Steam Engine. Why...

vwxg14a · Jan 10, 2009, 07:09 PM

isn't in every concert?

I have seen them 6 times and heard it twice.

Obviously, it is one of their best songs if not the best (based upon the great song battle a couple of months ago).

Any theories out there?

Could it be that the lyrics are too personal on a nightly basis?

Could it be Jim's voice cannot do it each night?

I was waiting for it NYE :'(

Why?

AllyDee · Jan 10, 2009, 08:18 PM

I'm pretty sure it's the length

They could do a pretty bare version of it in like 8-9 minutes if they wanted, but in order for it to be truly great live it's gotta be extended.

Can't have tons of super long songs at every show

The DARK · Jan 10, 2009, 10:00 PM

Yeah. With Touch Me Pt. 2, Dondante, and Run Thru being played nearly every show, there's just not enough room in the setlist. At the moment, Dondante fulfills the need for a "jam song" in the set. I doubt that it will ever fully drop off the setlists though; it's just too great of a song, and I'm sure the band fully recognizes that.

lasvegas · Jan 12, 2009, 04:16 PM

as much as i love steam engine, i'd take a rawking 'it's about twilight now' over it anyday.

oh yeah, alright.

lasvegas · Jan 12, 2009, 05:13 PM

hmm, after listening to this version again, i may have to reconsider my stance:
http://www.archive.org/details/mmj2004-06-12.shnf

damn what a show!!

Shouldnt Be Ashamed · Jan 12, 2009, 06:41 PM

Nothing beat the version at RCMH

tomEisenbraun · Jan 12, 2009, 10:00 PM

I think there's a certain magic surrounding that song, in all truth. I think they know this and they know we know this, and if they were to heave themselves into with the necessary intensity every night, they'd either lose affection for it or wear themselves out in a big way. There could be nothing worse, in my mind, than a stale Steam Engine.

That said, seven shows in and I still haven't caught this one live. Even at the Ryman, they didn't bust it out! I thought for sure I'd get to finally be transcended there of all places, but alas...

Seriously, though, I'm not impatient. I know I'll finally get it, and even if it takes me another seven shows (which, I sincerely hope it won't), the live beauty of that song will turn my brain into something akin to pudding and someone will need to drive me home.

Twice in six shows is quite lucky, I'd say.
:)

tomEisenbraun · Jan 12, 2009, 10:01 PM

QuoteNothing beat the version at RCMH

I'd imagine the "Return to Thunderdome" performance mmmmmight just hold a candle to that one?

Ghosts_on_TV · Jan 14, 2009, 01:49 AM

Quote
QuoteNothing beat the version at RCMH

I'd imagine the "Return to Thunderdome" performance mmmmmight just hold a candle to that one?

I was at both. It does.

Bumbeli · Jan 14, 2009, 08:18 AM

Hey there guys, I finally got myself to post here after months of reading the forums. First of all, I'm really surprised how good the community is around here, I haven't seen something like that anywhere else. All those bootlegs, pictures, impressions and stories about MSG made me really wish I had been there, but the 13 hours flight in addition to the lack of time due to studies made me stay at home, and looking back, I'm kinda angry I missed that. Won't make that mistake again, and if they come to europe this year, which I really hope as their last concerts were all canceled, I'm definitly going to as many concerts as possible.
Anyways, I love Steam Engine, and as I read above, the Return to Thunderdome and the RCMH version are outstanding ones, so I would like to know if there are any good recordings of these shows to buy/download, as I couldn't find either one at archive.org.

Thank you

Don Dante · Jan 14, 2009, 08:28 AM

QuoteHey there guys, I finally got myself to post here after months of reading the forums. First of all, I'm really surprised how good the community is around here, I haven't seen something like that anywhere else. All those bootlegs, pictures, impressions and stories about MSG made me really wish I had been there, but the 13 hours flight in addition to the lack of time due to studies made me stay at home, and looking back, I'm kinda angry I missed that. Won't make that mistake again, and if they come to europe this year, which I really hope as their last concerts were all canceled, I'm definitly going to as many concerts as possible.
Anyways, I love Steam Engine, and as I read above, the Return to Thunderdome and the RCMH version are outstanding ones, so I would like to know if there are any good recordings of these shows to buy/download, as I couldn't find either one at archive.org.

Thank you

Welcome Bumbeli! Here are those shows on the archive, you may have been lookin' in the wrong place. Enjoy...

http://www.archive.org/details/mmj2008-06-13.140v3.flacf16

http://www.archive.org/details/mmj2008-06-20.mk41.kc5.cmc6.744t.flacf16

goose · Jan 14, 2009, 08:52 AM

Quote
QuoteNothing beat the version at RCMH

I'd imagine the "Return to Thunderdome" performance mmmmmight just hold a candle to that one?

Definitely the Return to Thunderdome version. Patrick's drum solo at the end was incendiary (Borrowed from Almost Famous).

And Tom you are right. I have seen them5 times and got it twice, and I am lucky.

Penny Lane · Jan 14, 2009, 09:01 AM

Quote
Quote
QuoteNothing beat the version at RCMH

I'd imagine the "Return to Thunderdome" performance mmmmmight just hold a candle to that one?

I was at both. It does.

AGREED

lasvegas · Jan 14, 2009, 10:25 AM

bonnaroo '04.

check it above. best version.

tomEisenbraun · Jan 14, 2009, 07:59 PM

Did anybody see that Bonnaroo from a couple years ago that ended with the footage they caught of the end of "Steam Engine"? I caught it on tv and about diiiiied. Hot damn.

I'll need to download and get blown away by this Radio City version, though....

goose · Jan 14, 2009, 08:25 PM

QuoteDid anybody see that Bonnaroo from a couple years ago that ended with the footage they caught of the end of "Steam Engine"? I caught it on tv and about diiiiied. Hot damn.

I'll need to download and get blown away by this Radio City version, though....

Hey Tom, that was from bonaroo 04. IT started with Jim in a tent playing Golden by himself.

tomEisenbraun · Feb 19, 2009, 03:42 PM

yes! that's the one!

Kenny76 · Feb 19, 2009, 07:01 PM

it's too good to be played at every show.

dhooseyawaddy1 · Feb 19, 2009, 07:31 PM

QuoteI think there's a certain magic surrounding that song, in all truth. I think they know this and they know we know this, and if they were to heave themselves into with the necessary intensity every night, they'd either lose affection for it or wear themselves out in a big way. There could be nothing worse, in my mind, than a stale Steam Engine.

That said, seven shows in and I still haven't caught this one live. Even at the Ryman, they didn't bust it out! I thought for sure I'd get to finally be transcended there of all places, but alas...

Seriously, though, I'm not impatient. I know I'll finally get it, and even if it takes me another seven shows (which, I sincerely hope it won't), the live beauty of that song will turn my brain into something akin to pudding and someone will need to drive me home.

Twice in six shows is quite lucky, I'd say.
:)

was at the Ryman show and thought the same thing... Heard it in Louisville and had a hard time explaining the stain in my pants to my wife :D

Crispy · Feb 19, 2009, 07:48 PM

QuoteNothing beat the version at RCMH

Considering I wasn't at thunderdome, but I was at RCMH, and first row in the first mezzanine, and 2 feet away from JJ as he walked upon the parapet high above the crowd, and as I was transmogrified into a raving, dumbstruck orangutan - I have to go with RCMH.