ForceInfinity wrote:This wouldn't be the first time I've seen one of the guys gesturing off stage at some unseen person.
Without exaggeration, I can't remember a show where Neal wasn't having an issue with .... something.... whatever it happens to be that day. He starts out sorta subtle with just a couple of up-nods to his tech to which the tech, not having a clue what the up-nods mean that day, starts mouthing random guitar-related words, begging the Gods to let him guess what Neal's unhappy with in the first few seconds because he knows if that doesn't happen, Neal will begin the untranslatable gesture show getting angrier by the second that the guy he pays to be his personal ape isn't receiving the telepathic info Neal, in his mind, is sending as clear as day.
You'd think that with the frequency Neal has an issue with some part of his rig and as many techs as he's had that he would have come up with a clear and concise gesture mini-database that his tech will be able to act immediately and soothe Neal until the next thing happens.
I swear there have been times when the gesture show gets to the point that it reminds me of the classic Lassie episode where Lassie is barking and Timmy's dad is trying to understand Lassie by randomly spouting out phrases like, "What is it girl? Did Timmy fall down the well...??"
None of the frustration Neal has allowed himself to display on stage when he's having an issue even comes close to the Vegas show when they shot the DVD a couple of years back when right at the beginning of SHML Neal's sound ceased to exist. Nothing. Nada. Zip! I'm pretty sure every roadie, tech, engineer, driver and towel boy shit themself just a little at that moment. And although he was visibly LIVID with the situation, he knew that whatever happened wasn't the fault of his tech so he stayed cool in that regard.
A good example of the Neal's gesture show is during Higher Place on the 2001 DVD. Neal is a perfectionist when it comes to his sound and rightly so. So when he's hearing something that shouldn't be there or vice verse, he notifies someone so they can fix it.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing him at all. Just sharing what most of us have witnessed over the years.
Deen probably communicates with his tech the most of everyone but then again he sits right behind Deen and since Deen kicks, hits, beats and all but tries to destroy his instrument, it's easy to understand his need for his tech to be within reach when Deen needs something.
