This Live video completely shook me yesterday... Options

[edstipe]

Yesterday I swung over to bootlegheaven.com and downloaded a video of Live performing "Operation Spirit" on the Dennis Miller Show way back in 1992. As I watched it, a wave of emotion and realization swept over me. I came to realize why certain people on here continue to pine for the days of the old Live, the Live that existed in the early 1990's, a Live that was a totally different band than the Live of today. I have been one to be critical of those who can't let go of the old stuff and accept the fact that the band has grown and matured, but watching this video let me in to WHY it is so hard to let go of what used to be.

If you watch the video, there is an obvious passion and desperation to the band that simply isn't present today. Today, we rejoice over a Live performance if Ed's vocals hit the right pitch and sound pretty. Back then, it was all about the power and emotion of the whole of the music -- the way it hit you in the gut like a bowling bowl and refused to let you breathe. Back then Ed seemed to be concerned about nothing more than baring his mind and soul for his listeners, and strained with all his might to do so; now, he seems to be more of the typical "sexy" rock and roll star who struts on to the stage knowing that simply opening his mouth is adequate.

I'm not saying that I don't like and respect the new Live, because I do. I thoroughly enjoy SFBM and count their live performances as among the top in the entire music business. However, I have to wonder what the band thinks when they see an old performance like this one. Do they think that the old passion was silly? Or do they simply give in to the fact that they can’t summon that level of spirituality these days? Or, perhaps, do they look back fondly and recognize the old style as simply a stepping stone to their current selves?

I suppose that after you’ve sold millions of records, played hundreds of shows in front of hundreds of thousands of people, and made millions of dollars, it is inevitable that a certain amount of any band’s youthful energy and rawness is going to fade. However, I can’t help but wishing sometimes that there was a band still out there who could reach me in the same style as circa 1992 Live. I love the guys and their music now, but there’s something about the shock to the soul that I felt when watching the Dennis Miller video that would do me a world of good in my life right now.

For those of you who have felt what I feel, I invite your thoughts on this. For those who have not, I encourage you to check out the video I am referring to and share what you think. The video can be found on bootleg heaven.com for download, or you can view it on youtube at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj-X6EO3GZk

[livefan1999]

If you watch the video, there is an obvious passion and desperation to the band that simply isn't present today. Today, we rejoice over a Live performance if Ed's vocals hit the right pitch and sound pretty. Back then, it was all about the power and emotion of the whole of the music -- the way it hit you in the gut like a bowling bowl and refused to let you breathe. Back then Ed seemed to be concerned about nothing more than baring his mind and soul for his listeners, and strained with all his might to do so; now, he seems to be more of the typical "sexy" rock and roll star who struts on to the stage knowing that simply opening his mouth is adequate.

I found what you said on Live as they were in the beginning compared to current to be interesting and I respect your viewpoint. I've seen some of those videos of "back when" as I did not see them live at the beginning. My first show was in about 1998/99. It was a good show, for sure, as they are one of the best bands to perform live that I've ever seen. Many are good in studio, but terrible on stage.

I don't totally agree with your quote above, however. I've seen about seven or eight since that first show, and each time I've seen them, I never got that feeling. I always thought they were into the music, not just trying to put on a show. They might have lost some of that initial passion, energy level, but, they are definitely not the youngsters they once were. I know that as I have aged, I approach everything a little more reserved than I did when I was younger. Not just from a physical standpoint, but an emotional one, too. I think we all lose some of that unguarded enthusiasm we had when we were younger as the stresses and strains of adult life take hold.

I would have to say, too, the most recent show I saw of them was at Vic's in Chicago in May, and it honestly was the best show I've seen them do. Ever. They were so into their music, the crowd, the energy from them to the crowd and the crowd back to them. I never felt that Ed was strutting his "rock star" self or the band the same. I really felt like they were loving every second of it and the result was that everyone in the audience felt that enthusiasm from them. Definitely the best I've seen. Maybe their new cd is toned down a bit due to their maturing, etc., but I felt their live show was as exciting as ever.