Topic: The "How are they live?" thread (Read 17628 times)

The Hammered · « **on:** 20 Jul 2006, 21:36 »

Ever wanted to know how that group you love sounds live? Here's your thread. Basically, anyone can ask and anyone who's seen them can answer.

The acts I'm curious about: Angels of Light, or Gira or Jarboe solo (actually, though I will never get to see them, I'd be interested in hearing stories from anyone who caught Swans live as well). I don't believe any of them are touring near me any time soon, but I can still hope. Also, the Go! Team. I'm seeing them in a couple weeks, and I haven't heard any of their stuff (though I have heard good things), so any opinions are welcome.

gideon · « **Reply #1 on:** 20 Jul 2006, 21:42 »

I heard Tapes n Tapes are good live, can someone confirm this? I'm seeing them on the 25th.

Ps. Good idea The Hammered

Kai · « **Reply #2 on:** 20 Jul 2006, 21:43 »

A Silver Mount Zion.

The Soviettes.

The Epoxies.

Against Me!

mberan42 · « **Reply #3 on:** 20 Jul 2006, 21:57 »

Quote from: gideon

I heard Tapes n Tapes are good live, can someone confirm this? I'm seeing them on the 25th.

I'm hoping to see them at Pitchfork Media Fest on the 28th. I dig their LP and hope they're good live.

If anyone is wondering, Arcade Fire is fucking amazing live.

The Wrens are really fucking good, too. First saw them at Intonation. Saw them once after that. Saw them, after that time, (for the 3rd total) at Northwestern University in some shithole auditorium. Front-row of about 300 people isn't hard to obtain. Best performance ever, by them.

Sigur Ros is breath-taking. Like "take-your-significant-other-to-the-show-because-you-two-are-going-to-have-the-most-incredible-sex-in-your-lives-after-the -show." Seriously.

The Decemberists are pretty hip, live. Saw them at Intonation Fest last year, where they made everyone stfu and crouch down then scream their asses off during "The Mariner's Revenge Song."

gideon · « **Reply #4 on:** 20 Jul 2006, 22:03 »

Quote

If anyone is wondering, Arcade Fire is fucking amazing live.

I second that.

jcknbl · « **Reply #5 on:** 20 Jul 2006, 22:47 »

Quote from: mberan42

The Decemberists are pretty hip, live. Saw them at Intonation Fest last year, where they made everyone stfu and crouch down then scream their asses off during "The Mariner's Revenge Song."

I had so much fun at that show.

But you say you're going to Pitchfork? Don't miss Man Man. Get as close as you can manage- best live performance I've ever seen. (Though it might not work as well at a big venue)

onewheelwizzard · « **Reply #6 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 00:02 »

Any Acid Mothers Temple live show is utterly beyond amazing.

I'm hopefully seeing Eagles of Death Metal on Sunday with Peaches, any thoughts on either of them?

The Eyeball Kid · « **Reply #7 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 00:07 »

Is it worth paying to see the Eels and Smoosh tonight? And Sonic Youth next week?

AnonymousNoob · « **Reply #8 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 01:03 »

I heard they suck live.

TrueNeutral · « **Reply #9 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 03:15 »

Eels usually depends on what you like. Currently, the "No Strings Attached" usually plays more rocking stuff than their "Eels With Strings" tour. But anything Eels play, they play it well.

JLM · « **Reply #10 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 04:20 »

The Go! Team is a lot of fun live. In this day and age there aren't that many bands I'm willing to pay to see twice in a tour for a single album, but they were one of them. I'd recommend checking out the album, as well as the "bottle rocket" single with Ninja on vocals just so you get an idea for what they're going to be like live, because she's not really on the first album vocally, and she adds something extra to the live performances.

Misereatur · « **Reply #11 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 04:44 »

Anybody here ever been to a SunnO))) concert? I'm going to see them live tommorow, and I've been told it would be brilliant.

karl gambolputty... · « **Reply #12 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 08:01 »

Quote from: The Eyeball Kid

Is it worth paying to see the Eels and Smoosh tonight? And Sonic Youth next week?

