Reunion is ON Options

[Old Man Withers]

A source of a source has verified that LIVE indeed are reuniting for a series of concerts in the US over the Fall. This is to coincide with a 25th year celebratory album project, which will include brand new recordings and mixes from Mental Jewellery AND Throwing Copper.
The departure of Chris Shinn from the band was an amicable one, and he will still be regarded as a valued member of the LIVE family.

This is my one and only post I will make on this subject. The source is real. You will thank me later!

[Unsheathed]

Consider me a believer, mostly due to wishful thinking.

I actually didn't start listening to Live until I saw their Forever May Not Be Long Enough video following The Mummy Returns in 2001 (terrible sequel). I remember thinking they were just a washed up band from the 90s, but the song was intriguing enough to coax me into buying Mental Jewelry. That album changed my life, and so did the other albums I proceeded to buy.

All I've really known is their precipitous downfall since the release of V. When SFBM was released some 10 years ago, I tried desperately to enjoy it. I went to one of the triple play concerts they did in 2007 with Collective Soul and Counting Crows, and I swear Ed just kept staring at me with this look of contempt as I sang along to every word that spilled out of his mouth. I even knew all the lyrics and "la da da das" of the heinous atrocity that was "The River." The show was actually fantastic, but the band looked tired and frustrated.

Birds of Pray (incredibly pathetic play on words there) was a disappointment, but I considered it to be mildly better than V and hoped it was a step in the right direction. But when Songs From Black Mountain was released, holy crap, I almost felt betrayed by how trite and generic it was. It felt like the band had truly given up, and Ed decided to just keep singing about some more fucking water.

SFBM indelibly tarnished my love for this band, and nothing they do in the future will truly remove that mark. I'm not holding my breath anymore. I won't delude myself into believing they will release any new material rivaling their first 4 albums and all the amazing b-sides that went along with them. But if they prove my doubt wrong, well, that would be pretty badass.