Justin Avery
 

I've just been listening to something I shouldn't :cool: and I think this blokes piano playing is amazing, considering how few shows they've done so far. I always thought Mark Alexander was top notch, but Mr Avery has breathed new life into old songs.

This is totally true.

Once the tour finishes im having a poll in which we will decide who is better.

Justin or Mark.

Then one for Danny and Kasim and Steve Bustlowe

You may have already seen this, but have a look anyways

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH58jJbfDdI

dayyyyyyum

:up:
I mean absolutely no disrespect to either Mark or Kasim, and wish them well in whatever they're doing. But IMO sometimes change is a good thing :wink:
Based on what I've seen so far, Justin and Danny both get my vote :))

Justin is great on Guitar as well, Ive seen a few videos on Uchooobe. His piano playing is outstanding, taking nothing away from Mark, because he is also very good, but I like what Justin has brought to the Table.
Danny is great, he uses his bass as an instrument, like its part of his body, and not just somehting hangng from his neck, or just as a 'bass guitar' (i know thats what it is, but great bass players use the bass as an instrument rather than just to keep the bottom end going in the song) he uses passion, and you can see it in his playing.

Exactly :))

I cant wait to see Justin live and sample his fine piano playing, like a wine taste tastes fine wine, and nothing elce.....LOL

Sorry my mind just went straight to the gutter and skipped the whole wine analogy altogether.

suzieq

:lmao:

Same :bleh:

Oh dear...lol....I just read that back...it is almost 4am here....thats a lame excuse, but I had to edit that lol

Kinda glad you didn't use the word "finger" at all. Just sayin'.

Oh my...my eyes are burning....perhaps im tired lol ;)

:lol:

... OH MY GAWD... i've never been moved to stand and check out any band member as i was Justin ... he is just feckin' inFeckinCredible !! ... he's so into the music... he is as entertaining to watch... as he is to hear... i really like the new guy ... :D ... lol ...

Justin is kinda hot too. just saying.

I feel exactly the same way tink :))
And he's a total sweetheart too ..... when he was coming out of the Mohegan Sun Arena, he took the time to talk to us for a few minutes. He pointed out his family .... who had come to the show ... and I'm sure they were all extremely proud of him that night !

Cont/ --> "One for the girls (and Wario)"

:lol:

It took me until the 3 bats era to truely appreciate Alexander. Because up until than all I knew was from 2003 onward. Never heard anything previous but studio albums. I always thought Tommy Brislin was fantastic. Anybody else think so too, or not?

Tom Brislin was great, but he didn't stick around long enough to make enough of an impact.

From what I've heard I definitely think Justin is THE MAN for Meat. No offence to the other pianists but I appreciate his style much more. It's much more Roy Bittan-ish in my opinion and perhaps an element that was almost lacking on HCTB. Certainly on Bat 3 where you can hardly hear the fricking pianos in the first place.

Piano + Meat = success. Always has, always will. And its great Meat has found a good replacement in the NLE. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing it for myself when Meat lands in the UK!

how long was he around for?

1998 to 2000. Mark came back for Night of the proms and sticked till 2010.

When did Mark play with Meat in 2010? ;-)

smartass. Imma light you on fire.

Who's Imma? Is she nice?

From what I've heard of Justin so far he brings a very organic percussive style of keyboard to the bands sound, Mark's playing was incredibly fluid. To me they're ocmpletely different styles which don't compare too well (other than the fact they both generate that plincky plonky piano sound). IMO both are worlds away from Tom who I always thought was too literal with his playing.

I'm looking forward to seeing how Justin develops in the role as the show develops. One of Mark's many positives was his ability to follow Meat as he started to evolve songs and ad lib parts as tours progressed.

They do have different styles of playing. There's something about Justin that reminds me of a young Steinman- he has that look. It was truly awesome to watch him play the piano because he uses his whole body and seems really comfortable.

Avery is a great piano player and I thought he has added overall to the imagery of the show...

I second that :-)

imagery....that's a good adjective. That's what I thought too.

that IS a good adjective for him ... lol ... I WISH I'D THOUGHT OF IT... rather than just saying along lines of i found him fun to watch... lol ...

I agree that Justin and Mark can't really be compared. Mark never got to play solos in the middle of 2 Out of 3 or RNR Dreams, but he did have some great solos like Heaven Can Wait. They just have different styles. Justin isn't quite as good at following Meat sometimes like the slow lines at the beginning of AFL, but that will probably improve throughout the tour.