by Craig on Sat Sep 29, 2007 3:17 pm
Right. Just to say ive got the MP3 downloads now from the Brussels gig and have put them on cd. I say that because ive been able to listen to the sound properly, having previously been disappointed live in Manchester. Now I know its partly because the band lacked a guitarist. The music really missed a guitarist. David just used his guitar as a prop most of the time (well he's not a lead guitarist is he). Ive listened again to the 2001 shows and the contrast is startling. I think had Virgin and not David not been paying for this we would have got one, i.e he has skimped on an essential. Personally, id have dropped Theo Travis gladly for a guitarist. No disrespect to Theo. Ideally, you would have had both. David on this tour seems to have got stuck between a rock and a hard place. A slowfire type performance with a band; less a lead guitar. It didnt work really, did it? The other thing was I noticed from listening again was the only time he let his vocals soar was in It'll Never happen again. Great version of this song. The annoying way he was coming in an off-beat way to songs ala Sinatra was dreadful. He absolutely murdered some of the old stuff. On a positive note Sugerfuel, Playground Martys/Transit were excellent as well as the previously mentioned song. Ride was also good.
Like waves without a sound, i'll never let you down...
Well you have on this tour David. I preferred the FITF tour by a distance and Blemish live is not my idea of a fun night out. However, The Heart knows better was great and when you add in The Other Side of Life, Blue Skinned Gods and Wasn't I Joe the evening was so much better. Ultimately, the musicianship was good on this tour but it was unbalanced rather than poor and so it sounded much less perfect than DS would have intended.
Im still a big fan and he is still my hero, always will be. I have to be honest though.
Craig