Thank God for TGF Options

[FishOutaWater]

I was listening to the radio in the car over the weekend and I heard Lightening Crashes. Suddenly I realized how fortunate we are to have The Gracious Few. My wife keeps telling me that I must be really devastated about Live breaking up. And I keep thinking to myself that it isn't so bad. I should have been devastated. It wasn't the crushing blow I always thought it would be. Why? That's easy. Thank God for The Gracious Few. Can you imagine what the end of LIve would have been like if the there was nothing but Ed's solo album? If Chad had just moved on to focus on Aurora and everybody went their own way?!?!

The TGF album, the concerts, the whole experience has been better than anything Live hs done for 15 years. Kevin and Sean have become a part of the family. Chad, Chad and Pat have stepped out from behind the curtain - and they are happy and free and creative!

I can't imagine how hard the end of Live would have been if The Gracious Few wasn't there to sweep me off my feet. Thank God for The Gracious Few! Long live The Gracious Few!

[Wildman]

Hear Hear!

[Pokey]

Well said ... It sucks that Live ended the way they did, it would have been nice to see mate's part ways over creative differences which no one can help rather than what happend. But I'd have been much more devestated if they finished up after TDTH because then I'd have felt like we'd be missing out on so much more amazing music. Of course now in hindsight I kind of wish they did split then! But the fact that I have enjoyed the ever loving fuck out of TGF's album more so than the last couple of Live releases, Ed's album and hell dare I say it maybe even more than MJ and TDTH, just goes to show what a quality band they are. And yes, Thank God for TGF!

[SecretInsomnia]

But I'd have been much more devestated if they finished up after TDTH because then I'd have felt like we'd be missing out on so much more amazing music.

Well, I still feel we "missed out on so much more amazing music", because of the fact Ed and CC didnt work together much after 1999.

But I certainly agree Fish, thank God they didnt stop making music after Live!

[Pokey]

Well, I still feel we "missed out on so much more amazing music", because of the fact Ed and CC didnt work together much after 1999.

We certainly did, but we wouldn't have known this. To us after TDTH was released we'd be forgiven for thinking the next album was going to be written like that an amazing. Hence the overwhelming resentmentof V. So I think if Live ended at that point it would have been much more crushing to everyone. Some people still held out hope after V and after BOP that they could turn it around but I think by SFBM it had just killed everyone's optimisim until there were only the people like Nick left who really prefered that style.

TGF to me could have easily gone the wrong way. I wasn't totally sold on KM's vocals from the candlebox stuff I heard and there was no way I was going to just like them for the sake of holding on and just liking them. For example Johnny Marr was a God to me in The Smiths and since then he's just done nothing, some awfully dull music, not a fan at all. So I think I'd almost prepared myself to walk away from everything connected to Live but the old albums if TGF didn't blow me away because Ed sure as hell wasn't. Thankfully I don't even have to "try to like it", I just love it. I think they've just found a great groove together. I really hope there is some more swamp blues style stuff up their sleeve in the future though.

[+Ed+]

Fishy, absofuckinglutely! Couple of days ag I was thinking the same thing. You know what, a horrible thought came to my mind... I do not want Live back...

But in a second I realised it was not a horrible thought.

Not a band in the world would ever do so many things to me as Live did during the years I knew of them since 1999.

But shit yes. TGF came in the very right time, when we needed them to do so and the very fucking right way they did it!

because of the fact Ed and CC didnt work together much after 1999.

Has Ed ever worked with Chris Cornell?

[zmanpga]

good post...in the beginning we all felt this loss and thought the worse was near when in reality TGF came out and made us forget about the past, we all seem very focused on the (new) band and their future, with us helping to promote them, spreading the love and word, attending shows, sharing the music with friends and family..even I agree...I dont miss +LIVE+ anymore...that was then..this is now...and this really FUCKING ROCKS!!! everyone of those guys are incredible people and they all are a perfect fit playing together... start the nominations;
2010 BAND OF THE YEAR!
2010 ALBUM OF THE YEAR
The Gracious Few

[LivesMeltdown]

I've got to say I really don't miss Live either, which I'm kinda surprised. I'm not sure if it really has to do with any of the new music TGF or Ed has put out, as I personally don't like it as much as Live's best (even though I do like TGF and Alive). But seeing both sides in concert, you can can tell Ed, Chad, Chad, and Pat are having a blast performing their new music. Creatively they have been at a crossroads for a while and they are all now playing what they want and it shows. As long as all 4 are making music, I'll be there for it

[LivesMeltdown]

However, I'm hoping time heals all wounds and sometime in the future they put all their past issues aside and get their friendship back.

