The moment I realized LIVE was no longer my favorite band..., I guess it had to happen sometime Options

[edstipe]

I'm going to preface this by saying that I have been a LIVE fan since the mid-1990's; in fact, they had been my hands-down #1 FAVORITE band since the first time I heard "Throwing Copper" in 1995 until just a few months ago. That doesn't mean that I'm no longer a LIVE fan (because I am), but they recently, finally, lost their perch at the top of my favorite bands list.

Actually, I suppose this had been gradually happening for a while, ever since SFBM wore off on me. I was one of the most vocal supporters of the album when it first came out, because I enjoyed its catchiness and found it to be a record that genuinely stuck in my head. However, after a month or two, I completely lost interest. Why? Because lyrically and musically, there was nothing new to discover below the surface. I was used to having songs grow on me, or having songs present something new to me, after multiple listens, but it turned out SFBM was very shallow. After I got over the catchiness of the songs, there was nothing additional to catchiness that made me want to listen to the record any more. That was part of it.

The BIG turnaround, however, came after the legendary Amsterdam show on June 29th. I remembering looking at the setlist and reading comments made by the fans, about how the 30 song, 2.5+ hour set was the greatest thing LIVE had ever done, that it was the absolute, unbelievable peak of the band's performing career, with people drooling at amazement over what the band had just accomplished.

Then I went to three Pearl Jam shows in July. First show: 30 songs (including a solo preset by Eddie Vedder), over 2.5 hours; second show: 29 songs (including the solo preset), over 2.5 hours; Third show: 30 songs (including the solo preset), over 2.5 hours.

Now LIVE, including their Amsterdam show, played a total of 31 unique songs at their shows throughout their entire summer tour. Throughout the summer, a total of 31 unique songs means that the setlist changed very little, and one could expect to see virtually the same set list if he/she went to multiple shows. By contrast, I wouldn't even attempt to add up the total unique songs played by Pearl Jam on their summer tour, but JUST IN THE THREE SHOWS I attended, they played a total of 56 unique songs.

Let me emphasize that:

LIVE, in over 50 different shows, play a total of 31 different songs.

Pearl Jam in only the 3 shows I attended, play a total of 56 different songs.

However, while people were pissing their pants over here about the Amsterdam show, there was nothing of the sort over at the Pearl Jam board regarding the three shows I went to. This is not because the shows weren't great, but because 30 songs, 2.5+ hours, and a constantly unique setlist is the absolute norm for Pearl Jam. It's what they do on a night-in, night-out basis.

Of course, it has nothing to do with them having a bigger catalog than LIVE, because the two bands have been around for almost exactly the same amount of time, and have released almost exactly the same amount of albums. Simply put, I realized the key difference between the two bands is this: one (Live) is a very good live band that puts together a generic show that it knows its audience will enjoy once, but doesn't take many chances and doesn't strive to greatness; while the other (Pearl Jam) is a great live band that treats each and every one of its audiences as a separate, special entity, that truly loves playing music, and that focuses on taking chances, on striving for all-time greatness, and on making each and every fan at each and every show feel like he/she is part of something special.

That being said, my realization became clear that I simply couldn't enjoy LIVE the same way knowing that there was another band out there who put so much more passion, feeling, and effort into their music and their connection with their fans, not just on a once-in-a-lifetime evening, but on a nightly basis. While it's sort of sad to have lost so much faith in my formerly-favorite band, I'm glad I came to the realization that I did, because it showed me that I shouldn't just be satisfied with going to a show and hearing the exact same setlist everyone before me had, or connecting with the show/band in a purely generic way. I just hope that LIVE someday realizes that it takes effort and originality to be GREAT -- and I hope that greatness is something they actually want. At the moment, I'm not sure that it is.

This post has been edited by edstipe: Sep 10 2006, 7:48 pm

[sherocker]

well, i must admit, they aren't what they used to be...but their still my no.1 band!! there's just noone quite like Ed, his voice, charisma..it just keeps on moving me. I'm just hoping they'll get back to their roots a bit, i hope Ed gets that 'anger' back..

[Live inside]

well, i must admit, they aren't what they used to be...but their still my no.1 band!! there's just noone quite like Ed, his voice, charisma..it just keeps on moving me. I'm just hoping they'll get back to their roots a bit, i hope Ed gets that 'anger' back..

i totally agree with you . But then again i would love them even if they play "poesje mauw"(a Nursery song here in holland) But i`m kinda nuts i guess

[sherocker]

i totally agree with you . But then again i would love them even if they play "poesje mauw"(a Nursery song here in holland) But i`m kinda nuts i guess

you've got a point there