Well of course im glad you like them they are/were my favorite band ever correct me if im wrong but i heard on your you tube channel that yes is your favorite band ever so the word rule imo doesn't fit well here in this case.
I'd say check them both out lol. Live for some absurd instrument juggling, and in the studio for Gentle Giant's shadow second lead singer. My favorite performance from him is on Aspirations. Chills every time.
I was late to the party, though I was always a prog fan: Zappa, 70's Brit prog. When I discovered these guys a few years back, my mind was blown. I immediately bought most of their CDs. Love them.
Many Gentle Giant fans say that it took them a while to get into them. I'm not one of those. My first album was "Octopus" and was into them immediately. I followed them relentlessly. When the "Freehand" album came out I nearly swooned with pleasure. Then "Interview" came out and IT became my favorite GG album. As for this live performance, I am grateful for your reaction video. I enjoyed watching another GG newbie react. YOU were fun for me, maybe as much as the video. I subscribed. I too enjoy hard rock and metal! I love music that takes me for a ride. Gentle Giant definitely does that. And every one of their albums are different. Try the "Interview" live video, just re-released due to the new remaster by Steve Wilson (5.1 and Stereo). They might be lip-syncing, as it were, in the studio live setting, but you can see that even their playing is as exact as the album. When I first saw it I studied it for flaws. I only saw one spot where the singer seemed too far from the mic when he sang. But then again, maybe their mics are that good. Study their fingerwork and drums. It is absolutely spot on. This is how they perform live. Truly astonishing. I hope you react to "Interview."
😢 Ray Shulman 3/30/23. Your reaction was spot on. Seeing GG live 3 times I left with the same reaction..my mind blown, my cheeks hurting from smiling. This band was a Joy to see and hear. If you only know those 2 songs...you're in for an intense surprise when you see them All switching from instrument to instrument. Violin, cello, trumpet, recorders. Xylophones...ridiculous. they all play multiple instruments! No on Ever like Gentle Giant. Hope you got to watch and listen to their scope. Yeah, my word for GG live-. JOY.
Phil the Crab here, believe it or not, this is kind of straight forward for them. Do the live version of "On Reflection". If you rhink this was fun...Thanks for hitting Gentle Giant again!
Again, re: that song, it's def. best to do the studio take first. Also, if the MJ is reading this - the studio version of Free Hand is pretty different - it doesn't have the guitar solo but instead it has a long written-out instrumental bridge with lots of counterpoint and getting-the-most-out-of-the-shortest-musical-phrase.
Lead singer Derek Shulman (who learned his stage moves from Ian Anderson) went on to be a music biz A&R guy. His claim to fame is discovering and signing Bon Jovi. The prominence of the keyboards is a nearly a defining quality of progressive rock. Not all the classic 70's band featured the keys as much as these guys or ELP, but there were very few groups (Rush, for example) who didn't have a dedicated keyboard player. "This is weird as hell." Yeah, well that's Gentle Giant. I'm glad you're checking them out live, since they're easier to get into on stage. There's an energy and sizzle to the music that's sometimes missing on record.
Please check the concert in Brussels, 74. Impressive how every band member DOMINATED multiple instruments. One of the most talented band of all times. I remember the first time I’ve listened to advent of panurge my thought was just like yours: “this is so weird”. It takes multiple listens to fully appreciate their music. Once you get to know the structure of the songs a little better, it becomes much more enjoyable.
Heard you saying over at the Genesis - Firth of Fifth reaction that it was cool with the flute - being an unusual instrument for rock. Well... these guys are all multi-instrumentalists and you'll discover them using LOADS of "unusual instruments for rock" if you continue listening to them 😊
I have this gig on DVD, and I remember seeing at the time of original broadcast. It was one of a series of live things called Rock Goes to College that the BBC did, filming part of a show each work of different bands, mostly prog, on the UK university circuit. They were usually around an hour, and no ad breaks of course on the BBC. We were blessed in the 70s with music on TV in the UK. There was a an FM version called In Concert that went out early Saturday evening that ran for years. We'd often record them on our cassette decks each week. Still got quite a few in my collection.
Plenty to find in the traditional rabbit hole: Just The Same, Proclamation, Playing The Game, In A Glass House... It's more fun to do the live versions once you're familiar with the original studio versions: it's not true they're identical, they make it work live differently, sometimes it's as good, or like a different version of the same song (On Reflection, So Sincere - or just more funky or rockin'.)
