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Simon plays good show to tiny audience



Simon Townshend's appearance at the South by Southwest Music + Media
Conference, Austin, TX

Simon's show started at 1:05 a.m. Sunday, March 18, 5 minutes after the
scheduled starting time.  Unfortunately, the audience was very sparse,
numbering 25-30 in a theatre built to hold 300 or so. (FWIW, acts played at
9, 10, 11, and 12 p.m. prior to Simon's set, and Simon had the largest
audience of the night.)  The venue was a mile or so away from the heart of
the downtown SxSW activity, which probably hurt attendance.  At one point
Simon asked how many people were in the audience, since he couldn't see
past the lights, and after the set he invited everyone to come backstage so
he could continue playing (a number of them did go backstage to say hello,
but no more playing occurred).  Furthermore, due to some miscommunication
Simon came out prepared to play a 50-minute set but was given the
"5-minute" sign after 38 minutes, resulting in a setlist that wasn't fully
designed for the time available.

Simon was dissatisfied with the sound, asking for three or four adjustments
through the set, which weren't heard onstage but only in the house after
they were made.  Eventually the adjustments ended and he was playing at top
volume for the last two songs, with the abandon he's known for, but by then
the short set was nearly over.  He played some new songs, as well as
stalwarts from "Among Us".  The songs were all performed well but not
spectacularly until the last 2-3 songs, partially due to the underpowered
PA.

The audience was appreciative at all times and applauded each song
enthusiastically but nothing could overcome the fact that it was just too
small a crowd in that space to allow the magic of a great live performace
-- especially when contrasted with the well-attended benefit Simon played
with Roger in Vail the preceding night.

Setlist:

Come Back
Time the Healer
Experience
The Way It Is
Our Time
Soul Searching
Ages
Shine the Light
Medicine
Save Me From Me

Cheers,


Alan
Dell is the one-eyed man in the kingdom of the blind.  Apple sees in 3-D.