Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?

Subject: Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?
From: red max
Date: 01 Dec 04 - 05:12 AM

I saw them last night in York, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Only trouble is I missed the first half hour. I mean, the ticket said 7.30, but whoever heard of a band kicking off before 8.00?

So I went in and they were just playing The Cuckoo's Nest. I was wondering what I'd missed. Given the band's woeful web presence I thought I'd check with the folks around here

Also, Rick Kemp made some passing reference to his upcoming retirement. I hope this doesn't signify the band becoming Maddy and a bunch of hired guns

Subject: RE: Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 01 Dec 04 - 06:05 AM

Maddy and a bunch of hired guns

Peter Knight has been in the band longer than Rick Kemp. Gay Woods was a founder member, who knows but she might come back again?

Having said that, I have to admit that I haven't been able to watch a full set since 1981. Please to See The King was the zenith, and there was a brief revival with Storm Force Ten. Does anyone really take anything since seriously?

Subject: RE: Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 01 Dec 04 - 12:14 PM

I do! Saw the show in Blackburn in May and going to see them again in Southport before Christmas.

'They called her Babylon' is as good as anything I have heard. And although Peter may have been in longer he doesn't have Ricks benefit of being Mr Prior...;-) I would have loved to see the London Palladium show with Martin Carthy and Ralph MacTell but it wasn't to be:-(

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 01 Dec 04 - 12:32 PM

I got tickets for my brother in law down in cornwall for a christmas present. Robert has seen them in every manifestation, holds every album in most formats - a sTeeleye completist - I bet he's their best customer and most loyal fan.

Subject: RE: Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?
From: Dave Earl
Date: 02 Dec 04 - 10:24 AM

They are at Burgess Hill in Sussex on Dec 8.

Other half and I have our tickets and are expecting an excellent show.

Are any other Sussex people going?

Dave Earl

Subject: RE: Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 11:34 PM

Yes, saw them in Balmain Town Hall Sydney, NSW recently (2009) - and the sound was awful - apparently that venue is well renowned for its poor accoustics. Paid over the odds for a concert where I and a number of others could not hear the lyrics or the introductions to songs!! They did do a couple of unaccompanied numbers at the very end - they were the best of the whole night!! RM

Subject: RE: Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 03:05 AM

Did they do 700 Elves? I see they're coming a venue near us soon, though the ticket prices are prohibitively expensive. I have a perverse notion that actually seeing them perform it live will finally cure me of a very particular malady (see HERE for details). That said, I still suffer the occasional panic attack after seeing Maddy Prior and The Carnival Band doing their Winterval Cultural Complacency show (or whatever it was called) four or five years ago in Preston. Fortunately we'd just bought the Manband's Greasy Truckers CD that day so we got the antidote to such woeful folksy preening in pretty early in the form of the epic Spunk Rock that would have lasted most of the journey back to Fleetwood had we not taken a wrong turn in the fog. Elves perhaps? At times I might wonder just what dark forces they've unleashed upon the world!

Subject: RE: Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?
From: Smedley
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 03:29 AM

Steeleye seem to be enjoying a minor revival at present, at least in terms of becoming a reference point for younger musicians (notably Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes).

But they still have some 'reputational' catching up to do - they're never as revered as Fairport or Pentangle. I wonder if this is fair.

Subject: RE: Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?
From: Tangledwood
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 03:53 AM

A group of us went to their recent Brisbane performance and thoroughly enjoyed it. I hadn't heard their version of Tam Lin previously - stunning!

Subject: RE: Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?
From: GUEST,Betsy
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 07:19 PM

Long may they continue - Maddy is a fabulous singer and performer ( re hired guns ) - good luck to 'em all.
We'd all love to be in THAT band, at least most of us - wouldn't we ?

Cheers
Betsy

Subject: RE: Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 10:52 AM

Yes! Saw the 40th Anniversary Tour in Chichester 7/12/09.
The magic is still there, but I found Ms. Prior's so-called dancing both unnecessary and distracting.
The musicianship was superb with two grand sets.
Some new material for me. Babylon was particularly anthemic.
Carthy and Kirkpatrick turned up as 'surprise' guests.
Old Folkies never die!

