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bad live bands

13 votes
? by hive_j

How is it that bad live bands can get signed on the strength of their recordings? I have seen a number of bands who are simply awful live yet get big due to their albums (im looking at you, current trend of awful indie wank)!
In my opinion a band is only as good as their live show - is that just me or do others think the same? I work in a studio so know only to well that its easy to make a bad band sound good on record! However in the live situation you can see the cracks in bands, hear how badly out of tune the singer actually is, or how the drummer cant stay in time to save his/her life. How is this happening?!

hive_j | 24 Feb '08, 14:55 | Send note | Report this | Reply

I suspect

what you might interpret as a bad gig, or a band being unable to play live might just be down to bad sound at a particular venue, or a worthless sound guy fucking-up said bands sound.

Either way, it's unfair to write-off a band that sound good on record on the strength of one show.

rhsrecords | 24 Feb '08, 15:04 | Send note | Report this | Reply

e.g

StopMotion Men - great live & record band, unsigned (i think)

Los Campesinos - Great record band, bad live band, signed

babyshambles - terrible live/record band, huge!

What gives?!

hive_j | 24 Feb '08, 15:10 | Send note | Report this | Reply

babyshambles being the band

of someone who was already successful and semi-famous when they were signed?

soapy | 24 Feb '08, 15:12 | Send note | Report this | Reply

liveon35mm

Agreed,

Babyshambles live are crap, second album is great.
see them @ Brixton here

http://liveon35mm.wordpress.com

liveon35mm | 24 Feb '08, 15:53 | Send note | Report this | Reply

objection

Ibzo | 24 Feb '08, 15:57 | Send note | Report this | Reply

they can be brilliant live

I've seen them twice. First time they were brilliant, second time they were alright. I think it's a toss-up as to whether you're going to get an amazing or simply alright Los Campesinos show.

Gaemblor | 24 Feb '08, 15:59 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Every time I've seen blink 182 and alkaline trio live

I've been bitterly dissapointing. Both bands were sloppy, played over each other, out of tune

I witnessed these atrocities when I was about 14/15 and can only describe it as 'losing your musical innocence'

moless | 24 Feb '08, 15:18 | Send note | Report this | Reply

i agree man

i love the klaxons album but my lord they are SO shit live. hot chip to a certain extent too.

Vian | 24 Feb '08, 16:13 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Hadouken! are a

prime example IMO.

VaginaSpektor | 24 Feb '08, 16:23 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Isn't there a clue in the question?

"How is it that bad live bands can get signed on the strength of their recordings?"

simon_t | 24 Feb '08, 16:30 | Send note | Report this | Reply