Re: laptops and performance

["miles ward" <miles932@gmail.com>]

I agree; that's the central challenge with digital instruments from my
opinion, as amazing as they are at doing things _exactly_ how do you
take that energy from the crowd and turn it back around into more
energetic playing?  click harder?
Still frustrated that there's no midi controller for tuba...
-Miles

On 6/15/07, RICK WALKER <looppool@cruzio.com> wrote:
> mech wrote:
> "I'd agree that if an audience pays good money for a "traditional"
> performance, they should most likely get what they pay for.  However,
> it's also perfectly viable to "erase" yourself from the performance
> and let the music itself be the center of attention, IMNSHO."
>
> I see what you mean but this one thought hits me strongly
> thinking about your post:
>
> If the performance (and musician) is not so important and only the music 
>is,
> why will people NOT pay to go see a show where you just put
> your latest recording on with a fantastic sound system?
>
> There's no denying it,    there is the potential for a lot of interactive
> energy
> between performers and audiences (even if the interaction is only that
> the crowd is really excited to see the performer play) that makes the 
>live
> experience distincly different from the recorded experience.
>
> I've seen so many boring computer Goth shows in the past few
> years..........most
> of them , really,   and yet,  the lead singer of VNV Nation (a band that 
>I"m
> not even
> particularly enamored of)  can just make a huge sold out crowd go crazy 
>just
> because he is so passionate and throws himself into his singing.
> He just plays to a backing track with another of my pet peeves,   an
> electronic
> drummer who is obviously not playing all the drums on the track and it's
> compelling as all hell.   I don't even own his records but I love seeing 
>him
> perform.
> He's totally inspirational.
> Go figure!
>
> At the same time,  I just saw the Police play their reunion concert last
> night.
> They had a hundred thousand dollar light computer/led light show.
> Sting was in fantastic voice............just blew my mind what a much 
>better
> singer he is now than even back in their heyday.
> Band sounded good and they played all the hits to an adoring crowd.
> The band was animated and hopped all over the stage, lit incredibly well.
> My wife and I both confessed afterwards that it just hadn't touched us
> as at all, emotionally (and we're big fans).
> Go figure!
>
> It's the anima of the performance that connects a lot of times.
> Of course, it helps if the music is fantastic and compelling.
>
> All anyone needs to do is to go see Kid Beyond do a performance with a 
>mic,
> an FCB1010 and a laptop looping solution to know that
> playing with a laptop is NOT INTRINSICALLY BORING.
>
> the point of all of this dialectic is that it is the gestalt that makes 
>the
> most difference:
> that frequently elusive combination of wonderful music,  interesting 
>visual
> presentation
> and audience committment to the performance.
>
> It doesn't matter whether Hendrix would have used a strat or a Sony VAIO,
> the question is,  would you go to see him if he were still making 
>compelling
> music.
>
> rick walker
>
>


-- 
---Miles Ward