A few comments about Anaheim 3/9/08 show Options

[edstipe]

Hey everyone, I meant to post a longer review of the show, but I simply don't have the time/motivation to sit down and do all that. So, I thought I'd post a few observations/opinions about the show at The Grove of Anaheim that I attended on March 9.

I realize that some people are going to disagree with me on these things, and I welcome discussion, but please remember that these are simply my opinions.

a) The opening band -- Carney -- was fucking awesome. Seriously! I know it's kind of blasphemous to say, but the lead singer reminded me quite a bit of Jeff Buckley. Not just in appearance, but also in style and voice. That's a HUGE compliment, and one I don't take lightly, but I couldn't help having that thought when watching his performance. I've actually done some research on the band and especially the lead singer (Reeve Carney) since the show and learned that: 1) the guy is somewhat of a protege, having learned how to play piano before he could walk; 2) he recorded an album with Peter, Paul and Mary when he was 8 years old; 3) Michael Jackson asked him to sing a part in a track on his HIStory album; and 4) he played the part of a young Ethan Hawke in Snow Falling on Cedars. Oh, and they have a live album already out and a studio album coming out in August, I think. Anybody who didn't catch them should definitely check them out!

On to the LIVE show:

b) Chad Taylor is getting fat. I know that's a random observation, but he seriously looked like he is letting himself go. Then again, I hadn't seen the band for a few years, so maybe the suddenness of his weight gain isn't as dramatic as I thought...

c) The band just seems to be going through the motions now. As has been brought up often recently, the setlist was stale and the songs sounded exactly the same as they have the last 5 or 6 times I have seen them. Not getting Operation Spirit, Turn My Head, or ANYTHING that would be a "surprise" addition to the setlist was incredibly disappointing.

d) There were a FEW decent moments in the set. Ed bringing out his daughter(s)? during "Heaven" was cute, and "Waitress" was done pretty well. "Wings" was also a pretty good performance. But that's really it.

e) For the first time ever at a LIVE show, I didn't have the urge to sing along or even rock out. I just kind of stood along the back of the front section dumbfounded at how little emotion I felt during the show. It was a pretty sad experience, actually -- for the first time in my 13 LIVE shows, I thought that it might be my last. I don't know if that's going to be the case or not, but I know for sure that if they played another show next week or next month, I wouldn't be buying a ticket for it.


Anyhow, that's it. Just thought I'd share my experience with the rest of the board. If anyone has any specific questions or comments about the show, feel free to shoot them my way.

[UOPness]

Hey everyone, I meant to post a longer review of the show, but I simply don't have the time/motivation to sit down and do all that. So, I thought I'd post a few observations/opinions about the show at The Grove of Anaheim that I attended on March 9.

I realize that some people are going to disagree with me on these things, and I welcome discussion, but please remember that these are simply my opinions.

a) The opening band -- Carney -- was fucking awesome. Seriously! I know it's kind of blasphemous to say, but the lead singer reminded me quite a bit of Jeff Buckley. Not just in appearance, but also in style and voice. That's a HUGE compliment, and one I don't take lightly, but I couldn't help having that thought when watching his performance. I've actually done some research on the band and especially the lead singer (Reeve Carney) since the show and learned that: 1) the guy is somewhat of a protege, having learned how to play piano before he could walk; 2) he recorded an album with Peter, Paul and Mary when he was 8 years old; 3) Michael Jackson asked him to sing a part in a track on his HIStory album; and 4) he played the part of a young Ethan Hawke in Snow Falling on Cedars. Oh, and they have a live album already out and a studio album coming out in August, I think. Anybody who didn't catch them should definitely check them out!

On to the LIVE show:

b) Chad Taylor is getting fat. I know that's a random observation, but he seriously looked like he is letting himself go. Then again, I hadn't seen the band for a few years, so maybe the suddenness of his weight gain isn't as dramatic as I thought...

c) The band just seems to be going through the motions now. As has been brought up often recently, the setlist was stale and the songs sounded exactly the same as they have the last 5 or 6 times I have seen them. Not getting Operation Spirit, Turn My Head, or ANYTHING that would be a "surprise" addition to the setlist was incredibly disappointing.

d) There were a FEW decent moments in the set. Ed bringing out his daughter(s)? during "Heaven" was cute, and "Waitress" was done pretty well. "Wings" was also a pretty good performance. But that's really it.

e) For the first time ever at a LIVE show, I didn't have the urge to sing along or even rock out. I just kind of stood along the back of the front section dumbfounded at how little emotion I felt during the show. It was a pretty sad experience, actually -- for the first time in my 13 LIVE shows, I thought that it might be my last. I don't know if that's going to be the case or not, but I know for sure that if they played another show next week or next month, I wouldn't be buying a ticket for it.
Anyhow, that's it. Just thought I'd share my experience with the rest of the board. If anyone has any specific questions or comments about the show, feel free to shoot them my way.