Love these dweebuses. Look up a live video of them playing "So Sincere" or "On Reflection" if you really want to see the full, wacky Gentle Giant live experience! (Or, for a killer studio track, try "In a Glass House" or "Proclamation".)
GENTLE GIANT EXPERIENCE 1974 with KNOTS and OCTOPUS there’s an HD remastered version - 18 minutes of jaw dropping musicianship. Also check out live either EAST COAST RACER or VOYAGER by BIG BIG TRAIN
Best prog band, their live work is like an entity unto itself which compliments the masterful studio work they did. Three Friends or In A Glass House! Also yes sometimes they sound like Mario but really you should think of it as Mario sounding like Gentle Giant (especially cause the original composer(s) for Nintendo games only had prog, pop and fusion to draw on)
Taking a poll. Who out there thinks MJ should check out some Max Webster? Maybe some High Class or In Context of the Moon? If you know, you know. Any Webster fans here?
Well this definitely predates the Les Claypool leg stomp. I have not explored these guys tooo much as its a little too thin for me to grab onto but I love progressive rock, jazz etc. But I do feel I need to take a second look as they are fun to watch!
Fun is seriously important.
Gentle Giant rule!!!
Well of course im glad you like them they are/were my favorite band ever correct me if im wrong but i heard on your you tube channel that yes is your favorite band ever so the word rule imo doesn't fit well here in this case.
Gentle Giant is the best live band I have ever seen/heard. Thank you for reviewing this masterpiece track.
Gentle Giant On Reflection by the same BBC show is also a great one, it's mind blowing what they can do live!
Yes. On Reflection from this same performance.
The studio version is also worth checking out.
I'd say go for the studio version first. Kerry's part makes a difference.
I'd say check them both out lol. Live for some absurd instrument juggling, and in the studio for Gentle Giant's shadow second lead singer. My favorite performance from him is on Aspirations. Chills every time.
RIP Ray Shulman who just passed away last week.
I was late to the party, though I was always a prog fan: Zappa, 70's Brit prog. When I discovered these guys a few years back, my mind was blown. I immediately bought most of their CDs. Love them.
Many Gentle Giant fans say that it took them a while to get into them. I'm not one of those. My first album was "Octopus" and was into them immediately. I followed them relentlessly. When the "Freehand" album came out I nearly swooned with pleasure. Then "Interview" came out and IT became my favorite GG album. As for this live performance, I am grateful for your reaction video. I enjoyed watching another GG newbie react. YOU were fun for me, maybe as much as the video. I subscribed. I too enjoy hard rock and metal! I love music that takes me for a ride. Gentle Giant definitely does that. And every one of their albums are different. Try the "Interview" live video, just re-released due to the new remaster by Steve Wilson (5.1 and Stereo). They might be lip-syncing, as it were, in the studio live setting, but you can see that even their playing is as exact as the album. When I first saw it I studied it for flaws. I only saw one spot where the singer seemed too far from the mic when he sang. But then again, maybe their mics are that good. Study their fingerwork and drums. It is absolutely spot on. This is how they perform live. Truly astonishing. I hope you react to "Interview."
Progressive Jazz? What a group of fine musicians with a funky quirkiness. These dudes could rock. Tight!
Same concert ‘ For Nobody ‘ !
Absolute banger . Irresistible 👏👍
Their live album “Playing the Fool” is a good one. Was my intro to them in the 70s
Serious tune from the Great Gentle Giant thanks for the reaction bro 💫☝️❤️
😢 Ray Shulman 3/30/23. Your reaction was spot on. Seeing GG live 3 times I left with the same reaction..my mind blown, my cheeks hurting from smiling. This band was a Joy to see and hear. If you only know those 2 songs...you're in for an intense surprise when you see them All switching from instrument to instrument. Violin, cello, trumpet, recorders. Xylophones...ridiculous. they all play multiple instruments! No on Ever like Gentle Giant. Hope you got to watch and listen to their scope. Yeah, my word for GG live-. JOY.
Phil the Crab here, believe it or not, this is kind of straight forward for them. Do the live version of "On Reflection". If you rhink this was fun...Thanks for hitting Gentle Giant again!
Will do!
