I was in the car today with my 13-year-old, and the DJ introduced a song from a live Queen album from 1979. I mentioned you hardly hear about live albums anymore and she asked what that was, which sort of proved the point. I tried to explain what they were and why any one would want to listen to one. How occasionally the live version was more famous than the original (anyone actually listened to any Peter Frampton that wasn't live?) But I wondered if anyone even bothers anymore, especially considering how concert versions of songs are so often auto tuned there isn't much point.
There certainly is demand to see a band live, to experience them in the flesh. I was blown away by Muse earlier this year - if for nothing more than the sheer volume and the intense light show (although they are in fact very talented and put on an entertaining show). That being said, everything seemed to coordinate down to the last bulb flash, I wonder now if a live album of that show would have any point, as there wouldn't have been any room for improvising, riffing, grooving, ramping, or anything else that smacked of spontaneity.
What if there were bands that only recorded live? Or only toured and had fans record each show, sort of like the Grateful Dead did for years? Fans could share their recordings online, then pick their favorite version of the songs they liked and put together their own "greatest hits" package... Still, is that the way to capture the raw, real moment? Or is it quixotic to try to capture the audience connection?
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