Studio wizardry vs. concert magic.

Jan 13 05:57 UTC 2003

Which do you prefer, music that has been well produced in a studio, or 
to go see your favorite artist(s) live in concert?

I'll admit I enjoyed seeing Depeche Mode in concert-- lights and video 
and other FX was sweet.  But minus that, some of the sonic experience 
just wasn't the same.

Perhaps I'm being narrow here-- classical music on recording vs. in a 
concert hall would be a much more interesting discussion, as folk, 
country, and rock groups do not always have the benefit of a venue with 
great acoustics.

Some acts really do not have a concert component (or none that I know 
of)-- Enigma was conceived as a studio concept, with the idea that the 
artist would be unknown and a mystery.  I'm not sure if Enya has ever 
given a concert-- according to press, she is extremely introverted and 
shy.

Perhaps the encouragement of bootlegs by the band Grateful Dead (of 
course when Jerry Garcia was alive) was really an expression that the 
live experience or anything close to it was best.

Anyway..

response 2 of 5:

Jan 13 14:07 UTC 2003

I like to see a band which has interesting studio productions and then a
really good live act.  Where most bands blow it is either in not "capturing
their live sound" in the studio, or else attempting to exactly recreate their
studio hits live.

I'm usually impressed when a band can play live and come up with a good live
version/adaption of their studio stuff - changing whatever doesn't translate
well to the stage.