It was then time for a little nostalgia as two selections from Offramp were played. First was the straight ahead-ish "James", followed by an otherworldly Cuong Vu trumpet solo which foreshadowed and eventually became the longtime crowd favorite "Are You Going With Me?" As many times as I hear the latter tune in a live setting, it never fails to get me going. It's inspiring to see a musician nearly come out of his shoes while playing a solo (as Pat does while burning the house down with the guitar synth.)
Going a little further back in time, Metheny then played the trio variation on "Lone Jack", which first appeared on the group's eponymous record.
During nearly every Metheny Group concert I've attended, there comes a time for "The Big Noise". This is the song when dissonance, high volume and disturbing squawks are emitted from the stage. In the past, "Scrap Metal" (an unrecorded leftover from the Offramp sessions) has served this function. This time around it is "The Roots of Coincidence", from Imaginary Day. The best way to describe this tune is, well...it's tough. Mix just a little techno into some blasphemous and dissonant metal and you're almost there.
The big noise is followed up with a trio of softer, more pastoral songs: "Last Train Home" (love that Coral electric sitar), "Always and Forever" (from Secret Story, played as a duet with harmonica ace Gregoire Maret) and "Farmer's Trust", my favorite Metheny composition. Lyle Mays took a piano solo before Pat joined in for the latter tune.
The last song of the regular set was "Minuano (Six Eight)", from Still Life (Talking). This song makes the Metheny Group sound like a gamelan orchestra.
Per usual, the crowd goes wild, the band leaves the stage after sheepishly dealing with the adulation and then then returns for one more 'blast from the past': "Song For Bilbao", an old guitar synth workout that left the crowd humming its twisty melody as we shuffled toward the exits.
What a fine show. It exhausted me.
I'm still trying to recover.
Article comments
1 - JR
They let you take pictures?
2 - Mark Saleski
naw, i swiped the pic fro the Metheny website.
interesting that you should ask though...maybe it's because people have all of these small digital devices now (including phones), but nobody at the venue complained about picture taking.
there were some people a few rows in front of me opening taking pictures with a digital camera.
3 - CeeTee
We got "Antonia" from Secret Story, not "Always & Forever", in NY on 4/1 -- otherwise sounds like the same show - thanks for the review!
4 - Mustapha
Hello,
I've been a long time fan of Pat Metheny, (since the late 1970's) and there's a particular song that is my favorite: "Are You Going With Me."
I'm aware of two versions of this song: "Offramp" album version and "Travels" live album version (which I really like!) Can you please let me know if there're other released versions of this song?
I was under the mistaken assumption that perhaps the group grew tired of this song and had "retired" it. Seems (from your review) they still perform it and this is god news to me.
I am a solo musician and do a fairly passable version of this particular song utilizing a Roland Fantom X7 keyboard and a Roland GR-20 guitar synth (utilizing a Fender Stratocaster guitar.) When I really feel "creative" I also utilize a second Yamaha PSR 740 keyboard and an Ovation Adamas (SMT) guitar.
I would eventually like to turn my rendition into a "surround-like" performance and with a dmx controller operating my current crop of robotic lights.
I would appreciate any information you could provide regarding this song title.
Thank you very much and by the way, a great review!
Mustapha
5 - Mark Saleski
sadly, i don't think there are any other versions of this song. i'm not certain, but there have been very few Metheny shows where they haven't playing "Are You Going With Me"....not including, of course, things like the Secret Story tour, the Trio, etc.
funny, i have a Roland GR-50...which i also play through a Strat (a Strat Plus, to be exact).