R.E.M. - 930 Club in DC, 1983
Cramps - 930 Club in DC, 1984
Have I mentioned that the Great Big Drag King show this year (that I'm stage managing) is going to be at the 9:30 Club? That I"m going to get to be on headset there, and go backstage, and so on? I'm SO excited by this....
I'm not generally a big fan of live concerts, just because most artists, I'm not a fan of ALLLLL their work--I like a song here or there, but not a whole evening of them. And especially for big stadium type shows, it seems to not be that different a song/sound from the CD at ALL. A lot of them are so pre-scripted, it bores me. But some bands are fun, and smaller venues. But it's still not something I'm apt to look for and spend my money on, definitely less than a lot of my friends.
I like live shows if they give me something that the CD doesn't. Different variations on songs is my favorite. Covers, I love. Crowd interaction is awesome.
Big shows that have no spontenaity (Madonna, I'm looking at you) leave me really cold.
I have been to two live shows. Shun me at will.
The last one, however, was Richard Thompson, just last year.
The last one, however, was Richard Thompson, just last year.
Now see that's recent enough and cool enough to stop the shunning.
That's what I get for not living there.
Oh, I know. And it's more than I know about SF nightclubs. I was just in a nitpicky mood.
Javacat, Gandalfe: CDs will go in the mail shortly.
I'm weird with live shows: I like to hear stuff I know. Although lately I've been seeing bands I'm unfamiliar with, so I can't expect that. The exception is the bands I love, like U2 and REM, in which I love it all.
This explains my love of going to see cheesy cover bands.
Live music is mother's milk to me. I like small venues because I groove on watching what musicians are doing. And ogling their instruments.
It seems to me the better or more imaginative musicians are, the more difficult it is for a recording to capture their vitality.
It seems to me the better or more imaginative musicians are, the more difficult it is for a recording to capture their vitality.
Agreed. It is also just a great way to find new music to listen to.
Speaking of, katefate - here is a Lawrence cable show you can watch in segments about Drakkar Sauna - they do several songs. I apologize in advance for the obnoxious host of the show. (You'll pry want to skip the first half of the first segment).
[link]
I second Jon on the RFTT Redux album. It's very good.
I don't know if I can write down all my favorite live shows, but I've seen some absolutely stunning live shows: Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders, the Mekons (who never fail to connect with their audience, as Misha pointed out), Richard Thompson (10 or 11 times), Camper Van Beethoven, the Replacements a couple of times, Bad Brains, Southern Culture on the Skids, Whiskeytown (with the original line-up), Spoon, Man or Astro-Man? in their crazy early days, Alex Chilton, Yo La Tengo, Patti Smith, Luna, among many others, including some fantastic (and mostly unsigned) bands that most of you will never have heard, like Sweat Bee, the Tremblers, the Frydaddies, the Smears, the Irascibles, Shark Quest, and a few bands whose names I've forgotten.
Anyway, live music is a crap-shoot, sure. But for me, it's worth it to be part of the experience, even if it means staying up too late and getting a lungful of someone's else's cigarette. When the show really comes across, it's an experience like no other.
I like small venues because I groove on watching what musicians are doing. And ogling their instruments.
Yeah, I'm generally entertained by live music, even if I'd never listen to it at home, because I'm just impressed with people's talent and ability. I mean, they're MAKING MUSIC! Right there in front of me! And I love watching drummers. And bandleaders, regardless of who that is.
