[Introspective] The inevitable DC 10/15/06 reply

[A.C. R]

Adam, I totally get it if you're disappointed with the PSB show. Some will 
like it more than others and some less. It's natural. But there's one theme 
I want to address: the goddamn Performance Tour worship. A lot of fans just 
worship that tour. It was not their best tour, and they most certainly have 
topped it during subsequent tours. It was their most theatrical, very 
operatic; their most elegant, and visually artistic. But it was not their 
best tour. Discovery looked like more fun, to me.

While I was stunned by the beauty and creativity of Performance back in 
1991, I didn't lock the PSB into that kind of show. When they returned here 
to the states in 1999 with the Nightlife Tour, they blew the Performance 
tour away, from an audience enjoyment perspective. Their Hammerstein 
Ballroom shows in NYC on that tour are just legendary. I was there, and I've 
never experienced such a concert high. They blew the f**king roof off the 
place, and they gave us in the audience a party like the Performance tour 
never could. Nightlife saw their most fun opening (For your own good/West 
end girls), and how about that legendary "Young offenger" secon half 
opening? I mean, come on, people!

And don't go complaining about the Release tour, because there was something 
so special about that tour that I'll just go nuts if anyone complains about 
it. If all the rest of their tours were like the Release tour, I wouldn't 
have a problem.

As for the Fundamental tour, I'd say it's at least as good as the Somewhere 
shows, and possibly more.

-Ali

>From: "Adam Cooper" <acooper101 at comcast.net>
>To: <introspective at tcp.com>
>Subject: [Introspective] DC 10/15/06
>Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 18:28:44 -0400
>
>The show at DAR Constitution Hall was a bit disappointing.  Psychological 
>is
>too mellow of a song to start a concert with, in my opinion.  The origami
>box setup was a little awkward as well.  The white uniformed guys often had
>trouble placing the boxes, and honestly, it was a little distracting with
>them continually moving the boxes around during the show.  I know it was
>meant to be artistic, and I have to admit that having them wear white so
>that all the projections would blend in was a good idea.  The song choices
>were very good, and Neil was in high spirits, even remarking on how posh 
>the
>venue was (and it is a very nice place, indeed).
>
>
>
>There is one big no-no during this show.  There is a 25 minute intermission
>only 45 minutes into the set.  At the end of the intermission, the boys 
>come
>back on stage with a dirge-like song out of Battleship Potemkin.  It was a
>horribly conceived transition from Act 1 to Act 2, completely causing them
>to lose the steam that they had built up during the first 45 minutes.
>
>
>
>During the intermission, I was reading the text in the tour book, and I
>couldn't help thinking that after all these years, Chris still acts like a
>tempermental brat.  He was fussing over what he was going to wear during 
>the
>show, and honestly, since he adds very little to the performance, it really
>wouldn't have mattered less.  His only contribution is during the comic
>opening montage, which I will not spoil.  That bit was definitely funny
>though.  For the rest of the show, he stood there stoic-like.  He could 
>have
>just as easily been replaced by a DAT deck.  In prior shows, he has been
>more animated.  Performance being the most notable tour.  Stop phoning it
>in, Chris.  If you don't like photography, then perhaps you should stay 
>home
>and let Neil be the sole face of the PSB.  You drag down the show.
>
>
>
>And that's the problem.  The Boys can't seem to top Performance.  It was
>their landmark tour, and it was brilliant.  Having said that, the new songs
>are great.  Neil definitely seems as into it as ever, slapping hands with
>the audience.  The backup singers could not have been better.  The dancers
>were both superb.
>
>
>
>Favorite line of the night.'We're still the Pet Shop Boys.'
>
>
>
>Guys, I hope you'll stay together another 20 years, but for the next tour,
>please think about what would go over best for the audience.  You've got
>money, put more of it into your stage, please.  Minimal may have been the
>intent, but Always On My Mind came across as a high school theater
>production.  I know you can do much, much better.  I still believe in you.
>


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