Comments on: Reader Request – I like the way you work it http://www.52shows.com/2007/10/24/reader-request-i-like-the-way-you-work-it/ A live music blog written by and for regular folks. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:06:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: 52 Shows » Tegan & Sara @ the Berklee Performance Center, Boston http://www.52shows.com/2007/10/24/reader-request-i-like-the-way-you-work-it/comment-page-1/#comment-192 52 Shows » Tegan & Sara @ the Berklee Performance Center, Boston Sun, 25 Nov 2007 05:05:15 +0000 http://www.52shows.com/2007/10/17/reader-request-i-like-the-way-you-work-it/#comment-192 [...] couple weeks back, Dave posted a Reader Request about bands and their onstage personalities. With Tegan & Sara, you got the impression that there was no stage personality, that they were [...] [...] couple weeks back, Dave posted a Reader Request about bands and their onstage personalities. With Tegan & Sara, you got the impression that there was no stage personality, that they were [...]

]]> By: John http://www.52shows.com/2007/10/24/reader-request-i-like-the-way-you-work-it/comment-page-1/#comment-130 John Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:09:40 +0000 http://www.52shows.com/2007/10/17/reader-request-i-like-the-way-you-work-it/#comment-130 the hold steady are probably one of the most engaging performers in recent history- the banter is great- and the energy is reciprocal. last time i saw them it ended with half the audience on the stage. the hold steady are probably one of the most engaging performers in recent history- the banter is great- and the energy is reciprocal. last time i saw them it ended with half the audience on the stage.

]]> By: Linda http://www.52shows.com/2007/10/24/reader-request-i-like-the-way-you-work-it/comment-page-1/#comment-125 Linda Fri, 26 Oct 2007 17:33:48 +0000 http://www.52shows.com/2007/10/17/reader-request-i-like-the-way-you-work-it/#comment-125 Eddie, when did you see Snow Patrol? I saw them over the summer and Gary Lightbody told funny stories in between songs and was actually pretty charming. I guess for some bands, it just depends on the night. Eddie, when did you see Snow Patrol? I saw them over the summer and Gary Lightbody told funny stories in between songs and was actually pretty charming. I guess for some bands, it just depends on the night.

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.52shows.com/2007/10/24/reader-request-i-like-the-way-you-work-it/comment-page-1/#comment-123 Jeremy Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:26:36 +0000 http://www.52shows.com/2007/10/17/reader-request-i-like-the-way-you-work-it/#comment-123 I don't know. It seems to me that it all really depends on the performer and their music. Sonic Youth don't exactly chat up the audience when they play, but seeing them live is practically a religious experience (well, for those of us who aren't particularly religious, it's about as close as you can get). And there's plenty of bands like that: Built to Spill, Interpol (on a good night), and classics like Drive Like Jehu and Sunny Day Real Estate, all played some of my favorite shows, but didn't do much to acknowledge the audience. On the reverse of that, I saw Lamb of God play, and you couldn't pay their singer to shut up between, and even during, songs. Extreme metal just isn't quite as powerful with some idiot constantly "working" the crowd like he was Jon Bon Jovi: "C'mon everybody, let's get this place going, let's get a craaaaazy pit going!" Kind of kills the mood. Maybe if he were leading us all in a revolution, or even a human sacrifice, but constantly giving a shout out to New Jersey just didn't work. But, if you're looking for a good performance where the crowd is acknowledged, if not conversed with constantly, Aesop Rock, The Hold Steady, and Pernice Brothers all do an awesome job. I don’t know. It seems to me that it all really depends on the performer and their music. Sonic Youth don’t exactly chat up the audience when they play, but seeing them live is practically a religious experience (well, for those of us who aren’t particularly religious, it’s about as close as you can get). And there’s plenty of bands like that: Built to Spill, Interpol (on a good night), and classics like Drive Like Jehu and Sunny Day Real Estate, all played some of my favorite shows, but didn’t do much to acknowledge the audience.

On the reverse of that, I saw Lamb of God play, and you couldn’t pay their singer to shut up between, and even during, songs. Extreme metal just isn’t quite as powerful with some idiot constantly “working” the crowd like he was Jon Bon Jovi: “C’mon everybody, let’s get this place going, let’s get a craaaaazy pit going!” Kind of kills the mood. Maybe if he were leading us all in a revolution, or even a human sacrifice, but constantly giving a shout out to New Jersey just didn’t work.

