Post by madoldlu on Oct 14, 2019 13:33:21 GMT -5
The current thread "Nick can play" and that other previous thread "How much piano is Nick playing" inspired me to start this thread.
This whole thing about whether Nick plays live or not made me think about what it is people want out of seeing their favorite band play live. What do people really want out of a live performance? Has anyone here ever REALLY given this any real thought and reflection? I personally don't have any problem with Nick not playing live, but that's because I know how much layering there is in his keyboards so I'm willing to cut him some slack. And then you're left with pretty much what he already does during a concert: picks some prominent keyboard part and mimes to it. *Shrug*
Okay, so we can all accept Nick not playing live. But what about Roger and some of his percussion layering? Is that ok that it's pre-recorded and he "only" plays the main drum line? Or John, or Dom? Why would one be ok and not the other? It's all a really weird thing when you stop and think about it.
Some of you may know that I'm not too much of a fan of their live performances because I'm too in love with the final product. Any change is tempo, or missed note, or late vocal, any change at all is jarring to me. I love every drum beat, every high hat, every weird noise, every bass note, every vocal flourish. When it deviates from that, it simply doesn't sound right to me and takes me out of it. Even just the acoustics of the sounds not matching the recordings sounds wrong to me (to me, drums never sound as good live from concert speakers as they do in recordings). So their live performance isn't for me. And it's really mostly for just DD. I think Arcade Fire are phenomenal live, but I think I like their live performances because their music is a little rough and loose to begin with, so it lends itself better to a live setting when things can change here and there. DD is different because their recorded music is so tight and precisely designed that any change sounds wrong. At least for me, anyway.
So why would I ever go see DD live? I've said it before that it isn't a priority for me because I don't enjoy them live. However, I would love to hear them talk about their music for 2 hours in a live setting instead!
So again, why would *I* ever go see DD live? I guess I would just want to be in the same space as they are in, to share in that moment, to see them in three dimensions (even if all they are are a tiny little speck on the horizon)! Sure, I appreciate their showmanship. I can appreciate them putting on a good performance. But I would know going in that they won't deliver on the "perfection" of replicating their recorded works. I mean, if I wanted that, I would just put on the album and save $200! But knowing that I'm not getting a perfect recreation of their own music, I'm just there for a performance. It's very much a lesser experience for me, but I do know that seeing them live means a lot to most fans, especially here who always mention how cheated they feel when DD ignores their country when they tour.
So now I ask all of you guys, what do *you* want from a DD live performance? What do you hope to get out of it? What difference does it really make if they are playing live or just lip syncing or Nick is just miming his parts? Why would that really make a difference? Do you want them to *prove* that they can play what they record, that it's not just all production tricks? Warren prides himself that others can't recreate his playing, so does that suggest that they are out to prove they can play what they record? What does a good performance mean to you? Is it to closely replicate the recordings? People complain (or was it just Warren?) that Andy couldn't do Ordinary World well or that Dom doesn't play certain songs the right way, so does that mean that accuracy IS important? Is it the banter to the audience? Is it their moving around on stage? Is it the lighting effects? Is it the communal experience of being in an arena full of like-minded individuals? Wouldn't just having one giant listening party be the same? Why wouldn't it be? Is it like me that you just want to occupy the same space that they are in? Then why do they have to perform? Is it to see them do what they do best, as opposed to them sitting and talking about their songs like I would like?
If anyone is bored enough to really think hard about this, I would appreciate hearing your thoughts!
Like I said, weird, right?
This whole thing about whether Nick plays live or not made me think about what it is people want out of seeing their favorite band play live. What do people really want out of a live performance? Has anyone here ever REALLY given this any real thought and reflection? I personally don't have any problem with Nick not playing live, but that's because I know how much layering there is in his keyboards so I'm willing to cut him some slack. And then you're left with pretty much what he already does during a concert: picks some prominent keyboard part and mimes to it. *Shrug*
Okay, so we can all accept Nick not playing live. But what about Roger and some of his percussion layering? Is that ok that it's pre-recorded and he "only" plays the main drum line? Or John, or Dom? Why would one be ok and not the other? It's all a really weird thing when you stop and think about it.
Some of you may know that I'm not too much of a fan of their live performances because I'm too in love with the final product. Any change is tempo, or missed note, or late vocal, any change at all is jarring to me. I love every drum beat, every high hat, every weird noise, every bass note, every vocal flourish. When it deviates from that, it simply doesn't sound right to me and takes me out of it. Even just the acoustics of the sounds not matching the recordings sounds wrong to me (to me, drums never sound as good live from concert speakers as they do in recordings). So their live performance isn't for me. And it's really mostly for just DD. I think Arcade Fire are phenomenal live, but I think I like their live performances because their music is a little rough and loose to begin with, so it lends itself better to a live setting when things can change here and there. DD is different because their recorded music is so tight and precisely designed that any change sounds wrong. At least for me, anyway.
So why would I ever go see DD live? I've said it before that it isn't a priority for me because I don't enjoy them live. However, I would love to hear them talk about their music for 2 hours in a live setting instead!
So again, why would *I* ever go see DD live? I guess I would just want to be in the same space as they are in, to share in that moment, to see them in three dimensions (even if all they are are a tiny little speck on the horizon)! Sure, I appreciate their showmanship. I can appreciate them putting on a good performance. But I would know going in that they won't deliver on the "perfection" of replicating their recorded works. I mean, if I wanted that, I would just put on the album and save $200! But knowing that I'm not getting a perfect recreation of their own music, I'm just there for a performance. It's very much a lesser experience for me, but I do know that seeing them live means a lot to most fans, especially here who always mention how cheated they feel when DD ignores their country when they tour.
So now I ask all of you guys, what do *you* want from a DD live performance? What do you hope to get out of it? What difference does it really make if they are playing live or just lip syncing or Nick is just miming his parts? Why would that really make a difference? Do you want them to *prove* that they can play what they record, that it's not just all production tricks? Warren prides himself that others can't recreate his playing, so does that suggest that they are out to prove they can play what they record? What does a good performance mean to you? Is it to closely replicate the recordings? People complain (or was it just Warren?) that Andy couldn't do Ordinary World well or that Dom doesn't play certain songs the right way, so does that mean that accuracy IS important? Is it the banter to the audience? Is it their moving around on stage? Is it the lighting effects? Is it the communal experience of being in an arena full of like-minded individuals? Wouldn't just having one giant listening party be the same? Why wouldn't it be? Is it like me that you just want to occupy the same space that they are in? Then why do they have to perform? Is it to see them do what they do best, as opposed to them sitting and talking about their songs like I would like?
If anyone is bored enough to really think hard about this, I would appreciate hearing your thoughts!
Like I said, weird, right?