Customer Reviews

At High Voltage 2010

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I guess it was unrealistic to think that ELP would take the stage in mid-season form. There was a lot of rust (missed cues, clunker notes), technical glitches (persistent feedback on Greg's mic), simplified passages (undoubtedly due to Keith's hand problems), and an oddly uninspired set list. This last point surprised me because the interviews I heard leading up to the concert promised more unexpected selections covering a wider swath to ELP's recorded output.

In the end, I'm sure the limited rehearsal time and the nature of this performance both pointed to a greatest hits package, and that's what we got. The only oddball selection was "Farewell To Arms" from Black Moon. Although the performance of this piece probably exceeds the studio recording, I've always found this to be one of Greg's more cringe-worthy songs, dripping with melodrama (when he speaks "farewell to arms" a la Elvis on the studio recording, I look around the room to make sure no one else is listening...), and not nearly the best option from Black Moon.

On the plus side, despite the rust, you can see that there's still lots of life left in the ELP concept. Greg especially, hasn't sounded better since the ELPowell days. Though his range will never be what it was in his prime, the rasp from the Black Moon days is gone. Carl seemed sharp and energetic, understandable given that he's the only one of the three that's in performance-shape (with both his band and Asia). He continues his stripped down simplified Asia-style of playing, which to me is unfortunate. I always preferred his more intricate melodic style of drumming from the ELP days, but he seemed to walk away from that level of complexity the day after he left ELP (starting with PM, he never looked back).

Given the aforementioned issues with Keith's hand, and now knowing what we know about his at-the-time undiagnosed medical issues, it's no surprise that Keith wasn't at his best. Still, he's a gamer and showed flashes of his immense talent.

Some specific highlights/lowlights:

"Pictures at at Exhibition" has held up remarkably well. It's stripped down somewhat, and there's a melancholy air to the whole piece. But the performance is sensitive and surprisingly tight. A cannon blast tops it off (albeit a tad late).

"From The Beginning" benefits from an updated arrangement and Greg's re-vitalized vocals.

"Tarkus" begins in an inspired fashion: as a piano solo. In fact, all of the "Eruption" section is solo'd by Keith, the rest of the band not entering until "Stones of Years". This works extremely well, as it segues from the piano solo of "Take A Pebble" which preceded it. It should also be noted that there's nothing wrong with Keith's left hand!

"Tarkus" overall is solid but is marred by 2 moments. Greg inexplicably misses his vocal cue at the beginning of "Stones of Years" (couldn't really tell if it was the sound guy not turning on his mic or Greg not being ready), and later in the piece Greg gets so fed up with the persistent audio problems that he admonishes the sound mixer with a scolding "FEEDBACK! FEEDBACK! FEEDBACK!" in the middle of the piece. I found the hissy-fit oddly unprofessional for Greg. On the other hand, like record scratches we all remember from the vinyl days, upon repeated listenings, the "Feedback" scolds will become part of the song. But it was quite jarring nonetheless.

Most of the rest was solid, if not memorable. What more can be said about "Lucky Man" at this point, right? Greg probably wracks his brain before every tour thinking of a new way to present it.

I hope this isn't the (rumored) end of the road for ELP. In the case of Keith and Greg, they are worth more (commercially) as ELP than as separate units. Carl seems to blow hot and cold on the subject of any future recording/touring. But given the thaw in the Keith/Greg partnership (they have toured as a 2 piece and have been writing together again), there is always hope. If this is, in fact, the final concert for ELP, it's worth having. It's not "Brain Salad"-era virtuosity, but it's still a very good listen. Apparently a DVD of this performance is also forthcoming.

I absolutely am a huge fan of ELP, ever since I heard KarnEvil9 and Toccatta back in 1976. I was hooked then, and I'm still hooked. Pretty much I agree with Will Robinson. The sound is really nice. But is this ELP at their peak of their creative skills, or the height of their popularity? Of course not. This is a very good show, perhaps their last. Time will tell on that end. So as a fan, I'm really glad I have this.Especially since I have read this is a limited release. However, is it flawless? Not at all. There are several flaws. As Will noted there are problems with the Take A Pebble/Tarkus medley. At 53 sec. into Take A Pebble there is a very loud feedback squeal. Several feedback sounds can be heard during the 6 min "Stones Of Years", which Lake seemed to be unclear when to start singing. Finally at 8:41 Lake shouts "Feedback, feedback, feedback". It does sound rather rough, even unprofessional, but I'm sure Lake was very annoyed with all the feedback screeches. However the feedbacks annoyances stop. To me and my ears the feedback was more bothersome than Lake's shouts. There were other miscues, but over all it was well worth it. On "Bitches Crystal" the three play that song perfectly. Emerson's piano sounds amazing. I also really liked "From The Beginning", "Pictures" as well as the "Fanfare For The Common Man Medley"

