A discussion a long time coming Options

[crazy1]

Amen! I just think they would put on a much better show if they just got up there and played and did what came naturally. I mean, how into a song can you be if you are thinking the whole time that a minute into the song you have to go over and stand on that piece of tape on the floor so that you can pose a certain way during a certain part of a certain song. It just all seems so forced to me.

I see your point, it kinda dawned on me when I remembered at exactly what part of Lightning Crashes that they all pose for the "group picture"!!!! I even caught myself telling my son when he was listening to LC what part of the song was that they pose. I like that part though, I have a group pictures from almost every concert I went too. But like someone said "It's show business". It doesn't bother me one bit. I work a lot and I go to college, going to LIVE shows is one of the things in life that I really enjoy. So I'm not going to think about the rehearsed parts and just enjoy myself. I don't sweat the small stuff!!!

[Heather]

I see your point, it kinda dawned on me when I remembered at exactly what part of Lightning Crashes that they all pose for the "group picture"!!!! I even caught myself telling my son when he was listening to LC what part of the song was that they pose. I like that part though, I have a group pictures from almost every concert I went too. But like someone said "It's show business". It doesn't bother me one bit. I work a lot and I go to college, going to LIVE shows is one of the things in life that I really enjoy. So I'm not going to think about the rehearsed parts and just enjoy myself. I don't sweat the small stuff!!!

I can also see your point. I guess I think too much about the show instead of just enjoying it. I guess it all depends on what makes a good show in my mind as opposed to someone else's mind.

[crazy1]

I hardly ever post here but had to agree on this one. Ed has evolved into and embraced the whole rock star thing. Back in the day Ed never would have done this or acted this way. In fact, when they shot their first video for MTV and were asked to take their shirts off, they all cringed and took issue with it. I've been there since day one and I've seen the evolution. It really kicked in during the V era when he got all into Henry Miller and tantric sex. It's all very cheesy and nothing like the beginning. I remember a show from the Mental Jewelry tour when he came out in his hoodie, stood in one place and sang with such conviction. It was pretty mesmerising and menacing. I'd say things are a little different these days.

So most people would just like Ed to stand there and sing? Boring!!!! That is all he did back in the early 90's. I thought the concerts were quite boring. They are up there to entertain not just stand there and sing, any band can do that.

[Heather]

So most people would just like Ed to stand there and sing? Boring!!!! That is all he did back in the early 90's. I thought the concerts were quite boring. They are up there to entertain not just stand there and sing, any band can do that.

I think you missed the point. It wasn't that Ed was just standing there singing, it was that he was doing it with conviction and it was mesmerizing. I think that sometimes those things are lacking in ED these days. Of course that is just my opinion, I'm sure many here would disagree with me.

[sellingthdrama]

I hardly ever post here but had to agree on this one. Ed has evolved into and embraced the whole rock star thing. Back in the day Ed never would have done this or acted this way. In fact, when they shot their first video for MTV and were asked to take their shirts off, they all cringed and took issue with it. I've been there since day one and I've seen the evolution. It really kicked in during the V era when he got all into Henry Miller and tantric sex. It's all very cheesy and nothing like the beginning. I remember a show from the Mental Jewelry tour when he came out in his hoodie, stood in one place and sang with such conviction. It was pretty mesmerising and menacing. I'd say things are a little different these days.

I miss the raw passion of the early days, as noted above. The last several years have seemed more polished, but I don't think that's necessarily a plus.

About the shirt thing - it seems more a product of ego than a product of being in the moment. My hang-up with the shirt thing is that it seems forced, and that's what I don't like to see, whether it's the shirt, the moves, the music, or whatever. Then again - I've never been anywhere near Ed's position, so I'm just speculating.

[LiveRoCkS77]

I think you missed the point. It wasn't that Ed was just standing there singing, it was that he was doing it with conviction and it was mesmerizing. I think that sometimes those things are lacking in ED these days. Of course that is just my opinion, I'm sure many here would disagree with me.

Nope, I thought the exact same thing when they came here. Something was missing.

When they came here the time before that, Ed was on fire. He was all over the place, playing to the crowd. Calling people up on stage to dance with the band during Sophia and leaving them, coming offstage and shaking hands with the entire front row. Then continuing on up the main aisle with the spotlight on him and dancing with fans while continuing to sing. Then, during, White Discussion, he was all over the friggin place...going nuts and jamming with the rest of the band.

A year later they come back and I get a non energetic, distant, non talkative Ed. The reactions form the two crowds showed it too. A year earlier the crowd was deafening and EVERYBODY was dancing and having fun. This time around, people were like "what the fuck is this?" And I don't blame em.

