Live? No thanks......
Who are the acts whose records you listen to on a regular basis, but have no real desire to go and see live? The kind of acts that if the other half got you tickets for your birthday, knowing you liked them, you would have to pretend to be pleased. I don't mean acts you have seen before and didn't like, just acts you have never had any desire to see, however rational the reason. Here's mine:
Van Morrison - I like the records too much to have it ruined by seeing some grumpy old fat bloke sing them
Bob Dylan - Live Aid put me off for good
Lyle Lovett - Somehow I think I would struggle to stay awake
Lambchop - See Lyle Lovett
Kathleen Edwards - I like her records, I just have this real fear that live she succombs to the the urge to raaaawk
Cat Power - I've heard so many variable things about her live, I don't think I'll chance it
The Rolling Stones - Just feel it's a money making machine now and am not too bothered about seeing Mick strut his stuff
- More from Simon Ford.
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I saw Van Morrison once...
...and once was enough. Never again.
Fairport Convention - I love them, and I have seen them, and I was bitterly disappointed. I think I want to do that awful thing and preserve them in aspic, rather than watch a bunch of balding, tubby old men do their recent stuff. So never again for them either.
Other than that, there's no one I'd shy away from seeing. I'm going to OMD in a few weeks time - and to to my delight I see they're supported by China Crisis. Now that's what a call a gig.
I usually have to be dragged
screaming to any gig. Records are better I reckon. You can take them off anytime you like and skip the tunes you're not keen on. ( And, of course, you don't have to queue outside some godawful toilet, pay over-the-odds for drinks and then be subjected to some out-of-tune bozo singing along to every number as he sways drunkenly right next to you ).
Kathleen Edwards
Put aside your fear and go see Kathleen Edwards if you get the chance. Seen her twice and both gigs were great - not too rawk, just really great songs and a really great band. If you've heard the CDs you should know what to expect. Also someone who could probably do with the support from your ticket money, unlike the Stones, Bob or Van.
However go see the Stones, and you are guaranteed to leave with a smile on your face, which pretty much justifies the ticket price.
In fact seeing any band live (no matter how good or bad) usually has something to enjoy, and a night out at a gig is better than a night in front of the telly imho.
Another vote for Kathleen
I've seen her half a dozen times now and she's never succumbed to just rocking it out. She mixes it up nicely and has a nice line in between song patter.
The last time I saw her earlier this year was at Trafalgar Square for the Canada Day celebrations. She was last on, and had to follow The Trews (no I'd never heard of them either, but they are clearly HUGE in Canada) who did rock. Bad organisation, because Kathleen's comparatively low key set suffered in comparison after the high energy performance from The Trews.
Lyle Lovett??
was fantastic live. And that was with a primarily acoustic backing group. How good would he be with his large band, Sweet-Pea Atkinson and Francine Reed helping out? Give his "Live In Texas" album a spin and you'll have a rough idea.
Struggle to stay awake indeed...
Lyle,Cat. Lambchop
Well said Stephen,spot on mate.
I've seen Lambchop 5 Times in all-seater venues,brilliant everytime.
Cat Power i've seen solo and with a band all in the last year,great both times.
Simon, There ain't going to be no moshpit with these groups or artists you've singled out.I agree standing up at a "Traditional Gig" you might struggle but none of these artists i'm defending are exactly producing "Dance" music.
personally I would like hear what people say about RT,John Martyn and other Word sacred Cows and if their gigs are Genuinely exciting or is it the fact that the quality of the music transcends the lack of movement on stage.
Saw Lyle with his big band
as part of a double bill with Mary Chapin Carpenter. I specifically went to see MCC as she is pretty bloody good but I have to see Lyle Lovett blew her off stage.
By the way RT has given me some of the most memorable gig moments and is always consistently of a high standard - have seen him and Elvis Costello about a dozen times each and they always provide great value for money.
Have tickets for John Martyn in November but have to say last time I saw him he was just okay and not of the same high standard as his live at Leeds concert cd. Hoping for better things this time.