Subject: RE: Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 11:23 AM

Agree with DofE there. 'They called her Babylon' I found to be a genuinely inspiring song, one I have a good mind to learn to sing myself. Otherwise I can't comment too much on any of their albums, though I really liked something I got a copy of called 'Arthur the King' for the atmosphere and evocation of story - but then I do like odd cheesy stuff sometimes (I think War of the Worlds is brilliant too, David Essex and all!)

Subject: RE: Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 11:27 AM

Maddy Prior runs great voice/singing courses from her home oop north.

Subject: RE: Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 02:40 PM

at stonebarns to be precise. part of me would so love to do this

http://www.maddyprior.co.uk/sbcoursedesc.htm

Subject: RE: Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?
From: GUEST,Pete Keen
Date: 21 Oct 11 - 03:03 AM

I saw them last in the 70's - early - but can't remember when or where. I do know that they are appearing at the New Theatre Royal in Portsmouth on December 12th (tickets available) in a retrospective of "And Now We Are Six". I'll let you know.

Subject: RE: Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 21 Oct 11 - 05:15 AM

Saw them earlier this year, I think they lost a lot when Ken Nicol left.

Subject: RE: Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?
From: GUEST,BigDaddy
Date: 22 Oct 11 - 03:58 AM

I had the good fortune to see them here in the U.S.A. (Ann Arbor Michigan) in 1997. It was an amazing performance. They returned in 2009. It was embarrassing. I will always jump at the chance to see them wherever and whenever. Unfortunately I feel I've seen them at their worst and best. And consequently can't have any idea what to expect. I'll always be a fan. I just can't overlook or gloss over lackadaisical performances.

Subject: RE: Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?
From: Allan C.
Date: 22 Oct 11 - 05:53 AM

It is a rare thing indeed for a "comeback" to be as good as or overshadow past incarnations. I raced to see them at Georgetown University in about 1975. I came away with a rekindled appreciation of the group and an everlasting crush on Maddy. I bought their anniversary CD some time ago. It seemed a noble attempt; but nothing was quite up to that of times past.

Subject: RE: Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?
From: GUEST,Claire M
Date: 15 Jun 12 - 03:41 PM

Hiya,

I thought they were amazing on their 40th anniversary tour. I don't think words have been invented to describe how good they were.

Had I seen them in 2009, I might have been let down; and that to me would've been worse than not seeing them – but then I feel like that about most bands I never got to see, and usually say similar positive things about concerts; it just depends on who I wanted to see at the time.

Subject: RE: Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 03:56 AM

Why do people only go to "see" bands? Don't they go to "hear" them as well? If the band performed behind a screen at least you would get to hear the music ... but if the sound was turned off there wouldn't be much point ... unless you're turned on by the sight of a group of people silently miming!

Subject: RE: Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 05:16 AM

I think it was Ewan MacColl who told me that 90% of of communication was non verbal. People go to see that 90% - the performance.

And frankly its why folk radio sort of misses the point - however god the dj is. the thing is, to be in a folk club with the performer telling you why he wants you to sing the song - explaining its importance by his mere presence. He's rarely doing it just for the money.

Subject: RE: Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?
From: Fidjit
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 06:12 AM

Saw them at Salisbury (where I live now).

First half I thought wa sa bit tame as I remember seeing them at Cambridge in the early 70's and really rocking.
However, the second half was a GASS !

I chatted to Maddy as she sold raffle tickets during the break about when she visited our folk club in Oslo, Norway in the late 70's too.

Noticed that there was a lot of gray hair in the audience. And no one got up to dance.

Chas

Subject: RE: Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?
From: Jane of 'ull
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 04:53 PM

Saw them last night at Beverley folk festival, they were amazing!

Subject: RE: Anyone been/going to see Steeleye Span?
From: GUEST,Claire M (Permanant GUEST!)
Date: 22 Jul 12 - 09:40 AM

Hiya,

The thing is with me, if I like someone enough to want to see them, it takes 10x more effort to go for me than it would for you – someone to take me etc. --, so a bad gig is an even worse let-down. I haven't seen Steeleye at their worst, so I've got nothing to compare it to. Unfortunately most of the people who take me out have a knee jerk reaction and go like Andy out of Little Britain; "I don't like it".

Now I know how good Steeleye are I shall make every effort – but now I want them to tour near me they won't.