Posts: 43
From: the desert in a house with no name
Suggestion for 40th Anniversary
Posted on: 02/25/2010 03:19 AM
I think since Gerry always jokes on stage they are going to do every one of the songs in concert, that this should actually happen for once.
AMERICA has so many great songs on the CD's that they never get to perform in concert as 90 minutes is too short so only a few different songs other than their known hits can be included.
How many from the web site would love to see a 4 hour concert (and even travel to do it?) I know I would. Say, perhaps, 2 hours with 45 minute intermission followed by another 2 hours. Anyone else up for it It could be called the Marathon AMERICA in concert. Why not during their anniversary year? I'd be there? Anyone else.
Now we just have to interest some promoters and have them put this on?
I'm living in the desert in a house with no name
It feels good to be home once again
-- Maybe they have NOT as yet named the D*MN horse after 39 years, but....
It only took me 3 months to name the house: Sanctuary
Re: Suggestion for 40th Anniversary
Posted on: 02/25/2010 09:41 AM
Great idea! My son used to like this group called Coheed and Cambria. I know they did this at least in two cities NYC and LA, they played for either 4 or 5 straight nights in each city. Each night they played an entire album. They also had extra promotions that went along with it like back stage passes etc. They video taped it and then sold the DVD. Obviously America has too many albums to do it that way but something similar would be good.
Daphne
Somewhere Somehow
Watching the Time Go Bye
under the.....Sheltering Sky
Re: Suggestion for 40th Anniversary
Posted on: 02/25/2010 12:45 PM
I like the idea - I would suggest at least a concert with every album represented. Foolin' is a great add along with Sleeper Train - So perhaps Hope and Tall Treasures added to the list. Sort of my thought around although I have enjoyed the Beatle songs and Dream sounds like another great oldie - why Young Moon or She's a Liar. I love Hideaway and Amber along with She's a liar or Dan's Today the day and/or Jet Boy Blue. - I loved when Encore was out hearing Hell's on Fire.
Re: Suggestion for 40th Anniversary
Posted on: 02/25/2010 01:45 PM
Hey Beth/Traveler, great suggestion there. You're always thinking and have great ideas. You'll get no complaints from me - and count me in too.
I love the idea of a 4 hour show (w/a few breaks in between) it seems like a 90 minute show isn't long enough. A few songs I'd love to hear someday -- still dreaming tho, is 'Rainbow Song' or 'Children.' Or maybe even 'Clarice' or 'Another Try'? I'd probably feel like I'd died and gone to heaven if those were ever added.
Although lately with Windwave, Rainy Day, Here & Foolin (and Sleeper Train a few months ago) added to the set....I've already felt like I've died and gone to heaven.
I saw Loggins & Messina a few years ago, and they do a 3 hour show of all their album cuts - and with only a few of their hits. So, it is possible. Please, America?
And Chaz, count me in on that trip to Australia to party with Bluey too! Another fine suggestion.
Re: Suggestion for 40th Anniversary
Posted on: 02/26/2010 10:49 PM
Love this idea, although I'd hate to wear the band out in one night. How 'bout we wear them out over two days. (Ha!) After all, we'll be coming from all ends of the earth. We all gather (at this date, I'm thinking some place warm), have the first night's concert, have a really great M&G with the entire crew the next day, and then a closing night's concert. Hey, how much is this gonna cost?! I may have to budget this for the 50th anniversary!
Posts: 43
From: the desert in a house with no name
Re: Suggestion for 40th Anniversary
Posted on: 02/26/2010 11:06 PM
Perhaps we can talk them into changing their normal show to 120 to 135 minutes in length This way they would have to fill the evening with a variety of music that normally isn't played. Their typical set of songs that is included for the average concert person is more than 65 minutes which allows less than 25 minutes for additions or changes to the set list for us hard core AMERICA fans. A longer concert allows for more substitutions.
Two nights would be great but that would still tend to have all the same typical songs in the concert both nights for those folks who didn't come to the concert the night before.
But for a MARATHON AMERICA concert I would settle fo 90 minutes 30 intermission and then 60 to 90 minutes more. Hey, one can dream.
I'm living in the desert in a house with no name
It feels good to be home once again
-- Maybe they have NOT as yet named the D*MN horse after 39 years, but....
It only took me 3 months to name the house: Sanctuary
Re: Suggestion for 40th Anniversary
Posted on: 02/27/2010 04:14 PM
30 concerts - 30 albums in 30 days
(we can all call in sick for month, can't we?)
can't take off for 30 days?
okay, then leave off doing the greatest hits and live albums, that would only be 20 days, including Van go Gan, Horizontal Fall and Happy Hour :)
Re: Suggestion for 40th Anniversary
Posted on: 02/27/2010 07:19 PM
Good, Janie!
How 'bout we have this America Fan Holiday on a cruise ship? Just sail around the oceans picking up fans to join the marathon in progress! LOL We need a catchy title...what starts with an 'H'?
Re: Suggestion for 40th Anniversary
Posted on: 02/28/2010 10:06 AM
There has been a "Rick Springfield and Friends" cruise the last couple of years. So, Cat's idea is a great one, and it's been done. There are concerts, photo sessions, parties, special guests.. It's done by Carnival Cruise Line. Hmmmm........
Re: Suggestion for 40th Anniversary
Posted on: 02/28/2010 11:36 AM
Funny, I'd been talking about the cruise idea with some other America people last weekend in Miami.