Definitely agree about Carney, very good opening act. I wouldn't mind seeing them again. It's funny you mention the likeness to Jeff Buckley. I turned to my mom (also a huge LIVE fan) next to me and said he sounded in style a lot like Jeff. They also had a heavy blues and Beatles influence.

As for Chad T he is slimming down from where he used to be just a few months ago. I remember reading a blog of his saying he went vegetarian for awhile and ate to much pasta which led him to gain a lot of weight. I also remember someone that got to talk to him after the shows said he had been doing some form of boxing (kick or maybe Thai) 4 to 5 days a week to get back into shape.

With seeing the guys in Vegas the night before there were pluses and minus to the Anaheim show. The sound was way better, the band was tighter, and everything sounded better. Also, having missed them on the SFBM tour it was good to hear songs from that album in concert as well as Waitress and Walk the Line. The minus side is having the exact same set list and same song and dance as the night before. There were some variations and some good moments that were different from Vegas like Ed's daughter coming on stage and CT playing Sofia with a giant guitar pick.

The nice thing seeing them once every record tour is that they always play a lot of the new stuff to promote the album so I think it keeps the concerts fresh. For me it was nice since I hadn't seen SFBM songs in concert. On the other hand I don't know if I will go to back to back shows like that again because it's essentially the same show unless I know they are changing it up.

Mica

[LiveRoCkS77]

Definitely agree about Carney, very good opening act. I wouldn't mind seeing them again. It's funny you mention the likeness to Jeff Buckley. I turned to my mom (also a huge LIVE fan) next to me and said he sounded in style a lot like Jeff. They also had a heavy blues and Beatles influence.

As for Chad T he is slimming down from where he used to be just a few months ago. I remember reading a blog of his saying he went vegetarian for awhile and ate to much pasta which led him to gain a lot of weight. I also remember someone that got to talk to him after the shows said he had been doing some form of boxing (kick or maybe Thai) 4 to 5 days a week to get back into shape.

With seeing the guys in Vegas the night before there were pluses and minus to the Anaheim show. The sound was way better, the band was tighter, and everything sounded better. Also, having missed them on the SFBM tour it was good to hear songs from that album in concert as well as Waitress and Walk the Line. The minus side is having the exact same set list and same song and dance as the night before. There were some variations and some good moments that were different from Vegas like Ed's daughter coming on stage and CT playing Sofia with a giant guitar pick.

The nice thing seeing them once every record tour is that they always play a lot of the new stuff to promote the album so I think it keeps the concerts fresh. For me it was nice since I hadn't seen SFBM songs in concert. On the other hand I don't know if I will go to back to back shows like that again because it's essentially the same show unless I know they are changing it up.

Mica

I could do without ever hearing SFBM again, it's embarassing.

The last show I saw, they performed the Dam At Otter Creek and Where Do We Go From Here and the show still sucked. I love seeing the band, but a bad show is a bad show. It's not so much the setlist anymore as it is the band just going through the motions. I see the energy and the passion of old gigs on you tube videos and I'm left wondering where half of that presence is.

Wondering where the creativity they used to put into some of the songs went. If you're not into it and don't have the passion anymore, give it up and get a real job. I seriously doubt I'll see them next time they come here.

[SJN1279]

I could do without ever hearing SFBM again, it's embarassing.

The last show I saw, they performed the Dam At Otter Creek and Where Do We Go From Here and the show still sucked. I love seeing the band, but a bad show is a bad show. It's not so much the setlist anymore as it is the band just going through the motions. I see the energy and the passion of old gigs on you tube videos and I'm left wondering where half of that presence is.

Wondering where the creativity they used to put into some of the songs went. If you're not into it and don't have the passion anymore, give it up and get a real job. I seriously doubt I'll see them next time they come here.

I think they are having more fun on stage now than they did in the 90's. I especially remember cringing when Ed used to try to talk during musical breaks on songs during the Distance to Here tour. The man just seemed very uncomfortable trying to communicate with fans. It was very uncomfortable.