I saw Sonic Youth last month, and they blew me away. It is more than worth it.

cacahuate · « **Reply #13 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 08:28 »

I'm headin' over to Pitchfork too. QC MEET UP LOLZ.

OllieA · « **Reply #14 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 09:05 »

The Go! Team were pretty awesome at Glastonbury last year - lots of fun, lots of energy and a good deal of crowd interaction.

onewheelwizzard · « **Reply #15 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 10:48 »

SUNN0))) are incredible. But it's self-abuse to sit through their concert. It's not "fun." It's intense. You just sit there and sound louder than sound just keeps washing over and through you for 40 minutes or however long they play. You should completely void yourself of all human waste before they start, because you're going to need to during or afterwards regardless and you might as well get a head start. SUNN0))) literally rattle the shit out of you with the vibrations that are coming out of their amps.

Also, be very stoned if that's at all your sort of thing. And don't feel too much like a pussy if you have to leave early. Your eardrums and intestinal tract will forgive you.

Lummer · « **Reply #16 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 10:58 »

Quote from: onewheelwizzard

SUNN0))) are incredible. But it's self-abuse to sit through their concert. It's not "fun." It's intense. You just sit there and sound louder than sound just keeps washing over and through you for 40 minutes or however long they play. You should completely void yourself of all human waste before they start, because you're going to need to during or afterwards regardless and you might as well get a head start. SUNN0))) literally rattle the shit out of you with the vibrations that are coming out of their amps.

Also, be very stoned if that's at all your sort of thing. And don't feel too much like a pussy if you have to leave early. Your eardrums and intestinal tract will forgive you.

Very well put actually. I however was royally bored when I saw them at Roskilde 'o5.

The best live-band I've seen so far, must be The Psyke Project. One of the most hyperactive, outgoing frontmen I've ever seen.

Misereatur · « **Reply #17 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 11:04 »

Actually it's not SunnO))). It's Stephen O'Malley, Oren Ambarchi & Attila Csihar live together, playing some of SunnO)))'s stuff and improvising together.
I'm pretty sure it'll be awsome.

Kid Modernist · « **Reply #18 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 11:11 »

Quote from: Kai

Against Me!

Against Me! are great live. I didn't like them, but I saw them open for the Bloodbrothers and was an instant fan. Lots of usual buzzwords like energy and stage presence except here it is true and awesome.

StupidityKills · « **Reply #19 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 11:12 »

Quote from: JLM

The Go! Team is a lot of fun live. In this day and age there aren't that many bands I'm willing to pay to see twice in a tour for a single album, but they were one of them. I'd recommend checking out the album, as well as the "bottle rocket" single with Ninja on vocals just so you get an idea for what they're going to be like live, because she's not really on the first album vocally, and she adds something extra to the live performances.

Yay, thanks, I'm seeing them at Ashton Court this weekend. Also: Simple Minds! yay

Kai · « **Reply #20 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 11:15 »

Quote from: Kid Modernist

Quote from: Kai

Against Me!

Against Me! are great live. I didn't like them, but I saw them open for the Bloodbrothers and was an instant fan. Lots of usual buzzwords like energy and stage presence except here it is true and awesome.

sweet man.

Their albums have gotten fairly weaker as they've progressed but I can not miss the band who did Reinventing Axl Rose.

quietnow · « **Reply #21 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 11:16 »

Quote from: Kid Modernist

Quote from: Kai

Against Me!

Against Me! are great live. I didn't like them, but I saw them open for the Bloodbrothers and was an instant fan. Lots of usual buzzwords like energy and stage presence except here it is true and awesome.

agreed, tom is really damn funny what with his quips and things. i have a recording of them opening for the blood brothers at henry fonda a few years ago if anyone wants it (pm me). the other thing fantastic about am! live is that most fans are excellent people, who just wanna have a good time. at most shows there are a ton of superdicks, not too many at against me! shows.

jip · « **Reply #22 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 12:08 »

Quote from: onewheelwizzard

Any Acid Mothers Temple live show is utterly beyond amazing.

I'm hopefully seeing Eagles of Death Metal on Sunday with Peaches, any thoughts on either of them?

