it's funny you should bring up the Mego tour, as i started a thread that
(beyond my control or intentions) turned into an ugly mudslinging bout on
the IDM list.
i saw Pita and Fennesz play in Chicago at the Empty Bottle. Due to
circumstances I got there around 10:25 and if there was an opening act, it
was already over.....? We then sat around waiting and waiting for (who I am
assuming was) Fennesz to start, which was alright, very noisy and kind of
dreary which I enjoyed, but also very similar to his CD release on Touch and
only 20 minutes long. Then we were treated to another long gap and then (who
I assume was) Pita, which began with some musique concrete sounding
material, and he wasn't on stage (i wasn't sure and still am not: was this
part of the "performance," or just material being played by the DJ or on his
laptop as a prelude to the show?). then when he got up there things got
pretty weird and noisy, which I enjoyed as well, but again, it lasted maybe
30 min tops.
my question is this: why would anyone go to the trouble of booking overseas
gigs, traveling, lugging expensive machines (albeit just laptops), etc. to
play less than an hour combined? and why does it cost $10 for less than half
a typical concert-going evening? there were also long gaps between the sets,
and it certainly could not have been for stage set up, since they each only
used a laptop and a mixing desk, and it might have even been the same
desk... was this just to hide the fact that it was an incredibly short show?
i did enjoy what i heard; it's not their music that i'm complaining about.
in fact, i'm still glad i went i suppose, even if i felt a bit ripped off on
the cover charge.
pardon what may come off as whininess... i was genuinely excited about the
show when i heard it was coming to town. i guess i just expected more from
this particular event....