Saw Buckethead Last Night

Communist China

I'm just going to write a short review of the show.

First of all, there was a crazy line out of the club. We had to wait to get in and doors were supposed to open a half hour before me and my friend got there. I've never seen that at this club before. It was packed, probably sold out, because I heard guys in line worrying about getting a ticket (I had bought ahead) and having found out that only 30-40 were left.

That 1 Guy was weird. His instrument was cool, as was the boot he plugged in. But after about half an hour, I'd had enough.

Bucket took a long time to get on stage, but he delievered witht he first several songs, none of which I can name. He was mesmerizing then, and his speed and skill put me in an awe mood. Then he played Crash Victim, one of the few songs Bucket's on that I REALLY like. Transmutation is always welcome. He kept playing, and sorry to say, I got a little bored standing there. I think I was in the minority there, I will admit, but the shredding had lost its awe at the halfway point and without a drummer or bass player to focus on it felt a little bare. I love watching good drummers live (Albert Heath being the most entertaining I've ever seen, Glen Graham the best I've watched in 08) and I couldn't do that here. Brain would've greatly helped the show. And the lack of interaction between musicians on stage was lost too. I know there aren't many jazz fans here but that's the great thing about live jazz, no other form of music demands such interaction between players.

But anyways, things got more interesting when a guy in a ghoul mask came in played a mandolin with Bucket on guitar, it sounded truly awful, as it was intended to, I'm sure. It was funny. The nun-chucks and robot dance was also a welcome break of mood. Then he trodded back into his usual guitar stuff, which was exciting for another 10-15 minutes (in which he played Jordan, where all the younger crowd members got very excited), but again lost its wonder due to a lack of variation.

I ended up leaving 3-4 "songs" early, not that I was disappointed, I had just seen what I wanted to see and heard pretty much what I wanted to hear. There are vids up on youtube if anyone cares.

Soothsayer was great, btw. That was another highlight. He played a cover of a song I know and like, but I can't for the life of my place what it is...

At the risk of extending what is already a dangerously long and boring post, I will add a dsiclaimer that I do not claim to be a Buckethead fan, and I don't know a ton of his discography, which always makes shows more exciting. I was left with a great respect for his talent, a desire for more variation and more players, and a dream of him playing with Axl, with just a little more structure and poignancy.

James

Actually, thats not a bad review. You bring up several issues that people have. He needs a solid backing band even if he stays solo. Some of those songs(especially Praxis tracks) are not gonna have the same effect with just him playing it.

You're going to get alot of no interaction. He seems to be in his own world, and was like that with GNR as well. Look at Oh My God at Rio. He is in the corner dancing half the time.

Sky Dog

the solo Bucket show I saw was not near as good as when I saw him withe a 3 piece band and Colonel Claypools Bucket of Bernie Brains...The 3 piece was awesome because he threw down Machine Gun by Hendrix and a bunch of other great stuff. I believe Pinchface was on drums. But, I went with some Primus fans to the Claypool ccbbb show and it was just downright bizarre, jamming, rocking and ...just great. Much more free form with Brain, Bucket, and Claypool just tearing it up. So, Commy, I see what your saying about the solo show. After the initial shock of talent, it kinda gets played out due to a lack of "human" element.:thumbup:

also, it is not just the shredding that floors you, it is the monstrous riffs backed by some beautiful soulful licks that really show you his talent......still you need other players.

bigbri

Can't really disagree with you CC. If you want to really "see" Bucket, catch him on one of his tours with a band. I think this is the first time he's toured with his iPod since 2004. I'd bet it has something to do with the economy. I saw a show on this current tour and am seeing another in Sept. For hard-core Bucket fans, the great thing about the iPod shows is that he can play anthing from his discography, he is not limited to what the band can pull off. Because of that, you get some rare treats.

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