2007 Concert Journals

[murlough23]

Well I went to the AFC tour last night, and it was awesome.  Keep in mind that I'd never seen Switchfoot or Relient K (I've seen Ruth several times before) before.  Switchfoot's show was so professional and just so well put together, it's amazing.

I think I would have reacted this way if not for the spring tour, and I'm not saying they have to rise to that level of excellence every single time, but they do need to consider the fact that their biggest fans are probably going to catch them every time they roll through town, so they should be better about serving that fanbase by varying the setlist.

None of the songs that they performed were done badly... well, except for the middle part of "American Dream", but I hated that the first time too.

So yeah, they are very p-p-p-p-professional.

Their showmanship and how comfortable they are on stage was just crazy.

I actually think they're getting a bit too comfortable, though. It's like, "Oh well, everyone knows our songs backwards and forwards, so I don't really have to put much effort into singing them", which is why Jon does the lazy talking stuff.

Kind of a cool little side fact, when Jon climbed up into the crowd during On Fire, he walked back into the stands a ways, and stood about 3 inches from me the whole time he was out there.

Did he insert a few lines of Radiohead's "High and Dry" into the song like he did for us?

Regarding Ruth, as with most bands, I think it makes a difference if you know the band's songs before the concert.

Yes, but a good band that knows they need the exposure because most everyone is unfamiliar with their stuff has the additional burden of making their show interesting to those who don't know the songs, and that's where they failed. I've seen other opening bands who I'd never heard of and who still managed to impress me despite my having no familiar reference points to the music - The Myriad opening for David Crowder Band was one such example.

[identification]

I think I would have reacted this way if not for the spring tour, and I'm not saying they have to rise to that level of excellence every single time, but they do need to consider the fact that their biggest fans are probably going to catch them every time they roll through town, so they should be better about serving that fanbase by varying the setlist.

Yeah, I can understand that.  So I'm sure there were other people there that felt exactly the same as you.  So I guess from a selfish standpoint, it was great for me, because I got to hear a lot of songs that I know (I'm not familiar with ALL of their stuff, but a decent amount of it), but I totally get what you're saying

I actually think they're getting a bit too comfortable, though. It's like, "Oh well, everyone knows our songs backwards and forwards, so I don't really have to put much effort into singing them", which is why Jon does the lazy talking stuff.

I didn't really notice that as much.  He definitely did a lot of talk-singing on Dare You To Move, but other than that song it never seemed to happen that much.  It did, however, make singing along to that song difficult.  And I was kinda getting at the fact that they look comfortable to the point that you can tell they are really having fun and love what they do... that sort of thing.  I like seeing that in musicians.

Did he insert a few lines of Radiohead's "High and Dry" into the song like he did for us?

I honestly paid attention for that because I remember you mentioning it.  I love that song (High and Dry), but I don't really recall him borrowing any of the lines from it.  Do you remember which part he used?  It might turn on a light bulb in my brain.

[murlough23]

Yeah, I can understand that.  So I'm sure there were other people there that felt exactly the same as you.

Honestly, I don't know if everyone's that picky or if they care that much about repetition. But still, it's not like they would have complained if Switchfoot played different songs.

So I guess from a selfish standpoint, it was great for me, because I got to hear a lot of songs that I know (I'm not familiar with ALL of their stuff, but a decent amount of it), but I totally get what you're saying

I feel like they're catering to the fans who mostly just know the radio singles and the Walk to Remember songs that were their big break. When I saw them in the spring, they played a good 7 songs from Oh! Gravity; it felt like they were proud of their new album, including the songs that weren't future singles. Now I just feel like telling them that some of their fans actually do listen to their albums all the way through.

(Ironically, I can remember seeing them open for The Supertones in '01, not long after Learning to Breathe came out. "I Dare You to Move" and "Only Hope" weren't even part of their regular setlist. Even more ironically, Relient K was part of that same tour. Now both bands are bigger than the Supertones ever were.)

I didn't really notice that as much.  He definitely did a lot of talk-singing on Dare You To Move, but other than that song it never seemed to happen that much.  It did, however, make singing along to that song difficult.

Yeah, which is why I hate it.

And I was kinda getting at the fact that they look comfortable to the point that you can tell they are really having fun and love what they do... that sort of thing.  I like seeing that in musicians.

Being comfortable with each other and with the material they're performing isn't bad. I just tire of the ad-libbing when I do know a song and want to sing along - I don't mind a new arrangement, but there needs to still be that opportunity for the audience, who loves the songs, to participate. Kevin Max is actually much worse about this.

I honestly paid attention for that because I remember you mentioning it.  I love that song (High and Dry), but I don't really recall him borrowing any of the lines from it.  Do you remember which part he used?  It might turn on a light bulb in my brain.

It was the chorus. "Don't leave me high, don't leave me dry". It showed up somewhere in the middle of the song, near the part where he repeats "Standing on the edge of me" umpteen times.

Well, to each his own.  I'm not saying Ruth's show was mind blowing, because I can admit that it was pretty standard.  I suppose I'm kind of biased when it comes to that band, because I've known the frontman of the band for a while and have seen them get to where they are.  So it was just really cool to see them on such a big tour.

Being a friend of the frontman might bias you just a bit, but then again, you've also had more time to listen and familiarize yourself with the hooks and the unique quirks, so I'm not going to discount everything you say about them. I know that I judged Copeland by first impressions last year and regretted it later.

[enemy anemone]

no concerts for me all of November. *weep sigh* so even though I've seen Ferraby Lionheart like four or five times already this year I think I'll go again tomorrow. he's opening for Richard Hawley, formerly of Pulp. I took a listen to Richard Hawley's stuff and like it pretty well.