Brian Ray Archived
-
I'd love to hear them too! Thats so cool!
-
Brian's new newsletter .......... Monday, July 27, 2009 New Summer Newsletter Dear friends and pen pals, Hey, everybody! I'm hoping you are well, diggin' the heck out of your gorgeous summer. I'm LOVing Santa Monica on this perfect day off. So, here I am writing to you all from home in the middle of our Stadium tour '09 and I couldn't be much happier with the way things are right now in this moment. As a band, we are feeling better than ever.. I have to say that the boss and the guys have never been in better form. Paul is as happy as he can be and singing his heart out, doing 2 hr. 45 min shows and then hanging together, toasting and laughing as if he had merely had a walk in the park. He is the best advert for vegetarianism I can imagine! New songs and old So, Paul added some great new and old songs to the set and it's been a thrill to play these massive, colorful, thrilling shows. First, we rehearsed together in England for a week and then headed to NY, then off to Halifax, Nova Scotia for the first of many shows this summer.. The people there were so friendly and kind to us. What a fantastic venue, too. We played outdoors in an enormous common, a park that seemed to go on forever. We prepared ourselves in rehearsal but you can't imagine how it feels to go from a modest practice space, crowded together, to a venue like that with an ocean of smiles. On TOP of the Ed Sullivan Theater Marquee!! After Halifax it was back to NY where we did the Late Show with David Letterman at the Ed Sullivan Theater. Instead of playing inside, [on the stage where Paul with the Beatles debuted on Feb 9, 1964] we played on TOP of the marquee outside the deco era building, to people working in high rises with signs pressed to the windows and dancing on their desks. What a sight... looking down Broadway to thousands of people in every direction. So funny.. they allowed one lane of traffic to drive by us.. As people saw what and who was going on, the FREAKED in their cars! And each time a city bus drove by, I could see Pablo's [our 'front of house' sound man] head drop because the sound disappeared behind the busses. Hahahahahaa! hilarious!! We started with "Get Back" and finished with "Sing The Changes" from his great new "Electric Arguments" album. Then we did a webcast of 6 or 7 more tunes. I felt as good as you can feel [without getting arrested for it!] On to Shea Stadium On to a few days off, then the new Shea Stadium - Citifield in Queens, NY... Paul was the first to play in the original Shea in '64 and the last to play it, [in a guest spot with Billy Joel several months ago] so it seemed only fitting that we should open the new one, right?? Aw, MAN !!! what a vibe!! 50,000 people per night, for three nights! He sold it out in like, 5 minutes... whaaaaaat??? Ok.. that ROCKed! Thank you to our amazing crew, catering and merchandising group for everything! Mondo Magneto now selling at Paul's merchandising stands BTW, speaking of...Paul has invited me to sell my music in the merchandising stands at each of these shows... That guy.. wow, how cool of him is that? So, while I'm working on my new album -"This Way Up"- I am selling my first CD, "Mondo Magneto" on Paul's tour this summer! AND, I've had some fantastic meetings in NY with regards to my new music, playing some rough mixes for a few labels and wonderful radio people there. It has been very well received and I look forward to having a good result from all of this to tell you about -very soon- along with CD release information. Stay tuned for more news.. Please stay tuned for news of touring with Paul and the guys, recording and a possible single... a debut from "This Way Up' in the very near future.. Rock Onwards, Brian
-
http://www.brianray.com/news/ Some great photos here .. that goes with Brian's newsletter
-
Hope everyone that's going has a great time at the show in DC tomorrow .....
-
Thanks!!! WE Will!!!
-
WixRocks!:
Thanks!!! WE Will!!!
Have a great time WixRocks !!!! Look forward to hearing about it .
-
Thanks! I'll probably post a little review over in the thread for the concert
-
-
harleyblues:
i love those little guys too !! lol Bet you wish you were at saturdays show Harley !! Me too ......... Sounds like it was a great night .... and they added , Michelle for the first lady !! Shame she wasn't there to hear it !!
-
After now seeing Paul twiced I've noticed something about his screens and stuff. Rusty is on them a lot more than Brian. Now, I knnow he usually plays lead so they show himm for that, but it seems like Brian is barely up there! Anyone else notice this before?
-
WixRocks!:
After now seeing Paul twiced I've noticed something about his screens and stuff. Rusty is on them a lot more than Brian. Now, I know he usually plays lead so they show himm for that, but it seems like Brian is barely up there! Anyone else notice this before?
Yes, but it was fortunate for me since I was allllllllllllllll the way over in A5 row 7 and could barely see or photograph that side of the stage. Also, the speakers messed up the audio on my videos, but I uploaded them to YouTube anyway.
-
Wow, that kinda stinks... I was in the first row of 440 in the middle of the row so I had a perfect view of the entire stage, the only kinda bad part was hearing the echo...and since i was back far nobodys words or movementts matched the music
-
WixRocks!:
After now seeing Paul twiced I've noticed something about his screens and stuff. Rusty is on them a lot more than Brian. Now, I knnow he usually plays lead so they show himm for that, but it seems like Brian is barely up there! Anyone else notice this before?
Luckily , when i was at the show in Coachella , there were some great shots of Brian on the giant screens either side I guess it just depends each night on the camera guys ? Lets hope Brian starts getting shown on the screen more during the next few shows then . Poor Wix and Abe hardly ever get shown either !
-
Yeah, I guess it depends on whos working that night? And I agree! Wix and Abe need to be on the screen more! Well, Abe is on the screen enough, but wix is not!!! I had a very hard time getting a picture of him at Citi Field!!! I got a really nice one of him playing accordion at Fedex Field though
-
WixRocks!:
Yeah, I guess it depends on whos working that night? And I agree! Wix and Abe need to be on the screen more! Well, Abe is on the screen enough, but wix is not!!! I had a very hard time getting a picture of him at Citi Field!!! I got a really nice one of him playing accordion at Fedex Field though
Speaking of Wix, what exactly is the thing in his mouth that he uses to play reed instruments? I noticed that he used it on several songs to replicate instruments that were not physically available on stage.
-
I have been wondering the sasme thing! I noticed it in NY and DC on Mrs. Vandebilt for the Sax solo. I got apic of it! I bet Martin knows what it is!
-
LapisLee:
WixRocks!:
Yeah, I guess it depends on whos working that night? And I agree! Wix and Abe need to be on the screen more! Well, Abe is on the screen enough, but wix is not!!! I had a very hard time getting a picture of him at Citi Field!!! I got a really nice one of him playing accordion at Fedex Field though
Speaking of Wix, what exactly is the thing in his mouth that he uses to play reed instruments? I noticed that he used it on several songs to replicate instruments that were not physically available on stage.
Hi LapisLee ....... Sorry .... i have no idea what it is ???? Maybe Brian knows ... lol
-
Have a great time at the show tonight Pattie !!
-
Apparently ... the Boston shows were Amazing !!!
-
I've spent some time and put up six pages of photos from the Fenway August 6 concert on MaccaLand along with the travelogue / concert review. I can arrange to get enlargements made for anyone interested. I've got more, if folks are interested .. There are a few of Brian (I have more.) http://geography.hunter.cuny.edu/~mclarke/MaccaLand.htm I've long wanted to be the modern day Linda McCartney and have honed my craft and art for 15 years, but still looking for access. www.maggieclarke.com