised…” I think of this.
At least he cancelled the gig in Israel.
really enjoyable, but the overall experience was not enhanced by the ill-mannered, ignorant clowns who felt it appropriate to talk loudly throughout…….something that is apparently now common to every gig i go to, particularly at smalller venues. you don’t wanna hear the performer?? stay at home.
David: Not sure what you’re trying to say there. Did you get the dates wrong?
Donagh: Yikes! I didn’t know about that at all. http://www.counterfire.org/index.php/news/1-latest-news/4764-gill-scott-heron-cancels-israel-gig “Speaking on-stage at London’s Royal Festival Hall, Scott-Heron told the audience he “hated war” and, in a lengthy monolougue, told the packed audience his Israel tour date would not be going ahead.” Sounds like he made a mistake there and made it right. Good stuff.
Mike: I’m with you. There was a hipster dude in front of me I wanted to beat to death with a rock for yabbering to his mates. And the racket from the punters at the bar… Next time GSH comes to town, I’m bringing my rock.
Jim: thank god, i thought i was getting grumpy in my old age. looking forward to electric picnic, but i doubt he’ll be as impressive in a tent, even though the clips from coachella on youtube suggest that it could still be good??
Fucking students and their fucking gossip exhibitionism! After paying a hefty sum to see Gil working his magic, the last thing one wants is to listen to a group of wankers talking about test scores and laughing smugly when being schusched. I hope they spread lethal fucking STD’s around their incestuous group of student hipsters and die of diseases that is equally painful and humiliating.
Jim - might I suggest you bring Conor along to the next gig by someone with an understated/underamplified performance style you go to (your shout). That way - any jabbering gobshite liggers at the bar are guaranteed to be going home in bodybags
Right, we are all agreed: death to the yabbering hipsters. We need a facebook group or teeshirts. I didn’t know Conor was so multi-talented. Wonders never cease.
As a grumpy old man I also found the clattering chattering gobshites around the bar extremely irritating and disrespectful to the artist. Don’t understand why they don’t shut the main venue bar in Tripod during a gig and open the bar in the lounge behind it. That way everybody can still get a drink and have a chat in the lounge if the gig is not to their liking. I managed to wangle my way up to the front after a couple of tracks and really enjoyed the rest of the gig.
Jimbo - Unfortunately, I don’t think Tripod are in it for the music, but that’s a workable solution. I’d imagine the back bar is fairly empty during the gigs.