LondonProgGigs wrote:
... You obviously prefer recorded music, which is fine and you're probably in the majority; however a substantial number of folk still like live music, which is what my Facebook group caters for. Personally though I'm also not keen on gigs with 'thousands of other folks; I far prefer small venues of around 100 people maximum. Which is normal in the prog genre, to be honest :-) ... |
Hi,
Incorrect, actually. What matters to me is not live or Memorex ... it is THE MUSIC.
We've gotten ourselves into a thinking more than seems to suggest that "live" is way better than "Memorex", and I have seen it from the both sides, and there is no way of telling ... but the idea that we have to be in the same room to enjoy music, is preposterous and in this day of the crazy pandemic, something that is likely to be dangerous.
The date may be "firm", but I'll bet you that there will be several restrictions and more of this and that which will cut down the ability to put together a show as you would like.
I appreciate the artist, and 9 out of 10 times, as a person and musician is much more important to me than the media and stage sensation ... and as such, while I was guilty of wanting to see a few bands, coming with it ... was something not as nice and neat for the music!
1. Babe Ruth put on a great show at the Whiskey, but the fan boys were there for Iggy and the Stooges. Saddest thing I ever saw ... they put on a massive great show. I walked out before 20 minutes of Iggy and the Stooges!
2. PF at the Sports Arena. 700+ people got busted at the door BEFORE the concert and during the concert (The Wall) there were narks removing folks from the audience right during the show ... sickest poop I ever saw.
3. International Progressive Music Fest 1999 (SF). Lana Lane and the Rocket Scientists opened the whole thing and put on the most professional and clean show I have seen in decades. Only for folks to leave saying that it wasn't prog, but too much metal ... they deserved a lot better.
4. Damo Suzuki solo in Portland. I can't dislike this guy but before the show he was "meeting" the fans and having a cigarette, and he would not talk. I can handle an actor concentrating or working on his concentration, but you would not do that next to many fans, that wanted to shake your hand and all that. He put on a mailed in show, that was ... average ... at best. Daevid Allen did the same thing and was having a party drawing out "certificates" for various folks ... and having a lot of fun! The difference was astounding!
5. The worst? In Chicago during the worst days (late 60's) ... one band did NOT show up to the show (they were famous for being late!!!) ... and instead we got the police coming down the street with clubs in their hands. It wasn't fun running for your life.
In general, I got to see many things, Tangerine Dream 4 times from the first American Tour on, Hawkwind and Man, Nektar, Gong (toured and took pics with them on my website), Alan Stivell, and a few of the better known within the progressive/prog list.
Saddest show? YES at the Long Beach Arena in 1972 doing TFTO ... in its entirety. It was magnificent ... but the audience was rude and only "woke" up for the 2nd part of the show that started with CTTE. I left ... I cried going out because it was not about the music ... and the folks in the audience only wanted the hits, and to fudge up anything else ... the artist was "no more" ... it was now about the hits!
And lastly ... the famous Anaheim Show where Roger got upset at fans and swore at them ... not to mention that on one other show he was upset because too many fans were getting stoned instead of getting into the music!
There are times, when "live" is not worth it ... but I will tell you that I do not regret seeing one guitarist live ... that was incredible ... Stevie Ray Vaughn ... and on that night I doubt anyone could touch his universe! Many of these are on video, though I'm not sure they are all his "best".
And finally ... you don't go to see Mozart or Beethoven because it is live. You go to see it because you LOVE THE MUSIC ... and this is all I'm saying ...
------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com
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