Virgil Donati Band @ The Basement (Syndey). Check the pics ya'll!!

[timthedrummer]

Ok so this was the first time i witnessed Virgil in the flesh. Unbelievable im telling you. He didnt even use much double kick until mid set and played a lot of groove orientated stuff (im talking simple solid grooves). Of course there was plenty of virg madness that cant even be explained. So much use of dynamics and then power, and of course those high toms. The best song was one where he played some amazing fast jazz, then snaked in and out of tight grooves and solo's with each bandmember. Most of the set was varied songs from all his instrumental cd's. (Dont know the names sorry kids)
His band smokes, best live show i've seen by far. Over and out.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/thespongealligator/Picture030.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/thespongealligator/Picture028.jpg
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http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/thespongealligator/Picture012.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/thespongealligator/Picture005.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/thespongealligator/ce0318b5.jpg
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[C.J.]

It's a shame those pix are a bit dark, but they still are cool. Thanks for sharing!

[C.J.]

LoL this one is an exellent demonstration of the demon in action:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/thespongealligator/Picture012.jpg

Welcome to hell!

[morgenthaler]

Awesome Tim!
Thanks for sharing!
I bet you wonder what hit you, right?
-Being the first time you witnessed the force (pun intended) live!
Great, just great.

[timthedrummer]

haha yeh im considering going back again tonite...
its $35 which is quite expensive but you dont witness this kind of thing very regularly
its addictive i tells ya!

[chrismcdrums]

Hello all, I have seen Virgil's band 3 times this week once on the Central Coast (which my drum studio hosted) and twice at the basement in Sydney. All I can say is amazing! A highlight of the last few days was having breakfast with the band the day after the Central Coast gig! Just to sit and watch Virgils brilliance night after night is an experience I will never forget. I have heaps of photos from the Central Coast and Basement shows, as well as some behind the scenes shots taken during setup and soundcheck, so I'll share them all with you when I get them off my camera.

[Dillinger]

Thanks for the photos dude! I'll tell you one thing, he loves his Soul Sirkus shirt haha, wore the same one on the 12th (and I'd just like to thank Chris for organising that show, it was amazing). Did you end up go to the second Basement show last night?

[Collin]

Great pics.. I went on Tuesday aswell.. WHAT AN AWESOME SHOW!!!!! Observing from your pics, looks like you sat around the right side, were you at a table or in the standing area?

I was sitting at the left raised platform with the tables.. and infact was quite close to him many times since the people at the table next to us must have been his family or something (so he came, sat down and chat with them before the show, at the interlude etc.) I couldn't believe my eyes, seeing him in real life (and so close to me) bumped up my heart rate for sure.

As for the pics being dark, the place itself was pretty dim lighted the whole night.. all my pics were dark aswell.

I totally agree with 'The best song was one where he played some amazing fast jazz, then snaked in and out of tight grooves and solo's with each bandmember'.. that was amazing.

I really wanted to go to Wednesday (the next night's) show aswell, but I didnt even find out about it till Tues (LOL) and plus I have uni exams.. so in the end I decided against it.

Afterwards I got Virgil to sign my Moonbabies CD and had a chat with him aswell.. what an awesome guy, very nice bloke too. Overall that night was just awesome, <3.

Oh, and LOL @ Virgil's joke about Steve Weingart being Weckl's personal hair stylist. :D

[grantmatheson]

Does anyone have any idea what songs were played that night ie, the setlist. The fast jazz tune played was called 'Nothing personal'. we all know the tunes from Serious Young Insects, but I was particularly interested in the second last tune from the first set. Was it Weingart's 'Asfew'