[OutToDry]

I give thanks for Chad G & Pat D for badgering Taylor to come into the studio and play music. They found their lost youthful exuberance. What they have given to us, for them is a personal stamp on their talents and a reaffirmation that they have what it takes to do something they believe in and do it their way. Our relationship with them, is special, as they are thankful for the support on all fronts. It's a good time right now.

I don't miss Live one bit, with the exception of what they'll be giving us from the vaults. If they ever come to a healing and the band dynamic with Ed, is made right, then I'll support another Live project.

RIGHT NOW, What Zman said

2010 BAND OF THE YEAR!
2010 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

[Chelsea]

I want more The Gracious Few. I want more Live down the road. Dunno what I'll get, but I trust TGF folks to work it out in whatever way is best for them.

[SecretInsomnia]

Has Ed ever worked with Chris Cornell?

haha, ooops! Didnt mean to forget the famous Pat!

This post has been edited by SecretInsomnia: Nov 16 2010, 6:28 am

[itschris]

You know I had a few hours to myself and went to my listening room and pulled Throwing Copper and listened to it beginning to end. It's almost like that Live and the Live from V on are two totally different bands. The aggression was gone. The intensity non-existent.

Concert-wise... you saw the change coming. After TDTH, Ed was a different person. He'd be up there spouting F-this, F-that, Thongs, blah, blah, blah. it was almost embarrassing.

I think here's the bottom line: Once Ed thought of himself as a 'frontman" instead of a member of a band, it all starting going horribly wrong.

TGF are one band, one unifying siound who's desire to make great music is magnified by their synergy. When 1+1+1+1+1=6, it's a great thing. Ed thought he could be greater than the sum all on his own. Clearly we can all judge the wisdom of that decision.

Yet, from the ashes comes TGF. I dig the disc more and more each time I listen to it. I'm not complaining anymore.

[Bremang]

You know I had a few hours to myself and went to my listening room and pulled Throwing Copper and listened to it beginning to end. It's almost like that Live and the Live from V on are two totally different bands. The aggression was gone. The intensity non-existent.

Concert-wise... you saw the change coming. After TDTH, Ed was a different person. He'd be up there spouting F-this, F-that, Thongs, blah, blah, blah. it was almost embarrassing.

I think here's the bottom line: Once Ed thought of himself as a 'frontman" instead of a member of a band, it all starting going horribly wrong.

TGF are one band, one unifying siound who's desire to make great music is magnified by their synergy. When 1+1+1+1+1=6, it's a great thing. Ed thought he could be greater than the sum all on his own. Clearly we can all judge the wisdom of that decision.

Yet, from the ashes comes TGF. I dig the disc more and more each time I listen to it. I'm not complaining anymore.

I think Ed's direction was dictated way more by his declining ability as a singer, and the declining interest in 90's alt rock in the US, than by his own ego. His voice was dying, he needed softer material to sing. Fans were purchasing pop in the late 90's, he geared away from the alt rock genre. I don't think it has to do with his frontman vs. bandmate ideals, he probably thought of himself as the frontman since the beginning. The talents of C,C,P, and their infallible instruments hadn't eroded the way Ed's voice had with age and abuse, so they wanted to uphold their edgy rock standards. Hence the rift.

This post has been edited by Bremang: Nov 17 2010, 8:42 pm

[LiveRoCkS77]

I was listening to the radio in the car over the weekend and I heard Lightening Crashes. Suddenly I realized how fortunate we are to have The Gracious Few. My wife keeps telling me that I must be really devastated about Live breaking up. And I keep thinking to myself that it isn't so bad. I should have been devastated. It wasn't the crushing blow I always thought it would be. Why? That's easy. Thank God for The Gracious Few. Can you imagine what the end of LIve would have been like if the there was nothing but Ed's solo album? If Chad had just moved on to focus on Aurora and everybody went their own way?!?!

The TGF album, the concerts, the whole experience has been better than anything Live hs done for 15 years. Kevin and Sean have become a part of the family. Chad, Chad and Pat have stepped out from behind the curtain - and they are happy and free and creative!

I can't imagine how hard the end of Live would have been if The Gracious Few wasn't there to sweep me off my feet. Thank God for The Gracious Few! Long live The Gracious Few!

I duuno, I think it's a bit much to use the words devastating and crushing blow when talking about a band breaking up. If it is even possible that it may have that kind of effect on your life, you need to seek professional help.

I was disappointed in the break up, but that's as far as it goes. People need to put their shit in perspective and realize that it's only music. In the big picture of things, it really is completely insignificant to me. I'm glad the boys continued on, but it would have been no big deal if they hadn't. You make it seem as if your life somehow revolves around it.

I have a lot more to worry about than whether or not 4 musicians will ever be friends or make music again. Seems way the fuck over the top to me.