Cold Specks, bad fit

viachicago22 · Apr 22, 2013, 04:42 AM

I was at the 4/20 Chicago show at The Vic and Jim and the band were absolutely amazing. Just an incredible performance. However, I thought the opener was a really bad pairing. She has an amazing voice, and some of the arrangements were interesting, but when people come to see Jim they are ready to celebrate, to get caught up and rock and dance and enjoy themselves and she was sort of the opposite of all of that.

I have no problem with an opener that is different or more mellow, but this was just an extreme dichotomy. She has next to no percussion. It shouldn't have been, and I felt bad for her, but the talking level was almost as loud as the music. I'm almost certain that she finally got fed up and walked off during her last song before it was finished. It was cover of an old spiritual and my friend who knows the song said there were two verses left. It certainly seemed like an abrupt ending.

This is no comment on her talent, I just don't think the pairing is fair for her, and probably not what most fans want or expect from a Jim James opener.

Fully · Apr 22, 2013, 05:37 AM

I really liked the band myself. There was lots of talking during the Louisville show too, but with such a quiet band, it's not surprising that you could hear the talking. I thought it was pretty cool to be introduced to such an interesting artist. I can see why you think that though.

Devil Ledbetter · Apr 22, 2013, 08:22 AM

I agree that it was a bad fit even though the singer's voice was beautiful. I was right in front and she did indeed stamp her foot and walk off mid-song. On the one hand, I can understand being frustrated at all the talking. On the other, doesn't an act have some obligation to at least TRY to be a little, tiny bit interesting? Her entire band look bored out of their skulls. On a scale of 1-10 their stage presence was about a negative 8.

And I thought Band of Horses was boring. Cold Specs makes Band of Horse look like Led Zeppelin.

Fully · Apr 22, 2013, 08:35 AM

Quote from: Devil Ledbetter on Apr 22, 2013, 08:22 AM

And I thought Band of Horses was boring. Cold Specs makes Band of Horse look like Led Zeppelin.

crazylove · Apr 22, 2013, 11:53 AM

To add my 2 cents, I thought her voice was haunting and beautiful. However, it would have been fine to end at 4 songs. It just dragged on and on after that. And the band looked like they had just walked out of the 1930's depression era. It was like being at a funeral dirge.

Waddy Peytona · Apr 22, 2013, 12:43 PM

I agree with all of these comments. Horrible fit.

I'm a little relieved, however, that it wasn't just a Louisville thing.

e-stone · Apr 22, 2013, 12:56 PM

what a bummer. i was looking forward to seeing them as i've really been enjoying their album since we found out they would be the opener.

Fully · Apr 22, 2013, 02:58 PM

Quote from: e-stone on Apr 22, 2013, 12:56 PM
what a bummer. i was looking forward to seeing them as i've really been enjoying their album since we found out they would be the opener.

You might still enjoy it. I liked it quite a bit. She's very talented. I will say that if someone was expecting an upbeat performance, then they would be in for a big let down. It was very sparse and dramatic. She seems to rely on the power of her voice and lyrics more than any stage charisma. It's very serious stuff. So it is very different from what comes later with Jim.

pattilovesmmj · Apr 22, 2013, 04:53 PM

Quote from: Fully on Apr 22, 2013, 02:58 PM
Quote from: e-stone on Apr 22, 2013, 12:56 PM
what a bummer. i was looking forward to seeing them as i've really been enjoying their album since we found out they would be the opener.

You might still enjoy it. I liked it quite a bit. She's very talented. I will say that if someone was expecting an upbeat performance, then they would be in for a big let down. It was very sparse and dramatic. She seems to rely on the power of her voice and lyrics more than any stage charisma. It's very serious stuff. So it is very different from what comes later with Jim.
I saw her performances both Friday and Saturday. Friday night people appreciated her music more and seemed to be more into it. Saturday too many drunk people yacking away during her music made it seem less interesting to most people.
She has a beautiful voice and me and my gang cracked up Friday night as she was wearing a black "cape" - actually more like a cloak with a hood, none the less, it was funny that she had on a cape and Jim was the one without his.

solace · Apr 22, 2013, 04:55 PM

i thought she/they were wonderful...

i tried to see her 2 other times in Minnesota last year, but neither worked out.

different strokes for different folks.

if you were disappointed simply because they didn't "rock", well then that's your fault imo, but everyone around me was super impressed by her voice and their set, and my friends who i told to come early all thanked me.

if they got a cold reception in Minneapolis last night, it was not evident by any of the front 1/3 of the crowd.

