Live Performance Recommendations

Posted by: ErikL on 20 August 2003

In the spirit of fewer favorites lists and more useful recommendations, I unveil a new thread. My first live performance thread was lame.

The purpose here? To recommend live performances based on your recent experiences, so as to help forum members identify who might be worth seeing when said performer comes to their town. Each post should also describe why said performer is worth seeing.

It should also be a forum for asking if anyone has seen a particular act, before committing to buying a ticket.

[This message was edited by Ludwig on WEDNESDAY 20 August 2003 at 20:02.]

Posted on: 20 August 2003 by ErikL

To get things started...

The Roots

I saw them in Seattle on Sunday. The venue was an amphitheater.

I expected rap backed by a real live band (The Roots' popular definition) but what I got was a lot more. They played blues, funk, and soul in addition to rap all tightly and in organic/old-school manner. When the guitarist played with his teeth, ass, etc the crowd loved it, maybe because it's Seattle (Hendrix is buried here). The two percussionists were also excellent, especially if you like funk and Latiin-tinged percussion. The MC was incredible- I've rarely heard a rapper flow through songs seemingly without taking breaths. It was like machine-gun fire, but all understandable. He also transitioned the band from song to song quickly and with fun, energetic, and soulful twists. My only knock is my friend and I could've listened to them all night but they only played 45 minutes or so (it was a festival, with a dozen or so acts).

I also learned after the set that guitarist Captain Kirk Douglas is a recent date's sister's friend, so to be fair that somehow adds to the coolness factor for me.

Check 'em out!

I should have comments on Wilco, REM, New Pornographers, Grandaddy, Lee Fields/Sugarman 3, and/or Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings in coming weeks, but would love to hear if anyone has seen any of these lately.

Posted on: 22 August 2003 by ErikL

Do people here not go to live shows?

Posted on: 22 August 2003 by Mekon

I missed out on seeing Buck65 on Wednesday becuase I had to work late

.

I haven't been to see anything since Jimmy Cliff, earlier in the summer, which I posted about at the time. The next gig I am looking forward to is a Sage Francis/Buck65/Boom Bip show in october, but I may have to blow it out, as it's on the Sunday before the start of term.

Posted on: 23 August 2003 by bjorne

I saw Black Rebel Mororcycle Club, BRMC, a few days ago here in Stockholm. They gave a free! concert to promote their new album and to thank their swedish fans as they are very popular here. They are very good live.

Posted on: 23 August 2003 by HTK

quote:
Originally posted by Ludwig:
Do people here not go to live shows?

Very seldom here. In my late teens 20s and 30s I went to hundreds. It was all the baggage that went with it that did for me. Still love live music but can no longer put up with traveling, parking, queuing, rip off prices for food and drink, filthy overflowing toilets and people who yack/argue/make phone calls/get drunk and shout/ all the way through the bloody concert. Rock concents are even worse!