Whatever happened to this idea? I've been listening to the Chattnooga "live" CD lately and, my god. How much of that show is piped in and pre-recorded? 80%? It's enough to make it boring. I'd like to ask him why he caved and turned towards backing tracks, loops and such. It's disappointing. Say what you want about Musicology and that tour but that was a real god damned band. Same with the ONA tour. What the hell happened?

some people prefer to have the sound they hear on the record when they go to the concert. You'd be surprised to see how many actually prefer it this way

In fact, the statement in your thread title actually looks very cliche to a lot of people. Just add a hispter voice

[Edited 10/1/15 18:08pm]

Thizz said:

some people prefer to have the sound they hear on the record when they go to the concert. You'd be surprised to see how many actually prefer it this way

I wouldn't be surprised at all, but I ususally chalk that sort of attitude up to people who go see acts like Madonna, Janet Jackson, Beiber, MJ and boy bands, where it's not really about the music but the show. I mean, even KISS plays live and they're ALL about the show. They sort of suck playing instruments but do it anyway. Pink Floyd, Alice Cooper...they're mostly all about the show but they play live.

I don't see the Stones, Rush, Tom Petty, U2...piping in pre-recorded shit. They fuck up and miss a note or measure every show and no one cares. It's part of what makes it great. I guess U2 does it to some degree. Maybe they all do and I'm getting old and cranky.

But it's hypocritical on Prince's part since he's supposed to be this amazing live act and prides himself of being a "real" musician. It pisses me off, frankly, for several reasons. I downloaded this "live" set and it was ruined by samples, that stupid "owwww" sample from "Alphabet Street" peppering every song and the overall synthetic and sterile nature of the performance. If I had paid money to see it, I would have felt ripped off. Why not just bring the aftershow vibe into the live set and the tour proper, mistakes be damned. It's so much better that way.

Thizz said:

KingSausage said:

Thizz said:

some people prefer to have the sound they hear on the record when they go to the concert. You'd be surprised to see how many actually prefer it this way

In fact, the statement in your thread title actually looks very cliche to a lot of people. Just add a hispter voice

[Edited 10/1/15 18:08pm]

A hipster voice? For wanting to hear actual performances at a concert? WTF?! And people want the actual sound from the recording when they see a live show? Yeah. Hmm. Just stay home and play your albums. Why even see a live performance?

The energy of the show and the live performance. People are there for the act and their live vocals

Don't believe me?

See if you can pack a stadium full of people with just the band and no vocalist

Now try the same thing with just a vocalist and no band

I rest my case

Thizz said:

KingSausage said:

Thizz said: A hipster voice? For wanting to hear actual performances at a concert? WTF?! And people want the actual sound from the recording when they see a live show? Yeah. Hmm. Just stay home and play your albums. Why even see a live performance?

The energy of the show and the live performance. People are there for the act and their live vocals

Don't believe me?

See if you can pack a stadium full of people with just the band and no vocalist

Now try the same thing with just a vocalist and no band

I rest my case

Acts like Andre Rieu and Kenny G fill arenas and stadiums don't they?

And didn't Kevin Hart just pack out a stadium recently? Not a singer, but still just a single voice - live vocals.

herb4 said:

Thizz said:

some people prefer to have the sound they hear on the record when they go to the concert. You'd be surprised to see how many actually prefer it this way

I wouldn't be surprised at all, but I ususally chalk that sort of attitude up to people who go see acts like Madonna, Janet Jackson, Beiber, MJ and boy bands, where it's not really about the music but the show. I mean, even KISS plays live and they're ALL about the show. They sort of suck playing instruments but do it anyway. Pink Floyd, Alice Cooper...they're mostly all about the show but they play live.

I don't see the Stones, Rush, Tom Petty, U2...piping in pre-recorded shit. They fuck up and miss a note or measure every show and no one cares. It's part of what makes it great. I guess U2 does it to some degree. Maybe they all do and I'm getting old and cranky.

But it's hypocritical on Prince's part since he's supposed to be this amazing live act and prides himself of being a "real" musician. It pisses me off, frankly, for several reasons. I downloaded this "live" set and it was ruined by samples, that stupid "owwww" sample from "Alphabet Street" peppering every song and the overall synthetic and sterile nature of the performance. If I had paid money to see it, I would have felt ripped off. Why not just bring the aftershow vibe into the live set and the tour proper, mistakes be damned. It's so much better that way.

Times have changed. Prince pretty much mails it in now and half of his shows are sampled now so I recommend probably not spending alot of money then if it bothers you that bad. Honestly the crowd seemed to enjoy the sampled material better than the actual band playing last time I saw him. I don't like it either but it is what it is. Times have changed. My philosophy is just go with or not. No sense in getting mad and complaing about it because one thing for sure is that Prince doesn't care what we think. He has sampled more than everyone realizes though. There wer live samples on the Lovesexy tour, Nude Tour and the whole 94-96 era but noone really started to complain about then until the sampler set emerged. For the 50-100 of us on this site that hate it there seems to be 10,000+ or so at each show that seems to love it.

Thizz said:

Dude is just playing/having fun. There's plenty of musicship & sonic exploration in the last few albums, including hitnrun. I'll be the first to admit, I'd prefer his experimentation in the sonic landscape in a much different direction/location, however I am enjoying the ride for now. Just wait & see where he takes us.

