First ECCP single in 10 years is called 'Love Lounge', To be released in June Options

[mattyeagles]

Everclear plays the hits for sure, but they rotate the other songs. All Live really needs to play is Lightning Crashes, I Alone, Selling the Drama, All Over You, and Dolphin's Cry. That's five must-plays. Their other songs that the average person MIGHT know are Lakini's Juice, Turn My Head, White Discussion, Heaven, Pain Lies on the Riverside, and Run to The Water. If they're hellbent on pushing Love Lounge, that's only six songs out of the thirteen they don't have leeway on.

Looking at the Boise setlist, they have two deep tracks: The Distance and Pillar of Davidson. They really should switch up those two songs every night. They're already forgoing Operation Spirit and Run to The Water. Every other song is from my might know list.

I strongly believe they're just as well off trying to win over a casual Live fan by throwing out a great song versus one the casual fan might vaguely remember, like Pain Lies on the Riverside.

Point is, yes, they had a lot of hits but I think they have more leeway then you give them credit for. All I ask for is 2 slots where the songs rotate with deeper cuts. If its the same setlist every night, then it'll be disappointing.

Also it's worth mentioning they chose to play 13 song sets supporting Counting Crows at large venues as opposed to playing 18 song sets for their true fans in smaller venues - which is baffling to me considering how they all took 2016 off and barely played in 2017 which leads me to believe they don't need the money.

Great post. Agree with everything said.

[SJN1279]

Also it's worth mentioning they chose to play 13 song sets supporting Counting Crows at large venues as opposed to playing 18 song sets for their true fans in smaller venues - which is baffling to me considering how they all took 2016 off and barely played in 2017 which leads me to believe they don't need the money.

Economics. Most bands team up in the summer. Livenation offered them a good deal to play in front of a wider audience and build their fanbase. They would have been insane not to take it.

[JonSnow]

Heartspeart

Hmm... on second thought, I'm not familiar with this song by Everclear...

This post has been edited by AManHasNoName: Jun 28 2018, 10:12 am

[LiveForNow]

Hmm... on second thought, I'm not familiar with this song by Everclear...

I think s/he means Heartspark Dollarsign, which isn't one of their big hits. It was a single off their first album, but its definitely below Santa Monica, Father of Mine, I Will Buy You a New Life, Wonderful, and Everything to Everyone.

Case in point, a casual fan might not even know the big hits. Live definitely has leeway to play what they want.

This post has been edited by LiveForNow: Jun 28 2018, 12:25 pm

[LiveForNow]

Economics. Most bands team up in the summer. Livenation offered them a good deal to play in front of a wider audience and build their fanbase. They would have been insane not to take it.

Let's say you're right and it was just too much money, too big a bill, and venues too big to pass up. They can still switch up their set lists and experiment show to show. They can also play some standalone shows (that aren't guaranteed paychecks like headliners at regional festivals). They've been to York how many times since the return and they can't do one show at The Chameleon Club while they're all in town? Heck, I'd fly across the country for that show.

[JonSnow]

I think s/he means Heartspark Dollarsign, which isn't one of their big hits. It was a single off their first album, but its definitely below

Yeah, I was poking fun at myself for misspelling the word.

Heartspark wasn't as big of a hit as some of the others, but I remember it being on the radio a lot.

[Bremang]

Obviously they could do a number of things for the real fans, but they decided to make more money for doing less work, and saying it's in the name of "fun" for the band.

[Costakoui]

Are there any reviews of the song?

Any chance the song charted or it was not an official release?

[Wambangalang]

Reviews are interesting for their own sake so its always fun to see what other people think, though I personally don't care what the reviews say or what they do in a live setting for that matter. I always have fun at their live shows no matter what they sing for the sheer fact that I'm seeing them live. What I want is for Ed to get back to exploring the deeper philosophies of krishnamurti...or something!


This band used to sing about PHILOSOPHY. The new song is great and I like a good pop rock song like the next middle aged man, but can anyone here honestly say they would tattoo a lyric from Love Lounge on their body? Full disclosure here...I don't have a single tatt, but I have many times contemplated in my younger years getting 'I've often tried to hold the sea'...or 'this is how I'll go out tonight"...or 'let's get it back together"... or just 'live' (much to the absolute HORROR of my family and friends) but the fact I didn't go through with it is more a personality thing than anything else. Whether you are over that kind of dedication to art due to age or , like me, just not a tatt person, is irrelevant because I think we can all appreciate the power that a song or lyric can have over your attitude/psyche/perspective on life. I'm 34 and I don't reeeealy care but....I still kind of do.