Again, re: that song, it's def. best to do the studio take first. Also, if the MJ is reading this - the studio version of Free Hand is pretty different - it doesn't have the guitar solo but instead it has a long written-out instrumental bridge with lots of counterpoint and getting-the-most-out-of-the-shortest-musical-phrase.
You picked a good one! RIP Ray.....!
Lead singer Derek Shulman (who learned his stage moves from Ian Anderson) went on to be a music biz A&R guy. His claim to fame is discovering and signing Bon Jovi. The prominence of the keyboards is a nearly a defining quality of progressive rock. Not all the classic 70's band featured the keys as much as these guys or ELP, but there were very few groups (Rush, for example) who didn't have a dedicated keyboard player. "This is weird as hell." Yeah, well that's Gentle Giant. I'm glad you're checking them out live, since they're easier to get into on stage. There's an energy and sizzle to the music that's sometimes missing on record.
Also Pantera. Derek loved them immediately and signed them.
Please check the concert in Brussels, 74. Impressive how every band member DOMINATED multiple instruments. One of the most talented band of all times.
I remember the first time I’ve listened to advent of panurge my thought was just like yours: “this is so weird”. It takes multiple listens to fully appreciate their music. Once you get to know the structure of the songs a little better, it becomes much more enjoyable.
Heard you saying over at the Genesis - Firth of Fifth reaction that it was cool with the flute - being an unusual instrument for rock. Well... these guys are all multi-instrumentalists and you'll discover them using LOADS of "unusual instruments for rock" if you continue listening to them 😊
More please. So Sincere
Can you please do "Peel the Paint" from their album Three Friends?
I have this gig on DVD, and I remember seeing at the time of original broadcast. It was one of a series of live things called Rock Goes to College that the BBC did, filming part of a show each work of different bands, mostly prog, on the UK university circuit. They were usually around an hour, and no ad breaks of course on the BBC. We were blessed in the 70s with music on TV in the UK. There was a an FM version called In Concert that went out early Saturday evening that ran for years. We'd often record them on our cassette decks each week. Still got quite a few in my collection.
Plenty to find in the traditional rabbit hole: Just The Same, Proclamation, Playing The Game, In A Glass House... It's more fun to do the live versions once you're familiar with the original studio versions: it's not true they're identical, they make it work live differently, sometimes it's as good, or like a different version of the same song (On Reflection, So Sincere - or just more funky or rockin'.)
Such a great song
Love these dweebuses. Look up a live video of them playing "So Sincere" or "On Reflection" if you really want to see the full, wacky Gentle Giant live experience! (Or, for a killer studio track, try "In a Glass House" or "Proclamation".)
I like your suggestions!
Funny Ways is a great one to watch live, on account of the huge amount of instrument switching from the whole band.
GENTLE GIANT EXPERIENCE 1974 with KNOTS and OCTOPUS there’s an HD remastered version - 18 minutes of jaw dropping musicianship. Also check out live either EAST COAST RACER or VOYAGER by BIG BIG TRAIN
Weird as hell but very enjoyable. That sums up GG!
A guy from Music Millennium, in Portland, OR, wrote in the monthly catalog (back in the day) that anything from Gentle Giant makes him smile.
With Yes, this is my favorite band. Funny you compare it with Mario music. Ray Shulman composed a lot of music for video games in the 80' and 90'.
Best prog band, their live work is like an entity unto itself which compliments the masterful studio work they did. Three Friends or In A Glass House! Also yes sometimes they sound like Mario but really you should think of it as Mario sounding like Gentle Giant (especially cause the original composer(s) for Nintendo games only had prog, pop and fusion to draw on)
Taking a poll. Who out there thinks MJ should check out some Max Webster? Maybe some High Class or In Context of the Moon? If you know, you know. Any Webster fans here?
Insane time changes. (as usual) Insanely complex music. (as usual)
Did Yes inspire them?? Or the other way around?
Since you are on this rabbithole of the ogprog u could react to Caravan in the land of Grey and pink and Lucky seven by Chris squire
"Hold Out Your Hand" is my favorite from that Chris Squire album.
Well this definitely predates the Les Claypool leg stomp. I have not explored these guys tooo much as its a little too thin for me to grab onto but I love progressive rock, jazz etc. But I do feel I need to take a second look as they are fun to watch!
Watch the whole BBC video concert, it's 50 minutes I think and no minute lost.
Try "Interview"
In A Glass House, Interview, Octopus, Three Friends (their best). Dig it