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(Created page with 'thumb|right This is a concert review from ''Cashbox'' on July 12, 1980, page 13. ROXY, LA. - Returning to a smaller venue, without the dazzling ...') |
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This is a concert review from ''Cashbox'' on July 12, 1980, page 13. | This is a concert review from ''Cashbox'' on July 12, 1980, page 13. | ||
ROXY, LA. - Returning to a smaller venue, without the dazzling slide show and minus the tons of equipment they use to record their LPs, Gentle Giant still delivered a galvanizing, much-appreciated set here recently. | ROXY, LA. - Returning to a smaller venue, without the dazzling slide show and minus the tons of equipment they use to record their LPs, [[Gentle Giant]] still delivered a galvanizing, much-appreciated set here recently. | ||
Energetic music, finely tuned craftsmanship and pointed lyrics have always propelled this underrated outfit of progressive British rockers past the brevity of trends to capture an on-going, ever-growing core of listeners. | Energetic music, finely tuned craftsmanship and pointed lyrics have always propelled this underrated outfit of progressive British rockers past the brevity of trends to capture an on-going, ever-growing core of listeners. | ||
What Gentle Giant did was play a balanced mix of tunes from their latest Columbia LP, "Civilian," with compositions from their previous releases to overwhelm fans both old and new. | What Gentle Giant did was play a balanced mix of tunes from their latest Columbia LP, "[[Civilian]]," with compositions from their previous releases to overwhelm fans both old and new. | ||
The band wasted no time offering up high-powered new rock on a song from the latest album titled, "Convenience (Clean and Easy)", which is most certainly an accessible example of the band's lyric wit, delivered with appropriate drama by group co-founder and lead vocalist Derek Shulman. | The band wasted no time offering up high-powered new rock on a song from the latest album titled, "Convenience (Clean and Easy)", which is most certainly an accessible example of the band's lyric wit, delivered with appropriate drama by group co-founder and lead vocalist [[Derek Shulman]]. | ||
And before the audience could properly catch its breath, Gary Green's raucous heavy-metal guitar prelude opened on the group's "All Through The Night," which is as rhythmic as it is laden with the group's always-English, classic melodic overtones. | And before the audience could properly catch its breath, [[Gary Green]]'s raucous heavy-metal guitar prelude opened on the group's "All Through The Night," which is as rhythmic as it is laden with the group's always-English, classic melodic overtones. | ||
The English sound is primarily due to Kerry Minnear's constantly tasteful use of his multi-keyboard set-up and his penchant for creating sound textures without being shallow or out of the context of the music. | The English sound is primarily due to [[Kerry Minnear]]'s constantly tasteful use of his multi-keyboard set-up and his penchant for creating sound textures without being shallow or out of the context of the music. | ||
But perhaps the cornerstone of the band's rock sound rested on Green's guitar work, bassist Ray Shulman (Derek's brother) and drummer John Weathers. | But perhaps the cornerstone of the band's rock sound rested on Green's guitar work, bassist [[Ray Shulman]] (Derek's brother) and drummer [[John Weathers]]. | ||
On selections from the Giant's "In | On selections from the Giant's "[[In a Glass House]]," "[[Octopus]]" and "[[The Power and the Glory]]" LPs, the band showed why it has not been necessary to bow to music trends to maintain an accessible, exciting sound. | ||
With music ranging from the traditional English madrigal style to rock with flute of jazz-funk, the music always remains Gentle Giant's. And during an encore of "Number One," from their latest album, the band was quite believable. | With music ranging from the traditional English madrigal style to rock with flute of jazz-funk, the music always remains Gentle Giant's. And during an encore of "[[Number One]]," from their latest album, the band was quite believable. | ||
michael martinez | michael martinez | ||
[[Category:Concert reviews]] | [[Category:Concert reviews]] |