OFF: GONG in LA, 6/2/99

[Chuck Rosenberg]

The line-up was Daevid, Gylli, M. Howlett, Malherbe; the other two (guit and
drums) are new to the band. The guitarist was good, fit in well w/the Gong
thing, and was the most energetic. The drummer was good, but could not do the
things Pierre M. could.
Daevid and Gylli both wore several extravagantly silly costumes and played
the auidence well.

The set-list was something like this:

1.IAO Chant (or Magick Mother Invocation)/Master Builder
2.a song I didn't recognize
3.You Can't Kill Me
4.Flute Salad/Oily Way/Inner and Outer Temple
5.Prostitute Poem
6.Eat that Phonebook
7.Isle of Everywhere/You Never Blow Yr Trip Forever

encore: 8. Tropical Fish: Selene

That's it; they only played and 90 minutes. They _are_ getting up their in
years, though, I'm sure Daevid has broken 60 and he looks 70. Gylli was still
as sexy as she could be at her age. I thought they could have used a
keys/synthesist, but the "gliss" guitar and space-whisper somewhat made up
for that.

The place (House of Blues) was the proper size, a club, but not
claustrophobic; great acoustics. I stood right in the front row and was six
feet away from Allen. It was interesting to see the glissando guitar up
close. I've been listening to Gong for about 4 years and never knew what the
hell a "glissando" guitar was. Also, there was a sound I heard in Gong which
I thought was a synth. Well, now I know it was the gliss; he just rubs this
whammy-bar shaped thing against the strings...

Best part was You Never Blow yr Trip Forever, where, during the "You are I
and I am You", Daevid bent down along the front row, shaking hands, kissing,
hugging fans, singing that line to them--He tussled my hair; not sure why.

After the gig, I picked up the double-CD "You Re-mixed", techno-ized versions
of You songs, same sort of thing as the Future Reconstructions/HW remixes...

Overall, good, but they could have played longer and the band could be a bit
more filled out. And I could have met some Hawkwind fans! :)

Chuck