LIVE vs. the perception of SFBM Options

[Pokey]

It is very hard for old bands to make new classics on a consistent basis. Fans and record companies are always onto the next big thing. This industry tends to forget about past stars very fast. Think of all the 80's,90's bands that are still touring today. They get buy on their classics, not because they still aren't making good music, its because companies are out there trying to make a quick buck on the next big thing.

To hell with what "the industry" does, that shouldn't effect the band's ability to make new classics.

[SJN1279]

To hell with what "the industry" does, that shouldn't effect the band's ability to make new classics.

Songs need major and sustained radio airplay to become "classics." LIVE are making damned good songs, but without radio airplay to back them, they won't become must-play classics to play in concert.

[Pokey]

No, what makes them classics is if they are classic songs, song's that are just so fucking cool regardless of how many people hears them.
If Live had never signed to a big lable they probably still would have made a song like Lightning Crashes or Lakini's Juice or whatever, and you'd have people talking in bars around PA about how amazing these songs are .. it doesn't matter that they're not on the radio, the songs are still the same songs.

[SJN1279]

Songs need major and sustained radio airplay to become "classics." LIVE are making damned good songs, but without radio airplay to back them, they won't become must-play classics to play in concert.

People want to hear the songs they know in concert. In many venues that I've seen LIVE in, Heaven is just as big a song as anything off of Throwing Copper. If Mystery picks up on radio, it will be another LIVE "Classic."

[Pokey]

Well I'm glad you said "classic" and not classic

God I hate the mentality of only wanting to go to concerts to hear songs you know from the radio.

[SJN1279]

Well I'm glad you said "classic" and not classic

God I hate the mentality of only wanting to go to concerts to hear songs you know from the radio.

Yes, but when I see a band not named LIVE.....I go to hear the songs I know. Its just natural.

[Pokey]

God it's not natural, I wanna be surprised, sure there are always songs I want to hear more than others but they're not always the ones played on the radio .. some setlists are better than others, but Live just do not believe in playing anything other than what gets played on the radio + the current album material.

They should have a couple of staples for every show, maybe Lightning Crashes, I Alone and Lakini's Juice .. everything else gets rotated, one night you may get those 3 plus a couple of other classics or "classics" like Heaven, Dolphins and STD, another night those 3 might be our and TSUFL, All over you, Overcome and W,D might be in .. then stick a few lesser known ones in, TBD, Gas Hed, Ghost, Simple Creed, Mother Earth ... I dunno, it'd just nice to be surprised a bit once in awhile.
That way you get to hear some of the radio favorites but someone might go and not know say, TBD and go "fuck that was awesome! gotta go find that song!" cos lets face it that was one that performed REALLY well in concert, especially the acoustic version.

[Jennyfoo]

God I hate the mentality of only wanting to go to concerts to hear songs you know from the radio.

I hate that so much too. But sadly. A lot of casual fans of bands only care about the songs they know from the radio. That goes for any band and it sucks.

It does have to be really hard for bands to come up with their setlist. Because really, almost every person will walk away from any show saying "I can't believe they didn't play _______" I'm guilty of that myself, even though i know better!

I've said before, I do wish Live would mix it up more than they do. They could have like 4 different setlists to rotate. Throw in some of those old song to make a diehard fan pee their pants every so often, you know?! But its like beating a dead horse there, lol.

[Jennyfoo]

Oh! And on the "getting your shit jumped for an opinion" wheel... I made my mom listen to SFBM today. I honestly dont think she ever loved any Live song/cd I've made her listen to. She always just did it to humor me and liked a few slow songs here and there.

She hears "the River" on the radio (the River 97.3 here) all the time. And the first time she told me, she said she kinda liked it. I asked her how she feels now, since they play it every day and her answer was 'i'm pretty sick of hearing it every day!" But she said about 6 songs into SFBM "well. it sorta sounds like he's trying too hard"

I can go get her if you wanna take a shot at her. But be gentle, she's unbiased and a really sweet person.

[Pokey]

That is a feeling I get from SFBM, it does feel a bit forced, it's an album that seems to be screaming out that it has a theme instead of just letting you discover it.

[Heather]

That is a feeling I get from SFBM, it does feel a bit forced, it's an album that seems to be screaming out that it has a theme instead of just letting you discover it.

I think it is also too forced. I'm probably going to get bitched at for saying this but it seems to me that since Live made this record before they had a new record label, they actually tried to make it sound a certain way in order to sell themselves. I think the lyrics are simple because that is what appeals to the people that listen to the radio. People that listen to AC radio aren't looking for deep and meaningful lyrics, they are looking for catchy little tunes. IN MY OPINION that is exactly what SFBM is. People can tell me all they want that I'm missing the point of this album or that I don't get what Live is trying to do but it's not going to change my mind or make me like it. I don't want Live to go back to how they sounded ten years ago either. One of the main reasons that I loved this band for as long I did was BECAUSE their sound changed from album to album. I hate bands that always sound the same. The only difference now, to me, is that they are no longer changing for the better.

That's the last I will say on the subject. I'm sure people don't give a shit what I think but it just bugs me that other people have such a hard time accepting an opinion if it's not a positive one.

[SJN1279]

My main hope is that LIVE and Epic part ways for the next album. It looks like they are on the label's back burner, and promotion is about finished for the release. I would love to see the band go indy and not have to worry about major label politics anymore. They have enough hits and a strong enough fan base to tour for however long they want too. Indy seems like it would be a natural step for LIVE.

[livefan86]

Live will probably end up selling about 200,000 copies which is a loss if you are on a major label. In order to break even you need about 500,000 copies sold and 1,000,000 to be a success. If Live went indie that could possibly be one of the bigger indie bands out there.

[SJN1279]

Live will probably end up selling about 200,000 copies which is a loss if you are on a major label. In order to break even you need about 500,000 copies sold and 1,000,000 to be a success. If Live went indie that could possibly be one of the bigger indie bands out there.

Well since Songs from Black Mountain is in a lower distribution branch of Epic (Red/Ink) 200,000 copies sold is the best case scenario. Especially since the album is being released in the US when the band is overseas and after the first leg of their tour has completed. Whoever said Epic screws older bands, I apologize for disagreeing.

Indie would be a real cool alternative for LIVE. They are very capable of making amazing music, and having the freedom to do whatever they want with the next album would be really awesome. If I were them, I would probably release Night of Nights in the rock format as the next single(if they do in fact have a next single). That would plant the seed for the next album and a return to a rockier format for LIVE's next album.

[livefan86]

Well since Songs from Black Mountain is in a lower distribution branch of Epic (Red/Ink) 200,000 copies sold is the best case scenario. Especially since the album is being released in the US when the band is overseas and after the first leg of their tour has completed. Whoever said Epic screws older bands, I apologize for disagreeing.

Indie would be a real cool alternative for LIVE. They are very capable of making amazing music, and having the freedom to do whatever they want with the next album would be really awesome. If I were them, I would probably release Night of Nights in the rock format as the next single(if they do in fact have a next single). That would plant the seed for the next album and a return to a rockier format for LIVE's next album.

200,000 is still shitty sales. Red Ink is only distribution, Live is still on Epic a major label. The record sales reflect the label not the distribution company. 200,000 copies sold will not do the label any good which means they could give a damn about Live