I Think I'd Rather be Watching Gossip Girl...
Well, here's another thing I'm too old for: concerts that begin after 9pm. I can't seem to understand why it isn't that, as I get older, concerts are scheduled earlier. They should be. And, sadly, one can't DVR concerts and watch them Saturday mornings like I can the latest Gossip Girl episode.After attending a sold-out M83 show at the Triple Rock Social Club, I have to say that crowded concerts make me cranky. Add in the late factor and I'm outta there!
However, despite all these things working against me, the concert itself was pretty great. M83 sounded a lot like they do on their album, Saturdays=Youth, which is, amazing. As soon as they began their ambient noise filled the entire venue, and instead of cramped the concert felt intimate. I don't think I'd do justice to a proper review, but the electronic melodies with creepy voice over sounded even more wonderful, moving, and creepy up close. I'm not as big an M83 fan as my buddies Chris and Qualler, but I am really enjoying their new album and did enjoy the show last night (though...I did end up leaving about 30 minutes into their set. Grandma was tired! :-/)
The fact that M83 (and correct me if I'm wrong, bigger fans) play a live show that sounds much like their studio albums got me to thinking--what makes a good live show? I disagree with Qualler on this topic, and prefer when the shows don't sound too much like in studio recordings. Cause, why not just stay home and listen to the record? (I know, I know, that's not the only reason for attending a show. Still...) We've argued on the Fiery Furnace's live performances, which I think are only made better by sounding sort of stripped down (only in comparison to their heavily produced, in a good way, albums) in concert. Qualler says its his desire for perfection that makes him crave a live band that can reproduce their album sound.
The fact that I prefer a band to sound more bare and more...rockin? (like I feel the Fiery
Furnaces pull off) live is sort of a new thing for me. Another new thing for me, when it comes to going to concerts, is that personal space trumps being able to see the band. This was NEVER the case in say, oh, my college years, when standing shoulder to shoulder with sweaty strangers didn't really bother me (tee hee). Last night I found myself opting to stand way in the back where I had some breathing room rather than push my way closer so I could see the band. It might also have something to do with this particular band, however, and the fact that I like to listen to them with my eyes closed anyway (anyone else?).All in all, late concerts, sold out shows, are no longer as fun for me as they once were. However, for certain things I'm willing to make an exception to my 10pm bedtime. Though I was cranky before the music started, once it did I remembered why I liked going to shows in the first place.
This entry was posted by Brigitte, on
Thursday, May 29, 2008.
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I do crave for the perfection of the re-creation of an album version of a song, but a live show that can breathe new life and maybe more "live" energy into a song make it all the more worthwhile. I loved M83's set-up -- it was the closest I have ever seen to a band really trying to create the perfect sound. Unfortunately, seeing them turn knobs to make the sounds sound exactly like how it sounds on the album doesn't translate into an extremely thrilling concert experience. But the drums behind the plexiglass and amped perfectly was fantastic! The drum fill from "Moon Child" made me want to push past all the people and push the drummer off the stage and play with them.
I think for me it is a combination. I like the FF because they always sound different every time they play a song. But I also enjoy seeing how a band creates the sound from their records.
Ultimately, though, what make a good concert great is a big ole' Journey sing-a-long.
yes, sing-a-longs do make concerts. that's very true.
I agree with Brigitte in that a concert shouldn't just sound like the studio album, ESPECIALLY with an electronic band that reproduces sounds that have already been recorded (like, sounds directly from their album, for instance). And so, I applaud M83 for re-thinking the way they performed their songs, adding a lengthier intro and building up to a melody that the crowd will eventually recognize, and then there they go with their music.
There is always the novelty of actually seeing the people behind the music you listen to, but that only lasts for a short while...eventually the music itself has to follow through.
I'm not saying it has to sound totally different at a show, but when a band can capitalize on the exciting moments in the music or entrance the audience with quieter, more introspective songs and what not, then that is what I would call a good show. Two of my favorite concerts were of Sigur Ros and Explosions in the Sky, and both played their songs pretty much the same as how they usually do, but they made the highs even higher and the lows even lower.
And M83 rules, by the way!
When a band has a complex and layered sound and DON'T reproduce it using only iPods and laptops, then it's usually infinitely better than seeing a band screw around with their songs on stage. Seeing the latter is definitely enjoyable and almost always better than your average show, but I don't get to make sweet sweet aural intimate "I've known you for so long, now I hear you in real life" love to the songs if they are twiddled and fiddled with on stage. I didn't recognize "Tropical Iceland" when FF played and even though it was nice to hear a variation on it, it didn't rattle my heartbox.
Last night, M83 managed to do both actually. Yes the songs from S=Y all sounded exactly like the record, and it was glorious to hear such heavenly magic come to life with real instruments, even if some of the time he was just hitting switches on his drum machine. But the songs from Dead Cities and even a couple from Before the Dawn came to life with the drumkit and guitars, never to a point where they weren't unfamiliar, but had subtle twists on them compared to the mega electro-fied studio versions.
I also loved that they played a good balance between epic instrumentals and soaring pop songs!!!! It was the perfect synthesis of my two great music loves!!!!
I like hearing what people who are more familiar with the album and with M83 in general have to say (amy, qualler, chris, dan). For me it sounded a lot like the album, but I think that's just cause I don't know the albums very well...also, we left early.
Really, though, I did think they did a good job of keeping it interesting, but it definitely sounded very...produced? specific? i can't think of a good word. not...stripped down at all. excellent job, M83.
I really like hearing the FF in concert, but I like that lower fi sound with their songs cause i think it's interesting for the kind of music they play. it wouldn't work with M83. I get irritated when certain bands change things around too much so I can't recognize the songs, but i LOVE when the FF do just that.
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I think M83 did a really great job with giving the audience the feeling that they were completely surrounded by the music. That may also be specific to the genre/venue/my mood/etc., but some of the best concerts I've been to are the ones that give me that feeling. So even though the songs aren't that different from the record the concert somehow feels different.
I totally agree. Complete immersion music - something to get lost in and hope you'll never be found. That's the best kind of music for a concert that's late at night, where you need something so dense and atmospheric to help get your mind off work the next morning, a sleepy drive home, feet hurting from standing, etc...
Yeah, Chris knows what I'm talking about! Whazzzzup! (High Five)
Controversy time!
M83's live show was the biggest disappointment of the year to date!
Don't listen to Hayden...he's disgruntled because he paid to go see both an All Ages and a 21+ show and was somehow surprised when they played the same set list...
Wow. Both shows were 21+. There was no reason for the shows to be the same.
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