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

[Pokey]

Also on the subject of the setlist, it's always baffled me as to how Live themselves can do it. If I were in a band touring with the number of dates Live do, then as proud as I might be of the songs I've written I'd have to be changing up the setlist a lot for my own sanity. Nighty after night of the same thing would send me around the bend.

[beau99]

OMFG, I wanted my money back when they didn't play Mr. Jones.

Ironically since your disappointment of a show, they've played Mr. Jones at most shows since then.

And regarding Eddie Vedder, my cactus has more personality than him.

This post has been edited by beau99: Sep 12 2006, 3:34 am

[Senghe]

Here's a video of PJ doing "Baba O'Riley," perhaps it will show you what I mean: http://youtube.com/watch?v=9B9Ty7d33uk&mode=related&search=

That wasn't too shabby at all, though I do prefer the original it has to be said (one of The Who's greatest songs!). Judging by the list to the right, PJ jam play it a lot.

[edstipe]

That wasn't too shabby at all, though I do prefer the original it has to be said (one of The Who's greatest songs!). Judging by the list to the right, PJ jam play it a lot.

"Play it a lot" is sort of subjective. They certainly don't play it every night, or anywhere near every night, which is how the song is kept fresh while still being familiar to fans. Looking over the setlists of their most recent U.S. tour, they played the song 4 out of their last 20 shows -- which, by Pearl Jam standards, is about average song rotation.

[arlecia]

I have had a break in my being Livefan. I was doubtful and I;ve lost rescpect for them after that Overcome-problem here in my country.
but after that breaks I just go back and start to listen to Live again.
I;ve said once "this is the end of Live-life", but hmmm I'm still here and still listen to the same music

[phungi]

I've been a LIVE fan since 1987 and of Pearl Jam since 1991. I saw both bands in small venues when they started, in larger venues, and also small venue more recently (PJ-Borgata, LIVE-EFactory in Philly).

There was once magic to a LIVE show, and that magis is simply not there anymore. They are a polished, rehearsed amazingly tight live band with excellent stage presence, sound, and put on a good show.

Now, Pearl Jam... you are talking about the premiere touring band of our age. Every show is a new experience, and the energy, spontaneity, and creativity put into each set/show by the band is something that LIVE once had but likely will never posess again.

I'm not here to slag LIVE, because I love those guys, but they don't belong in a comparison with a band like Pearl Jam... productivity, longevity, length/breadth of tours, commitment to fan base, live mp3s of their shows, etc...

[Heather]

Finally, I am astounded that anybody has even suggested that a show should cater to casual and hardcore fans at an equal level. Do you really believe that a fan who has simply jumped on the bandwagon, or who is only at a show because he/she was brought along by someone else, or who only knows the radio hits but has never listened to a full album, deserves the same attention and love from the band as a hardcore fan who has supported the band from the beginning and would be so much more touched by his/her favorite song being played?

Amen!!!!!!!! This is what I have been saying and thinking all along. I really don't understand what most people's ideas are of a "good live show." Apparently my opinion differs from most people on this board. I don't give a shit whether or not some casual fan enjoys the show, I want to enjoy the show. ME, the one who has been to 26 shows all over the place and has supported this band for over ten years. I honestly cannot believe that anyone would be happier hearing a bunch of polished hits than they would hearing something unique every night. A live show is supposed to be about sponteniety. The songs aren't supposed to sound exactly like they do on the cd and you aren't supposed to know the exact order in which they are played and the exact pose or place the band members will make at any given time.

But whatever, I guess this is why I don't go to Live shows anymore.

[SJN1279]

Finally, I am astounded that anybody has even suggested that a show should cater to casual and hardcore fans at an equal level. Do you really believe that a fan who has simply jumped on the bandwagon, or who is only at a show because he/she was brought along by someone else, or who only knows the radio hits but has never listened to a full album, deserves the same attention and love from the band as a hardcore fan who has supported the band from the beginning and would be so much more touched by his/her favorite song being played?

Absolutely casual and non-casual fans should be treated equally. They both pay the same ticket prices. Also if a casual fan attends a concert that they really enjoy, there is a strong chance they could become a greater fan of the band. Playing 20+ obscure songs a concert won't convert many newbies.

[ShowalittleLove]

When I said that Live sounds like their cd's on stage I meant it as a compliment. Most bands are so overproduced in the studio they are a huge dissapointment on stage in concert. Eddie Vedder is able to hold a great meoldy on cd when he can do 500 takes but he makes me cringe in concert. That equates to a bad live show for me, and the less times you play a song the less likely you are going to play it as well as something you play all the time. I would love them to mix up the setlist a little more and I think they did a pretty good job the last couple of months adding in some of the stuff they haven't played in awhile.

[XtasyOfDreams]

When I said that Live sounds like their cd's on stage I meant it as a compliment. Most bands are so overproduced in the studio they are a huge dissapointment on stage in concert. Eddie Vedder is able to hold a great meoldy on cd when he can do 500 takes but he makes me cringe in concert. That equates to a bad live show for me, and the less times you play a song the less likely you are going to play it as well as something you play all the time. I would love them to mix up the setlist a little more and I think they did a pretty good job the last couple of months adding in some of the stuff they haven't played in awhile.

