After the sensational performances of Van Morrison, Van Der Graaf Generator, Joe Jackson & Todd Rundgrenand waiting for the voice of YES Jon Anderson staged on 23 September, the Sala Verdi of the Milan Conservatory of Music confirms a new prestigious appointment : MARK OLIVER EVERETT and his EELS project.
The tour, called 'EELS WITH STRINGS', will stop - on a single date in Italy - at Saturday 8 October in the prestigious setting of the Conservatory, in the hall that hosts the major classical music concerts, second in acoustic performance in our country only to La Scala .
With the US leg of the EELS tour over, reviews speak of over a hundred minutes of great show, with Mark Everett's (aka 'E') rough, scratchy voice trespassing on the beaches of Brian Wilson, the dim Hollywood life of Tom Waits, and the erratic cinematic visions of Randy Newman.
EELS, recently released with their latest double album 'Blinking Lights And Other Revelations"present a show enriched by the presence of a female string quartet, as well as Mark Everett and his two multi-instrumentalists, Big Al and The Chet.
"I wasn't planning to do a tour this year - says Mark Everett - I didn't really have the spirit to go out and play. Until one night I was sitting in the backyard when this idea came to me and I didn't stop to realise it. I thought what was the hardest thing for me to do after making a double album. This thing was a seven-piece band led by a string quartet instead of drums: a real challenge! At the beginning I was a bit scared and nervous, then the live show came together as best as it could... there's also a guy playing a saw...".
The 'Eels with Strings' project thus began as an ambitious project, although it is Mark himself who lowers the tone: "I am not trying to impress anyone with my inconstancy. I just put into practice what my heart tells me. Freshness is an important concept for me. I always want things to be perceived as vibrant and exciting. I perceive each concert as a greater creative effort of the same, never as the mere reproduction of the record".
Mr. E will be playing three different keyboards and acoustic guitar, Big Al (i.e. Alan Hunter) will be busy on double bass and piano, while The Chet (Chet Lyster) will be trying his hand at pedal steel and electric guitar, mandolin, saw (yes, saw!), and an improvised drum kit consisting of a rubbish can and a toolbox. The string quartet (Palma Udovic and Julie Carpenter's violins, Heather Lockie's viola and Ana Lenchantin's cello) will not only play their own instruments, but will also be used as a rhythm section struggling with maracas, shakers and tambourines.
Tickets will be available from 4 p.m. tomorrow Friday 22 July, on the Ticketone circuit, in all TicketOne Points of Sale (to find the nearest TicketOne Point of Sale, visit www.ticketone.it or call the TicketOne Call Centre 899.500.022 (for information and purchase), by telephone with Pronto Pagine Gialle 89.24.24 (active 24 hours a day).
Prices:
POLTRONISSIMA : 40,00 euro + 6,00 prev
FIRST SITTING : 35,00 euro + 5,25 prev
SECOND ARMCHAIR : 30.00 euro + 4.50 prev.
SECTOR D : 25,00 euro + 3,75 prev
SECTOR E 25.00 euro + 3.75 prev
Official website of the band : www.eelstheband.com
Italian website of the band :www.eelsitalia.com
THE MILAN CONSERVATORY - NOTES
The Milan Conservatory, home to important seasons of chamber and symphonic music, has decided to open its doors to concerts of other musical genres as well, entrusting their programming exclusively to Claudio Trotta's Barley Arts, for the years 2005 to 2007.
The first instalment of the 'Diversi Suoni al Conservatorio' festival concluded with six concerts of great depth, albeit very different in terms of genre and audience. Opening the season was Mary Gauthierfollowed a week later by the female voice of the 99 Posse MEG (sold-out concert). Both concerts were held in the Puccini Hall, which has a smaller capacity than its bigger sister, the Verdi Hall. Van The Man, or the great Van Morrison, had the honour of christening the Sala Verdi with a double concert (13 and 14 April) that thrilled both the public and the artist himself, who is famous for his painstaking pursuit of sonic perfection. A new sold-out concert came at the beginning of June, when the Van Der Graaf Generator by Peter Hammill enchanted the 1,600 people present. Closing the first part of the season, it was the turn of an exceptional duo : Joe Jackson & Todd Rundgren.
UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE CONSERVATORY
GREEN ROOM
FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBER - JON ANDERSON - "Solo - Work in Progress - Tour of the Universe".
SATURDAY 8 OCTOBER - EELS - 'Eels with Strings'
HOW TO GET TO THE CONSERVATORY
Giuseppe Verdi' Conservatory of Music
via Conservatorio, 12 20122
Milan
Underground:
Line 1 (Red) stop S.Babila
head for via Borgogna, after the first traffic light turn right
Bus:
routes 61 - 56 - 84
Official website : www.consmilano.it