This band used to (and still does when I allow myself to delve into their catalogue) make me think about life in a different way. I was challenged by mental jewelery and throwing copper to question my ideas about faith and religion and, while I've come back to a more *yawn* traditional point of view, the journey to get here was one that Live is responsible for. I want ED, because he IS the pilot of this fucken thing, to get back to being that weird deep thinker that doesn't care about mainstream success and puts out his weird as fuck interpretations on life and being and whatever else other people don't sing about.

There was a post here years ago, couldn't find it, but it was a press release from the band for mental jewelery in the style of a newspaper article, with a mission statement where they were basically saying they are gonna change the world with their album...I mean....THAT is what this band is really about. The Turn brought the rock back for sure, but I want the philosophy and the passion and the meaning and that has to come from the pilot.

[Bremang]

Reviews are interesting for their own sake so its always fun to see what other people think, though I personally don't care what the reviews say or what they do in a live setting for that matter. I always have fun at their live shows no matter what they sing for the sheer fact that I'm seeing them live. What I want is for Ed to get back to exploring the deeper philosophies of krishnamurti...or something!


This band used to sing about PHILOSOPHY. The new song is great and I like a good pop rock song like the next middle aged man, but can anyone here honestly say they would tattoo a lyric from Love Lounge on their body? Full disclosure here...I don't have a single tatt, but I have many times contemplated in my younger years getting 'I've often tried to hold the sea'...or 'this is how I'll go out tonight"...or 'let's get it back together"... or just 'live' (much to the absolute HORROR of my family and friends) but the fact I didn't go through with it is more a personality thing than anything else. Whether you are over that kind of dedication to art due to age or , like me, just not a tatt person, is irrelevant because I think we can all appreciate the power that a song or lyric can have over your attitude/psyche/perspective on life. I'm 34 and I don't reeeealy care but....I still kind of do.

This band used to (and still does when I allow myself to delve into their catalogue) make me think about life in a different way. I was challenged by mental jewelery and throwing copper to question my ideas about faith and religion and, while I've come back to a more *yawn* traditional point of view, the journey to get here was one that Live is responsible for. I want ED, because he IS the pilot of this fucken thing, to get back to being that weird deep thinker that doesn't care about mainstream success and puts out his weird as fuck interpretations on life and being and whatever else other people don't sing about.

There was a post here years ago, couldn't find it, but it was a press release from the band for mental jewelery in the style of a newspaper article, with a mission statement where they were basically saying they are gonna change the world with their album...I mean....THAT is what this band is really about. The Turn brought the rock back for sure, but I want the philosophy and the passion and the meaning and that has to come from the pilot.

One of the best Ed moments was at the end of the Volume Ed Kowalczyk interview in Feb 2017, right as the band had reformed. Listeners would call in to ask Ed questions, and that final question of the interview was whether Ed was still Christian - asking if he was still going to continue with his Christian rock in live, and if he was personally still born again - and Ed was like - "ya know I don't i just don't get into the deep spiritual questions like that." boom. suddenly end interview. Just like that. 7 years of Christian rock wiped away. Maybe Live wanted to change the world, but I think first they just wanted to sing about what the world wanted to hear, like anti-religion in the early 90's. They wanted public affection.

[LiveForNow]

One of the best Ed moments was at the end of the Volume Ed Kowalczyk interview in Feb 2017, right as the band had reformed. Listeners would call in to ask Ed questions, and that final question of the interview was whether Ed was still Christian - asking if he was still going to continue with his Christian rock in live, and if he was personally still born again - and Ed was like - "ya know I don't i just don't get into the deep spiritual questions like that." boom. suddenly end interview. Just like that. 7 years of Christian rock wiped away. Maybe Live wanted to change the world, but I think first they just wanted to sing about what the world wanted to hear, like anti-religion in the early 90's. They wanted public affection.

Do you have a link to that interview?

