What's Going On? Is Live Over? Options

[mattyeagles]

Everyone is totally entitled to opinions, but I don't know if it's all just so simple.

There's a lot of plausibility that V was something Ed was tinkering with and it was intended to become a free giveaway to fans. None of truly know what was going on. What is known is that LIVE wrote over 50 songs and stop-started production a couple of times when making TDTH -- which was their deepest period of creative exploration. Perhaps, they were fried and trying to figure things out beyond that.

I can agree V and SFMB are totally my least favorites from their catalogue. Both have a couple of cool tracks, but what is ultimately missing is any feel or footprint of LIVE on them. In fact, these were the first traces of Ed solo and echoed a bunch on his first LP. I will argue, however, that The Flood And The Mercy was a solid release and really felt in moments like a modern TDTH. Peter Buck's inclusion is extraordinary as Ed and the guys really looked up to R.E.M.

Also, yes BOP was a return to form. And, yes, maybe they tried extra hard to get "it" back ... but that doesn't shut it down as a bad effort. Heaven (though a lot of fans here hate it) was a noted song and at least Charted in The States. Like I do, She, and Lighthouse are quick paced and made for excellent concert pieces. Not to mention, there's several of shows from 2003 where the guys brought it and had a total spark. You almost wonder what happened from the middle of 2004-2009?! Weirdly, the 2009 tour saw some of the absolute best setlists including Gas Hed and Hold Me Up.

When LIVE reunited in 2016 on NYE, that didn't feel fake. Ed was sick and still sang with full emotions. The festivals and stops in 2017 was classic LIVE, totally rocking. It was from 2018-the pandemic when they took a weird turn. I think it started with Gracey getting hurt, which called for a back-up drummer and parlayed into two drummers at shows ... no disrespect, but Gracey is good enough on his own!!!!! The sets became solely greatest hits with a couple of covers and The Throwing Copper Anniversary stuff really seemed fumbled (which if this was the heartline of the big problems showing up internally, it's not surprising ... they didn't even plays the most coveted LIVE song in celebration of milestone HOLD ME UP ... wow!!!!). In 2019 we got tired sets and the performances were by the numbers and felt like they were going through the motions. This makes me wonder.

Also, there's has constantly ... from '17 on been mention of the new LP that was to come. It must've been shelved or something. If indeed Chad is a narcissist and Ed clearly shows he can take charge too, maybe it's as simple as they couldn't get fluid together.

The bottom line is we don't know. I'm grateful I got to see them in 2017 at the Park West in Chicago, that show awesome and filled with energy. It was a ROCK show and they were jamming.

With the personal stuff going on, I hope for the best for all involved. I guess, we'll have to all just wait now ...

Great insights! Spot on. You are not blabbering at all

[Bremang]

2017 was not classic Live. It was Loyve. Stale short setlists. Playing the hits.

[SJN1279]

2017 was not classic Live. It was Loyve. Stale short setlists. Playing the hits.

I thought 2017 and 2018, the guys were very into it.

[mattyeagles]

I thought 2017 and 2018, the guys were very into it.

The first show I saw was great. May 2017. The crowd felt like Live was in prime and the show was excellent with a ton of energy. The subsequent shows weren’t as great and the stale set lists started to get old and energy def lower.

[Tips]

Everyone is totally entitled to opinions, but I don't know if it's all just so simple.

There's a lot of plausibility that V was something Ed was tinkering with and it was intended to become a free giveaway to fans. None of truly know what was going on. What is known is that LIVE wrote over 50 songs and stop-started production a couple of times when making TDTH -- which was their deepest period of creative exploration. Perhaps, they were fried and trying to figure things out beyond that.

I can agree V and SFMB are totally my least favorites from their catalogue. Both have a couple of cool tracks, but what is ultimately missing is any feel or footprint of LIVE on them. In fact, these were the first traces of Ed solo and echoed a bunch on his first LP. I will argue, however, that The Flood And The Mercy was a solid release and really felt in moments like a modern TDTH. Peter Buck's inclusion is extraordinary as Ed and the guys really looked up to R.E.M.

Also, yes BOP was a return to form. And, yes, maybe they tried extra hard to get "it" back ... but that doesn't shut it down as a bad effort. Heaven (though a lot of fans here hate it) was a noted song and at least Charted in The States. Like I do, She, and Lighthouse are quick paced and made for excellent concert pieces. Not to mention, there's several of shows from 2003 where the guys brought it and had a total spark. You almost wonder what happened from the middle of 2004-2009?! Weirdly, the 2009 tour saw some of the absolute best setlists including Gas Hed and Hold Me Up.

When LIVE reunited in 2016 on NYE, that didn't feel fake. Ed was sick and still sang with full emotions. The festivals and stops in 2017 was classic LIVE, totally rocking. It was from 2018-the pandemic when they took a weird turn. I think it started with Gracey getting hurt, which called for a back-up drummer and parlayed into two drummers at shows ... no disrespect, but Gracey is good enough on his own!!!!! The sets became solely greatest hits with a couple of covers and The Throwing Copper Anniversary stuff really seemed fumbled (which if this was the heartline of the big problems showing up internally, it's not surprising ... they didn't even plays the most coveted LIVE song in celebration of milestone HOLD ME UP ... wow!!!!). In 2019 we got tired sets and the performances were by the numbers and felt like they were going through the motions. This makes me wonder.

