A few comments about Anaheim 3/9/08 show Options

[flyersfan62379]

Just for what it's worth, if a band who was once mighty is playing states fairs and chili cook-offs, that only raises red flags and demonstrates where they fit into today's world of music...and that's just being honest.

The ride was great, but ended somewhere around early 2001.

[SJN1279]

SS: Lakini's Juice #1, Turn My Head #3, Freaks #5

TDTH: The Dolphin's Cry #2, Run to the Water #17, TSUFL #24

BOP: Heaven #33

See a difference now?

You are looking at the mainstream rock charts. Hot A/C charts have Heaven at #2 and Run Away at #20. Very comparable to TDTH, just at a different format. SS had better chart positions, but that is mainly due to Throwing Copper holdover.

[SecretInsomnia]

You are looking at the mainstream rock charts. Hot A/C charts have Heaven at #2 and Run Away at #20. Very comparable to TDTH, just at a different format. SS had better chart positions, but that is mainly due to Throwing Copper holdover.

yeah i think that's true. if SS had been their first album, it wouldn't have the succes which it got in 1997 (despite how great it was).

Also, it's very irrelevant to mention what MTV thinks about Live, as flyersfan stated... maybe you should care about what they thought about them early/mid 90's, but nowadays they bring only stupid hiphop and rNb shit, and you think their opinion about Live (if they have one about them nowadays at all) is 'the truth' and how everybody thinks about Live at the moment? Right.

[Existentialist]

I don't care what the cause is. SS had more top five singles than BOP even had singles. TDTH had more top 25 singles than BOP had singles. You can talk about your Fag A/C charts all you want, but you can't argue that BOP is in any way comparable to TDTH in terms of popularity, or really anything else. BOP sold way less than half of what TDTH sold.

[SJN1279]

I don't care what the cause is. SS had more top five singles than BOP even had singles. TDTH had more top 25 singles than BOP had singles. You can talk about your Fag A/C charts all you want, but you can't argue that BOP is in any way comparable to TDTH in terms of popularity, or really anything else. BOP sold way less than half of what TDTH sold.

I can't argue that Live isn't as popular as they were in the 90's. They are not. However, having seen Live perform throughout the years, I can honestly say that I don't feel the band has lost anything on stage. I actually think they have improved since my first concert in 2000.

While I don't feel that BOP is a better album than TDTH, I do feel the album has better rock songs. Also lead single to lead single, I think Heaven is a more powerful song than Dolphin's Cry, and is way better to listen to in concert. Both albums are good, but very different and hard to compare.

I understand the frustration with lack of new material. We were all excited about hearing new stuff in March, but for whatever reason, the band isn't ready to debut new songs just yet. It will happen, and I'm excited to see what direction they will go. Instead of comparing Live now to Live then, why not try and enjoy the band for what they are, one of the best performing units in the world today. You may not like all of their songs or albums, but you can't deny their talent and ability to bring their music to life onstage.

I'm sure even the biggest complainers on here will be checking out Live's new music when they release it, reserve your judgement until then.

[SJN1279]

Just for what it's worth, if a band who was once mighty is playing states fairs and chili cook-offs, that only raises red flags and demonstrates where they fit into today's world of music...and that's just being honest.

The ride was great, but ended somewhere around early 2001.

Just because Live isn't as popular as they once were, doesn't make them any less talented, or fun to listen to. Over time, most artists popularities fade, its life. It doesn't mean they are done, it just means they have to adjust.

Miley Cyrus is the most popular "artist" going today. Maybe we can get a poster for your bedroom?

[Hoodstock]

Just because Live isn't as popular as they once were, doesn't make them any less talented, or fun to listen to. Over time, most artists popularities fade, its life. It doesn't mean they are done, it just means they have to adjust.

Great point. Tons of great bands still tour at state fairs, festivals, and less than full venues and still rock like they did back in the 70's, 80's or 90's.

Popularity always changes as fan groups change. Younger people without families and with disposable incomes and free time drive the music industry just like they drive the movie industry. It's a marketing world for teenagers and most of us have already passed through it and are on the unhip end. Just ask any teenager how cool you really are!

[Hoodstock]

The ride was great, but ended somewhere around early 2001.

The ride is only over if you choose to get off!

[Existentialist]

I can't argue that Live isn't as popular as they were in the 90's. They are not. However, having seen Live perform throughout the years, I can honestly say that I don't feel the band has lost anything on stage. I actually think they have improved since my first concert in 2000.

While I don't feel that BOP is a better album than TDTH, I do feel the album has better rock songs. Also lead single to lead single, I think Heaven is a more powerful song than Dolphin's Cry, and is way better to listen to in concert. Both albums are good, but very different and hard to compare.

I understand the frustration with lack of new material. We were all excited about hearing new stuff in March, but for whatever reason, the band isn't ready to debut new songs just yet. It will happen, and I'm excited to see what direction they will go. Instead of comparing Live now to Live then, why not try and enjoy the band for what they are, one of the best performing units in the world today. You may not like all of their songs or albums, but you can't deny their talent and ability to bring their music to life onstage.

I'm sure even the biggest complainers on here will be checking out Live's new music when they release it, reserve your judgement until then.

You have some good thoughts here. I also agree that Heaven is a better song than The Dolphin's Cry. I actually think TDC is their most overrated song, and it probably was still riding the tails of TC.

