last night i attended a show where only 2 of the usual 6 band members were present. they supplemented their performance with a mini disc player belting out pre-recorded bass, drums, keyboard and rhythm guitar. i know it can be argued that in most cases, all band members need to be present for a show to be truly successful. however, with this particular band the music is most certainly supplemented by the magnetism of the group. i just can't understand why a band (or perhaps the leader of it) would agree to playing a show that couldn't possibly reflect the true nature that makes that band something worth seeing. call me crazy, but isn't that just wasting people's time?

If yer talking about ___________, _________ and ___ were in ________, ________ for their extra great band, __________. Yes, I think the show woulda been better with a band, but when they're on the road, what can you do?

Gotta get the love and we all feel that the show woulda been better with the chops that these two present.
Hearts,

Faiz


EDIT NOTE:I took the names out per mel's discussion below. kool?

It sounds like a waste of time to me. Playing a show w/ more than half the band on a disc is punk-ass. You may as well be Rob Zombie or Britney up there.
Next show, just play a cd. "Hey, the band couldn't make it, but listen to this. Their other bands are great too, I'll put that cd in next. Oh, $5.00 cover tonight, thanks..."

faiz,

the reason i didn't name names to begin with is because who did it is irrelevant. i'm posing a discussion on bands and false advertising. although, your explanation of the other band members absence fuels my point. i was assuming that they were short handed due to some last minute hiccup. the fact that this was a calculated decision makes it even more irritating. they could have done a number of things to make people aware that they weren't paying for the same thing that last time was worth the ten bucks. they should have charged $3.33. i keed! i'm just saying be straight with your public or don't play. you'd be pissed if you went to see rightrightright on monday and they said "sorry, the original reel is in maryland tonight, so here's the DVD", and then popped into one of those 6" portable jobs. not what you would have expected. that's all i'm saying.

mel

I completely understand your point and agree. I was excited to see the band in full swing and I had one of those "man am I stupid, those guys aren't in town" moments about four hours before the show. For whatever reason, there is a difference between something called ______ _____ the "solo dude" and ______ ____ and the _____ _______ "the band." I feel that the venue, not the band is responsible for getting the word out about that and making that clear to people who are going to be attending. The artist in question seems to often change the line-up and do different things with his music, to varying degrees of success. This show was definitely not successful in my opinion either, but....

The same show in question also had a last minute cancellation and I feel that with one less artist, the more expensive "door ticket" should have at least been discounted to the same price as the "advance ticket." Y'know...So and So couldn't be here tonight, sorry, how bout you give us ten bucks instead of twelve. I feel that the venue in question normally doesn't show love like that to the patrons, but instead, kinda looks down on them with a bit of disdain.

There were lots of shabby things about that evening, but I think it may just be par for the course. Get used to getting ripped off there every now and again, it's what they do.


Faiz

Apparently, Sebadoh played in Vancouver with a pre-recorded drummer. Although they played all of their old (classic) songs I'm kinda glad that I didn't go.

mel wrote:the reason i didn't name names to begin with is because who did it is irrelevant. i'm posing a discussion on bands and false advertising.

If it is false advertising, then why not let people know who it is? I don't understand. If you feel like you got ripped off, why not let other people know to prevent them from getting ripped off?

Disscussions are always made better with examples. IMHO, making everything hypothetical makes the discussion borderline useless. For example. What would be the point in talking about the upcoming election if we had to substitute "________" for words and phrases such as "John Kerry," "George Bush," "The Patriot Act," "Unemployment," "Al Queda," "Iraq," "Ralph Nader," etc.

Discussions need concrete examples, because without them, everything floats off into fairy-tale land.

Remember when the Flaming Lips went on tour a few years back with just Wayne Coyne and two keyboard players singing along to a backing track? That shit was wack.

kerble wrote:I completely understand your point and agree. I was excited to see the band in full swing and I had one of those "man am I stupid, those guys aren't in town" moments about four hours before the show. For whatever reason, there is a difference between something called ______ _____ the "solo dude" and ______ ____ and the _____ _______ "the band." I feel that the venue, not the band is responsible for getting the word out about that and making that clear to people who are going to be attending. The artist in question seems to often change the line-up and do different things with his music, to varying degrees of success. This show was definitely not successful in my opinion either, but....

The same show in question also had a last minute cancellation and I feel that with one less artist, the more expensive "door ticket" should have at least been discounted to the same price as the "advance ticket." Y'know...So and So couldn't be here tonight, sorry, how bout you give us ten bucks instead of twelve. I feel that the venue in question normally doesn't show love like that to the patrons, but instead, kinda looks down on them with a bit of disdain.

There were lots of shabby things about that evening, but I think it may just be par for the course. Get used to getting ripped off there every now and again, it's what they do.


Faiz

Is it Phil Collins & Genesis?

there are a lot of performers on this board and i was merely attempting a thoughtful discussion on musicians as artists and whether or not we're obligated to the expectations of our "viewers". i have nothing against BCATGG, that's why i didn't feel like it was worth mentioning, and i don't think others should not attend their shows. i'm just saying, as a musician myself, i couldn't knowingly participate in an event that misrepresented my work. i just thought it was cheap.
mel

I'm sorry, I missed the unexpurgated version.
I would feel a little let down if I went to a show and only got a partially live version, but only if I knew that the group usually performs with a full band. I was trying to think of a for instance, but can't. It's early.

mel wrote:BCATGG

Belinda Carlisle and The Go-Gos?