Also, there's has constantly ... from '17 on been mention of the new LP that was to come. It must've been shelved or something. If indeed Chad is a narcissist and Ed clearly shows he can take charge too, maybe it's as simple as they couldn't get fluid together.

The bottom line is we don't know. I'm grateful I got to see them in 2017 at the Park West in Chicago, that show awesome and filled with energy. It was a ROCK show and they were jamming.

With the personal stuff going on, I hope for the best for all involved. I guess, we'll have to all just wait now ...

Yeah your take is also totally valid and I hope the best for everyone involved. A narcissist is really tricky to deal with. That's why I'd rather focus on the music.

To me, BOP was a bad reaction to the way V was received and SFBM was the beginning of Ed's solo career which I'm not a fan of. The "Da da di da" that opened the record irked me instantly and it was all downhill from there. Nothing personal, it's just not my cup of tea.

V might have been a thing Ed worked on to give away for free but, there's a really superficial side to those lyrics that never sat well with me. The whole sex in the club, with Live it's game 7 every single night, where are the boys of Live they're pissing on the mainstream... fucking hell that's bad... the music was interesting though, like I said, I listened to that record a LOT. Screaming People Like You in your car when you're mad at someone is almost a spiritual experience So I actually liked V even if some of the lyrics are awful.

When I think about it, I guess I'm not a fan of Ed's songwriting when he does it alone.

I was excited for The Turn because it sounded like classic Live and didn't feel forced. When it was announced that Ed was coming back, I was excited at first, until they wiped the whole Chris Shinn era from existence. That threw a wrench in the gears for me because it felt like they were bullshitting us fans.

So yeah Live after V, I always felt like Live were dishonnest and vain.

You're not blabbering. Your insights here are cool and valued.

Music is a journey and everyone's interpretation of songs and albums varies. I'm sure a bunch jumped off the boat when SS wasn't the awaited sequel to TC. And I guarantee folks were not all thrilled with the classic rock/Doors' leaning TDTH. Nowadays -- the first four albums are considered cannon and the rest of the catalogue is up for debate ... especially LIVE 2.0 era and the return of Ed.

Here's some intrigue ... what would a sophomore album with Shinn have looked like? Also, what was the sound of the hinted at 6-7 songs that LIVE made for the return album with Ed; what was that effort going to sonically equal?? There's got to be a bunch of tracks just sitting that we're oblivious to. Not to mention, I really hope to get 25th Anniversary efforts to SS and TDTH.

Rock On!!!

I agree, no blabbering! Just fans talking

I would have liked a sophomore album with Shinn or a true Live record with Ed. But I wasn't impressed by Local 717 unfortunately.

[Cardiff_Giant]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKtCdhk8KpQ

At the 4:09 mark...

Question: Most extreme hobby?

CT: My most extreme hobby is sex.

[The Thrill]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKtCdhk8KpQ

At the 4:09 mark...

Question: Most extreme hobby?

CT: My most extreme hobby is sex.

With some of his friends wives and girlfriends.

This post has been edited by The Thrill: Jun 12 2022, 10:38 pm

[WaiterAtCliftons]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKtCdhk8KpQ

At the 4:09 mark...

Question: Most extreme hobby?

CT: My most extreme hobby is sex.

The amount of cringe on Shinn's face is priceless.

This post has been edited by WaiterAtCliftons: Jun 12 2022, 11:48 pm

[Bremang]

in today's news a rock star scandalously bangs chicks and sticks his penis where it doesn't belong

at least he's doing some occasional philandering, so many guys have a terrible sex life at his age.

[Bremang]

For the next hour, I chatted with Taylor about everything I could think of.

Eyeing his wedding ring - and the groupies that had swarmed Kowalczyk - I gingerly asked Taylor about his wife in Pennsylvania.

"She deals with it," he said darkly - clearly hating the topic. "We make it work."

http://www.fansoflive.com/forums/index.php...64&#entry104364

[JonSnow]

in today's news a rock star scandalously bangs chicks and sticks his penis where it doesn't belong

at least he's doing some occasional philandering, so many guys have a terrible sex life at his age.

Just because it's passe or cliche doesn't make it any less gross, especially if it was with a band member's wife. That's just a rung above incest. And with these guys, considering they grew up together and were essentially brothers, you may as well call it incest. Assuming it's all true, of course.

[Bremang]

Chad taylor = 100% incest

[LiveFan92]

Chad taylor = 100% incest

Imagine if something happened and THAT was the last post ever here...

[JonSnow]

Imagine if something happened and THAT was the last post ever here...

You just ensured that it wouldn't be. And so did I.

[LiveFan92]

You just ensured that it wouldn't be. And so did I.

True! Maybe I should have waited to see if it WOULD be the last post ever. What a note for a fan community to go out on…