Let's bitch about uncharismatic live performers.

[/pot calling kettle black]

For someone who likes to think of himself as such a larger-than-life character, Brian Molko has absolutely no stage presence whatsoever. This is probably because he is only two ft tall.

All depends on the line-up. The smaller versions inevitably put on the better shows.

The Super Furries definitely don't look like they want to be on stage at all. Second time I saw the Cocteau Twins was fairly...dull.

at a festival two years ago he introduced a song saying: "if you touch my guitar, i can kill you". someone from the audience yelled: "you can't play the villain with that voice you have!".

Must... not... talk... about... ASS!!!

When I saw Sparklehorse, it was in a sitdown venue, so I didn't really notice the showmanship/lack thereof. I re-read my review, and note that I did mention him being constantly upstaged by the beautiful women in his band, so perhaps that's something.

Will... not... talk... about... Strokes...

They are a very boring band live. Yes they are. For someone as good looking as Julian Casablancas is, he got NO stage presence or live charisma at all.

If there were ever a thread that Ween didn't belong in, it's this one.

It was the exact opposite of the annual Nine Pound Hammer reunion I saw last Friday night.

What we have here is the difference between English and American audiences (and therefore bands, up to a certain level of fame) -- summarized neatly for you in one ilm post!

All those slow, quiet bands sound great on the headphones or in the bedroom, but live are just not that swinging.

This is very appearant at shows I have seen such as Low, Palace, & Sam Prekop or some laptopper electronic hoedowns, where the crowd packs in like a punk show then stands still staring at the band. Pretty weird scene if you ask me...the music isn't bad, but it just doesn't fit the room. The back of the hall is people staring and talking, somewhat disconnected from the music.

I'll take a packed barroom at near brawl type show anyday over the great indie stare out...anyday.

I saw Cluster once and it was the listen and stare crowd...but it was weirdly cool in a way, because both of them would be staring at their machines and reach over and flip a knob every so often, like they were playing musical chess against each other. It was kind of novel to me at the time.

i saw swearing at motorists (who coincidentally are on the same record label) at a show at a record store that was attended only by the person that i went with and the proprietors of the store (luckily, since they are a two-piece, the band members didn't outnumber the audience). they rocked the fuck out for over an hour and it was awesome.

Cat Power would probably fall high on my list of 'least charismatic' in terms of performance, yet I remember enjoying the show very much. I guess her voice sounded so beautiful I didn't care that she looked like Cousin Itt.

"oh this is so silly. i'd much rather go and see a band who look like they're about to vomit from nerves than a band thats all like oh yeah, go us! shyness, lack of stage banter, facing away from the audience - thats all way more charismatic than "putting on a show"."

Low were shy, but you still felt real warmth coming off the stage. I think my problem with the Sparklehorse gig was that Mark Linkous' attitude bordered on unfriendly. I think if I pay to see a band in the flesh, there should be SOME aspect of putting on a show, even if it's just a vague pleasantness towards the audience. I can play the cd at home if I wanted something which was solely about the music, maaaan. Make the effort, I says.

I saw them in Belfast about 3yrs ago, where the assembled masses of the band were cramped on a tiny stage, precariously placing pints of Guinness and Murphy's on amps and playing to an equally inebriated crowd in very close proximety. The guitarists were doing their utmost to avoid "conversation" with the crowd until one of them accidentally knocked their pint over, completely fucking up about 5 of their FX pedals to rapturous applause.

Turns out a large section of the crowd had seen the band's logo on the billboards outside and thought they were going to a metal gig.

I saw them in Belfast about 3yrs ago, where the assembled masses of the band were cramped on a tiny stage, precariously placing pints of Guinness and Murphy's on amps and playing to an equally inebriated crowd in very close proximety. The guitarists were doing their utmost to avoid "conversation" with the crowd until one of them accidentally knocked their pint over, completely fucking up about 5 of their FX pedals to rapturous applause.

Turns out a large section of the crowd had seen the band's logo on the billboards outside and thought they were going to a metal gig.

maybe this has a lot to do with band size? the spiritualised show i saw had about 14 people on stage, and rachel's was touring as an octet, at least...

(meanwhile, lambchop could certainly use something to make their live show a better experience.)

(he failed obv, but BLIMEY!!)

(i like SY still, but this wz a revelatory moment: that music can be better when there is dischord and uncertainty w/i the combo, not magical lovely one-ness - anyway, the five or six times i saw them since, they were just OK)