Philzone.org - Philzone Phansite Community Discussion Board: Setlists and Reviews: Non GD Related Reviews: Archive: New Monsoon, Fillmore, 1/27/06

We want it NOW

I heard it was sold out

Technically it was a sold out show, the largest walk up sell out ever at the Fillmore but inside it didn't feel like a sell out, plenty of room to move. the set break was very short, I actually had to stop and ask is everyone outside still because set break was so short or have this many people actually left? The crowd thinned very quickly.

recording is already up on Archive:
http://www.archive.org/details/nm2007-01-27.flac16

I also noticed the extra elbow room after the break; plenty of people must have left early. Their loss! I liked it a lot.

I took too much stuff and drank too much to remember anything...thank God for the archive and Emily's review or I would never know what I did the prior weekend. However, I do remember the band sounding extra funky. That prolly had something to do with the new bass guy from Karl D's band.

Emily, sorry that we lost you guys. I ended up being pretty absent-minded and before I knew it the show was over and I was in a cab heading home. Didn't fall asleep till 8am and had a blast chilling back at the house...wish you guys came over There's always next time

But I actually did notice that a ton of folks left...do you think these were maybe Tahoe heads that came for Blue Turtle and left?

Three different people called at the list minute offering tickets to this show. All had comps.

I heard that they papered the house.

New Monsoon? More like a light breeze.

I wasn't particularly impressed. They were good, and it was a fun party but I didn't think anything I heard went beyond bar/club level playing.

I DID like the bass player; I guess he's new? He added a real powerful groove, and I thought the drummer was fine. I couldn't quite understand what the acoustic guitar/banjo player was supposed to be adding; especially the banjo playing was to me almost laughably bad.

Everything to my ear seemed to revolve around the electric guitar player, who was good but not nearly good enough, IMO. I thought he often had an almost Marshall Tucker type sound, and overall I thought the group had a vaguely southern tinge to their sound; it just didn't have enough of an ORIGINAL sound for me.

Nothing truly sucked though, although I thought that both the percussionists that joined them onstage (original members coming back for the night?) were weak and that the group sounded better without them. I'm very picky about percussionists and tabla players though, so that may be more my problem.

Ultimately I got bored and went across the street to see Skerik, who I love, but I don't know why I did that because the Boom Boom Room is a 20something bone-head bar and I couldn't hear anything, so it became a slightly early evening for me.

I won't be going to see New Monsoon again any time soon, but I won't DOG them to anyone either; I just think they're not really a big-time quality band.

As for the crowd, I think there is no question that many people were there for the opening band (I missed them so I don't know how full it was for them) or they just wern't "blown away" (sorry for the pun) by New Monsoon & left after the 1st set.

Running out of time so this is going to be the abbreviated version...

Gotta love the tapers for getting this one out quickly once again.

LOVE the new bass player. Ron sounded great and had a great energy--he comes across as a very fun guy, easy going, laid back. I love the funk he brings to the band.

Unfortunately, that's the best I've got to say. I am going to miss the 3 piece percussion dearly. I actually lost sleep over this show--funny that you say you didn't crash until 8 am Rory--I had a feeling that I was back out of bed before you even laid down and sure enough--I woke up around 7 am and just couldn't get back to sleep thinking about how it was like losing a friend. I knew the band was going to be different as the NM5 but I didn't think I wouldn't like it. Turns out I don't.

The rock vibe is there no doubt and I don't think it's a bad thing but I do think NM5 is far less distinctive than NM7. They had a unique sound and now not so much. Now it's kind of generic. There's plenty mid-level jambands looking for a break, these guys are lost in the crowd now.

As far as song selection--they put a ballad as the last song of set 2, I'm not a ballad girl so it really killed it for me. Then they encored with Fearless--yeah, we get it, I used to think it was original, now I think it's just over-played. Pink Floyd, overplayed, who knew? At least they picked a lesser known song but they've played it so much by now...I'm over it. It's a tough call, this was a big night and jumping in with all new material wouldn't have worked either...at least it wasn't Eminence Front.

I found myself standing--STANDING--just not feeling the dance vibe--and hoping they'd play Jessica.

I'm not gonna give up on the NM5, I really like Ron on bass! I've gotta go back at least for him--the old guy was such a spaz, Ron is so smooth and cool--it's a big difference. I'm just not sure I'll be able to adjust to the new sound. Luckily they change lineups so often, it won't be long before it changes again.


I'm in the minority on this one but that's okay, I don't feel the need to love every show and proclaim every show is the best...but I'm disappointed that I can't say that for this one.

Oh wait...another good thing: Dan Lebo!! I like him more every time I see him!

