Sinister: review of the boston show

[Stein Vegusdal]

Hi!
I went to four of the shows on the European tour,
and they were all exactly as you describe them.
But, unlike you, i thought all of them were brilliant...
Belle & Sebastian don't do encores, they don't 
talk to the audience,(well actually they did some 
of that in Glasgow and Stockholm..) they don't use
pyroflash, lasers or smokebombs, they don't jump around 
the stage like David Lee Roth, but they are still a
great band to watch. 
I have been to over 500 gigs with all kinds of bands
during the last 15 years, and i must say i have never, 
ever experienced such magic as i did at the B&S shows 
in Glasgow...

Cheers
Steinski
Oslo, Norway

PS! The name of the lead singer is Stuart Murdoch, the other one
(the one you said had the worst voice ever) is called Stevie Jackson.
The other members of the band are:
Isobel Campbell: cello and vocals 
Richard Colburn: percussion 
Mick Cooke: trumpet
Stuart David: bass guitar (spoken bits on space boy dream) 
Chris Geddes: keyboards
Sarah Martin: violin, flute, melodica,recorder.... 




At 00:24 23.10.98 -0700, you wrote:
>
>Hey all,
>
>You'll have to excuse me because even though I'm a huge B&S fan, I still
>don't know who is who in the band, like the lead singer's name, for example. 
>
>But here it goes: 
>
>The Geek Chic contingent was in full force. Security seemed to be checking
>people's attire at the door. No one not dressed in Airwalks, corduroy pants,
>t-shirts with cardigans and thick black-rimmed glasses and smoking clove
>cigarettes was allowed into the auditorium. Truly a Smiths crowd if I've
>ever seen one. The Alannis Morrissette concert was the same night as well as
>game 4 of the Yankees game. Cool, artsy, effeminate guys (hey I'm one so I
>can say that!) at B&S, Jocks/Frat boys at bars for the Yankees game and just
>all-around lame-o's at the alannis show. Typically, the so-called 'cool'
>station (WFNX)was in full force at the alannis show, playing alannis all day
>on the radio while they still have NEVER played a B&S song. 
>
>As for the show, it was good, not great.  I love the band but they really
>need to work on their stage presence. I don't think I've ever seen 9
>musicians (yes 9!) be less dynamic in my life. 
>
>Here's the point by point review with the playlist at the end:
>
>Morse auditorium is a lousy venue for concerts with poor acoustics, a tiny
>stage and forced movie theater-like seating (which stops most people from
>dancing or even standing up to enjoy the band). B&S should've played a club
>instead but then I guess Alannis had Avalon covered now, didnt she?
>
>The band's song list wasn't the best. They skipped most of their great
>material and played a lot of their weakest tunes along with two new songs.
>(Do we really need to hear 'space boy dream' live?)
>
>The sound mix was a bit fucked up with the synth coming out twice as loud as
>the rest of the instruments. 
>
>The band seemed really disorganized, and spent more time talking to each
>other between songs than they actually did playing songs. Also, half the
>band members looked like they REALLY didnt want to be there (ie Isabel who
>seemed to be having some sort of argument with the lead singer between each
>song.)
>
>But the lead singer was AMAZING. He is truly great. He actually hit those
>high notes he hits on the CD's (meaning his voice isnt doctored in the
>studio like so many other artists.)If he got rid of the rest of the band
>(and all the distractions they entailed)and just sang his songs by himself
>with just his guitar, it would be perfect. He's that exceptional. And seeing
>him live was worth all the letdowns from the other problems.
>
>Like the big sticking point. Virtually no talking to the audience. (except
>during a great mock cover of 'more than a feeling' by Boston) Five minutes
>between each song talking amongst themselves so the show didn't build to any
>climax. They played for maybe an hour, maybe a little longer (though again,
>half of that was spent talking amongst themselves) and then out of the blue,
>they just walked off the stage. No warning. No "this is our last song". And
>no encore. It just ended completely abruptly. It just felt really
unsatisfying. 
>
>The opening act "Containe" was pretty weak. 
>
>Doors were scheduled to open at 8pm but due to a long soundcheck by B&S,
>doors didnt open til 8:45. When we got into the theater, Containe were
>starting their soundcheck. The show started late which might explain why B&S
>didnt play an encore? Maybe they had to end the show by a certain time?
>Still, they should just get rid of the opening act and double the length of
>their performance.
>
>Still, I do love them even if they suck live. (don't flame me)  It's just my
>expectations were so high. But seeing them live, I doubt they'll ever be in
>the smiths or echo & bunnymen league. They just don't have the stage
>presence to make the leap to superstar status. (So I guess they'll remain
>our little secret, which is fine by me anyway)
>
>Here's the playlist. 14 song set. They opened the show brilliantly. (Which
>may have been cause for my letdown. They were so tight and excellent for the
>first few songs that it was startling to see them just fall apart as the
>show went on)
>
>This isn't the exact order but its reasonably close.
>
>They opened with "Simple things" from arab strap. Then "Beautiful" from
>3.6.9. seconds. Then "is it wicked not to care?" from arab strap. Then
>"Century of Fakers" from 3.6.9 seconds. Then some song I've never heard
>before which sounded like it was about someone named Tony who sat in the
>back of class and eventually became a transvestite. I think the lead singer
>said it was a new song. Then the other guitarist who has the absolute worst
>voice I've ever heard sang some new song he'd just written which was
>abysmal. Well, it would be okay if the lead singer with the gorgeous voice
>sang it instead. Seriously, these people need to get a clue and let the lead
>singer bask in the spotlight since he's the one we all came to see. (Isabel
>lost all her appeal to me after the way she acted on stage).  But that new
>song by the guy with the lousy voice just took the wind out of the
>performance and the show derailed from there. My friends and I were trying
>to guess what the lead singer and isabel were arguing about. or more
>precisely, what he seemed to be apologizing to her for while she sulked. We
>decided maybe she was jealous that he sang backup too loud on 'is it wicked
>not to care'. Or maybe that the crowd seemed to be applauding for him and
>not her. 
>
>ANYWAY....
>
>Then they played Sleep the clock around, seeing other people, like dylan in
>the movies, space boy dream,  get me away from here I'm dying, boy with the
>arab strap, judy and the dream of horses and then closed with 'the boy done
>wrong again'. (great closer, huh?)
>
>So they didnt play most of my favorite songs, like stars of track and field,
>if youre feeling sinister, mayfly, ease your feet in the sea, summer
>wasting, dirty dream #2, chickfactor, brilliant career, put the book back on
>the shelf, etc, etc.
>
>thats it. I'm sure I pissed some people off by coming off too harsh. Like I
>said, it was great to see them live, it just wasnt a great show.
>
>Joe
>
>
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