Slow things down?

[DreamingStreets]

Originally Posted by Utopia

But what if they played PM>Satellite, since that's usually the way it's played.

They do that cause they're in the same keys, right? Same with Nancies and Warehouse.

Going by that logic, they should also do Rhyme & Reason > Shake Me, #41 > Spoon, Typical Situation > Big-Eyed Fish, heck, even Say Goodbye > BOWA!!

[TwoStep2888]

slow it down, jazz it up

[NewAgedNerd]

I definitely prefer the slower and more "jazzy" (I oft think this term is miss-used in this context but that's beside the point) sound of 98-04 however I also dig some of the rock stuff from 08 - present. I think for me it's not as much the tempo of some songs as it is that there's just too much going on in some songs. I enjoy hearing #41, Grey Street, DDTW, Rapunzel, etc. with this line up, but some of those songs (along with others like Ants) just get so damn busy.

[KevinTH]

Originally Posted by NewAgedNerd

I definitely prefer the slower and more "jazzy" (I oft think this term is miss-used in this context but that's beside the point) sound of 98-04 however I also dig some of the rock stuff from 08 - present. I think for me it's not as much the tempo of some songs as it is that there's just too much going on in some songs. I enjoy hearing #41, Grey Street, DDTW, Rapunzel, etc. with this line up, but some of those songs (along with others like Ants) just get so damn busy.

Ants is becoming a cluttered loud mess. I don't even listen it anymore.

[NewAgedNerd]

Originally Posted by KevinTH

Ants is becoming a cluttered loud mess. I don't even listen it anymore.

Yeah I feel that. I remember getting into the band around 2009 with UTTAD, and of course Ants was a stand out from that album, but then when i went to find live versions of it on youtube i came across some from '08 and '09 and i was just like "wow what is this awful mess"

honestly im pretty forgiving of a lot of DMB 3.0s versions of songs but damn Ants is a disaster.

[MikeyCarson40]

I agree with this thread 100%! Bring back the jazzy sound which made the band so unique. Bringing back a keyboard player would help this!

[JAMILL112]

Slowwww it downnnnnnn! Grey Street for sure. I like DDTW anytime any way it's played. Even with Tim and I don't really like him on a lot of songs. Digging a Ditch last year was so hard to listen to. PNP too.

Rashawn...just please go away. Outside of the salsa jam and Break Free, he needs to take a hike.
And Spaceman. If they have to play that song, I enjoy his little solo. But that blaring trumpet near the end of certain songs has to stop.

[aclark0622]

The band's sound is a total clusterfuck now. Carter needs to find the pocket. Tim and the horns should be reduced by 75% (in my perfect world Jeff would be replaced, never liked his sound, much too abrasive). Boyd, where do we begin with him.

It's just a runaway train of noise.

[space_raven]

Originally Posted by aclark0622

The band's sound is a total clusterfuck now. Carter needs to find the pocket. Tim and the horns should be reduced by 75% (in my perfect world Jeff would be replaced, never liked his sound, much too abrasive). Boyd, where do we begin with him.

It's just a runaway train of noise.

^ P much. Yes.

[RedRaider06]

Carter really sped things up beginning in 2008 when Tim came back. Pre-Tim things were much smoother/slower...really miss the 2000-2004 tempo. Carter also started to hit his China cymbal every time he was crashing when Tim returned. As a drummer this drives me bananas.

*I miss Butch*

[kb317]

A lotta times I think the whole band is to blame. It's obvious carter has a lot to do with it though, check out Save Me from LT29. Carter starts WAY too fast and Tim can't even keep up through the first measure. As a musician myself, if I saw Save Me on the setlist and heard carter count it off THAT fast, I would turn back to the setlist to make sure i'm playing the right song

[drmstrack]

I often go back and listen to 1999-2000 versions of Watchtower. Gun to my head and I had to pick, Id go with the slower funkier versions from that time but they're a different band now.

[coldblueice]

i would say that MORE than the absence of Leroi Moore, more than the sometimes over-dominance of Tim's playing, more than the occasional Lovely Ladies appearances, and WAY more than repetitive setlists.........

the single thing that has hurt DMB's quality of music in the live setting over the last 10-15 years is their insistence on playing their songs so fucking fast. songs like Grey Street, Rapunzel, Shotgun, Last Stop - hell, most of their catalog - RUINED by speeding thru the songs.

my question is WHY WHY WHY.

- the Grey Street on LT3 is magnificent because of the slow and steady pace (and the third verse). everything in the last decade fucking sucks because they seem to try to play it as fast as possible.
- the 9/23/06 Shotgun is glorious because of the slower tempo. Shotguns post-2011 are a blur and it's a fucking disservice to the song.

WHY DO THEY DO THIS?!?!?!? it can't be that they want to get off the stage -- concerts are generally the same length. do they want to play more songs per concert? do they think our attention spans have decreased in the age of twitter? are they just sick and tired of playing all these songs over and over that they just want to get it overwith?

i hate it. it's my #1 gripe.

[TimHonks]

Rapunzel is where I notice it the most. LS Rapunzel is so good.

I actually prefer the post 2010 Shotgun and still like Grey Street.

[coldblueice]

Originally Posted by TimHonks

I actually prefer the post 2010 Shotgun and still like Grey Street.

you're wrong, honky-tonk! you're just plain wrong!


but LS Rapunzel is sweet.