Disc 1 - 48:26

Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression-Part 2 5:57

The Barbarian 5:07

Bitches Crystal 4:33

Knife Edge 5:46

From The Beginning 5:10

Touch And Go 3:22

Take A Pebble/Tarkus 18:32

Disc 2 - 41:28

Farewell To Arms 6:03

Lucky Man 6:31

Pictures At An Exhibition 16:23

Fanfare For The Common Man/Drum Solo/ Rondo 12:34

Sometimes, beyond a certain point, you cannot recapture Lightning in a Bottle. This concert was exceedingly painful for me to experience. It's without question the sloppiest performance ELP has ever rendered. Gross mistakes. Missed cues. As if the boys hardly rehearsed at all.

I fully understand Keith Emerson's disabled right hand. I can somewhat forgive his bum notes...but not all of them. They should've rehearsed more. Yes, his better days are behing him, but he gave a near-stellar performance a mere 2.5 years ago with his own band in Moscow ( that DVD, just released, is phenomenally good; ten Amazon reviewers and ten five-star reviews ). How he has fallen from that level of performance to this one-off event is beyond me.

Greg Lake is a gross caricature of his earlier years...obese; undisciplined. Emerson's had to so radically drop the key on a few ELP staples ( due to Lake's deteriorating vocal range ) that they hardly seem to work any more. Add to that, a peevish Lake yelling "Feedback! Feedback!" in the middle of what I'm sure he realized was a live recording in progress, and it just adds to what is already a depressing performance.

Carl seemed to be the most energetic of the three, but he himself missed cues ( especially early on ). How many times have they performed KE9, 1st Imp Pt 2? Just inexcusable mistakes; especially for a drummer who isn't preoccupied with chord progressions! His chops are uninspiring these days. They may work well within the context of Asia, but are disappointing in this band. He did indeed work the hardest, having also performed with Asia at the High Voltage Festival the previous day.

I absolutely hate saying this, but I hope this was the last time these three appear together onstage. A geriatric Emerson, Lake and Palmer...how the Mighty have fallen.

I have loved ELP since I was a kid, and I actually began getting back into their music in the late 2000s with the releases of the remastered albums. It has been great to hear some of their bootlegs and work being released recently. Sadly, this is not one to get if you want to experience ELP for the first time.

Like mentioned in other reviews, there are too many mistakes, missed cues, and technical issues. I had just listened to their other new release "Live at Nassau," and that is a stellar recording. Then, upon listening to this, I got real depressed, as this was nothing like they were in their heyday. Other prog bands like Yes have managed to keep in tip-top shape because of constant touring, and despite numerous personnel changes. These guys have not faced those challenges all that much, and they all know each other well enough. Upon a second listen, I liked it much better, although the arrangements are more simplistic and played slower. However, it just might be because I like ELP as a band and their songs, and not because of the arrangements. Sadly, this CD sounds more like a bad cover band doing ELP than the band itself. It's disappointing.

If you are considering getting an ELP CD, especially a live one, get the Live at Nassau CD from New York, as it has a good collection from their 70s catalogue, and it is played way better. Don't bother with this unless you are an ELP affectionado like myself.

I had very high hopes for this, Emerson had just been touring with Lake and Palmer has been playing and touring for years. But, this sounds like a practice session, I wish I had not listened. The set list is good, but their live work in the 90's was so much better. It is almost like they did not care, This group was my favorite group for decades and I still believe that their work in the 70's and even through the 80's and 90's was fantastic. The one EL Powell CD is near the peak of the material Emerson and Lake wrote much earlier.

But, this CD leaves much to be desired,they were so great and now just shadows,

I've been going to concerts for almost 40 years and I follow the rule of diminished returns, that is, the older an act the less satisfying the performance will be (when compared to that act in it's salad days.) Yes, B.B. King is still excellent in concert but I remember when his shows were packed with energy (and there wasn't a stage chair in sight.) ELP need to hang it up. This concert is a mess, under rehearsed, flabby and uninspired. It gives all the appearance of grabbing the quick buck. Lake's vocal range is almost nonexistant, Palmer is old, slow and a shadow of his former self as a competent drummer and the less said about Emerson the better. Missed notes, simplified passages and the obvious use of triggered/pre-recorded keyboard passages. The audio is better than acceptable but that can be the only positive aspect I can touch on in this review. Grace Slick said it best when she stated, "60 year olds on a rock and roll stage are pathetic." Nuff said.