Saw them on Tuesday. Eagles were not really my thing, but they are very good at what they do. Their fans seemed to be really into it.
Peaches was amazing! I hadn't seen her live before, but she was so much fun. Also I didn't know JD from Le Tigre is in her touring band.

greenMonkey · « **Reply #23 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 13:48 »

Sigur Ros are amazing live. If you have a chance to see them, GO! They are really really good.

Kwi · « **Reply #24 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 14:01 »

Bright eyes, as far as musical quality goes, are spectacular. If you're a fan of Connor (which I'm sure some of you arn't) go.

From what I saw of Islands (when opening for Metric, who are good if you're into them, lots and lots of energy) they are perhaps the funnest band in the world to watch.

MWhaling · « **Reply #25 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 14:05 »

sonic youth is incredible.
acid mothers temple is incredible.
sunn is pretty entertaining, though i have no desire to ever see them again.
oren ambarchi is pretty bad.
i've missed angels of light more times than just about any other band, but i understand that they don't disappoint. as for live swans (which i never got to see, either) i think that this picture pretty much sums things up:

Scandanavian War Machine · « **Reply #26 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 14:10 »

i can confirm that Against Me! is good live. i dont really listen to their music or anything but i saw them about 5 years ago and i saw them last year (or something) and they are fun to see.

SensoryOssuary · « **Reply #27 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 14:27 »

Gogol Bordello was utterly funkelicious live. Most positive energy I've experienced at a show.

RE: Man Man: I saw them opening for the Fiery Furnaces a few weeks ago; they were pretty cool. Pretty loose, as a band, but they more or less made up for it with wackiness.

I'm going to see Tom Waits at the Detroit Opera House this month.

Been waiting to see him for about two years.

quietnow · « **Reply #28 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 14:34 »

Quote from: SensoryOssuary

Gogol Bordello was utterly funkelicious live. Most positive energy I've experienced at a show.

seconded. best show i've ever seen, no contest.

edgyswingsetacid · « **Reply #29 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 20:32 »

Quote from: Kai

A Silver Mount Zion.

The Soviettes.

The Epoxies.

Against Me!

AM!: the first time i saw against me! was a few years ago at some shitty bar, which is the best place to see them if you ask me. everyone in the room was totally into it and they fucking blew up. against me! had such incredible energy and everyone was jumping up and down and singing along arm in arm. it was one of the best shows ive ever been to. since then, ive seen them at least 4 times more and each show was worse than the last. their new material is utterly terrible, and the shows are so packed that as soon as they start playing the crowd becomes a huge, sweaty, heaving, swaying mass in which you are completely immobile. there is no dancing and there is no connection with the other fans. everyone just gets squashed. i saw them last month for the last time and it was terrible. the only good thing about it was their encore, because they played "impact," followed by "we laugh at danger," at which point i hopped on stage and stole tom's mic.

so i guess the point is that against me! nowadays tends to be entirely unenjoyable.

the soviettes: the only time ive seen them was at the tail end of the fest in gainesville, FL last year, so i was half asleep in a corner in the back of the room for half their set, but from what i gathered, they didnt seem like too much fun. if you dig their tunes it should be fun just jumping around singing along, but it might not be very moving.

the epoxies: they're pretty fun. they all wear goofy outfits and play really goofy instruments, and they all have lots of very positive energy, so they're always a good time.

a silver mt. zion: im seeing em in a week and a half, so maybe ill let you know then!

gideon · « **Reply #30 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 22:05 »

I've heard very good things about Sufjan Stevens who I'm seeing in sept.
How about Built to Spill or Ben Kweller?

The Hammered · « **Reply #31 on:** 21 Jul 2006, 22:05 »

Thanks to everyone who offered opinions about the Go! Team. I don't know if I'll be able to get their album before I go to see them, but I wouldn't mind being introduced to them by a live performance either.

Quote from: MWhaling

as for live swans (which i never got to see, either) i think that this picture pretty much sums things up:

That picture's great. Love the file name too.

