billy g Wrote:
I was a big fan back in the day but I thought they were pretty terrible live. I only saw them once so maybe I just caught a bad night but then again maybe not...
the live show was never their strength. especially by '95 when they finally toured the US - they were just about done with each other. i'm not even positive Reni made it as far as the US tour that year? i just found a review of the show in philly that i caught that sums it up well:
Quote:
Stone Roses Don't Bloom At Troc
May 27, 1995|By Larry Kay
The frenzy of anticipation said to surround the Stone Roses' first American tour proved more hype than fact at the soldout Trocadero on Wednesday.
While a group of hardcore devotees - most of them young girls - danced whirling-dervish Deadhead-style, the majority of the audience seemed interested in the show more as a social than a musical event, shouting conversations throughout the set.
An impressive light show may have been an attempt to cover serious deficiencies in the Roses' performance, which dragged on for 90 minutes (five minutes less than the time the crowd waited for the group to take the stage).
The English college-radio faves specialize in dreamy pop that aspires to rock, but it just doesn't have the guts. Lead singer Ian Brown is utterly devoid of stage presence, a characteristic he emphasized Wednesday by remaining out of the spotlight at all times. As if that weren't enough, he wandered off-key whenever he sang loudly.
The rest of the band suffered through a horrid sound mix that reduced Mani's bass to a distorted rumble and drowned out everything else. Guitarist John Squire, obviously the shining star of the Roses' live shows, attacked his rhythm and lead parts with aggression. And Reni, the Roses' drummer, showed equal fire, but the sound mix on the lower end of the drums rendered his work unintelligible and undermined his contribution.
This is one of the few cases in which a band's CD exceeds the experience of its live performance.
that said, i'm 100% positive i wouldn't miss the show if it comes around here. hopefully time has been kind to them and ian has learned how to keep a tune.