I agree with that. I saw Pearl Jam at the Chicago show this year and I was just not impressed. We even left early, which really shocks me. I think it's a combination of what you described as well as the fact that this new CD just did not impress me at all.

[alexou]

To say that Vedder has a bad voice in concert is a SHAME! He has one of the best voice in the world, on CD and IN CONCERT! Best preformance that I see of all time!

Just listen to their renditions of Do the Evolution to convince you!

Of course PJ is more loyal to their fans and I think that's why at some point people lost interest in Live. Playing always the same set is not a good thing to do to keep a super fanbase. We deserve more than always all over you and selling the drama one after the other.

I don't expect something that will blow my mind from Live anymore. The last PJ album is their best since Vitalogy while SFBM is.... conclude your self. (not crap, but not inspired to say the least)

I saw Live 3 times this year. Very good shows, but the third was too much. Same as the 2 others. 56 different songs for 3 evenings. Just that is 3 full set for many band!!!!

Alex

[Heather]

Of course PJ is more loyal to their fans and I think that's why at some point people lost interest in Live. Playing always the same set is not a good thing to do to keep a super fanbase. We deserve more than always all over you and selling the drama one after the other

Exactly! It would seem to me that pretty soon the only people left going to Live shows will be the casual fans. Their fanbase seems to be dwindling more with every album. It would also seem to me that if they would make an effort to make each and every show unique, they would end up building a loyal following of true fans. Just like Pearl Jam has and just like Ryan Adams has.

I use Ryan Adams as an example because I am more familiar with him than I am with Pearl Jam these days but I have been to his sold out show. I know that he sells out every show that he plays. He also never gets his songs played on the radio. But somehow he still manages to have a loyal and rabid following. He didn't get that following by catering to people that know his one hit song that got played on VH1 once.

Sometimes I just wonder where people get their ideas from. I mean really, is the song that is realeased off of an album always the best song on that album? Do people like to hear those songs live simply because they have heard them a million times on the radio and somehow the fact that it is familiar to them makes it a song worth hearing? I just don't get it. I saw Counting Crows this tour and they didn't do Mr Jones but I could not have cared less. I got to hear three of my favorite songs by them that I never expected to hear. Songs that in my opinion are much better than Mr Jones.

I guess it all comes down to what you like or what you think you like based on what Clear Channel has forced you to listen to for years and years.

This post has been edited by Heather: Sep 13 2006, 5:05 pm

[edstipe]

Of course PJ is more loyal to their fans and I think that's why at some point people lost interest in Live. Playing always the same set is not a good thing to do to keep a super fanbase. We deserve more than always all over you and selling the drama one after the other.

Thank you for such an intelligent, observant point. I have no doubt that if Live did more to appreciate its fanbase the band's swift decline would be much less harsh than it currently is.

Hell, I will readily admit that Pearl Jam has not always released top-notch albums (Binaural and Riot Act were only so-so to me, and a lot of PJ fans were unimpressed with both albums as a whole). However, during the time that those two albums were released, the band's fan base grew exponentially. Why? Because Pearl Jam let them know that they loved them, and appreciated them, by putting on a great, varied, unpredictable live show, by giving its fan club members the BEST seats in the house for every single venue it played, by releasing all of their shows to fans for download, by donating a portion of every ticket sold to charity, etc.

Thus, while Live has basically ignored their core fan base and has subsequently been relegated to playing county fairs and very small venues, Pearl Jam (despite a lack of radio presence for many years before their recent resurgence) has been playing to huge, adoring crowds (as an example, they sold out back-to-back shows at Madison Square Garden in New York, which has a capacity of over 19,000, with approximately 8,000 fan club members in attendance each night -- I doubt Live even has that many fan club members in the entire U.S.).

Anyway, it's hard for me sometimes to bash Live, because I do enjoy their music and I do count myself a huge fan, still. But it's a bit depressing to think sometimes of what the band could be if only they cared a little bit more.

This post has been edited by edstipe: Sep 13 2006, 5:08 pm

[DesertWater]

People who say Eddie Vedder has no passion in concert should look at this video clip of Porch.
Porch
Now, this is an exaggeration of my point since I'm sure he doesn't jump into a crazy amount of people on a daily basis. Its fucking nuts. Anyways, I've only seen Pearl Jam live once. But I don't understand how Live can do the same setlist every damn concert. Wouldn't they go bonkers? I Alone is a good song, but after the first one-thousandth time playing it, wouldn't they say, "Okay, I Alone was a good song in the 90's, but lets not kill our fans with the same repetitive melody for over ten years. Let's get off our asses and change the setlist for once." Live has so many great songs, What the hell is wrong with them?

This post has been edited by DesertWater: Sep 15 2006, 2:13 pm

[mfitz804]

People who say Eddie Vedder has no passion in concert should look at this video clip of Porch.
Porch

This is not how Eddie Vedder is in concert anymore, that is an old video I believe. he used to be a madman in concert, then he did in fact mellow out.

I personally don't need someone jumping around like a retard to enjoy a live show. Eddie and Pearl Jam still deliver excellent music live, and I can accept than and appreciate the fact that they are over 40 years old by now and shouldn't be jumping around like kids. They might break a hip.

Great clip though, reminds me of back when I first got into PJ many years ago. It was the way they performed Porch in concert that made it my favorite PJ song to this day.