by FulfilledDeer Mon Jan 16, 2012 9:19 am
So this is my first post here! I've lurked for quite a bit now, but haven't been compelled to register until now. So hi!
Anyway, I just grabbed a couple of tickets to a concert at the venue that I first (and likely last) saw the Pogues at in Denver (The Ogden if you're from around here) and my mind sort of wandered back to that show, which I think was December of 2009. I always remember that as the best show I've seen to date by any band. Obviously loving the music was part of how I received the show (as opposed to going to see a band you only kind of like), but I was trying to figure out what made that show/band, which at least for my situation is the same thing, stand out from everything else I've seen.
I liked the venue, loved the setlist which caused a couple of songs to be bumped up to my "A" list of Pogues songs, and enjoyed the rest of the crowd, but I think what did it for me was the absolute lack of ego onstage. Well, I should hedge that a bit lest a band member call me out on the actual politics of that night/tour: what did it for me was the perceived absolute lack of ego on the stage.
Take the most obvious example: Shane. He came out when it was time to do his thing, and when he was done, he left the stage. With a lot of bands I think that could look petulant or diva-y, but it did not look like it was anything but simple rationality - what use did he have onstage if he was not singing? When he came out, he was on. And then he left. And there didn't seem to be any hard feelings. But that seemed to be the whole show.
My favorite memory was during some song I can't recall, there was an instrumental break and Shane and Spider (I think) walked over to the drum kit to use some mallets on the cymbals. I don't know if that was planned or not, but I've know enough drummers to be suitably afraid for their lives when they did that. But there was no bloodshed. In fact, the three figures by the kit seemed to be having their own mini jam session there. That was not the only time instruments were switched that evening, and each time it had nothing to do with ego.
I think that epitomizes what I loved about the show: either everyone was in it for the music and what needed to be done for that, or concurrently, and to the same end, they were there to enjoy themselves. Fantastic to watch.
Anyway, I just wanted to share my thoughts.
So this is my first post here! I've lurked for quite a bit now, but haven't been compelled to register until now. So hi!
Anyway, I just grabbed a couple of tickets to a concert at the venue that I first (and likely last) saw the Pogues at in Denver (The Ogden if you're from around here) and my mind sort of wandered back to that show, which I think was December of 2009. I always remember that as the best show I've seen to date by any band. Obviously loving the music was part of how I received the show (as opposed to going to see a band you only kind of like), but I was trying to figure out what made that show/band, which at least for my situation is the same thing, stand out from everything else I've seen.
I liked the venue, loved the setlist which caused a couple of songs to be bumped up to my "A" list of Pogues songs, and enjoyed the rest of the crowd, but I think what did it for me was the absolute lack of ego onstage. Well, I should hedge that a bit lest a band member call me out on the actual politics of that night/tour: what did it for me was the perceived absolute lack of ego on the stage.
Take the most obvious example: Shane. He came out when it was time to do his thing, and when he was done, he left the stage. With a lot of bands I think that could look petulant or diva-y, but it did not look like it was anything but simple rationality - what use did he have onstage if he was not singing? When he came out, he was on. And then he left. And there didn't seem to be any hard feelings. But that seemed to be the whole show.
My favorite memory was during some song I can't recall, there was an instrumental break and Shane and Spider (I think) walked over to the drum kit to use some mallets on the cymbals. I don't know if that was planned or not, but I've know enough drummers to be suitably afraid for their lives when they did that. But there was no bloodshed. In fact, the three figures by the kit seemed to be having their own mini jam session there. That was not the only time instruments were switched that evening, and each time it had nothing to do with ego.
I think that epitomizes what I loved about the show: either everyone was in it for the music and what needed to be done for that, or concurrently, and to the same end, they were there to enjoy themselves. Fantastic to watch.
Anyway, I just wanted to share my thoughts.
