Is Live a gimmick band? Options

[Pokey]

I was thinking about this before .. I don't really count pre TDTH Live and post TDTH Live as the same band .. so I'm talking about the year 2000 onwards .. has Live become a bit of a gimmick bands?
"Here comes Lordi, they wear monster suits!" "Here come Live, they sing about Love and Water!"

To me it sort of seems like they've settled into a groove now where they have taken on the role of "well the world isn't a very nice place so lets just sing about happy things and try to inject a little bit of happiness into it!"
Some people would say that is fair enough as well ... but to me it doesn't seem like a group of guys who are singing about their lives and their ups and their downs .. it feels like they're in the groove now that they make music about love because .. it's just what they do.

Just a thought I had today .. maybe I'm way off because it's really hot today

This heat is making me crazy

[ShowalittleLove]

I think pre TDTH displayed a search for something, lyrically and musically for the guys. They had more of an edge towards the negativity of life along with the angst of being younger and it showed in the music. TDTH and after seemed like the search was over, something was found. They focused on the positive aspect of life while they were maturing and it is reflected in the music. I don't think of it as a gimmick, just a progression to more mature, self confident polished group who knows now what they clearly want to provide to the listener.

[livefan1999]

"Here comes Lordi, they wear monster suits!" "Here come Live, they sing about Love and Water!"

I'm inclined to believe it is more that they sing about love and water either because of experiences they have had in life or because they really want that for the world. I have no problem with either. I don't think they're doing it just to have a "gimmick".

[Eickelman0767]

I think pre TDTH displayed a search for something, lyrically and musically for the guys. They had more of an edge towards the negativity of life along with the angst of being younger and it showed in the music. TDTH and after seemed like the search was over, something was found. They focused on the positive aspect of life while they were maturing and it is reflected in the music. I don't think of it as a gimmick, just a progression to more mature, self confident polished group who knows now what they clearly want to provide to the listener.

I agree , it is just the natural progression of life in general. All are now married and 3 of the 4 have children. Having children is a HUGE , life changing experience. It is something that one cannot describe. It is something that has to be experienced to understand. I think that alone has a lot to do with this more mellow Live - just my opinion ! I am not sure what the average age is for this board ?? Maybe it's just that some don't understand because they have not come to that stage in their life yet ?

[LiveOne]

I agree , it is just the natural progression of life in general. All are now married and 3 of the 4 have children. Having children is a HUGE , life changing experience. It is something that one cannot describe. It is something that has to be experienced to understand. I think that alone has a lot to do with this more mellow Live - just my opinion ! I am not sure what the average age is for this board ?? Maybe it's just that some don't understand because they have not come to that stage in their life yet ?

I think you've hit the nail on the head here, Eickelman... I admire the guys for writing music consistent with where they are in their personal lives. A lot of the folks here seem upset with the band for letting their music move beyond that angsty, tortured, what-does-it-all-mean songwriting that was so loved back in the 90s. It’s the same phenomenon that happened after Alanis Morissette released Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie – everyone was angry that she wasn’t angry anymore.

[zmanpga]

WTF is a gimmick band????

like KISS???..are they a gimmick band???

+LIVE+ a gimmick band????

+LIVE+ is +LIVE+..they wil always be "themselves"...any band that stays the same musically..would be

"stagnant"...I think its cool to watch our favorite band..grow and mature...and if you TRULY like +LIVE+...you always will!..thru good and bad...

Bottom line...they KICK ASS in concert and thats enough energy to make my life!!!

[Pokey]

WTF is a gimmick band????

like KISS???..are they a gimmick band???

+LIVE+ a gimmick band????

+LIVE+ is +LIVE+..they wil always be "themselves"...any band that stays the same musically..would be

"stagnant"...I think its cool to watch our favorite band..grow and mature...and if you TRULY like +LIVE+...you always will!..thru good and bad...

Bottom line...they KICK ASS in concert and thats enough energy to make my life!!!

I don't mean they have to wear make up like Kiss, but usually when you think of Live now people don't seem to think of Lightning Crashes, they think of a band that wants to save the world, a lot like U2.
Of course we all know U2 absolutely sucks and have never done anything good, but Live has.

But in interviews now it's all "gotta spread the love" and pretty much every song written since TDTH onwards has been about love
And like I said you can talk about them just being themselves and that is who they are now and maybe it just is .. but it seems as though they've just assumed this role now in the music industry as "the band that sings about love"

[sandkind]

Of course we all know U2 absolutely sucks and have never done anything good, but Live has.

could be a gimmick band. look at the clues. live spelled backwards is ____. they released songs from BLACK mountain on none other than 060606.........AAAAAAGGGGGHHHHH is ed the anti-christ falsely prophesizing about love.

on a serious note, i have 2 children, and yes i agree it is a wonderful life changing experience, BUT i still find life has its' fair amount of pain. 'course if i was loaded w/$$$$$$$$ it might be less painful. anyway, for me the pain would be terrible if i were away from them touring all the time.

conclusion, ed has brainwashed the others and now they are all SHINY, HAPPY PEOPLE.

ps. the thing about water on every album has become a running joke w/me & my buds for the last several years. we always wonder what new songs about water will be on each album.

[beau99]

Of course we all know U2 absolutely sucks and have never done anything good, but Live has.

That is so incorrect that I'm not going to even comment.

[sandkind]

Of course we all know U2 absolutely sucks and have never done anything good, but Live has.

hey pokey, is it true that U2 stands for Suck the Big One in Irish?

[Pokey]

That is so incorrect that I'm not going to even comment.

You did comment.

[edstipe]

Of course we all know U2 absolutely sucks and have never done anything good, but Live has.

Is U2 overrated? Certainly.

But it's a bit ignorant to ignore the beauty and brilliance of "Where the Streets Have No Name," "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," "With or Without You," "Bad," and "Sunday Bloody Sunday," especially in a blanket statement such as "we all know U2...have never done anything good."

Just my 2 cents.

[slainte]

lets not forget their early works, WAR, OCTOBER, BOY, UNFORGETTABLE FIRE....which are their best, imho.

[Pokey]

Is U2 overrated? Certainly.

But it's a bit ignorant to ignore the beauty and brilliance of "Where the Streets Have No Name," "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," "With or Without You," "Bad," and "Sunday Bloody Sunday," especially in a blanket statement such as "we all know U2...have never done anything good."

Just my 2 cents.

But.. they suck.

[grantrobertstoker]

But.. they suck.

Yeah, let's just turn this into a U2 sucks thread please.