[Voodoo Lady]

Well, there’s that conspiracy theory that Ed used to sit around with religious philosopher(s) and would write about what they discussed. So now that is no longer the case, he’s unable to be philosophical on his own and so we get the likes of Love Lounge. Personally, I don’t think he went that far to be holy. I think the surface level Love Lounge lyrics are due to two things. One, I think most artists have a creative peak. Ed’s was the late 90’s. This goes hand in hand with growing and changing throughout the years. Maybe Ed found all the answers that he was looking for. Not really sure how deep his solo lyrics were. I have a slight recollection of Grace, and that wasn’t all that deep, so I doubt any were. Second, back in the day, Ed had fire in his belly. Think of AC/DC’s “It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock n’ roll.” The fire in the belly is during the climb to the top. Then, they reach the top/their peak and then they coast on down the other side. Live are coasting. Sure, there are a few who don’t fit that analogy, like David Bowie. -Artists who continue to be profound until their death, but those are few and far between. That’s what makes those few truly special. I’m just thankful that lyrics aside, Love Lounge rocks, Live are back together and I finally get to see them in a few weeks. My major gripes are that it took an ungodly amount of time to do what they are doing now, no US headlining tour yet, and stagnant setlists. Once those three problems are fixed, then I can give more concern to Ed’s writing.

Finally, my tattoo would be, “Relax and let your ears hear the beautiful song hiding underneath the sound.”

[mfitz804]

Wow ok good one. Literally didn’t get the next line about the door was still open but ok. You use the word “still” pretty liberally since I haven’t posted or followed Live in 18 months. Only knew this was a thing as a friend posted about it on Facebook. I always told myself I was cautious but I’d give whatever release they first had a listen. I mean, I could argue what is a real Live fan doing posting here praising this when they should be absolutely disgusted at the levels the band has plummeted to, but eh. You do you.
As for the production - yep, it’s an absolute mess and surely was designed to save money.
I can sort of understand if they wanted it to be truly “in house”, even though Jerry is as much tied to Live as anyone - maybe the timing didn’t work out. That’s cool. Maybe they wanted their comeback to truly be about the original 4 doing everything themselves grass roots style. If so, having Zak write is even more puzzling in that light. As is the disappointment of this being what they served up. But at least it’s given us an insight into what their work will be going forward. The small part of curiosity I had was answered

You’re “still” posting as in you don’t like the band anymore but choose to spend your free time frequenting a message board based around them.

The band sounds different from when they released Throwing Copper. That’s not a new development, it’s been true for like 20 years. Yet people are still whining and they expect that the “next one” will be when they return to TC form.

It ain’t happening. Get over it. I agree 1000%, the older the album, the better they were. But I can still appreciate their new music. If you can’t, that’s fine. But that being the case, there’s probably better ways to spend your time.

[mfitz804]

Well, there’s that conspiracy theory that Ed used to sit around with religious philosopher(s) and would write about what they discussed. So now that is no longer the case, he’s unable to be philosophical on his own and so we get the likes of Love Lounge. Personally, I don’t think he went that far to be holy. I think the surface level Love Lounge lyrics are due to two things. One, I think most artists have a creative peak. Ed’s was the late 90’s. This goes hand in hand with growing and changing throughout the years. Maybe Ed found all the answers that he was looking for. Not really sure how deep his solo lyrics were. I have a slight recollection of Grace, and that wasn’t all that deep, so I doubt any were. Second, back in the day, Ed had fire in his belly. Think of AC/DC’s “It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock n’ roll.” The fire in the belly is during the climb to the top. Then, they reach the top/their peak and then they coast on down the other side. Live are coasting. Sure, there are a few who don’t fit that analogy, like David Bowie. -Artists who continue to be profound until their death, but those are few and far between. That’s what makes those few truly special. I’m just thankful that lyrics aside, Love Lounge rocks, Live are back together and I finally get to see them in a few weeks. My major gripes are that it took an ungodly amount of time to do what they are doing now, no US headlining tour yet, and stagnant setlists. Once those three problems are fixed, then I can give more concern to Ed’s writing.

Finally, my tattoo would be, “Relax and let your ears hear the beautiful song hiding underneath the sound.”

Ed’s writing has been questionable since at least 1997. I love Secret Samadhi, but at least half of the songs on that album have verses that I have no conception of what they mean.

Also, it’s real easy to write with angst when you are young and poor. Once you are older and rich, it’s harder to write angry songs. Not saying it’s impossible, a lot of guys manage to do it. But I understand.

Finally, that would be a long f@&%king tattoo.

[Wambangalang]

It's not about angst at all, I would be suspicious if 50 yr olds were angsty. Its about depth and a focused message and exploration of the big questions. That's what separated Live from the rest.