Helmet gig

[higainer]

Just a quick ditty on last nights Helmet gig.

Opening band Mothrah were pretty cool, although I didn't see much of their set.


Helmet came on & got straight into it, no faffing around.
My memory of the exact song list is a bit hazy but they played 1 or 2 tunes from the Seeing Eye Dog album early in the set then pounded out the more familiar ones as the show progressed.

From what I can remember.
Repetition
Iron Head
Just another victim
Wilmas rainbow
I know
Milquetoast
Rollo
Renovation
Like I care
Driving nowhere
Unsung
In the Meantime

Both Page & the other guitarist were using JCM 900 halfstacks
Page used his silver ESP sig & the other guy a Les Paul.
The bassist looked to have a G&L thru an Ampeg.

Fucking tight band but you'd expect nothing less considering Page Hamilton is a rhythm machine.
One thing is he didn't appear to have a vol boost for his solo's because from where i was standing they didn't seem to cut thru, just swallowed up by the rest of the band. Not that I'm complaining as I've never really dug Page's solo's.
I'm sure they probably make sence on a technical level but they usually come across as messy & unmemorable.
Perhaps I'd need to school up on jazz to make a more informed opinion

However the rhyhm sound they had was just huge
Really agressive, clear & growling.
I remember thinking this sounds SO much like his VHT/Fryette Ultralead sound but I'm staring at JCM 900's.
How is this possible...... WTF ?????????????????????
Did he have one of his VHT's stashed off stage or perhaps used the Marshall to power one of those Fryette mini guitar amps?

Pretty sparse padalboard, around 4 stomps in total
Tuner
Noise gate
Tech 21 XXL
And something else i cant remember

They were never a band I got into in the 90's, only in the last few years have I garnered a real appreciation for them & the Helmet sound.
Its so amazing to see Page pounding out these slamming percussive rhythms with all the gusto of a man half his age
Anyone looking to get schooled up on tight rhythm playing need look no further.

Great stage presence & quite a funny guy too.
At the end of the gig he shook our hands & told us how much he appreciated us , real humble & down to earth.

Oh yeah, I scored one of his picks too

Anyone else go to the 04 or 09 shows?

[robnobcorncob]

Wellington gig was intense. Band had technical issues with the rented backline for the first half of the gig and had to leave the stage while things got sorted. Played for about 2 hours or so with a very long encore. That rhythm tone was just mind bogglingly good.... so raw! Page was in fine form and seemed to be enjoying himself despite the technical difficulties they were experiencing. Got a setlist but they didn't stick to it and by the end of it Page was just yelling out which songs to play, that man is an animal on stage. So cool. Hard to believe he is 53! The other guys look much younger.

Page pedalboard:
Boss TU-2
Boss LS-2
Boss PS-5
Tech 21 XXL

Other guitarists board:
MXR/CAE OD/Boost
Boss TU-2
Boss LS-2

[godgrinder]

I remember thinking this sounds SO much like his VHT/Fryette Ultralead sound but I'm staring at JCM 900's.
How is this possible...... WTF ?????????????????????
Did he have one of his VHT's stashed off stage or perhaps used the Marshall to power one of those Fryette mini guitar amps?

As far as I can tell it's his pedalboard straight into the input of the 900. His VHT tone (Aftertaste onwards) was not that drastically different from his old Marshall tone (first 3 records) anyway, but the VHT tone was a little dryer and less fizzy.
I was standing right in front of him and the sound straight from the stack was pretty fizzy, not sure if they did any post EQing for the PA sound. He made some pretty clever use of the noise gate though. He turns it on when he's doing staccato riffs so he get the same type of tight and quick decay as a VHT, and he turns it off during normal riffs and solos.
He used the Tech 21 XXL as a boost when doing solos.

Got a few records signed too

[hamo]

Gutted to miss this, but it wasn't too be. Glad to hear it was good. Just Another Victim is a surprise!

[moliere]

Saw him 2011 in Wellington (fantastic) and he was using a Fryette at that gig. Great sound.

[rickenbackerkid]

not sure if they did any post EQing for the PA sound.

I find I usually have to. Most guitarists set their tone to sound good a meter or so back from the amp and off axis from the speaker. The tone up close and directly in the path of the speaker is often harsh and fizzy, and needs EQ so it doesn’t straight up sound like shit.

[robnobcorncob]

My ears have finally stopped ringing from this gig, spent most of it in front of the rhythm guitarist and he was a lot louder onstage than Hamilton who I couldn't hear much of at all which was a shame. Ended up nabbing a setlist, good memento.

Yes the pedals were all straight in the front, not FX loop usage. His noise suppressor usage is very cool.

[AiRdAd]

I've never really listened to Helmet before, so thought I'd check them out. This was recorded live at a radio station a couple of weeks ago. There is some playing and interviews as well. You Helmet fans might enjoy this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4LxLkDAhUw

[higainer]

Great find, thanks Danny