From jake92028@yahoo.com Tue Jun 08 22:24:40 2004
Subject:Re: Deep Purple Hush -multiple Leslies onstage

> From: Steven Hayes
> >To be exact 4 145 models. Two to a side stacked. I didn't like
guitar players in my way.

Oh Steve, my poor back hurts just thinking about it.. but a killer
sound that would have been; I stopped at two 122's unless someone
else was 'buying.'

First time I saw Leslie stacks was when I went to see Mike Bloomfield
and The Electric Flag at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles
around '69. He had the double Leslie stacks, two on each side, with
big American flags on flagpole stands on top - it was a pretty
impressive sight then, and for sure raised the anticipation of those
who got in the doors before the music. But, an interesting story goes
with this: While waiting for Mike's band to play which most came for,
Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground, the first of a two-band show and
not that well known in L.A., really warmed the crowd up - to say the
least. They wound up a long, loud and getting louder set of their
current album stuff with "White Light, White Heat" which turned into
about 30 minutes of intense full-overdrive rhythm jam. The random
passing tones Lou was adding to his rhythm guitar were like lead
guitar, with a cheesy compact organ screeching along, short and wide
drummer chick whomping a huge kettle drum and marching snare,
distorted bass notes thumping away. It was totally wild, almost
tribal music. During about the first half of the song, every so often
they'd almost lose time and have to get in synch with each other, but
as it went on they were really nailing it. The crowd went nuts and
wouldn't let them stop - playing overtime with Mike Bloomfield
standing to one side ready to play, like "Ahem, do you mind?" He
finally walked onstage, plugged his guitar in, and started jamming
along. It was great. Ever since then Lou Reed and The Velvet
Underground has been part of my music collection. Anyone who
thinks "psychoacoustic" doesn't apply to music should have been
there. A super-loud, loose around the edges, not very good players
yet creative anyway, wacko garage band stole the show from the star
people came to see - Mike's set was kind of blah, crowd stayed
politely but didn't really care much. There must be something to be
learned from this, but I 'ain't figured it out yet. Walter