recorded music used at live shows?

[August West]

OK so Milwaukee show last night was awesome, and I thoroughly dig everything about mmj.  We went to the Seattle show as well and will be in Chicago next week.  I've seen them probably 20 times.  Recently I've noticed that the band seems to be using more and more recorded music at their shows.  Its always been obvious with drum loops, but last night it seemed even guitar parts were playing automatically in the background.  I have to say this troubles me a bit. Anyone else troubled?  I'm not troubled enough to stop going to shows, and by no means am I criticizing the band, but I'm curious as to why so much dubbed music is used.  Also, it makes me want to see the band completely stripped of loops and other dubbed sounds.  u2 is another band that I've noticed uses dubbed music at "live" shows and I dig them too, so again, my intent is not to talk smack.  Anyone got any thoughts on the subject?

[ultravisitor]

So long as the band is still singing and playing their own instruments, I don't have much of a problem with it.  Considering all the production that goes into the songs while in the studio, it's probably necessary to use some prerecorded music in order to achieve a similar sound while live.

[tomEisenbraun]

where were the prerecorded guitar tracks at? I've noticed vocal tracks added to "I Will Sing You Songs" and "Golden" but never guitar parts before...

[Angry Ewok]

Recording the guitars? No way...

[donosborn]

I had been alerted to this just before seeing them in Mpls a few days ago.  As for guitars or other instruments, I did not notice that.  I think the band plays all of that live.

However, I do have to admit, I lost some respect for how awesome I thought they were live (mostly based on my Okonokos DVD) when I would hear way more vocals coming out of the PA than could possibly have been sung live.  

One example is during Wordless Chorus with that great vocal part.  At my show Jim was clearly the only one singing during that and yet there was the entire harmonic vocal part coming from the PA.  It seems more silly to me than evoking a reaction of "wow that is really cool!"  

Bands don't have to sound in concert like they do live.  That is one of the charms of a great band, they make great studio records and they have a great, often varied live show.  MMJ is a tremendous live band and they don't need the backing vocals.  I know they can sing the parts.

What do the rest of you think?  You don't mind them?  It does bother me to a degree.
cheers
don

[Ruckus]

Well it sure doesn't bother me.  It is what it is and they do it to replicate their sound.  But for those of you who haven't heard it yet, you'll get a good laugh out of Wordless Chorus from the Electric Factory in Philly from 12-1-06.  It's on archive and well....Bo kinda hit the launch button a verse too early..... ::)

[getinthevan]

Bands don't have to sound in concert like they do live.  

Care to rephrase that?   ;D

I've noticed it before, but I don't really have a problem with it.  I don't think they're over doing it.  Though my sister was confused as to how she was hearing drums during Lay Low when Patrick wasn't playing.

[Hawkeye]

Yes, they do use some drum beats here and there and some backing vocals, but I think only when absolutely necessary to maintain the sound of the song.  As for the guitar parts, I understand what you are saying.  Sometimes it seemed as though they weren't playing the guitar parts, but I think in certain songs, such as the solo/outro on One Big Holiday, Jim and Carl "split" the solo or play simultaneously, so if you're only watching one of them play it might seem like there's no way they could be playing what you're hearing.  Just my take

[BH]

As soon as they can afford to bring an entire choir with them to do two songs I'm sure they will.

The number of samples (played from the keys mind you) that MMJ uses is nothing compared to what Pink Floyd and Roger Waters use.  

[aMillionDreams]

At first I didn't know what to make of it but now I'm fine with it.  I don't understand, though, why Patrick needs that simple bass/drum line played for him on the intro to Laylow.  He's not playing anything, they turn it off once the band kicks in, and it's easy enough that even I could play it on a kit, what am I not getting?

[getinthevan]

Patrick may enjoy that brief rest he gets.  

[jrod00]

I also wonder that about Lay Low.  

I was at that show in Philly and had a little chuckle when Bo looped prematurely.  

I wonder if the original poster could elaborate on what songs he/she thinks uses looped guitar parts?  I never noticed that at all.  

[lasvegas]

i really wish they would not do this.

they are such great musicians and bring such energy to their shows, who cares if it doesn't sound just like it did in the studio. it's not suppose to.

please guys, stop doing this. you don't need to. you really don't.

[corey]

As far as "Lay low"  goes, the drum loop is still going in the first chorus and probably the one after that if I'm not mistaken. Seems like you can tell if you listen to "Okonokos" closely enough. I don't think the loop gets taken out of it until around the time of the "yeahs" and the solo at the end.
When Patrick comes in at the chorus, he's playing a different beat, which adds to the layering on top of the programmed beat and gives it a pretty awesome feel.

Someone else listen to it with headphones and tell me that I'm not crazy. It's been a while since I paid that close attention to it, but I wondered the same thing myself and noticed the different beat with the headphones.

[coupon]

My name is August West and I love my Pearly Baker best, more than my wine.

[donosborn]

Bands don't have to sound in concert like they do live.  

Care to rephrase that?   ;D

...

Whoops.  Yeah that is not right but you guys knew what I meant.  They don't need to sound in concert like they do on their recordings.  

There is not as much trouble with use of tracks as I thought there would be.  As someone who has played in bands myself, I can see the value of using them if they really add to the sound somehow (maybe a drum loop or keyboard sample).  But with the powerhouse of rock talent that is MMJ, it seems to detract more than add, at least for me.

[DaFunkyPrecedent]

Bands don't have to sound in concert like they do live.  

Care to rephrase that?   ;D

...

Whoops.  Yeah that is not right but you guys knew what I meant.  They don't need to sound in concert like they do on their recordings.  

There is not as much trouble with use of tracks as I thought there would be.  As someone who has played in bands myself, I can see the value of using them if they really add to the sound somehow (maybe a drum loop or keyboard sample).  But with the powerhouse of rock talent that is MMJ, it seems to detract more than add, at least for me.

....I hope MMJ doesn't fuck everything up.  They need to go out there - 5 guys - and play the songs the best they can.  

[BH]

they are such great musicians and bring such energy to their shows, who cares

exactly.

[nichless]

 Posted by: aMillionDreams Posted on: Yesterday at 1:50pm
At first I didn't know what to make of it but now I'm fine with it.  I don't understand, though, why Patrick needs that simple bass/drum line played for him on the intro to Laylow.  He's not playing anything, they turn it off once the band kicks in, and it's easy enough that even I could play it on a kit, what am I not getting?  


Hey there aMillionDreams: I don't think that you're not getting it, I just think that the drum track on Lay Low is more about the sound than anything else.  We all know that Pat could rip that drum part in his sleep, but adding a drum machine gives the song that modern soul/hip-hop/dance-music vibe that Jim talked about being inspired by before/while recording Z.  It seems that the more that they explore their sound and are influenced by modern machine-enhanced music, the more that they will need to use those machines in their live shows; hence, the pre-recorded chorus to Wordless Chorus.  But for the most part, they have to "play" those modern machines.  Watch Pat next time you get a Cobra (that is, if you can stop your face from melting for a moment, which is difficult).  During the "I know somebody, yes I know someone..." section he is having to time all the changes and cowbell beats to fit Tommy's bassline and the timing of the song.  It's still live music being created on stage by our favorite musicians, it's just using less "traditional" technology to achieve a sound.  

Personally, I like the influence that soul/dancey music has had on Jim's song-writing, but then again I like Sade, so..... 8-)

*covers head and prepares for the barrage of laughter and insults*

 

[BH]

I like that explanation nichless.  There is a reason for it in the bands mind and that's good enough for me.  We all know they are amazing musicians so who cares?