Lyle with Big Band??
Where did you see him with the big band? I didn't think he'd toured over here since about 4 years ago when I saw him, so I guess you saw him in the states?
Oh and cheers, Paul!
Not seen many...
...though I will say on the evidence I saw last month, Glasvegas are not very good live- I think they addressed the crowd about once and their songs weaved into one indistinguishable wall of sound. Even my friend commented on their lack of stage presence!
Gonna see John Martyn in November as well, he's doing the 'Grace And Danger' album. I have a DVD and a few live recordings and it's great stuff, particularly the tracks where he gets to stretch out and do long jazzy improvisations.
The Fall
Love them on record, but never got round to seeing them live over the years and now it just feels a bit too late and much more likely to result in a 'car crash' moment than something transcendental.
PORTISHEAD
saw them this Summer,Thought it wouldn't be that great. They were Fantastic. Great Visuals,good stage presence and Beth Gibbons' voice live is wonderful.
Once saw Primal Scream,Kept waiting for stonehenge to appear it was that cliched.
Steely Dan...
I have no wish to see the Dan live, despite the fact that I love their records. This has something to do with the fact that they employed so many different musicians for particular songs... so if I went to see them in concert, I would want Dean Parks to play the solo on 'Haitian Divorce', I'd want Denny Dias and Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter to play on 'Bodhisattva' etc etc. However great the musicians in their live band are (and I'm certain they would be great), I would miss the playing of the original guest musicians, particularly on their albums post-'Katy Lied'.
Look on You Tube
There are 20 videos of The Dan "Live at the Pine Knob Amphitheater, Clarkston, MI" on you tube. Jon Herington plays lead guitar and he seems to have some idea what he's doing! His "Kid Charlemagne" is particulalry fine.
Seems like a silly reason not to see The Dan to me
That's like saying back in 1972 that you wouldn't see The Stones if Nicky Hopkins wasn't playing. Or in fact about any group if the session men that actually played on the album weren't attached.
Pointless.
I disagree...
because the particular sidemen Becker and Fagen employed were viewed as essential to getting the sound they were after. Hence Steely Dan as 'band' only lasted until around 1975. So the Steely Dan live band cannot possibly recreate the studio recordings, and to be fair they probably don't try to. With most groups this wouldn't bother me, but their records are so carefully put together that to hear an 'approximation' onstage, however good, just wouldn't do it for me.
The Stones is a different matter entirely, as the session musicians complimented their core sound rather than creating it.
Oh come on Patrick
Lighten Up. Its a view but not one many one agree with I'd propose.
I've seen them live and they do a mighty good take of their stuff in front of an audience.
Its a bit anal wouldn't you agree to expect the record to be reproduced live.
I mean come on man.
I couldn't care less whether anyone else agrees with it...
it's just my view and I'm stating it. You're probably right, most people wouldn't be that bothered. And with just about any other band I wouldn't be bothered myself, and in fact would prefer it if the live concert didn't sound like the records.
But for the reasons I stated earlier, the Dan is a different case as far as I'm concerned.
It's my ball
And I don't want to play. he he he.
There's a thought
Do you necessarily expect to hear the record reproduced live? I think it's more about the feeling produced at the time. I want the singer to stay in tune; the instrumentalists not to play too many bum notes but it is not essential to hear a bona fide reproduction of the record. But no, I wouldn't want to hear every song reinterpreted from the version I already know.
No I don't normally expect to hear the record reproduced live...
but in Steely Dan's case I would prefer it if it was, or near enough. But as I've been trying to say in this thread, the sheer number of musicians who contributed to making up the Steely Dan 'sound' means a live band is always going to sound very different.
In fairness to Patrick
I know what he means. Probably in my top 5 bands of all time. Perfect in every way. Plus the solo stuff.
But as a live band and I've seen them 5 times I love how they jazz it up.
So I can definitely say you are missing out Patrick. Mind you you may not get another chance to see them live. But if you can get up close and I did once, It's worth it.