Three Forks, Montana (Ed K and Candlebox), Friday August 10, 2012 Options

[FishOutaWater]

Here is the biggest problem that I have with Ed's music right now. The literary style has been lowered, and lacks the artistic and creative skill that was once represented in his work. He used to use such rich metaphors to represent complicated and ambiguous concepts. Now he speaks expressly and directly about the "argument" he is trying to make.

And I say "argument" because so many of his songs are written in the first person, arguing against some third party "straw person" whose life he is trying to change or who he is trying to convince that he is right and they are wrong. I this... and you that. You are doing something wrong... I am doing what's right... You should be doing what I am doing and then you'll be happy...

"You were wrong, there was grace, you saw the enemy, I saw your face" "I'm the proof". "I don't need no one to tell me about heaven". "If you could stand tall with me, what are we fighting for? We have to believe." "Bring your burnin' skin to my river once again. I'll give you life."

What the heck happened to the guy who wrote "I am aware that the river's banks they are dry, and to wait for a flood is to wait for life" and "flags and mental jewelry is all I know" and "I have chosen my anthems of these I am proud"?!?!

I am sick of it. I really am. I was a fan of this guy and now I realize that he either lost it or he never had it in the first place - which makes me feel like a fool for holding him in such high regard. His lyrics are now too preachy and egotistical and narcissistic, not to mention too overtly Jesus oriented and over-produced. Come on Ed, show me that you still have some talent and creativity! I dare you! If you can.

This post has been edited by FishOutaWater: Apr 17 2012, 1:51 pm

[Aitkens]

I dare you! If you can.

The horror of it all is that he just can't. He doesn't have it any longer.

[OutToDry]

What about my bank account, and my holy desert shield, that keeps me dry under the arms......
la da da da la da da da la da da da la da da da da.................

[+Ed+]

What the heck happened to the guy who wrote "I am aware that the river's banks they are dry, and to wait for a flood is to wait for life" and "flags and mental jewelry is all I know" and "I have chosen my anthems of these I am proud"?!?!

HE did not grow up. Unfortunately, he immediately grew old.

[SinfulEyes]

The horror of it all is that he just can't. He doesn't have it any longer.

[SinfulEyes]

Deleted

This post has been edited by SinfulEyes: Apr 17 2012, 2:43 pm

[possum]

Who is Ed's target fan base these days? Just a guess and it's directly to what I see and read on this board but he may have 10% support from the longtime Live fans. Some are still holding out that he can deliver a solid album and others (me included) could give two shits because we know what type of person he has become. Ed would have to be crushed to see how far he has fallen. Does he ever read the board?

This post has been edited by possum: Apr 17 2012, 2:52 pm

[IndyYakr]

I really don't have a problem with what Ed is doing now, or the new direction he's taken. It's just not my cup of tea. I do wish him the best, regardless of his methods for ending his relationship with LIVE. I just want CCCP to promptly melt my face with their new music instead of Ed caressing my face with his poppish, American Idol sweet nothingness. I believe I'll get my wish.

[OutToDry]

la da da da la da da da da

[zmanpga]

Chris Shinn played 2 gigs and no one gave a fuck he forgot some lyrics, he's got balls, he's not a douche, he doesnt have a over inflated ego, he's the new singer for LIVE and we all are very happy with that

[Pokey]

Chris Shinn played 2 gigs and no one gave a fuck he forgot some lyrics, he's got balls, he's not a douche, he doesnt have a over inflated ego, he's the new singer for LIVE and we all are very happy with that

You're missing the point Zman!! It's not about how well he performs, its about how financially viable he is, and he's just not going to sell as much music as is required, we should be crunching numbers here people!!

[Good_Pain]

I've stayed away from posting for awhile and all I got to say is screw you Sacco and all the detractors. LIVE and its member are more than just motivated by money. I know for a fact that if you ever got the message of what LIVE's music is/was then you would understand that, but it is painfully obvious you didn't. Yes, I realize that most of us have ignored you and I have for some time and I realize that I am maybe feeding the troll, but I genuinely detest your very being. You are the antithesis of what I try to live my life by and I can obviously see why you hold such allegiance to your demigod EK. Both of you see money and the ability to make money as your primary motivation. Don't tell me that EK is going the pseudo-Christian route because it his beliefs and that he is the proof of change, it was a chance for him to make a buck. If he was true to his "Christian Roots" then he would obviously do all he could do to make amends for the past. Now I know that you will spin all of this however you want, because that is simply what you do, but eventually spinning a story is like telling a lie, once you do it once you'll continue to do so to cover the previous one.
I like so many are happy the Chris Shinn is in the LIVE family and I assure you that his passion and drive will be bringing something to LIVE that has been missing for so long. My love for this band and this music is something that I can't even explain without telling a multitude of stories, as for you I really believe you never had passion or love for the music, just infatuation with the man projecting the lyrics.

This post has been edited by Good_Pain: Apr 18 2012, 3:16 pm

[OutToDry]

[FishOutaWater]

A lot of this is obviously off the topic of this post, but what the heck - this thread about an Ed Kowalczyk show date so there wouldn't be anybody paying any attention to this thread anyway if it weren't for this discussion.

I saw Buddy Guy last night. A 75 year-old blues singer who has seen and done it all. When you see a show like that, you feel the organic, raw energy in your short-hairs. You feel it in your goosebumps and you feel like you are watching a performance that is unique like a snowflake and will only happen one time ever. You know what I mean? There is an authenticity of emotion and passion in the performance. He connects with the song and connects the audience to it. There is such a difference between that and another show I saw a few months ago - The Midtown Men. That is the original cast of the Jersey Boys singing Franky Valley and the Four Seasons songs. They are great singers and performers. But the whole thing is staged like a performance and a production. There is no there there. Lots of people thought the Midtwown Men were great, but I just wasn't feeling it because it lacked the natural organic emotion of a real performance in the moment.

That comparison of a Buddy Guy show and a Midtown Men show is the best I can do to sum up the difference between Ed Kowalczyk with Live or solo compared to CCP with Kevin in TGF or CCP with Chris Shinn in Live. Ed Kowalczyk would rub his belly during All Over You, put a penny in his back pocket during The Distance, put is arms around Chad and Pat at the break in Lightening Crashes, and sing Pain By The Riverside in his acoustic show with a smile on his face.

I would rather see Live with Chris Shinn or Buddy Guy every time over Ed Kowalczyk or the Midtown Men.

This post has been edited by FishOutaWater: Apr 18 2012, 5:35 pm

[zmanpga]

sorry to get off the subject of Ed's show