TBN Show Review

[fcollazo]

Well people. It was bitter sweet to say the least. I was glad to see everybody on stage again, but I felt dissapointed by several things:

1. Greg sang a mix of Lip-sinc vs. live vocals throught the evening. It was evident by the many times he missed to match the played audio, then in some few instances, mostly to finish songs concert style with fanfare, he would sing live a couple of lines. Again you guys decide.

2. Bob played live but straight to the PA system through his Boss multi-effects pedal board, nothing else. He had his Egnater amp behind the stage rig for backup, but he told me he did not use it.

3. The only part Bob did not play live was the Solo breaks on Too Big which were pre-recorded, which sucked. He continued to play the chords behind it though.

4. Mark Kelly played his Fender bass apparently straight to the PA too, there were no pedals, no Bass amp on stage.

5. The sound sounded very subdued, like they were only interested in capturing it for the recording. The audience had no feel of the sound like it was a loud Rock concert. We could not hear Louie's drums amplified, you could only hear them by themselves, although they were miked for the recording.

6. Again it sounded like a perfected, planned production, not a loud concert.

7. The background vocals also sounded pre-recorded.

Now to some details:

1. They played the whole new record in the same order as the CD.

2. They had 2 violin players with a conductor, but I think they lip-sinced too.

3. Bob played 4 guitars. The black BHG Les Paul of late, a new BHG Ibanez like model, a new BHG Tele style baritone, and His Black Ibanez Acoustic.

4. Louie brought his Reddish-Pink DW kit with a single bass drum. While Playing Too Big he broke the snare drum head and replaced it with a Natural maple DW snare, and then they re-recorded the last 3 songs again.

5. Greg ran all over the stage, and around the upper parts of the stage, did karate kicks, jumped from Louie's riser and performed some silly dances, like on CITAS.

6. Bob and Mark mostly stayed by their mics. I noticed Bob has a slight limp.

I don't know. I just hope they play everything live on the rest of the shows, or I think this will be Millie Vanillie again.

Next I am uploading pictures in the next 20 minutes.

[onyx]

I figured they would use canned stuff since it's for the recording. They'd have to or the TV show might seem off. I'm just so sad I didn't get to be there. You are so lucky!

[onyx]

Has it been 20 minutes yet?

[BForm]

So glad I DIDN'T make the drive up. And why would anyone ever buy this if you already have the CD? Just to watch the guys pose on stage with the CD playing in the background?

[rossistheboss]

Well, they showed excerpts of the finished product at the meet and greet on these high def TVs and it looks stunning. Top Notch. I was there, i have the CD and I'm still going to buy it.
Also, I wouldn't say it was as simple as the guys posing on stage with the CD from the gift shop playing. 100% of the drums were real... 80% of the guitars were real. The strings that were there with that conductor however... probably 100% canned and just there for a show. Greg's voice: 35-40% real.
Those are guesstimates. I only drove a mile and a half however, and so i would understand if someone from that far away felt robbed at all.
However, it was a great time and it was amazing to see these guys on that stage again regardless!

[pmal]

Well, if it means anything, a friend of mine was there that wouldn't know if they were lip synching or not and she didn't mention it last night when she commented that the show was awesome on facebook, so it must have sounded great at least.

[bakersfieldpethead]

I think it's fitting that the last stage they performed on together and recorded a live video on, is the first stage they play on together again and again record a live video on.

[RockOn]

That conductor was GREG BAILEY!
A friend of mine confirmed it with one of the Petra-guys and the promoter.
I great that he took part in the event and chose not to step into the spotlight himself.
He seems like a great and humble guy!

[executioner]

I know John always felt Greg was an awesome musician and just a really great guy. Bob was also quoted a few times that Greg would always be part of the family.

[p-freak]

Wow, that's great that Greg B. got to be there. Were any other Petra members from the past present?