[CrashTheStone41]

IDGAF. Let the artists be artists and stop questioning their process.

[coldblueice]

Originally Posted by CrashTheStone41

IDGAF. Let the artists be artists and stop questioning their process.

seriously

[#41Tom]

Originally Posted by RedRaider06

Carter really sped things up beginning in 2008 when Tim came back. Pre-Tim things were much smoother/slower...really miss the 2000-2004 tempo. Carter also started to hit his China cymbal every time he was crashing when Tim returned. As a drummer this drives me bananas.

*I miss Butch*

Exactly this!!!

Originally Posted by CrashTheStone41

IDGAF. Let the artists be artists and stop questioning their process.

So you have no musical preferences?

[CrashTheStone41]

Originally Posted by #41Tom

Exactly this!!!



So you have no musical preferences?

I have a preference, sure, but MY preference should not dictate an artist's performance. I don't like cubism but I'd never tell Picasso not to do it.

[#41Tom]

'IDGAF' isn't what you meant then...

Originally Posted by CrashTheStone41

I have a preference, sure, but MY preference should not dictate an artist's performance. I don't like cubism but I'd never tell Picasso not to do it.

I'm fairly sure that it won't!!! None of us think it will make an impact. We're just discussing our preferences though, as this is a discussion board

[CrashTheStone41]

Originally Posted by #41Tom

'IDGAF' isn't what you meant then...



I'm fairly sure that it won't!!! None of us think it will make an impact. We're just discussing our preferences though, as this is a discussion board

I get it, but honestly, at the risk of being called a ball-washer by the people that don't know me, I could not care less what DMB does on stage. If they want to play rock and roll do it... if they want to play jazz... cool. As long as they are playing inspired, that's all the matters.

[#41Tom]

Originally Posted by CrashTheStone41

I get it, but honestly, at the risk of being called a ball-washer by the people that don't know me, I could not care less what DMB does on stage. If they want to play rock and roll do it... if they want to play jazz... cool. As long as they are playing inspired, that's all the matters.

Interesting. So if they decided that they were really into polka, and felt inspired to do that, would you still go to shows? Would you mind the Ladies singing on every song?

[CrashTheStone41]

Originally Posted by #41Tom

Interesting. So if they decided that they were really into polka, and felt inspired to do that, would you still go to shows? Would you mind the Ladies singing on every song?

DMB doing Polka would be interesting . That's a pretty extreme example, and your point is being made through it but I think at this point in my life, I would go to the show. DMB shows are tradition.

I don't mind the ladies and am I bit baffled about how extreme the hatred for them is around these parts. They wouldn't work on every song though.

[morecornbread!!]

Originally Posted by CrashTheStone41

IDGAF. Let the artists be artists and stop questioning their process.

Exactly how I feel. They are gonna do their thing. Let the band be the band

[#41Tom]

Originally Posted by morecornbread!!

Exactly how I feel. They are gonna do their thing. Let the band be the band

Why even come to discussion boards then?!

[Toast and Jelly]

Yeah this is important. Space and silence are essential components of a song, especially one with the feel and signature of Rapunzel. The 2013 version sounds very bad. As for the ramp up in speed over time, I don't know. I guess, as the engine, a lot of it is due to the pace Carter sets.

Another thought that I have is that, after playing these songs so so many times, the band just thinks of songs in different ways. Their relationship to a set, how the crowd responds, etc. Like obviously the crowd is going to respond to the jam / outro at the end of Rapunzel- so the rest of the song becomes about getting there- and over time gets to the point where the core song has that breakneck tempo from the beginning. The band's live show these days feels more about creating certain moments (typically instrumental outros) than actually giving any one song a clean, right performance. That is to say, not much tasteful restraint shown these days.

[alec]

Originally Posted by Toast and Jelly

Yeah this is important. Space and silence are essential components of a song, especially one with the feel and signature of Rapunzel. The 2013 version sounds very bad. As for the ramp up in speed over time, I don't know. I guess, as the engine, a lot of it is due to the pace Carter sets.

Another thought that I have is that, after playing these songs so so many times, the band just thinks of songs in different ways. Their relationship to a set, how the crowd responds, etc. Like obviously the crowd is going to respond to the jam / outro at the end of Rapunzel- so the rest of the song becomes about getting there- and over time gets to the point where the core song has that breakneck tempo from the beginning. The band's live show these days feels more about creating certain moments (typically instrumental outros) than actually giving any one song a clean, right performance. That is to say, not much tasteful restraint shown these days.

I like this version of Rapunzel (it is the first song in this show). Great tempo, and more space and silence than other versions i have heard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybX0zga_UwU

[TwoStep2888]

I like the band's current lineup but maybe chill out and slow down a bit

[SeeMoreDMB]

I think if they didn't mix it up tempo/structure wise there might not be a DMB to go see; try playing the same songs for over 25 years the exact same way and tell me how you feel. I was in a band for a year and got sick of playing the same songs in that short amount of time. Also, Rashawn is an incredible player who fits the feel way more than Jeff, and the Ladies are also amazing because vocal harmonies add so much depth of emotion. Not sure if people are sexist or racist with all the hate for the LL I see here.

[camptravisr]

Slow Rapunzel sounds awkward to me. Outside of Rapunzel I prefer the slower versions. Grey Street is definitely too fast.