So they ditched the tabla? To me, best thing those guys have going is the guitarists TONE. It kills.


We might hit caspar inn, i like that place.....overdue for a mendo trip anyway. Know a little beach dive that works for us.

I thought Dan Lebowitz ripped during Alaska and was the highlight of the show for me. The lead guitarist was borrowing riffs from several prominent heroes...Hendrix,Page,Gilmore even Harrison and voilla we get an Izabella and Fearless etc. Plus I'm never satisfied when I leave the Fillmore without a poster...weak

I'm gonna agree with the reviews here. I felt like they were a solid rock/jam band in this new configuration. But I also think they didn't have that thing that made New Monsoon what it was.

They clearly hired the right bass player, thank GAWD. But in solving one problem (new bassist) they created another (lost percussion triple threat).

The benefit of losing the percussionists is that I could VERY clearly hear each instrumentalist. The acoustic guitar has never been so clear. (In that part, I disagree with Lance). As BOTB said, the electric guitar did have a killer tone. He used his usual Gibson SG, but also had a nice collection of other guitars in rotation. He had his amp dialed in perfectly to really show off the different sounds each guitar makes.

The drums were solid, as always.

But the major props have to go to their piano player, who is a real pro. I *really* like that guy.

I guess change is hard to accept. Emily hinted in a thread last week that the percussionists leaving might not be permanent, and once their families grow a little older, we might get them back.

Sure would be nice...

i've seen them a few times.

i didn't get to this show.

but i think that dude who plays acoustic guitar, is it BO? he's definitely the weak link.

get rid of him, add back some more percussion players, and whamo. this band could go somewhere.

Raj and Brian (tablas and Latin) are taking timeoff to be with their families. The band will tour as a five piece. I do miss the added percussion on some tunes. New bassist is a total pro: Ron Johnson on the bass, Ron Johnson on the bass! (formerly with Tiny Universe)

Bo (acoustic) and Jeff (lead) founded this band, doubtful Bo will leave. Jeff Miller has said he aint the best gutar player in the band, Bo is.

Phil on keys is the unsung hero in this band IMO

The NM5 is different and more rocking.

Blue Turtle Seduction soundboard from the show, just some friends of mine

http://www.archive.org/details/bts2007-01-27.sbd.f lac

hey sue!
how did those photos come out from PERCOLATOR show at the 12 galaxies last week?

I like NM5, I thought that NM7 got a little cluttered. Tablas can be in the way in rock and roll unless they're being featured... That said, the loss of tablas and percussion strips away some of the flavor of the New Monsoon sound. Look, they write good songs, they play good and sing good, but they're not deeply original. That's not the point, they synthesize styles very well, they have good taste, they're just not very original or unique any more... And to be honest, I'm not sure they care all that much - for all their jamming, I don't think they think of themselves as a jam band - and their sound is definitely more commercial and radio-friendly now. They may do another DMB and leave their jamband roots behind... only my opinion...

FWIW, I loved Dan Liebowitz. Just as I loved Steve Kimock and Tim Carbone playing with NM earlier this year. Jeff from NM sounds better when matched against another elecrtic guitarist, or at least another fiery lead instrument. And Bo's a fine acoustic guitarist, but dang, I can never hear him well enough to be sure! I do appreciate the white funk that Ron Johnson brings to the mix, and that's another direction with commercial possibilities... Whatever. I'm sure THEY'D love it if success came and bit them in the ass some day...

Fun to hang with some of you. Good writing, Emily. C'mon, Fearless cliched? I suppose so... it has come to this. I remember seeing NM play Echoes a few months back at the Mystic, would that have been okay? I want Close To The Edge! No, you're right, Jessica would have been fine...

from the NM Yahoo discussion board:

"New Monsoon's concert from the Aladdin Theatre in Portland, OR, on Friday, Feb 2, will be webcast live at www.mediacampus.com . If you cant join the band in person in the great NW corner, please tune in for the live streaming, of what is sure to be a smoker."

>>Echoes<<


That would have been better but first White Sky would have had to go--finishing with a ballad sucked the energy out of me, I like to go out on a high note, a high energy jam that would have really made the crowd scream for more.

Completely unrelated, did you write a letter to the Chron editor this week? I saw one from PeterT in oakland (and I complete agree with what was said)

Yep, that was me. If you ever find any Toluzzi's elsewhere in the world who aren't related to me, lemme know, we've found none on five continents. Thanks for the compliment...P

Saw a review of the 1/27/07 Fillmore show posted on Jambase at http://www.jambase.com/headsup.asp?storyID=9854

Also, Sue Weiand's photos from that night are at http://www.newmonsoon.com/gallery2/v/2007/fill1/