Would that be Greed/Holy Money era, judging by the file name? I had the impression that they were done with that sort of thing by the nineties. I'll be getting a couple DVD-Rs from them (hopefully) soon, and I hear those have some live footage, which should be very nice. I've also seen a live clip of Like a Drug, which was great. They have a lot of live recordings available, actually, much more than most bands, but it's not the same as actually being there. Unfortunately, the only live Angels of Light recording that I'm aware of was issued in only 750 copies, and I don't have any doubt that any used copies would fetch high prices even if I could find them now (though I'll probably look around just in case).

mberan42, I was going to ask about the Decemberists but forgot. Thanks. I picked up Picaresque and the Tain recently and love them both. I'll definitely see them if I have the chance.

Regarding Sunn O))), I'm really not sure whether I'd see them or not if I had the chance. It sounds like an experience I'd love to have, but I'm worried about what they'd do to my poor ears.

Misereatur · « **Reply #32 on:** 22 Jul 2006, 17:00 »

Just got back from the Stephen O'Malley, Oren Ambarchi & Attila Csihar show.
It was probably the best concert I've ever been to. I'm too tiered to write a review so youre going to have to take my word on it.

Also, Stephen O'Malley is a really nice person. I had a pleasent chat with him, he signed my copy of White 2 and got me on the invite list for their concert in Jerusalem on the 24th of July.

edit: I had ear plugs in my ears the whole time and I heared everything great. Did'nt miss one sound. But maybe that was because the sound man is pretty talented.
But bring ear plugs to a SunnO))) concert anyway.

michelbmur · « **Reply #33 on:** 22 Jul 2006, 17:09 »

i saw the fiery furnaces live ans it was awful!
can anyone concur? disagree?

on a better note, the decemberists kick ass live!!

The Eyeball Kid · « **Reply #34 on:** 22 Jul 2006, 19:57 »

I can disagree in one sentence or I can disagree in 500 words of Guiness fueled ranting about how Eleanor Friedberger is the centre of the entire universe.
Their old shows, with all the songs merging into each other, were AMAZING. The new tour, with a straight up heavy rock and roll thing, isn't to my tastes but its still great

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists live show can be summed by one of Jeph's fellow music comic people:

That its 100% true

Other bands that rock live:
The Grates
Architecture in Helsinki
the new Misfits
Bowie
Iggy Pop
Belle & Sebestian
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
Bob Dylan, on a good day
They Might Be Giants
Elvis Costello
The Hold Steady (SOOOOOOOOOOOO AMAZING)
Jens Lekman
Cat Power
The Waifs
The Violent Femnes
The White Stripes
Smog
Joanna Newsom

i, um, go to alot of gigs

KharBevNor · « **Reply #35 on:** 22 Jul 2006, 22:26 »

You bastards, I missed a Gogol Bordello concert, owing to being in another country at the time the concert was on.

You bastards.

jcknbl · « **Reply #36 on:** 22 Jul 2006, 23:48 »

The Fiery Furnaces were great, I thought. I'm not sure what to think about the lack of keyboard (in this tour) but it was still awesome.

I thought Belle & Sebastian were really boring. Ted Leo opened for them- the line up should have been reversed.

The Eyeball Kid · « **Reply #37 on:** 23 Jul 2006, 00:46 »

Quote from: jcknbl

The Fiery Furnaces were great, I thought. I'm not sure what to think about the lack of keyboard (in this tour) but it was still awesome.

I thought Belle & Sebastian were really boring. Ted Leo opened for them- the line up should have been reversed.

re: the Furnaces: Matt said he likes to make the live shows different from the record, so for this tour he traded his keyboard for a guitar. I'm not a huge fan, but it ain't bad
given the recent release of Franz Ferdinand's love song to Eleanor i reckon the next touring incarnation of the Furnaces should be a Scottish dance rock band
Memo to Belle & Sebestian: You are NOT a Scottish dance rock band. You play pretty indie pop about my life. Seriously. Stop trying to get us to dance. It dosen't work

i liked B&S, but its a tottally different vibe from Ted Leo. I saw him in a tiny club and when his mic broke he did an acapella Dirty Old Town. it was amazing. with B&D i just sat back and enjoyed the pretty pop

penpen17 · « **Reply #38 on:** 23 Jul 2006, 13:42 »

Peaches is a hell of a lot of fun live

Mogwai is pure awesome

Kai · « **Reply #39 on:** 23 Jul 2006, 13:52 »

Quote from: The Eyeball Kid

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists live show can be summed by one of Jeph's fellow music comic people:
COMIC

Mitch Clem: A comic for every situation ever.

