Stumbled on a Foals Concert (just happened to have the tickets on me)

I have spent most of my blog posts either whining or whining about those that whine. I decided it was time to bring some positivity to this blog and talk about beautiful things, things that make us happy, things like live music!

I remember that before YouTube, my brother would download concerts and me being small and stupid would go ‘this does not sound like the taped version, they are obviously terrible'. I was a fool and I apologise, for now I know, live is the epitomy of music! There are some issues arising, as always. Some artists, for example, have a heavily produced sound that cannot translate well to live shows and while backing tracks are available they can range from complimentary to shameful, SHAMEFUL! So, how can they be dismissed if their product is beautiful and original? Is an artist’s worth dependent on live adaptation?

Yes. Not an artist’s worth per se, a performer’s worth. The artistic element includes the performing element because it is all part of the final product. It also includes the formation element, sure; writing the music, combining various instruments, lyrics, vocals all of it. I have a very strict appreciation policy; both these aspects need to be present. I am in need of an artist to do more than recite lyrics that they haven’t written onto music that they haven’t composed. Having a pleasant voice is not that uncommon and especially with today’s technology, not that honest. So my definition of a good artist resides a lot in the making of the song.

However, having seen a few bands live and many concerts on YouTube I must say I lose a great deal of respect if the live version is not good. Not identical, because identical is boring anyways just good, energetic, emotional or something. I remember being into the Dandy Warhols because they had cool, fun songs and they didn’t take themselves too seriously. I also remember a live show of theirs that was abysmal and then furiously searching the web for a good one to erase this disappointment with not much success. Traumatising! I now have a ‘good songs, bad band’ label on them.

It is not so much about proof of worth though. Live shows are where you love a band, where the raw talent and clear message are conveyed. Not to mention that the band’s energy is reflected onto the audience, which absorbs that energy and gives it back for the band to feed on! It is way too magical to be unnecessary. And pragmatically, how many bands have reached the top without being good live? A good live show is what gets them going and what keeps them going. (Just realised I have written ‘band’ instead of ‘artist’ everywhere, but for some reason I cannot get myself to change it)

I understand that a good performer is not necessarily a good artist but I think the other way round is true. The extents vary and some songs are more successful live than others but all in all it is the ability to adapt a song to its setting that gives music its vividness compared to other arts!

I am that person that has live versions of songs on her phone and everyone complains when they come on shuffle, so I am a bit overly passionate about the subject. Nonetheless, I have numeric support; as buying a record is not the primary source of income for artists anymore, and concerts are given more and more refined attention. I guess this is what happens when you get bored of autotune, you look elsewhere J