A-le-storm, and the Vet

I, Melachi ibn Amillar, being of unsound mind and body, did attend the gig of Alestorm and associated Pirate Metallers on Saturday, 18 February 2012, at the Islington Academy. The first band I heard were "Claim the Throne". They were intoxicated before playing their first note, and continued to drink through large funnels, which they passed among the crowd. Their tunes were folkish, though they seemed to lose their way and guitar strings somewhere in the middle. The band Alestorm sounded quite similar, and were greeted by a great waving of plastic cutlasses and eyepatches from a youngish and equally intoxicated crowd. I could hear every word they said, and the lyrics were indeed quite witty. Very much a party band, then, and I would not mind another party, though cannot imagine actually listening to their records in my living place.

Returning to that place, at the bus stop I met a young lady, returning from the concert, dressed in black, with folded head kerchief, saying that she had been to see "A-le-storm", which she pronounced in three syllables and in an American accent, as though she were unaware that "Ale" is, in England, a common beverage, a bit like Coca-Cola; and there she encountered two others, but dressed with colours, indeed stylishly, and it transpired that they had known one another before, in Hong Kong, and had not met for many months. Finding myself seated alongside this latter couple onto the bus, they announced how much that first lady had changed, that she used to dress like a normal person, but now looked like a freak; that they had never heard of where she had claimed to go to Veterinary college (London Met) and that she had always been strange, though that it was good she had adopted a strange and new character, in a strange land.

I, Melachi, have no comment to make, other than such is many a mosher's lot. But this is a tale told by Melachi, and it is a true story.

Melachi Dreams of a Theater at Wembley Arena

Melachi Dreams of a Theatre

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Fri 10 Feb – Dream Theater, Periphery

I, Melachi ibn Amillar, being of unsound mind and body, did attend the Dream Theater concert at the Wembley Arena on 10 February 2012, and hereby bring my report.

First, the tickets were somewhat expensive and the Arena was only a half full, and I was rather far from the stage. It was also rather odd standing in a seating zone, as it was not thereby possible either to sit in a disinterested manner or to move forward in a natural manner. I would recommend this band to book a smaller venue in future, particularly if they charge these prices; I for one would be reluctant to go to the Arena again. It was also rather cold.

The support band were Periphery, most sat to listen to them. I had not heard them before; they sounded remarkably like Dream Theater with some guttural vocals. They started and finished rather neatly and their last song did sound quite interesting, I would be happy to see them again. They might have played for longer, maybe started earlier.

The popularity of Dream Theater themselves is rather a mystery to me, with guitars and keyboards without a heart and a singer like the fabulous Freddy without the tunes. I have seen them three times; on this occasion they were I thought rather slow off the mark, however after a silly acoustic section they seemed to warm up, or perhaps turned the volume up, and it took off more. I, Melachi, am a great enemy of drum solos, and invariably use them to get a few drinks; however their drummer, whom I had never heard of until he appeared on stage at the High Voltage festival the previous year, then produced a splendid and listenable-to drum solo, and this evening was the same. He is without doubt the finest drummer I have heard. And I have even heard Phil Collins! Now I just have to learn his name. The final track the band played in the main set, Breaking All Illusions, did move towards the sublime, particularly the guitar solo, though one might have hoped for this level throughout the evening. So finally I walked the causeway to the station not dissatisfied.

Aye to the more relaxed compositions, leaving the performers and audience some room to breath. Nay to lack of opera glasses.

These are the words of Melachi!