Ticket Price = ~$65
Show Date = June 29, 2011
The Schnitz for rock shows is always an interesting hang. Like kids invading the grown ups table. The place of symphonies and such. Fine things.
A Perfect Circle inhabited the Schnitz and everything was controlled. Only time I’ve ever been patted down for a fucking cellphone. “No flashes, no cellphones”. Got it, baby. Been through it before.
Everyone mostly sitting. Okay? I touched the rail. Security:”Don’t touch that”. Sigh. I’ll keep a ruler between it and me.
It was a very cover heavy night drawing from eMOTIVe material. John Lennon’s “Imagine”, Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On?”, and running the gambit of artists from Joni Mitchell (“Fiddle And The Drum”) to Black Flag (“Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie”). And more.
All that is well and good. But the vibe is weird in the hall. Locked down like a Mormon Alternative High School Mixer. Again. Whatever. APC performed “By And Down”. A new song. Video is all over youtube for the curious. That was a treat.
Highlight for me was “The Noose” from Thirteenth Step.
I like countless things about this song. The poetry of it speaks to me. Given the album title and background on the track, the themes of recovery and the holier-than-thou attitude that can accompany it are the presumed subject matter. Like all good art. It has alot of facets. Shine a light on it and you can get a rainbow of potential themes to mentally chase. Sex. Politics. Drugs. Religion. Relationships and all that entails.
“The Noose” Live. Here’s an example from 2010:
Spotify link (Recorded Version)
Live, the musical craftsmanship stands out. The way the instrumental elements are introduced and flow with the vocal really is beautiful. The live version around 3:30 when everything moves to full attack made my hairs stand up. Really cool. With the crescendo and sudden end with the imagery of a halo as a choker. Like the end of a drug rush. Or orgasm. Or death. Or…amazing.
I wrote most of this the night after the show and never published. Looking over the web. Seems like many were disappointed with the show in terms of set list. With many retorts the audience should be happy just to be there. They are both right, in a way. The set list is a personal thing. But seeing Maynard with A Perfect Circle is a rare treat. Both literally and figuratively since I got a lollipop off the stage.
Youtube link (“The Noose” Live Version)
