Completely bogus live performances

[LBS-bass]

Let me preface this by saying I have nothing against the use of backing tracks. I think that in some cases they are necessary, for a variety of reasons.

That said, I just saw a "live" clip online of a band performing at a fair that, I guess, is coming to a local venue where I play, since that's who posted it. The band was heavily choreographed and energetic, and my first thought was, wow, they are sure putting a lot into this performance, and it sure does sound tight for a live band doing all that dancing.

Then the lead singer stepped over to the side of the stage, moved the microphone all the way down to her knees, and somehow her voice kept on going. Dang. THE WHOLE THING IS FAKE.

Now, maybe these are the same people who went into the studio and recorded that and maybe they're going to do a real performance here, but I wouldn't bet my lunch on it.

Is this the future of "live" performance? Makes me sad if it is.

Again, I have nothing against backing tracks but, at a minimum, I want to know that something coming off the stage is real. And also, who puts such an obviously fake clip up as a promotion? The whole thing seems contemptuous, as though audiences are not smart enough to notice.

I thought about posting something in the comments, but it's not my circus.

 

[Michedelic]

Let me preface this by saying I have nothing against the use of backing tracks. I think that in some cases they are necessary, for a variety of reasons.

That said, I just saw a "live" clip online of a band performing at a fair that, I guess, is coming to a local venue where I play, since that's who posted it. The band was heavily choreographed and energetic, and my first thought was, wow, they are sure putting a lot into this performance, and it sure does sound tight for a live band doing all that dancing.

Then the lead singer stepped over to the side of the stage, moved the microphone all the way down to her knees, and somehow her voice kept on going. Dang. THE WHOLE THING IS FAKE.

Now, maybe these are the same people who went into the studio and recorded that and maybe they're going to do a real performance here, but I wouldn't bet my lunch on it.

Is this the future of "live" performance? Makes me sad if it is.

Again, I have nothing against backing tracks but, at a minimum, I want to know that something coming off the stage is real. And also, who puts such an obviously fake clip up as a promotion? The whole thing seems contemptuous, as though audiences are not smart enough to notice.

I thought about posting something in the comments, but it's not my circus.

You didn’t get the memo? We’re in the fake is as good as real age. Chat GPT told me that, so it has to be true.
Oh, and Bad Bunny is the future of music. Rolling Stone told me that.

 

[Elusive1]

Reminds me of this prank Muse pulled a few years back

 

[ElectroVibe]

When the Beatles played live no one could hear them. It wouldn't have mattered how they sounded.

 

[Naigewron]

Motley Crue is currently filling arenas, charging up to 4k for a ticket, and miming their whole performance (with the possible exception of John 5)

 

[Naigewron]

Then the lead singer stepped over to the side of the stage, moved the microphone all the way down to her knees, and somehow her voice kept on going. Dang. THE WHOLE THING IS FAKE

Most likely they play live on stage, but they've rerecorded some or all parts for the live clip. Maybe they didn't have a multitrack recording of the performance, or maybe they just didn't feel the performance was good enough.

Almost every live album ever released has at least *some* overdubs or editing to fix mistakes that were made on the night.

 

[el murdoque]

I can agree with backing tracks as a crutch to fill something.
I've played with this guy who had rhythm guitar loops for the solo part. The setup required exact playing along a click track. Basically he started a sample that was a click for 64 bars, then 8 bars of rhythm guitar.

However, if you're completely faking it, that's not live music. That's live dancing with instruments.
I don't care if they managed to record the tracks and what the audience sees is the real people who played on the record. If they are not playing it, they are faking it.

 

[J Wilson]

I'm hopelessly old-school, and in solidarity with Elton John. Either you put together a good band and play live, warts and all, and let it rip, or stay home, whether you're playing Bud's 19th Hole down on the corner, or Wembley or Madison Square Garden.

Period.

ESPECIALLY at the mortgage payment prices for tickets today.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Was it a promo video? Those often use live video and studio recordings. I've even seen videos of bands using original artist recordings for their promo videos.

 

[Stewie]

All that stuff is way too complicated for me. If you can't play it live, why bother?

 

[OptimalOptimus]

Every pop artist is fake. They Dance and all that.

just like a Superbowl halftime show

 

[Jefenator]

Is it already 19 years since the Ashlee Simpson SNL fail? My, how time goes by.
I can feel one band slipping in that direction. The singer would probably be a lot happier if they were using a recording for the rhythm section. And I'm starting to think I would be, too.
I hope that works out. But when you space things a little and skip a verse, don't come crying to me.

 

[Medicine Man]

I got an offer to join a band without ever meeting the guy, or auditioning, which I commented on as being weird. He sends me a copy of his tracks to learn, and I show up for "rehearsal" and there is a video crew there. I asked why he was shooting a promo video before we even rehearsed, and he told me that the band was only ever going to mime over studio tracks. I left.

 

[Windowliquor]

Immediately reminded me of PIL on American Bandstand. What I think the British refer to as “taking the p!$$.”

Reminds me of this prank Muse pulled a few years back

 

[HardNHeavy]

AI and holograms are getting popular as well....i dont like it.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

Let me preface this by saying I have nothing against the use of backing tracks. I think that in some cases they are necessary, for a variety of reasons.

That said, I just saw a "live" clip online of a band performing at a fair that, I guess, is coming to a local venue where I play, since that's who posted it. The band was heavily choreographed and energetic, and my first thought was, wow, they are sure putting a lot into this performance, and it sure does sound tight for a live band doing all that dancing.

Then the lead singer stepped over to the side of the stage, moved the microphone all the way down to her knees, and somehow her voice kept on going. Dang. THE WHOLE THING IS FAKE.

Now, maybe these are the same people who went into the studio and recorded that and maybe they're going to do a real performance here, but I wouldn't bet my lunch on it.

Is this the future of "live" performance? Makes me sad if it is.

Again, I have nothing against backing tracks but, at a minimum, I want to know that something coming off the stage is real. And also, who puts such an obviously fake clip up as a promotion? The whole thing seems contemptuous, as though audiences are not smart enough to notice.

I thought about posting something in the comments, but it's not my circus.

It's only going to get worse. At least for now it's (mostly) real humans dancing around pretending to play the music. Soon it will be robots

 

[LBS-bass]

Was it a promo video? Those often use live video and studio recordings. I've even seen videos of bands using original artist recordings for their promo videos.

No, it appeared to be an audience clip of the band performing at a fair somewhere. It wouldn't have surprised me too much if it'd been a more polished production, you sort of expect a lot to happen in post production with those, but this didn't look like that at all, it looked like that's how they performed it.

 

[Discount Bassy]

The next thing you'll tell me is that CGI movies have some sort of computer/video effects. They claim "CGI" (Certainly Genuine Images), but I think that there is some sort of editing going on. There is no way that superheroes flying make those weird plane noises without engines.

 

[pbass2]

I've even seen videos of bands using original artist recordings for their promo videos.

You mean a cover band, using the original track and miming to it for their promo? That would be a deal-breaker for me if I was going to hire someone.

 

[Bajo Clarkko]

I saw Eric Johnson and Steve Morse back in ‘86. This would have been the tour for Eric’s newly released “Tones” CD. (I can’t remember if EJ was to open for a scaled down version of The Dregs/Steve Morse Band, or just what the deal was.)

Anywhoo, Steve comes out and said he wasn’t able to put a band together for the tour, and he would play to prerecorded tracks, which he referred to as “Dregs In A Box”. At least he was up front about it, and no one cared.

(EJ came out and played a blistering set with his band, and for an encore, he and Steve covered some Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix tunes.) And, as they say, a good time was had by all.