"Live Music" losing integrity....

Chad Michael · #1 01-26-2008, 12:48 AM

Just caught Coldplay on (I believe) Austin City Limits.

At first, I thought what a great band.... musically dynamic, great stage presence, and they came across very well.... 'live'. I noticed how the keyboard chording made their sound so well-rounded.

Then, after looking for the keyboard player on stage, there wasn't one.

Live music is exactly that. Live music. It is not recorded music, or sequenced music, or lip-sync music, it is LIVE MUSIC!!!! Performers, venues, and patrons.... Come on people, don't support this 'fakery' any more.

I had friends who attended a Van Halen concert a few years ago, same scenario.... "Jump" with no keyboard player. Oh yes, you could hear it but it wasn't live for you to see as well as hear.

If I would have spent stupid prices for a Van Halen or Coldplay concert ticket, and been subjected to recorded or sequenced "musicianship", I'd feel violated......what a sham. What a shame.

bassaficionado6 · #2 01-26-2008, 01:02 AM

Yeah for some bands that sucks, but some bands just don't want other people on the stage.

Rush for example uses sequencers and pedals in order to activate some musical parts so that Geddy can play both bass and keyboards. It just wouldn't feel the same if there was a fourth member on stage with Rush.

But, for Coldplay, I thought that the lead singer played the piano.

What's up with that?

Deluge Of Sound · #3 01-26-2008, 02:06 PM

I would've thought you would feel violated by listening to Coldplay...

fenderhutz · #4 01-26-2008, 02:09 PM

If you have heard Creed live when they were together I can tell you you never heard Scott Stapps true voice.

You heard Mr. Pitch.

Vasudeva · #5 01-29-2008, 09:25 PM

Queens of the Stone Age performed well when they came to Houston in October or so. You should check them out. That said if you listen to Cold Play QoTSA may not be your thing.

Spector_Ray · #6 01-29-2008, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

I would've thought you would feel violated by listening to Coldplay...

**Thor** · #7 01-29-2008, 10:27 PM

Milli Vanilli

To me, if you can't play it, don't.

Stones: Ian Stewart faded out. Tour guy> Chuck Leavell.
Real keyboards.

Last Wedding I went to>
Hey, who is the bass player?
<snicker> <snicker>
'Roland'

My wife was pissed at me because I had a crappy time.
I just couldn't groove to 'Roland'.
I still have not heard the end of that sheeot.
Totally blew my evening,

Music was fine, for disco loop bass. No feel, no groove.
Canned vegetables. Give them a few drinks and the drunk
chicks don't care. Not that they actually know the difference
anyway. I hate even thinking about it. Awful.

The thing that hurt was that the band thought it was funny.
Ok, I don't mind the intitial joke. Ha Ha. Too bad the bottom
end sucked, I guess I was the only musician to notice.

guitfiddle0409 · #8 01-29-2008, 10:34 PM

I have actually read accounts of some bands using a part-time keyboard player off stage. Weird, but then again what do I know?

scorpionldr · #9 01-30-2008, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimplizkit

Just caught Coldplay on (I believe) Austin City Limits.

At first, I thought what a great band.... musically dynamic, great stage presence, and they came across very well.... 'live'. I noticed how the keyboard chording made their sound so well-rounded.

Then, after looking for the keyboard player on stage, there wasn't one.

Live music is exactly that. Live music. It is not recorded music, or sequenced music, or lip-sync music, it is LIVE MUSIC!!!! Performers, venues, and patrons.... Come on people, don't support this 'fakery' any more.

I had friends who attended a Van Halen concert a few years ago, same scenario.... "Jump" with no keyboard player. Oh yes, you could hear it but it wasn't live for you to see as well as hear.

If I would have spent stupid prices for a Van Halen or Coldplay concert ticket, and been subjected to recorded or sequenced "musicianship", I'd feel violated......what a sham. What a shame.

ha, live music. short of going to a concert to see a metal band like down or mudvayne or some band in the majors, my area's local music scene is seemingly extinct......not much really impresses kids anymore i don't think

Philbiker · #10 01-30-2008, 06:40 AM

I guess The Who has no integrity for playing all those great songe to the pre-recorded sequences that Pete Townshend wrote.

bobba66 · #11 01-30-2008, 08:10 AM

Black Sabbath used to have a keyboard guy offstage. Led Zep had a guitar guy behind the scenes, too.

Spector_Ray · #12 01-30-2008, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobba66

Black Sabbath used to have a keyboard guy offstage.

Ozzy still does it for Mr. Crowley.

mvw356 · #13 01-30-2008, 08:47 AM

i think that 99% of all major acts 'cheat' when performing live. with some bands it just doesn't work to have another guy on stage. also , that guy needs to be paid, fed, accommodated and worst of all he'll want his share of the groupies too.

mjolnir · #14 01-30-2008, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vasudeva

Queens of the Stone Age performed well when they came to Houston in October or so. You should check them out. That said if you listen to Cold Play QoTSA may not be your thing.

QoTSA is a great, great live band.

**Thor** · #15 01-30-2008, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mvw356

i think that 99% of all major acts 'cheat' when performing live. with some bands it just doesn't work to have another guy on stage. also , that guy needs to be paid, fed, accommodated and worst of all he'll want his share of the groupies too.

The Stones seemed to have made that work. Plenty of cats
doing backup, keys, horns and what not.

Moody Blues use a synth guy and a second drummer on
stage. And have for years.

All the Milfs and Gilfs still want Justin Hayward.

jomahu · #16 01-30-2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjolnir

QoTSA is a great, great live band.

for real. they're awesome. josh homme's tone is stellar.

hmmm. i wonder who's doing all those back-up vocals at Rush shows....'cause we all know Alex can't carry a tune to save his life.

punkbassistfc · #17 01-30-2008, 11:56 AM

Coldplay suck as humans

Mon Rominee · #18 01-30-2008, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philbiker

I guess The Who has no integrity for playing all those great songe to the pre-recorded sequences that Pete Townshend wrote.

+1 million.
then again, my band plays to some backing track stuff, just sequenced stuff, no vox or anything, and my drummer plays live to these tracks with a click in the other ear, so he can maintain time and still "feel" the song with the tracks...but we're still very very much playing live.

Sorry to have offended anyone.

funkalicious101 · #19 01-30-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jomahu

for real. they're awesome. josh homme's tone is stellar.

hmmm. i wonder who's doing all those back-up vocals at Rush shows....'cause we all know Alex can't carry a tune to save his life.

He sang backup on Roll the Bones. And it sounded like him on R30.

P. Aaron · #20 01-30-2008, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor

[...]
Music was fine, for disco loop bass. No feel, no groove.[...]

The thing that hurt was that the band thought it was funny.
Ok, I don't mind the intitial joke. Ha Ha. Too bad the bottom
end sucked, I guess I was the only musician to notice.

We played a 40 minute set at a wedding (as a surprise gift the bride: our only freebie last year) in spite of the fact that the parents also spent lavishly for the trendiest wedding band available. They had "Roland" on bas as well (that guy gets around) and while the music was competent, it was souless.

I filled in for our usual bassist and we got 'em going quite well indeed, and we got the "nice try" looks & commentary from the ostensible "pros".

(Heck, we played over 30 paying gigs last year, not that we told them that)

I know what you mean by that 'ghost' bass sound.