Gathering Art above by Jeff Townes - Photographs by Bill Forcier
(above) L-R: Diane Timmons, John Rose, Giles Reaves & Tony Gerber
[SPACECRAFT]
Tony Gerber
John Rose
Giles Reaves
Diane Timmons
(above) Deirdre Reaves & Giles Reaves during the wonderful opening set...
Review: The Gathering with Spacecraft and Giles Revaes (the unknowable) More moments to live for... Spacecraft and Giles Reaves Thanks to musicians like you, Giles. And to all the others who
have come. And to those that shall. And to Chuck and Jeff. And
to all those other people who sit on those hard pews (I'm buying
a pillow before next season) and soak it all in. [SPACECRAFT] Review : Re: the unknowable Get a comfortable chair or crash pad and pillow and join the folks
in the front row!
Spacecraft returned to Philadelphia for a second Gathering performance,
which is cause enough for celebration. But this time around, Giles
Reaves would be performing as well, both as a member of Spacecraft
and, during the opening set, with only his lovely wife, Dierdra.
Reaves' 1986 'Wunjo' (sadly out-of-print) [re-issued as "Joy"
-ed.] was the second spacemusic CD I had ever purchased, way back
when. His music, as much as any other, succeeded in drawing me
in. The final piece from 'Wunjo' to this day affects me profoundly.
It's called 'Odin', or 'The Unknowable'.
Tonight's show opened with this piece.
I don't usually walk up to the stage after a Gathering. I'm a
quick exit type of guy. Tonight would prove otherwise. I felt
compelled to shake Giles' hand and to tell him that I had never
heard a Gathering start so beautifully. Giles thanked me, before
saying that until this night he had never performed 'Odin' for
a live audience. One might wonder why he waited so long.
The interplay onstage between Giles and his wife was a revelation.
Oh, the eye contact, soul mates revealed...and a musical connectedness
like I've never heard before. She softly singing, watching him,
magically stroking her wind chimes. He softly creating on his
synthesizer, while watching her, those sublimely shifting chords.
Kaleidescope-like images were projected on a stage screen behind
the pair. Late evening light beamed through St. Mary's stained
glass windows. So dreamlike. I imagine this opening set lasted
only a half hour or so. But that's okay. So vivid are the music
and imagery in my mind...I will hear and see this set forever.
The night was only half over. John Rose, Tony Gerber and Diane
Timmons would join Giles on stage and Spacecraft's return became
official. The group performed one extended set which offered a
wide variety of styles and moods. This set was in a mode of constant
transition and exploration. Fun stuff. Tony shifted numerous times
from guitar to synthesizer. Diane's luscious voice drifted in
and out of the flow. John, at one point, sounded as if he had
wandered over to St. Mary's pipe organ (hey, now there's an idea!).
At this particular point, Spacecraft's set reached a focused climax
and the interplay between the group become most apparent. It should
be mentioned here that Spacecraft does indeed 'perform' live;
a benefit no doubt realized from its strength in numbers... that
being four very talented musicians. Most of what we were experiencing
tonight was quite live. And most wonderfully so.
Walking offstage after thanking Mr. Reaves tonight, he tossed
in some departing words. Words that hit home.
"You people have something so wonderful going on here."
Live at The Gathering
Saturday, May 19th, 2001
St. Mary's Hamilton Village
Philadelphia, PA
See you all next fall.
by soma611
As Posted to The Spacelist: Sun 20 May 2001
I don't know if being physically closer to the musicians has any
bearing on the matter, but emotionally it seems to make a connection
to the musicians that's stronger than sitting in the tenth row
of pews. Of course, being so close to the stage and so far below
the height of the speakers ruins any chance of hearing the stereo
sound stage in proper perspective. But when magic is woven by
the likes of Spacecraft, not much else in the multiverse (this
universe and all others combined) matters! Besides, I get to hear
a little more of the acoustic instruments' direct sound, letting
the processing float around St. Mary's a little bit before washing
over me. A little bit closer to the musicians' perspective.
by Bill Fox As Posted to The Spacelist: Mon 21 May 2001
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