SensoryOssuary · « **Reply #40 on:** 23 Jul 2006, 14:32 »

I saw the Fiery Furnaces on their keyboard-less tour, and was a bit disappointed after loving the recordings of their medley shows. The band was really tight, though. I just wish they would have kept some of the dynamics from their albums instead of rocking at full speed and volume for the entire show.

I saw Cat Power at a festival doing mainly songs from The Greatest. The band was incredible (two guitarists, bassist, drummer, two back-up singers, string quartet), but her vocal performance couldn't even hope to match up with the music, in my opinion. I hate to say it, but she was better when she did the whole "depressed drunk melodrama" thing live.

Mobius_Logic · « **Reply #41 on:** 23 Jul 2006, 14:38 »

I saw Sonic Youth at the Moore (crappy venue, good band) they fucking blew me away. The whole noise break down thing is a lot better live, when you can hear all the little nuances. Plus as Newton put it Noise+Strobe Light=Awesome.

Does anyone know what the Blood Brothers, the New Pornographers, or Spoon are like live? I'm seeing them at Bumbershoot in september.

ASturge · « **Reply #42 on:** 23 Jul 2006, 14:44 »

Broken Social Scene live are freaking Legends

OllieA · « **Reply #43 on:** 23 Jul 2006, 14:49 »

What about Animal Collective?

Lexington, 125 · « **Reply #44 on:** 23 Jul 2006, 19:29 »

Quote from: ASturge

Broken Social Scene live are freaking Legends

Hells yeah-saw them in Toronto last year & they were great....so was Metric. I can attest to Ted Leo & the Pharmacists' awesomeness live. I saw Feist open for Bright Eyes & listening to her live made me an instant fan.

Also curious about Thee Silver Mt. Zion Orchestra etc. as I am going to see them in late August.

nickb285 · « **Reply #45 on:** 23 Jul 2006, 19:40 »

Nobody has mentioned the Aquabats yet. This is a huge oversight.

Also, I went to Warped Tour mostly to see Joan Jett. It was amazing. Other bands there worth seeing:

Anti-Flag (seen them a few times and they're always great)
The Bouncing Souls (just a damn good time)
The Sounds (I'd never listened to them before, but their show was awesome)

MWhaling · « **Reply #46 on:** 24 Jul 2006, 12:16 »

i assume that the picture i posted is from an early performance.
animal collective can be great or pretty dull, depending on the venue.
the blood brothers are pretty good if you like them.
anti-flag is one of the worst bands i've ever encountered.

TrueNeutral · « **Reply #47 on:** 24 Jul 2006, 12:35 »

Quote from: The Eyeball Kid

Other bands that rock live:

The White Stripes

Wha-huh?

pat101 · « **Reply #48 on:** 24 Jul 2006, 13:09 »

If you can go see the Go! Team they're a ton of fun live.

Coonstar · « **Reply #49 on:** 24 Jul 2006, 13:58 »

I hadn't been to a lot of concerts, but here's a quicky on what I think on some bands:

The Arcade Fire = Wow.
Stars = Wow. Torquil pretty much made the show.
Metric = Meh. But everyone knows that I think that Emily Haines is boring.
Wolf Parade = Okay. I like their material but Spencer seemed too apathetic.
Queens of the Stone Age = freaking rock your face off. or smoke. whatever you prefer.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: The "How are they live?" thread (Read 17628 times)

The Hammered

gideon

gideon

jcknbl

The Eyeball Kid

AnonymousNoob

TrueNeutral

cacahuate

OllieA

Kid Modernist

StupidityKills

jip

Kwi

MWhaling

SensoryOssuary

edgyswingsetacid

gideon

The Hammered

michelbmur

The Eyeball Kid

jcknbl

The Eyeball Kid

penpen17

SensoryOssuary

ASturge

OllieA

nickb285

MWhaling

TrueNeutral

Coonstar