The Chameleons, 10/27, The Orpheum, Tampa, FL

The Chameleons played the Orpheum last night in Tampa, FL. Technically, the venue is located in Lutz, a suburb about 30 mins north of downtown (where it used to be located once upon a time). Perhaps that contributed to the small crowd, along with it being a Sunday night. The band delivered a great performance that was unfortunately marred by horrible sound problems including Reg's guitar being practically inaudible, a high pitch hum that drowned out everything but the drums and vocals, and eventually overwhelming bass feedback that drowned out everything. I looked around the crowd and could see people cringing. It got so bad Mark stopped a song and said they couldn't play any more until it was fixed. Once they fixed it (which took no time at all--the sound guy yelled "try it now" literally seconds after Mark's comments), the band sounded much better. It was just too bad that most of the first set was plagued by the sound problems. They played Strange Times in it's entirety, and I was really looking forward to the run of songs after "Swamp Thing" since those are some of my favorites. But those songs were most affected by the sound problems. I can't believe they allowed it to persist for so long. Oh well.

The second set consisted of their new song "Where Are You?" followed by old favorites "Monkeyland," "In Shreds," "Second Skin," and "Don't Fall." Mark didn't speak to the crowd a ton, but on multiple occasions he expressed his appreciation for those that continue to support the band. If they ever come to my area again, I will go see them, but I hope so much they play a better venue. The Orpheum, to put it plainly, sucks eggs. It's close to my house, but that's the best I can say about it. The stage is cramped and the sound is pretty bad. A band the caliber of The Chameleons deserves better. I saw them at Crowbar in Tampa about 5 years ago and it was a much better venue. The Orpheum has an outside stage that is much larger and I imagine sounds better, but that is only used for "bigger" shows I guess. I looked to see what bands are playing in the future, and was surprised to see Claudio Simonetti's Goblin on the list. Tempting.

The opening band was The Veldt. I was prepared to hate them based solely on what I witnessed when they took the stage: four guitarists (including the singer) and no drums or bass (which was provided via backing tracks). Well, I didn't hate them, but what a wall of sound. The best I can describe them is shoegaze with Sly Stone on vocals. I enjoyed their set for the most part but was also glad when they finished.

This is a band I never got into, although I know people who adored them. I should give a listen. And it's cool to know the Veldt are still out there doing Afrocentric shoegaze.

Thanks for the review, Zoo. Wow, I can't believe The Veldt has not one but two tour dates coming to Seattle next month, in two different venues.

Reno, I see that the Chameleons are playing StL on 05 November ... some place called the Red Flag. Is it on your agenda?

That completely eluded me. I'll have to see how that fits with my current plan for November 5 - sealing myself off from all news sources, drinking myself to oblivion, and praying that God is finally as sick of the fuckbastards that have been dragging His name through the shit for the past 45 years as sane people are and starts unleashing some lightning bolts.

Hmm. Stormy Daniels is at the Red Flag the next night. And this weekend, someone named Boris will be there. But it's not the Japanese Boris, who were just in town a couple of weekends ago. It's some completely unrelated Boris, who may or may not be a dj of some sort. But it once again prompts my public service announcement OPEN A DAMNED WEB BROWSER BEFORE SETTLING ON YOUR PERFORMING NAME. Goddammit, it ain't a hard process.

And it looks like we ain't getting the Veldt as openers, but local punk band Bastard Squad. I know very little about Bastard Squad, but I worked with the singer's father-in-law and holy shit, do I never want to cross paths with that loon again. "Odd" is underselling that birdbrain. He once called me over to his computer to show me something and when I got there, he just started talking mid-sentence as if I'd been there all along - "...and then we fill in this field and apply that and then..." I stood there for ten minutes and he never once told me what the hell he was doing or why I needed to be there for it, he finally just asked "got it?" and I said sure and went back to my desk, secure in the knowledge that the numbskull would never remember anything about the exchange. And that was one of the more minor existential hells of dealing with him. I strongly doubt he'd turn up for a Chameleons show, but I've given any bill with Bastard Squad on it a wide berth out of fear for my sanity in case froot loops shows up to support his son-in-law.



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 10/28/2024 12:51PM by breno.

The Chameleons.
Where should I start?
At the beginning of course. I was "serving my country" in Yongsan, Korea.
I was walking in-between Quonset huts. Two soldiers were discussing bands they liked. One of them said to the other "yeah the Chameleons are pretty cool" I thought to myself, I should remember over hearing their conversation.
My ETS "expired term of service" for you civilians, 1988.
The music gods found an apartment for me, across the street from a music store in Palm Bch County, Fl
I found a sealed "Strange Times" 2 Lp. I played both records and loved them. I even wrote to the ban d. Mark Burgess even wrote back. LOVE

Fast forward thirty five years to Oct 28, 2024, Respectable Street Cafe. West Palm Beach, Fl. The exact place where I met the reigning Trouser Press fan Club President, Kathleen. LOVE was in the air.
People, not only me, were shouting out their love to Mark Burgess. What does he say about all the love from West Palm Beach, Florida?
He says, "Shut up, you don't even know me" Worse than that, he goes on...points to hisself, and says, "Narcissus"
I'm standing there thinking, look at this sad sack, he can't even take a compliment. I mean, yeah, the show was note for note perfect, just like the record.
But somehow, that night, in a room bursting with love, Mark Burgess not only rejected his fans love, but threw it right back in their faces. That's not punk or even post punk. It's clinical personality disorder.

Thankfully, I remembered that Ira Robbins' warned me, there are many great musicians in and between the pages of Trouser Press that you might love, but "wouldn't want to meet personally"
Another Ira profundity, and there are many.

A real shame then, that Mark Burgess still hasn't got it sorted. There are worse things than being in love, and so, he is already dead. But somehow, that fact, doesn't take anything from Reg, Stephen & Todd. They are all great.



Edited 21 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/2024 11:21PM by STEVE.

When I met Mark Burgess above the Pontiac Grill in Philadelphia, he let me buy him a shot of booze and he was very gracious.

The entire band was very amiable ... even the bongo drummer.

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I've seen the Veldt a few times now, with last year's incredible set at Levitation being the highlight. Great band.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/29/2024 09:11AM by Michael Toland.

see Chameleons West Palm Beach , Florida 10/28/24