1eyed_jack · Apr 22, 2013, 08:55 PM

I enjoyed them in Chicago for the most part.

She has a very nice voice!

Only problem was the sound. When he was singing loud it was cringe-worthy because it was overblowing speakers. Someone should have turned her mic down a bit or told her to back away from the mic a little during those strong notes

viachicago22 · Apr 24, 2013, 03:13 AM

I felt bad for her band, they had next to nothing to do. Oh well, it's a gig I suppose.

viachicago22 · Apr 24, 2013, 03:15 AM

Quote from: Devil Ledbetter on Apr 22, 2013, 08:22 AM
On the one hand, I can understand being frustrated at all the talking. On the other, doesn't an act have some obligation to at least TRY to be a little, tiny bit interesting?

Exactly.

GibsyLaLa · Apr 24, 2013, 01:18 PM

I thought Cold Specks was amazing at the Minneapolis show. Quite honestly, I think the ecclectic feel of any Jim James/MMJ show leaves the door open for just about anything as long as the artists have some serious talent, which she does. Sure she didn't "rock" but I still appreciated her performance and it appeared that most around me did as well.

Fully · Apr 24, 2013, 01:26 PM

Quote from: GibsyLaLa on Apr 24, 2013, 01:18 PM
I thought Cold Specks was amazing at the Minneapolis show. Quite honestly, I think the ecclectic feel of any Jim James/MMJ show leaves the door open for just about anything as long as the artists have some serious talent, which she does. Sure she didn't "rock" but I still appreciated her performance and it appeared that most around me did as well.

Welcome, Gibsy! I see this is your first post! I agree with you on this. I don't always like the opener, but I really liked this one.

EverythingChanges · Apr 24, 2013, 01:58 PM

I thought Cold Specks was great. Yeah, her vocals sometimes were almost too loud, but it was powerful all the same. She played Fresh Prince of Bel-Air for us, which was pretty cool. I had only two complaints from her set. She didn't really seem to believe in herself, but as the crowd kept cheering her on and yelling encouragement, she sorta grew some confidence. She is a super talented individual, and it still shown through her walled off self. My second complaint was that she didn't really play some heavier songs that would have won over the crowd.

Like this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ropZ1apYo6U#

or this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR9VbmIh1Rs#

iLikeBeer · Apr 24, 2013, 02:38 PM

I thought she was good but I would have enjoyed it more if she would have mixed in a couple of a bit more high energy songs?

Her voice was amazing though. And I did enjoy her finale when she went a cappella. And I don't know what happened in Chicago, but the foot stomping she did in Columbus during her finale didn't seem out of frustration but seemed to be a part of the song? Pretty powerful to see her step away from the mike and STILL sing over the talkative crowd. She certainly go my attention!

dmooney99 · Apr 28, 2013, 08:45 PM

I didn't mind her too much. One part that was kinda cool from the philly show was that she did The Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme song

ericm · Apr 28, 2013, 10:00 PM

She's talented, but I think I might enjoy her stuff more listening to an album. Live just didn't do it for me, and felt like the opposite of a warmup act.

Jeff Murray · Apr 29, 2013, 02:07 PM

Quote from: dmooney99 on Apr 28, 2013, 08:45 PM
I didn't mind her too much. One part that was kinda cool from the philly show was that she did The Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme song

I must have nodded off because I didn't even pick up on that and we were not talking much during her set, we were trying to be respectful and pay attention... I agree with Eric, warm up acts should get the crowd going, not settle them down. The band has an easy gig as most of the set they are kneeling waiting to play their part, especially felt bad for the dude in the Gandalf hat having to be in the front of the stage with limited action. As I stated in the Philly thread that I would have rather seen the choir that they were playing between sets. I could see her band being a better opener for Ray Lamontagne or Michael Kiwanuka. Just my two cents...