Acclaimed Live Rock Bands That Actually Turn Out to Be Studio Concoctions

By Mr. Moderator on Aug 14, 2009

WORLD's GREATEST BAND! THE ONLY BAND THAT MATTERS!... I'm not going to make any claims on anyone else's behalf, but for me, I found that The Rolling Stones and The Clash, Twin Towers of live rock 'n roll credibility, were sorely disappointing live and actually seemed to derive as much as their legendary status and goodwill from studio wizardry as frequently derided bands, such as ELO and The Monkees. I never got to see the early Clash, documented at their ferocious live peak in the film Rude Boy (eg, the "Complete Control" footage above), but it seems to me that once they expanded their studio sound with the excellent London Calling and the rich Sandinista, Mick Jones and Paul Simonon couldn't keep up, couldn't present their newer music adequately in a live setting, and at the same time lost the focus to deliver the old stuff. Who knows, maybe that was poor Brian Jones' fault too.

Have you ever felt this way about any band you love that was hyped up as having tremendous live cred? Do I just feel this way because I tend to be a "record" guy rather than a live guy, or have you too ever been psyched to see some "amazing" live band only to leave the show looking forward to getting back to their crafted studio records?

Tags: rolling stones, stage presence, the clash, vinyl
Comment from: shawnkilroy [Member] Email
I saw Sonic Youth for the first time at the Electric Factory for the Thousand Leaves tour and was shocked at how awful that was. However, I don't think they are supposed to be some amazing live phenomenon.
08/14/09 @ 13:35
Comment from: cdm [Member] Email
I think that SY is supposed to be pretty hit and miss live.

I don't particularly like their recordings but they played the theater where I worked and I couldn't believe how good they were. It really caught me off guard. Same with the Beastie Boys
08/14/09 @ 13:47
Comment from: northvancoveman [Member] Email
This may be slightly off topic, but I remember being disappointed in Gram Parsons for the fake backing track on Hickory Wind, that "medley from Northern Quebec" thing. They have the sound of people drinking and bottles breaking and it was all faked in a California studio. It immediately made me think he was too much of a pussy to play a place like that.

08/14/09 @ 17:03
Comment from: northvancoveman [Member] Email
Philadelphia (AP)

Free agent saxophonist Clarence Clemons is rumoured to be heading to Pennsylvania as locals Nixon's Head may be looking to branch out to a more "ethnic" audience. Clemons was released yesterday from the Dave Matthews band.
08/14/09 @ 17:07
Comment from: cherguevarra [Member] Email
Liz Phair.
08/15/09 @ 09:33
Comment from: jeangray [Member] Email
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble. In the studio they showed restraint. Live, it was jus' one big long guitar solo. Even compared to the Live album, which I truely enjoy, it was bad.

And in defense of the Clash, I have two boots from the Sandinista tour, and one from the Combat Rock tour. All of which are somewhat sloppy, but played with great passion. Unfortunetly, I never got to see them in concert.

oKay--I'll admit it. Simonon's vocals are pretty bad.

Perhaps Joe Strummer's the Live weak link. Didn't Mick do most of the guitar parts in the studio? It can be tricky to pull of two or three concurrent guitar parts live.

As for the "record guy vs. live guy" part of this discussion. I prefer both equally. I see them as two sides of the same coin. Vastly different at times, but equal parts of the same whole.

Mr. Mod: Are you a musician? I've got to think that factors into this discussion somehow.
08/16/09 @ 18:28
Comment from: pos69sum [Member] Email
The Shins are pretty spotty live - especially the vocals - for such an acclaimed band.
08/25/09 @ 23:15

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