jezzaboy Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Jan Akkerman is a fantastic guitarist and Focus 3 is my all time favourite album. Not so sure about the current version of the band (although Van Der Linden is a top drummer) but best of luck to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Another fan here. Having engineered live shows a couple of times for Jan few years back (it was an absolute honour!) I can honestly say he's a true gent. Moving Waves was the soundtrack to my exam revision studies too. Can't imagine it without his distinctive guitar playing to be honest, what I've seen of the current line up on you tube doesn't seem to quite have 'it' - or maybe the grass was greener in those days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panamonte Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Got into them when a mate played Focus III to me back in 1974. Still think it's a terrific album. Quite tempted to go and see them in London, but I also can't help thinking that I'd be taken aback by the Akkerman lack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oopsdabassist Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Focus III is on permanent rotation on my music player, Love that album, scared to see em live now, for fear of spoiling the memories Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crag42 Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 [quote name='Oopsdabassist' timestamp='1381852347' post='2244568'] Focus III is on permanent rotation on my music player, Love that album, scared to see em live now, for fear of spoiling the memories [/quote] I recommend staying away then tbh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthurhenry Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1381842555' post='2244401'] I watched them on telly a few months ago - it was a recording from a festival down south somewhere (High Voltage?). I couldn't believe the performance of Hocus Pocus. It sounded like the whole band just wanted to be somewhere else, as soon as possible. It was about 3000000mph. [/quote] This is the version of the track which was released in America back in the day. It's a lot faster and not as good as the "proper" version. I've no idea why they choose to play it live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 [quote name='arthurhenry' timestamp='1381855130' post='2244604'] This is the version of the track which was released in America back in the day. It's a lot faster and not as good as the "proper" version. I've no idea why they choose to play it live. [/quote] I did not know that - I'll have to have listen. Ta for the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzaboy Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Here we go...Enjoy http://youtu.be/g4ouPGGLI6Q Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzaboy Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 (edited) Don`t know if I told this story before. About 12 years ago, I was going to see Jan play the Renfrew ferry in Glasgow. On the same day, a couple of guys were fitting a new carpet in my flat. Just shooting the breeze with the guys, I mentioned the gig. One of the guys said that his mate was playing support to Jan that very night and he would get his autograph for me as he helped his mate with the gear. And he did but I don`t know what I did with the autograph Edited October 15, 2013 by jezzaboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyfisher Posted October 15, 2013 Author Share Posted October 15, 2013 [quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1381819113' post='2244041'] What was the sound like in there Flyfisher? Most gigs I've been to at the Corn Exchange, the sound has been dreadful. They have been the events mixed by their own sound man though. He got the severe hump with me and my G&L bass when I last played there. He declared it far too loud and accused me of having a pre amp hidden somewhere Refused to believe it was passive. [/quote] Focus had their own sound guy and he did a pretty good job, for my ears anyway. I know what you mean about HCX but they don't seem to have a single resident sound guy. I've played their 'Sunday Live' sessions and they've used two or three different guys over the years. Other bands I've seen there have also brought their own sound guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 Maybe we will catch up there at some point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeyboro Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 How’s this for a thread resurrection? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diskwave Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 First time I heard Sylvia as a 12 year old I could not beleive it.. its probably one of a handful of tunes that has literally stopped me in my tracks.... still does. So musical, dynamic, so interesting.....They are a very interesting bunch of guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted August 31 Share Posted August 31 10 hours ago, Mickeyboro said: How’s this for a thread resurrection? Wish I'd spotted that. I think Focus III was the first "real" album I bought (as opposed to those Top of the Pops records). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeyboro Posted August 31 Share Posted August 31 Writing the Record Collector feature I bought the book for reminded me what a phenomenon they were. Only got to see them ten years ago - had seen Jan solo but not quite the same. He and Thijs were like the Gallagher’s, always feuding…unlike the tranquility of some of their output. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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