Over the last three years I've seen over 15 Live concerts, and I always enjoy their shows more than any other artist I've seen throughout the years. I don't feel that they've lost passion for what they are doing, and if they have, I don't think it comes across on stage.

[edstipe]

I think they are having more fun on stage now than they did in the 90's. I especially remember cringing when Ed used to try to talk during musical breaks on songs during the Distance to Here tour. The man just seemed very uncomfortable trying to communicate with fans. It was very uncomfortable.

Over the last three years I've seen over 15 Live concerts, and I always enjoy their shows more than any other artist I've seen throughout the years. I don't feel that they've lost passion for what they are doing, and if they have, I don't think it comes across on stage.

I think everyone knows you are the eternal optimist on this board. The band can do no wrong in your eyes. That's actually a good thing...we need fans like you to balance the eternal pessimists out.


I try to toe the line between the two extremes. Every time Live comes out with a new album, I am optimistic about it. I always expect greatness because I know that, once upon a time, Live created greatness. Same with shows -- I always buy tickets when Live comes around my area because I know they have the ability to be a great live band. And, up until the Anaheim show, I always walked away from their performance content and happy.


But I am not going to sugarcoat a stale performance. It just wasn't good. I think a lot of it has to do with effort; I just don't see the band making the effort to impress fans anymore. Sure, they can play the same old songs the same old way and make them sound alright from a technical perspective, but a seasoned fan can tell when they are just going through the motions. I mean, it's not only the setlist that's predictable -- it's also Ed's expressions and comments, Chad T.'s stage movements, the "Lightning Crashes" group hug, etc. Honestly, when the same exact movements/comments/moments are repeated show after show, it doesn't feel genuine. Instead, it feels like a script that's been performed so often that the movements are almost mindless and automatic. And, to me at least, that's not what a show is all about.


I want some spontaneity, some creativity, some breaking out. I'd rather hear a fucked up version of T.B.D. than the same old tight version of Lakini's Juice. It would show some concerted effort by the band to acknowledge the fact that, yes, they do still care about their long-time fans.


Back in the Secret Samadhi/Throwing Copper/Mental Jewelry days, I remember feeling the social/political/spiritual passion in almost everything the band did. I connected with them because a lot of what they were expressing in their music I was feeling in my soul. That's not the case anymore. Back then, Ed removing his shirt during a show felt like it was all about ripping off his shackles in order to free the emotions that were pouring out of him during his performance; now, Ed taking off his shirt during a show feels like it's about showing off his waxed chest and his biceps. It's the same physical movement, but I connected emotionally with the former, and I certainly do not connect with the latter.


I guess a lot of the change in the band does have to do with them aging, making families, etc. That's cool with me. If Ed doesn't feel passionate about political or social issues anymore, I certainly don't want him to pretend like he does. However, when I sense that they have stopped feeling passion for their OWN music and performance -- that's when I start thinking the band is done.

[edstipe]

Second, Live is nowhere near the stage band today that they were 8 to 10 years ago. Their act has gotten so cheesy, you could probably toss some dough on stage and come up with instant pizza. They lost their aura when Ed started writing shitty meaningless music geared at trying to make 13 year olds see his point. I simply cannot comprehend how any sane person can honestly sit there and say "well, now that's a better show than they put on in the TC era!!"

I am in absolute agreement with you. This is along the lines of what I meant in my earlier post when I said:

Sure, they can play the same old songs the same old way and make them sound alright from a technical perspective, but a seasoned fan can tell when they are just going through the motions. I mean, it's not only the setlist that's predictable -- it's also Ed's expressions and comments, Chad T.'s stage movements, the "Lightning Crashes" group hug, etc. Honestly, when the same exact movements/comments/moments are repeated show after show, it doesn't feel genuine. Instead, it feels like a script that's been performed so often that the movements are almost mindless and automatic.

and

Back in the Secret Samadhi/Throwing Copper/Mental Jewelry days, I remember feeling the social/political/spiritual passion in almost everything the band did. I connected with them because a lot of what they were expressing in their music I was feeling in my soul. That's not the case anymore. Back then, Ed removing his shirt during a show felt like it was all about ripping off his shackles in order to free the emotions that were pouring out of him during his performance; now, Ed taking off his shirt during a show feels like it's about showing off his waxed chest and his biceps. It's the same physical movement, but I connected emotionally with the former, and I certainly do not connect with the latter.