Re: Top Ten Reasons Why You WON'T Go to a 2007 Stones Show
Date: March 8, 2007 14:32
Gazza Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Barn Owl Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > If I didn't go to any of the shows, I wouldn't
> be
> > in any position to criticise them.
>
>
> that argument doesnt really hold up, IMO
>
> Someone could choose not to go because they werent
> impressed last time they saw the band (God knows
> why - the Licks shows were great! - but each to
> their own), because there's no shows anywhere near
> them (which would be the case for most of the
> planet outside North America and some parts of
> western Europe), because they were too expensive
> or because the only time they played nearby didnt
> suit for personal reasons. Theres lots of
> justifiable excuses.
>
> And you can reasonably evaluate how good/bad shows
> are without going to them - even if youre not
> getting the full concert experience. I wasnt at
> Brussels or Wembley in 1973 or at any of the 1972
> shows, nor were most people on this board, yet we
> can still justifiably comment on how terrific they
> are. It works both ways. If someone hears a
> recording of a ABB show and doesnt go because they
> dont care for how the band sound, thats reasonable
> enough. Better that they dont waste their money
> and it means a ticket for someone else who will
> hopefully enjoy it.
>
> One Reason Why I WILL Go to a 2007 Stones Show
>
> 1. They're still bloody good.
What you say makes a great deal of sense and in essence, I would find it difficult to disagree with you.
However, using the radio broadcast of the ABB Glasgow show as an example, here is a Stones concert that for a great many reasons, is, in IMHO, utterly unlistenable, and I would never have dreamt in a million lifetimes, that I would ever have a reason to put those words together in a single sentence. Yet, from Jagger's dreadful vocals right through to the godawful wall-of-noise guitar mix, here was a Stones gig that even after severe editing, I could not bear to listen to again.
Being at the show itself however, offered a completely different experience. It was a fantastic concert, even in spite of an over-reliance upon warhorses. The upshot being, that the new Stones sound, even more so than that on the Licks tour, is infinetly better before actual live audiences, but, as such, does not lend itself very well to recordings. Even professional ones.
My point being overall, that had I not experienced them live, in the flesh, I'd have had a very distorted view of their current performances.
I'll be going again this time around, but if they're crap, I'll shout it out loud.