Belle & Sebastian live...

If it had happened on the dancefloor, at least it'd have been entertaining to observe.

Their live shows usually manage to turn up some hidden gem in their discography which I hadn't noticed before ("The Loneliness of the Middle Distance Runner" for example).

At their show the other night they played "Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John". I never really paid that song any attention before, maybe because the Norah Jones vocal makes it sound too adult contemporary for me. But in a less-overproduced live version, with Sarah on vocals rather than Norah Jones, it really stood out. That said, I just re-listened to the recorded version, and it doesn't do anything for me.

they're great musicians, so their performances are always tight, and I do appreciate that they consistently tap into their back catalog.

but I'll never understand the appeal of the 'boy with the arab strap' on-stage dance party thing, and all their random twee antics can get in the way for me lol

I can sorta see that (just saw them do "arab strap" with on-stage audience dance party thing) and yes another song might be better for that, but somehow I still enjoyed it despite the twee cliches

The nice thing about the on-stage dance party is fat clumsy people like me get right up to the front when the front row people hop on stage; got setlists at their last two shows employing that manoeuvre

This tour was pretty sedate compared to their last; they played Electronic Renaissance last time they came to toronto! This time, not so much.

Drummer left behind at a truck stop: what's on your iPod?

accidentally looked at the person stood next to me once at a gig (it was Murdoch) and the look he gave me back suggests to me the "squashed chip" theory upthread could be credible

I liked this band more when they were called The Beautiful South.

Back in the day, one of my friends, a fellow habituee of the West End of Glasgow, used to call them the "24 Minute Party People", or was that the Pastels? Probably both.

'their support acts are always dreadful'
in 98 we had elliot smith, fresh from his oscar nomination.

― piscesboy, Tuesday, 2 March 2004 16:05 Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

oh yes, i remember the '98 Shepherd's Bush show...bah.
;-)

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 16:09 Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I went to that gig because a friend of mine bought me a ticket for my birthday knowing I liked indiepop music and he was into B&S... I'd heard If You're Feeling Sinister and thought it was alright but that was about it. Tbh I thought that gig was pretty awful. The sound was fucking terrible, could hardly hear anything. I hadn't heard of Elliot Smith and he was sat down playing solo acoustic so it just seemed like they'd brought a busker on tour with them. Maybe if I'd known his music it would've been better, but I was just bored.