Comments on: In Miniature: Hey, Marsupial (Chicago@Ronny’s Monday night!)

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:01:49 +0000

spooky you, I’ve been jotting down bits on & off all day along those lines, + thinking of bands who really make the effort and/or succeed at sounding half-right; beginnings of a post I imagine, tho got badly side-tracked by a movie scene that came to mind as a useful illustration.

what? – All/any of the things you mention, I believe: little teeny venue not so long ago (ok, not a big name artist), label owned by emi & management/or agent ex same & present + very involved…. couldn’t hear the vocals from 25feet away, smack by the desk. Silly buggers, too busy leading the applause to notice?

By: Tart

Tart — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:41:29 +0000

Ah hun, I know exactly what you mean. And yes, I suspect this quartet to be quite exquisite in person.

That said, I particularly hate it when “big” bands (meaning really big sellers who play to large crowds) who should have the acoustics worked out and the show fine tuned, just honestly either don’t or can’t. And no, I don’t feel that I have to have the same experience as I do in my living room, but some resemblance please! Point in case, Bloc Party last week… sorry, but it was a royal mess for the first half of the show and even the die hard fans (of which, admittedly I’m not) were not singing along. That’s the true test, eh? Lack of real talent or lack of vision or lack of direction or lack of management expertise, or what? What is going on in a situation like that with a band that big? I observed the crowd from multiple vantage points and no dancing, very little singing, some moderate head nodding, and a bit of hand raising but mostly meh until about 4 songs in. Shameful really, it was in such a great venue.

Ok, rant over, and yes, this fine quartet will not have that problem tonight, so Chicago go see em! xoxo

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 08:02:46 +0000

nearly said this earlier, but, well, I dunno why not (ahh feeling rushed, remember now) – but I bet they sound better on stage, by a mile. When bands get a bit bigger & start prattling in the studio with decent gear & engineers/producers, it’s very difficult for them to sound anything like their recordings when they play live, whereas lotsa little bands, sound absolutely splendid in yer local venue, yet can’t capture that feel on tape. It doesn’t help any when typical local yokel engineers ask the bands “who do ya wanna sound like?, which album?” ffs!.

You don’t always know (re bigger guys) what they actually want to sound like, cuz studios/labels stamp their own signature with an eye on sales, or just personal aesthetics, and lightweight family fare ends up being all grungy & horrid at the mid-size (400+) venues, and seeing a band live can be just the experience of going along & cheering to songs you know, which bear little resemblance aurally, to the very same ones you liked ‘em for in the first place; which as you can guess, bugs me something terrible – bah! humbug! – I don’t want the full orchestra you used on the album, but a bit of effort’d be welcome, esp when (comparatively) money’s not the problem.

end of rant – I discovered yesterday that my neighbour’s garage is chock full of ridiculously expensive studio gear, not today’s cutting edge, but real top level pro stuff from not that many years ago; damn, I’d love to get to grips with it.

By: Tart

Tart — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 07:09:39 +0000

Andy, you and I think so much alike, it’s scary! That’s exactly it… and exactly the reason I’d like to see them live, to see how their sound fills the room, not something you can capture on an mp3 or even on vinyl for that matter. Thanks as always for your thoughts, xoxo

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 06:12:08 +0000

coo yeah, I’d come along if just a bit nearer. wish there was more bass playing on No Surprise; it seems to build vocally, but w/o support from the instruments… they’d sound seriously good with even some teensy production.