Steeleye Span news

[calimac]

From a press release ... "the band approach their 2011 tour" - not that I'm going to be able to hear this; they're only touring England, and southern and a bit of midlands England at that - "with not one but two new members. Joining Maddy Prior, Peter Knight, Rick Kemp and Liam Genockey are guitarist Julian Littman and multi-instrumentalist Pete Zorn." Well, Ken Nicol, the competent but uninspiring guitarist who took over when Bob Johnson retired didn't last very long after all, did he? "Now playing as a six piece for the first time in many years, Steeleye Span have chosen this tour to revisit one of their most iconic albums, Now We Are Six - playing the record in its entirety to open the show." In its entirety? Does that mean the two tracks of nursery rhymes in childish falsetto, too?

Comments

[scribblerworks.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't you just be happy to see them in concert? Regardless of what the selection was?

:D

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

I'm just asking if they really intend to do the album in its entirety. Sure, I'd love to hear them live. And I have. I heard them when the fabulous Bob Johnson was still with the band. I heard them in their sizzling-hot Time period, when Gay Woods was the second vocalist. I attended the legendary 25th anniversary concert in London in 1995, when all the former members came back, even the late (and great) Tim Hart. I'd go to this tour, too, if I could get to it. I'm just wondering. It was a silly joke in 1974, and it's be even sillier today.

[scribblerworks.livejournal.com]

Okay, now I really AM green. *sniff*

I can't really top that, since I don't think seeing the Chieftains live twice is going to compare - except that one of those occasions was the Austin concert that ended up inspiring the Cotton-eyed Joe album.

Ah well.

True, the nursery rhymes would be a bit silly. Fun maybe, though.

[wild-patience.livejournal.com]

Yes, as I recall that was on our honeymoon trip. We changed our travel dates so you could attend the concert. So glad you enjoyed it.

[barondave.livejournal.com]

Much as Now We Are Six is a very good album (my fanzine was named Two Magicians), and the first SSpan I ever heard, it's not actually one of my favorites. Oh well, were I to be in the right place at the right time, I'd see 'em.

Haven't followed my favorite group since Maddy left after Time, but will fill in at some point.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

In my taxonomy of Steeleye eras, the period without Maddy is called The Black Years, so you can guess what I think about that. Since she returned it's been a gentle revival. Here's a review of one of the better albums.

I agree with you about ranking Now We Are Six. With the possible exception of Rocket Cottage, it's the least great album of their classic period (I call it the Golden Age). That makes it merely very good indeed.

[anderyn.livejournal.com]

I've only seen them once (while Gay Woods was back), so in the Time era, I think. But it was magnificent anyway.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

Anyway? That was their best period since the 70s!

[anderyn.livejournal.com]

Well, I have no comparison, since I never saw them earlier. All I know is that it was magnificent, and I am always going to be very glad I saw them in concert.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

I never saw them in the 70s, either. I think we're talking past each other. You said "it was magnificent anyway" as if that was despite it not being a good period in their history. I replied that it was a great period in their history. I know this from having heard all their records.