Rick Springfield's fan base is quite different from America's fan base. Rick's fans are used to paying scalpers for tickets, shelling out over $500 for backstage privileges for one show, and handing over $2000+ apiece for a five-day cruise. In other words, they have extremely deep pockets where Rick Springfield is concerned.
America fans rarely (if ever) pay scalpers for tickets. There are no pay-for-play backstage events. Translation: die hard fans don't have the same kind of deep pockets when it comes to America. Rick Springfield and America are birds of a different feather.
It comes down to the fact that numbers don't add up to make an America-only cruise feasible.
But another possibility that I think would work is a shorter cruise with America and two other bands. This would triple the number of fans who might have an interest in such a cruise. Yes, it would mean that only a third of the concerts, workshops, and associated events would be provided by America, but it would still be a huge dose of America in one place over a short period of time.
Re: Suggestion for 40th Anniversary
Posted on: 02/28/2010 02:19 PM
Anita, this is sounding maybe even do-able. I like the idea not only to see and hear the band but to enjoy the camaraderie. (It would be so nice to put faces to the names of fellow bloggers here.) If practicality requires several bands, then that still could be a win-win for everybody, especially if the bandmembers are all friends and would consider jamming together on some tunes. Imagine a dozen guitars playing 'Ventura Highway'!
Posts: 43
From: the desert in a house with no name
Re: Suggestion for 40th Anniversary
Posted on: 03/01/2010 01:44 PM
I think Lovin Spoonful (or it was POCO) did a cruise like this 1 year or so ago with just themeselves, and as far as I'm concerned AMERICA is a bigger name than either of them. They are always the opening act for AMERICA when ever they perform together. I would be willing to go.
I'm living in the desert in a house with no name
It feels good to be home once again
-- Maybe they have NOT as yet named the D*MN horse after 39 years, but....
It only took me 3 months to name the house: Sanctuary
Re: Suggestion for 40th Anniversary
Posted on: 03/04/2010 10:21 AM
15 years or so ago, I saw Ray Davies' (singer/songwriter for The Kinks) solo concert - "The Storyteller" - in Sydney. Just him on stage with an acoustic guitar, singing Kinks/solo songs and telling the audience his life's story.
Prior to the start of the show, pieces of paper and pencils were given to a number of seated fans after being asked if they would like to ask Ray a question.
Halfway through the concert, Ray read and answered a couple of the fans' handups. After answering each question, he called out writer's name, autographed it and personally handed it back from the stage. I would imagine that all the handups would have been screened for sensitivity or time restraint and only 4 or 5 best ones picked. I thought it was a great idea and it was much appreciated by the sold out audience.
Listening to a number of D&G DVD/Radio interviews, they are both very accomplished speakers. They have a story to tell and fans' would love to hear a few first hand.
Re: Suggestion for 40th Anniversary
Posted on: 03/04/2010 01:03 PM
For those of us who made it to Sound Stage, the 4 hour concert was a reality yet they still had well over a hundred more songs to play. It would take a weekend plus for the guys to play all there hits.
Re: Suggestion for 40th Anniversary
Posted on: 03/05/2010 08:51 PM
Bluey, I like the Ray Davies' idea of answering/autographing fans' handwritten questions during the concert.
G&D have collaborated/toured with many good bands over the years, including Lovin' Spoonful and POCO. If they've cruised before, Traveler, maybe they would be interested in doing it again. What about an artist, such as Timothy B. Schmit, who just released his solo album Expando in Oct.? And, on a cruise, some newer artists (Jeff Larson, Maplewood, etc.) could be on the bill, too. What a great way to build their fan base! Also, maybe Gerry could do a set from his solo work.
One other idea... We have quite a few accomplished musicians here. Wouldn't it be great if they could have the chance to play onstage with America or the other bands? A cruise would allow time for such an activity.
Re: Suggestion for 40th Anniversary
Posted on: 03/06/2010 09:00 AM
Okay , so I am being extremely selfish , but as the band made their way to fame in the early years in the UK , it would be nice if they paid us a visit as part of their 40th anniversary. I really enjoyed the 2009 London Concert and I would love to see them perform live again. Come-on Guys - How about it ?
Re: Suggestion for 40th Anniversary
Posted on: 03/06/2010 11:27 AM
It's hard to believe 40 years have come and gone so quickly. I do like the idea of a 4 hour concert - 90 minutes is never enough. And I'd love to spend a weekend in a hotel with other Am fans. I hate to be selfish, but I'd love to see the band perform in NYC at Carnegie Hall, but this time, with a meet and greet. If its' the 40 anniversary, I want to be able to say hi to Dewey and Gerry!!!
Re: Suggestion for 40th Anniversary
Posted on: 03/06/2010 12:15 PM
Only four hours? Definitely not enough.
Around 8am, there would be a breakfast with the band. Then the first two hour set. Intermission would be a coffee break, at which time Gerry and Dewey would sit onstage and answer questions from the audience. Two more hours of songs. At lunch intermission, Gerry, Dewey, Rich, Wil and Michael, as well as Erin, Jeff and Bill, would mingle during the buffet. Two more hours of songs. At afternoon recess, audience members could join the band onstage for a few private lessons on guitar. Then the last two hours of the show, after which Gerry and Dewey would ask audience members if they had missed anything. Missed songs would be performed. Next, a cocktail party meet and greet with autograph signing, then dinner with our bionic band. Possibly a nightcap . . . no, not a nightcap. That would be over the top.
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Thank you, Daisey
