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.
― enochroot, Friday, 4 August 2017 19:21 (six years ago) link
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
― KevRus, Saturday, 5 August 2017 01:05 (six years ago) link
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
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 8 August 2017 22:14 (six years ago) link
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
― she started dancing to that (Finefinemusic), Tuesday, 8 August 2017 22:42 (six years ago) link
This tour was pretty sedate compared to their last; they played Electronic Renaissance last time they came to toronto! This time, not so much.
― she started dancing to that (Finefinemusic), Tuesday, 8 August 2017 22:44 (six years ago) link
Drummer left behind at a truck stop: what's on your iPod?
― Eazy, Wednesday, 16 August 2017 19:41 (six years ago) link
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
― PaulTMA, Thursday, 17 August 2017 09:13 (six years ago) link
I liked this band more when they were called The Beautiful South.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Thursday, 17 August 2017 12:18 (six years ago) link
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.
― Wewlay Bewlay (Tom D.), Thursday, 17 August 2017 12:36 (six years ago) link
'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.
― Colonel Poo, Thursday, 17 August 2017 12:58 (six years ago) link