Btw, I havent seen 3EG live in concert, but I have no doubts they rock, considering we've had several opportunities to listen to their streams of their live performances on their soundcloud & now dorment youtube acount. The dance rally for peace was pretty badass! The Whole Of The Moon!!!

I'm not trying to bump this thread but I'm surpirsed it didn't get more feedback, especially given how much Prince fans value the aftershows, the bootlegs and the live band sound of The Rainbow Children disc. I'd be pissed off if I went to see Prince and he gave me that pre-recorded turd from Tennessee that I downloaded. That "Alphabet Street" sample ruined the whole set.



Personally, I think it's sad. I'd rather he played smaller venues and scorch my ears with a live sound than "play the hits" (on a loop) and "playing/have fun". One of the things I love about Prince is how he plays live. He brings so much more to the sound and the experience when he just jams and shows off his natural talent.

Where's Mike Bland, Maceo Parker and John Blackwell when we need them? Shelia E? Christ, fucking Rhonda and Renato? If i want to listen to CD's, I'll fucking stay home.

The bottom line is that if there was anything you could count on Prince for it was real music and real musicians. HitnRun marks the official end of that long standing edict. Call it the new world, what is happening now, or just a sign of the times (no pun intended) - it actually has happened: a Prince album is not really the singular work that is a comprehensive, authentic product of Prince. It is now contaminated with something that is not Prince. We can not marvel at the fact that Prince played all the keyboard parts, sang all the beautifully layered vocals, did the drums and ripped all the guitar parts on his new masterpiece. If Prince is only playing guitars on a record, it is something like what he has done for Stevie Wonder - and s Stevie Wonder record; not a Prince record.

FUNKYNESS said:

The bottom line is that if there was anything you could count on Prince for it was real music and real musicians. HitnRun marks the official end of that long standing edict. Call it the new world, what is happening now, or just a sign of the times (no pun intended) - it actually has happened: a Prince album is not really the singular work that is a comprehensive, authentic product of Prince. It is now contaminated with something that is not Prince. We can not marvel at the fact that Prince played all the keyboard parts, sang all the beautifully layered vocals, did the drums and ripped all the guitar parts on his new masterpiece. If Prince is only playing guitars on a record, it is something like what he has done for Stevie Wonder - and s Stevie Wonder record; not a Prince record.

This is spot on but it's still sad. I never even minded the synthetic drum sequences and heavy reliance on electronics and synths back in the day because someone still had to PLAY it at least. That Chatanooga CD I've been referening sounded like Prince doing Karaoke over his own material.

I wish he'd do a tour that was more in the style of the aftershows, warts, screwups and all, where he got a bunch of great musicians on stage and just fucking jammed. Other bands do it all the time and their fans worship them for it because every show is different and it rewards them for following the bands around on tours in different cities. They never know what they're gonna get.

I saw the Musicology tour twice, once in Philly and once in Jacksonville, and - as great as it was - it was largely the same show each time. But it was still better than this pre-recorded drivel because I knew that Blackwell, Rhonda, Maceo and company were actually playing.

herb4 said:

Whatever happened to this idea? I've been listening to the Chattnooga "live" CD lately and, my god. How much of that show is piped in and pre-recorded? 80%? It's enough to make it boring. I'd like to ask him why he caved and turned towards backing tracks, loops and such. It's disappointing. Say what you want about Musicology and that tour but that was a real god damned band. Same with the ONA tour. What the hell happened?

I'm not familier with the boot you're talking about but are you talking about the sampler set or...

Noodled24 said:

herb4 said:

Whatever happened to this idea? I've been listening to the Chattnooga "live" CD lately and, my god. How much of that show is piped in and pre-recorded? 80%? It's enough to make it boring. I'd like to ask him why he caved and turned towards backing tracks, loops and such. It's disappointing. Say what you want about Musicology and that tour but that was a real god damned band. Same with the ONA tour. What the hell happened?

I'm not familier with the boot you're talking about but are you talking about the sampler set or...

No. The whole show pretty much.

nosajd said:

Dude is just playing/having fun. There's plenty of musicship & sonic exploration in the last few albums, including hitnrun. I'll be the first to admit, I'd prefer his experimentation in the sonic landscape in a much different direction/location, however I am enjoying the ride for now. Just wait & see where he takes us.

Btw, I havent seen 3EG live in concert, but I have no doubts they rock, considering we've had several opportunities to listen to their streams of their live performances on their soundcloud & now dorment youtube acount. The dance rally for peace was pretty badass! The Whole Of The Moon!!!

Have to say live 3EG are LOUD!!! I was fairly near the front at one of their London gigs in 2014 and it was very guitar heavy and frenetic. I do also have to say that Prince's falsetto during the sampler set was remarkable live. It was a very 'live' set (Other than parts of the sampler set). Prince soloing on guitar and keyboards, Donna shredding her guitar, Hannah drumming, Ida awesome on bass, pure musical ability.

I think I would make a couple of points, firstly that Prince made a point about real music by real musicians at the early part of this century and I still think it is valid in that no-one doubts Prince's ability to play instruments well. The fact that he is choosing to explore a few new areas on record doesn't affect the huge back catalogue available to fans who want a more 'live' sounding record. PlectrumElectrum is also a mostly live sounding album.

Secondly, whilst only being anecdotal, the majority of people who attend Prince concerts are often more casual fans who also attend lots of other artists concerts where digital effects are very much de rigueur so maybe there is an element of that but Prince's live performances are still beyond the ability of most in my opinion.