Question about Mick's strange behavior - video

blackroses · #1 02-08-2008, 09:53 PM

This is my all-time favorite Sisters Of The Moon performance....those were the days. I'm sure you've all seen this, so can someone please tell me what Mick is doing at the beginning of this video? Right after he drinks out of the bottle (probably beer), he picks up an object and it looks like he puts it under his nose, then drags it across his beard or something. Then he flicks his wrist and puts it down. Excuse my ignorance, but what the heck is this? It's been driving me crazy for a long time, because I just can't figure out what he's doing.

bucklind17 · #2 02-08-2008, 10:16 PM

Maybe a little bump bump sitting on there?

sywlindseyfan · #3 02-08-2008, 10:48 PM

I actually think it may be a percussion instrument, it kind looks like it is in the shape of a paint brush roller.

David · #4 02-08-2008, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackroses

This is my all-time favorite Sister's Of The Moon performance....those were the days. I'm sure you've all seen this, so can someone please tell me what Mick is doing at the beginning of this video? Right after he drinks out of the bottle (probably beer), he picks up an object and it looks like he puts it under his nose, then drags it across his beard or something. Then he flicks his wrist and puts it down. Excuse my ignorance, but what the heck is this? It's been driving me crazy for a long time, because I just can't figure out what he's doing.

He picks up a pitched percussion instrument used in pop & funk known as a flexatone. His drum sticks are in his left hand, as you can see, so he picks up the flexatone in his right hand but has to position it correctly in his palm, so he pulls it up against his mouth to move his right hand into position. He shakes it a few times (you can hear it faintly for a few seconds at that point) & then puts it down.

You can hear a flexatone sound clip here:
http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdiction...ex-A-Tone.html

Mick's flexatone appears to have a wood or solid handle, whereas the one in the MusicDictionary video doesn't, but it's the same instrument.

You can hear another flexatone here:
http://lpmusic.com/Product_Showcase/...ex_a_tone.html

I think he also sometimes used to play a flexatone briefly back on the Rumours tour on Gold Dust Woman, before he started his kick drum/cowbell pattern.

blackroses · #5 02-09-2008, 12:32 AM

Thanks for the replies. Very interesting. I was thinking it might be some kind of percussion instrument, but I couldn't figure out what he was doing with it against his face. Hmmm...what David says makes sense. I had even thought it might be some kind of "paraphernalia" containing substances for the nose, but couldn't bring myself to accept that.

#6 02-09-2008, 08:39 AM

Thanks David! I couldn't think of the name of that instrument. I'm having fun with that page you linked, although i could do without the narration each time i click on a new instrument....

here's a guiro that stevie played in the Rosebud You Make Loving Fun:
http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdiction...xtg/Guiro.html

i can't find the thing stevie used to play on sisters (later tusk through mirage tour) or on outside the rain (bella donna tour).

wouldn't it be a hoot if stevie hurled this next thing out? "hey lindsey, can you come here a sec? put your head in here, i want to test this thing out."
http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdiction...Slapstick.html

#7 02-09-2008, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe

i can't find the thing stevie used to play on sisters (later tusk through mirage tour) or on outside the rain (bella donna tour).

ok...finally found it....it's a castanet:

petep9000 · #8 02-09-2008, 11:50 AM

Janis used to play a guiro on stage, sometimes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe

Thanks David! I couldn't think of the name of that instrument. I'm having fun with that page you linked, although i could do without the narration each time i click on a new instrument....

here's a guiro that stevie played in the Rosebud You Make Loving Fun:
http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdiction...xtg/Guiro.html

blackroses · #9 02-09-2008, 07:41 PM

I love these exotic hand instruments. I'm glad you guys brought up the guiro. I have always wondered what the instrument was in Long Distance Winner from the Buckingham/Nicks album. It must have been a guiro. Am I right? It always reminded me of the sound of scraping something across the teeth of a comb in a rhythmic manner. It sounds awesome and really adds the right flavor to certain songs.

Does anyone happen to have a good quality audio file for the Sisters Of The Moon live that I posted above? I'm dying to have that on audio, if anyone happens to have it and would be kind enough to share it. It would be much appreciated, although I doubt it even exists.

strandinthewind · #10 02-13-2008, 11:08 PM

Arguably the greatest FM live performance of a song I have ever seen

I also feel compelled to note the panty revealing, drugged out, booz induced listing spin at around 6:40 -- one of my all time fav.'s EVER!

SS on The Dance is a close second - but the rawness of this SOTM performamce takes the take for me - and I say that over ANY 70's Rhiannon performance

IMO, this performance was one of the last times I saw them play as a band as opposed to three stars with a back up bass section.