But, if you’re looking for a good performance where the crowd is acknowledged, if not conversed with constantly, Aesop Rock, The Hold Steady, and Pernice Brothers all do an awesome job.

]]> By: john http://www.52shows.com/2007/10/24/reader-request-i-like-the-way-you-work-it/comment-page-1/#comment-122 john Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:25:23 +0000 http://www.52shows.com/2007/10/17/reader-request-i-like-the-way-you-work-it/#comment-122 Understanding the spoken word of Eddie Vedder at shows is an art- but he usually has something interesting to say. Understanding the spoken word of Eddie Vedder at shows is an art- but he usually has something interesting to say.

]]> By: Eddie http://www.52shows.com/2007/10/24/reader-request-i-like-the-way-you-work-it/comment-page-1/#comment-118 Eddie Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:18:39 +0000 http://www.52shows.com/2007/10/17/reader-request-i-like-the-way-you-work-it/#comment-118 Judith Owen has been one of the best in between song talkers I've seen. I saw her on a whim with my sister and only knew she played piano-based songs. Little did I know she had a wicked sense of humor and would introduce each song with a hilarious story. Here's a video I took of her: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVHRIlAycUA She combats that with music like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWMzEXTCCIc Matt Berninger of The National is definitely horrible. It got really uncomfortable during that show when he would just stare at the ground while his guitarist tuned up. Oh and the couple of times I've seen Pearl Jam, I can never understand what the hell Vedder is saying into the mic. I agree with John. I like it when the band talks or offers more insight into their songs on stage. Snow Patrol didn't talk to me and it still burns me up inside. Judith Owen has been one of the best in between song talkers I’ve seen. I saw her on a whim with my sister and only knew she played piano-based songs. Little did I know she had a wicked sense of humor and would introduce each song with a hilarious story. Here’s a video I took of her:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVHRIlAycUA

She combats that with music like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWMzEXTCCIc

Matt Berninger of The National is definitely horrible. It got really uncomfortable during that show when he would just stare at the ground while his guitarist tuned up.

Oh and the couple of times I’ve seen Pearl Jam, I can never understand what the hell Vedder is saying into the mic.

I agree with John. I like it when the band talks or offers more insight into their songs on stage. Snow Patrol didn’t talk to me and it still burns me up inside.

]]> By: john http://www.52shows.com/2007/10/24/reader-request-i-like-the-way-you-work-it/comment-page-1/#comment-117 john Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:06:53 +0000 http://www.52shows.com/2007/10/17/reader-request-i-like-the-way-you-work-it/#comment-117 Jesse Malin tells the best stories- they are rambling to be sure- i've definitely seen him talk as much as he played- but great. Pati Smith is a also a great in between song talker. I went to CD release party type thing for her recent covers record and it was very cool to hear her thoughts on the track selection. I guess I feel like it's either feast or famine. We all remember the night that John Mellencamp played every one of his hits, but said not a word to the audience. It really makes a show less fun for me, I enjoy the interaction. Jesse Malin tells the best stories- they are rambling to be sure- i’ve definitely seen him talk as much as he played- but great. Pati Smith is a also a great in between song talker. I went to CD release party type thing for her recent covers record and it was very cool to hear her thoughts on the track selection.

I guess I feel like it’s either feast or famine. We all remember the night that John Mellencamp played every one of his hits, but said not a word to the audience. It really makes a show less fun for me, I enjoy the interaction.

]]> By: Linda http://www.52shows.com/2007/10/24/reader-request-i-like-the-way-you-work-it/comment-page-1/#comment-116 Linda Thu, 25 Oct 2007 01:17:04 +0000 http://www.52shows.com/2007/10/17/reader-request-i-like-the-way-you-work-it/#comment-116 A few years ago I saw Ben Kweller with Death Cab for Cutie at the Avalon in Boston. Death Cab had horrible stage presence. Ben Gibbard was pretty awkward in between songs and it was uncomfortable to watch. Maybe it was just a bad night or maybe the band improved since then, but that night definitely turned me off to Death Cab. A few years ago I saw Ben Kweller with Death Cab for Cutie at the Avalon in Boston. Death Cab had horrible stage presence. Ben Gibbard was pretty awkward in between songs and it was uncomfortable to watch. Maybe it was just a bad night or maybe the band improved since then, but that night definitely turned me off to Death Cab.

]]>