In Praise of Concerts and Live Albums

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   John Lydon of Public Image Ltd and The Sex Pistols has referred to the authenticity of the live experience.  It already was bad enough with things like autotune, but With the rise of AI, I'm concerned about there being much less authenticity in music and writing. Of course there has been studio "trickery" for ages which I can appreciate and I am not against lots of technology when it comes to making/producing, mixing and recording music... And of course some live albums are more authentic to the live experience than others and some concerts employ more "not live" effects and recordings than others.  

I tried experimenting with AI music and the results were humorously cliche and also sadly better than I would have done in various ways, methinks (I appreciated Rick Beato's recent video on that topic). I loathe what's happening with AI, but I digress.

I have been finding myself enjoying live music much more over the past few years even if not actually seeing the acts live, but instead listening to recorded performances. I've seen a number of acts during the summer at "free" concerts and am most looking forward to seeing Stereolab in October.  Magma has been one of my past highlights and my favourite "rock" concert was Spinal Tap in 1992.  I've seen lots of classical, jazz and blues music live.  I have not been attending many concerts other than free things for many years and now try to get out more.

The live release that I have been the most enamored with this year has been Fishmans' 98.12.28 Otokotachi no wakare, a release that I have talked about and shared a lot at PA (I tend to favour Fishmans live work over studio). 

I made a list of some of my favourites (there are many more that I could add by Magma, and many others, but the 20 there are ones that have been exciting me of late) at Rate Your Music.  Fishmans, Portishead, Swans, Ciśnienie, Magma, Bjork, Boris, Anna von Hausswolff, Cardiacs and Tangerine Dream are some of the representatives. I really dig many 90s concerts, but of course something like Woodstock had so much to offer (adored Santana there).

I mentioned John Lydon at the beginning, and PiL's 2013 concert at Glastonbury Festival is the last live performance I have seen.  Rather different from my usual fare, but I always liked PiL, and I really like Lu Edmonds guitar-work.

Here's a very nice version of Sigur Rós' Popplagið (Live in Reykjavík) that I first heard not long ago.

Please mention any concerts you have enjoyed and/or are looking forward to, your favourite live albums, general thoughts on live music etc. 

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Logan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum & Site Admin Group Site Admin Joined: April 05 2006 Location: In repose. Status: Offline Points: 38982	Post Options Post Reply Quote Logan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: In Praise of Concerts and Live Albums Posted: 20 hours 18 minutes ago at 11:47
	John Lydon of Public Image Ltd and The Sex Pistols has referred to the authenticity of the live experience. It already was bad enough with things like autotune, but With the rise of AI, I'm concerned about there being much less authenticity in music and writing. Of course there has been studio "trickery" for ages which I can appreciate and I am not against lots of technology when it comes to making/producing, mixing and recording music... And of course some live albums are more authentic to the live experience than others and some concerts employ more "not live" effects and recordings than others. I tried experimenting with AI music and the results were humorously cliche and also sadly better than I would have done in various ways, methinks (I appreciated Rick Beato's recent video on that topic). I loathe what's happening with AI, but I digress. I have been finding myself enjoying live music much more over the past few years even if not actually seeing the acts live, but instead listening to recorded performances. I've seen a number of acts during the summer at "free" concerts and am most looking forward to seeing Stereolab in October. Magma has been one of my past highlights and my favourite "rock" concert was Spinal Tap in 1992. I've seen lots of classical, jazz and blues music live. I have not been attending many concerts other than free things for many years and now try to get out more. The live release that I have been the most enamored with this year has been Fishmans' 98.12.28 Otokotachi no wakare, a release that I have talked about and shared a lot at PA (I tend to favour Fishmans live work over studio). I made a list of some of my favourites (there are many more that I could add by Magma, and many others, but the 20 there are ones that have been exciting me of late) at Rate Your Music. Fishmans, Portishead, Swans, Ciśnienie, Magma, Bjork, Boris, Anna von Hausswolff, Cardiacs and Tangerine Dream are some of the representatives. I really dig many 90s concerts, but of course something like Woodstock had so much to offer (adored Santana there). I mentioned John Lydon at the beginning, and PiL's 2013 concert at Glastonbury Festival is the last live performance I have seen. Rather different from my usual fare, but I always liked PiL, and I really like Lu Edmonds guitar-work. Here's a very nice version of Sigur Rós' Popplagið (Live in Reykjavík) that I first heard not long ago. Please mention any concerts you have enjoyed and/or are looking forward to, your favourite live albums, general thoughts on live music etc.
	Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me.

Lewian Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: August 09 2015 Location: Italy Status: Offline Points: 15676	Post Options Post Reply Quote Lewian Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 16 hours 59 minutes ago at 15:06
	Yeah, live music is better. I wasn't aware of the PIL show, nice find, although I've got to say that I found them sharper in earlier incarnations (only heard some 10 minutes of the show yet but I mean other things I heard of them after 2000). Here's Talk Talk's legendary Montreux show. They were still in their pop phase before their sensational last two albums, but this is so good (anyway). Kraan's first Live album is very well known, much less so the second one, Tournee, which is pretty much as great. They're such a good live band. (Unfortunately I can't find live videos from that tour.) While I'm at it, here's Kraan bassist Hellmut Hattler's solo project live; they have a marvellous live double album from around that time.
	I make typos so you see I'm not a machine, but I may be a machine pretending to not be a machine.

Lewian Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: August 09 2015 Location: Italy Status: Offline Points: 15676	Post Options Post Reply Quote Lewian Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 16 hours 57 minutes ago at 15:08
	Early September I'm going to see Colosseum and Agitation Free live. No idea how they are these days with very different line-ups from the early days, but I'm very curious.
	I make typos so you see I'm not a machine, but I may be a machine pretending to not be a machine.

Lewian Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: August 09 2015 Location: Italy Status: Offline Points: 15676	Post Options Post Reply Quote Lewian Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 16 hours 34 minutes ago at 15:31
	Foals get me every time on stage, even on video. Here's a very early one, not yet quite so audience commanding as they became later, but with a very charming live sound full of human imperfection yet almost perfect. Edited by Lewian - 16 hours 32 minutes ago at 15:33
	I make typos so you see I'm not a machine, but I may be a machine pretending to not be a machine.

Logan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum & Site Admin Group Site Admin Joined: April 05 2006 Location: In repose. Status: Offline Points: 38982	Post Options Post Reply Quote Logan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 minutes ago at 07:38
	Quite something to see that Talk talk performance which I was unfamiliar with (not watched it in full yet) and I have enjoyed the other vids you posted. Kraan's first live album is one of my favourites and did not know Tournee. I'd be interested to know how Agitation free and Colosseum live are now. Agitation Free's Last (released in 1976) is a very fine live album. I really appreciate those acts where each performance is quite unique and where the lives differ from studio versions. Some definitely sound better with the studio recordings and some of course just try to replicate the studio versions. Somethjng with, say, Fishmans, that I like is that each performance of a a piece I have heard has significant differences, and they would improvise on their works in preparation for performances, expand on them, and evolve them. I like variation and variations on themes. here are some other things I enjoy: Shared this first Vanishing Twin one more than once here (love the groove, love the band): Vanishing Twin - Cryonic Suspension May Save Your Life (Pensiero Magico Live Session) Vanishing Twin - Telescope & Floating Heart (Pensiero Magico Live Session) Radiohead - There, There Live at Glastonbury (2003) Edited by Logan - 27 minutes ago at 07:38
	Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me.