As for the guy taking his shirt off? Doesn't bother me and never has. I don't even notice when he does it and couldn't care less. As I said in another thread, I think it's the white and nerdy types who get bothered by it. Either that or the fat little monkeys who are just plain jealous, combined with a little homophobia.

[tiger]

So most people would just like Ed to stand there and sing? Boring!!!! That is all he did back in the early 90's. I thought the concerts were quite boring. They are up there to entertain not just stand there and sing, any band can do that.

No, I'd rather have him grope himself and run around like Ricky Martin. He didn't just stand there the whole show. But the fact that he could and it was more entertaining than anything he does today was the point.



This post has been edited by tiger: Aug 3 2007, 12:41 pm

[Wambangalang]

I think it's the white and nerdy types who get bothered by it. Either that or the fat little monkeys who are just plain jealous, combined with a little homophobia.

you are one very very strange man

[tiger]

No, I'd rather have him grope himself and run around like Ricky Martin. He didn't just stand there the whole show. But the fact that he could and it was more entertaining than anything he does today was the point.

As for onstage performance, I think the band is as as good or better than they ever were. I've seen them in concert 27 times now, and I still really enjoy myself each time I go. That's a testament to a command of the stage that most other acts can't even dream of. Starland Ballroom in June and Delaware were two of the best concerts I've ever seen the band perform, so to me they've lost nothing.

Nick, why did you edit my post and add the second paragraph?

[patrick W BURG]

few items

-- for the people who just think, "who cares," I think half the point of having a message board surrounding a band is to fuss over petty issues. It's a little ironic to come to a discussion board and say that something isn't worth talking about.

-- I think Existentialist and sellingthedrama sum up well why exactly the shirt thing is lame. It's just not natural. It's in the vain of, "ok, here's this thing I'm gonna do FOR you guys, cause I know it's sexy." There is a slight air of awkwardness in the crowd whenever he takes his shirt off and tries too hard to be sexy. If you don't feel it, then maybe you're oblivious. There are people who operate with the logic, that, if I don't like the shirt removal, it's because I FEEL gay and get uncomfortable. I think that rationale is very small-minded. Is it possible that I don't like the shirt removal, and yet have no sexuality issues?


--As far as the bigger picture of the entire show being rehearsed, I agree it's a problem, but I try not to dwell on it. It's the reason I don't go to too many shows and overdo it. I only go to a Live show once, maybe twice a year. In that sense, it does hurt the band, because if they varied their "act" more, you'd have people like me willing to go to shows more often.

[Live inside]

You all are a bit spoiled i guess.

Maybe you`ve seen to much Live.

Here in Holland we do`nt have the luck to see them so much and maybe thats wy we like the things the band does ...ALL OF IT!!

This post has been edited by Live inside: Aug 4 2007, 12:06 am

[crazy1]

few items

-- I think Existentialist and sellingthedrama sum up well why exactly the shirt thing is lame. It's just not natural. It's in the vain of, "ok, here's this thing I'm gonna do FOR you guys, cause I know it's sexy." There is a slight air of awkwardness in the crowd whenever he takes his shirt off and tries too hard to be sexy. If you don't feel it, then maybe you're oblivious. There are people who operate with the logic, that, if I don't like the shirt removal, it's because I FEEL gay and get uncomfortable. I think that rationale is very small-minded. Is it possible that I don't like the shirt removal, and yet have no sexuality issues?

I'm too busy enjoying the music to "feel the air of awkwardness of the crowd" when Ed takes his shirt off....there are bigger things to be concerned with in life than something as petty as that!!!!

[patrick W BURG]

I'm too busy enjoying the music to "feel the air of awkwardness of the crowd" when Ed takes his shirt off....there are bigger things to be concerned with in life than something as petty as that!!!!

One of the biggest reasons for going to shows is to enjoy the collective energy of the room.

This post has been edited by patrick W BURG: Aug 3 2007, 12:56 pm

[Heather]

One of the biggest reasons for going to shows is to enjoy the collective energy of the room.

Couldn't agree more.

[ShowalittleLove]

I like Ed's stage presence, no shirt included. The man keeps in good shape and is putting on an entertainment performance. Many of the songs are at least slightly about sex, many of the females think he's hot, so it all makes sense to me. They play about 4 shows a night for 6-7 months straight or longer stretches. It's impossible to do something completely new every night and all the things they do on stage over and over become part of the songs, something you can relate to and feel like you're part of because you know it's coming. If he stopped taking off his shirt we would have a whole new group of haters. I do agree taking it off during Lightning Crashes devalues a song with tremendous meaning however and respect everyone's opinion.

I don't recommend Adam D taking off his shirt however, now that would offend me!