I don't agree that BOP has better rock songs, because although it has louder and more prominent guitars than TDTH, nothing on it holds a candle to anything on TDTH, or even anything recorded during the TDTH era in my opinion.

As for their onstage performances, I can see it going both ways. Ed's voice was clearly superior just five years ago, and the setlists included more interesting songs, even if it was just a function of their having recently released more interesting albums. Also, going even a little further back, Ed didn't say or do anything that I found embarrassing. I love going to shows now because Pat is in his prime I think, especially with his new bass cabinets, but overall I just don't connect with the band as much anymore because a lot of their renditions of older songs are tight technically but lack the passion they were inspired by.

I am not judging their new music. I am so hopeful that the new material will be good because if it's not, I really will have to question why I'm such a big fan anymore. I honestly think it will be great, because of the fact that it's their first material since TDTH that's actually written together instead of just by the queer. But, we'll see.

[LiveRoCkS77]

I can't argue that Live isn't as popular as they were in the 90's. They are not. However, having seen Live perform throughout the years, I can honestly say that I don't feel the band has lost anything on stage. I actually think they have improved since my first concert in 2000.

While I don't feel that BOP is a better album than TDTH, I do feel the album has better rock songs. Also lead single to lead single, I think Heaven is a more powerful song than Dolphin's Cry, and is way better to listen to in concert. Both albums are good, but very different and hard to compare.

I understand the frustration with lack of new material. We were all excited about hearing new stuff in March, but for whatever reason, the band isn't ready to debut new songs just yet. It will happen, and I'm excited to see what direction they will go. Instead of comparing Live now to Live then, why not try and enjoy the band for what they are, one of the best performing units in the world today. You may not like all of their songs or albums, but you can't deny their talent and ability to bring their music to life onstage.

I'm sure even the biggest complainers on here will be checking out Live's new music when they release it, reserve your judgement until then.

Bop has better rock songs?? WOW, that's seriously the icing on the cake. Don't insult TDTH like an idiot fanboy. TDTH was a fucking masterpiece and probably Live's best work to date. It is extremely well written lyrically and the music still had relevance. It is and was the culmination of the "LIVE" journey. Saying that both BOP and TDTH are both good albums is basically saying they are on par with each other and nothing could be further from the truth. Bop had no structure to any of the songs except Like I do, which came complete with proper bridge and chorus structure. Other than that, it was poorly written pop music with the guitar added in for effect really. Three minute verse and chorus structure that bored me right to fucking death. I'm not even going to justify that with anything further, it's just not worth discussing.

Second, Live is nowhere near the stage band today that they were 8 to 10 years ago. Their act has gotten so cheesy, you could probably toss some dough on stage and come up with instant pizza. They lost their aura when Ed started writing shitty meaningless music geared at trying to make 13 year olds see his point. I simply cannot comprehend how any sane person can honestly sit there and say "well, now that's a better show than they put on in the TC era!!"

That's just utterly ridiculous. You seriously remind me of a teenage girl Nick. I'm sorry but everytime I read your fanboy laced posts, I fucking literally laugh out loud. I really do respect that you still enjoy the band and all but some of the shit you say is just....nevermind. You compared TDTH and BOP as similar, enough said.

[Existentialist]

That's just utterly ridiculous. You seriously remind me of a teenage girl Nick. I'm sorry but everytime I read your fanboy laced posts, I fucking literally laugh out loud. I really do respect that you still enjoy the band and all but some of the shit you say is just....nevermind. You compared TDTH and BOP as similar, enough said.

This is unfortunately too true...

[SecretInsomnia]

I honestly think it will be great, because of the fact that it's their first material since TDTH that's actually written together instead of just by the queer

I heard you telling this several times now Ex... but what's the truth behind it...? who told you this?

[Existentialist]

Pat, very emphatically.

[flyersfan62379]

Denial.

[edstipe]

Second, Live is nowhere near the stage band today that they were 8 to 10 years ago. Their act has gotten so cheesy, you could probably toss some dough on stage and come up with instant pizza. They lost their aura when Ed started writing shitty meaningless music geared at trying to make 13 year olds see his point. I simply cannot comprehend how any sane person can honestly sit there and say "well, now that's a better show than they put on in the TC era!!"

I am in absolute agreement with you. This is along the lines of what I meant in my earlier post when I said:

Sure, they can play the same old songs the same old way and make them sound alright from a technical perspective, but a seasoned fan can tell when they are just going through the motions. I mean, it's not only the setlist that's predictable -- it's also Ed's expressions and comments, Chad T.'s stage movements, the "Lightning Crashes" group hug, etc. Honestly, when the same exact movements/comments/moments are repeated show after show, it doesn't feel genuine. Instead, it feels like a script that's been performed so often that the movements are almost mindless and automatic.

and

Back in the Secret Samadhi/Throwing Copper/Mental Jewelry days, I remember feeling the social/political/spiritual passion in almost everything the band did. I connected with them because a lot of what they were expressing in their music I was feeling in my soul. That's not the case anymore. Back then, Ed removing his shirt during a show felt like it was all about ripping off his shackles in order to free the emotions that were pouring out of him during his performance; now, Ed taking off his shirt during a show feels like it's about showing off his waxed chest and his biceps. It's the same physical movement, but I connected emotionally with the former, and I certainly do not connect with the latter.