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Rev · 08-05-2002, 11:43 PM

Guys (and/or gals)
Thanks for the nice replies to my first post. I do remember thinking that a couple of other songs might have been edited, but Big Blue was the one that I was fairly sure of. I personally would just as soon here the complete songs, even if there be a couple fewer. I have seen concerts of groups like 3-Dog Night and America where they just tear through as many of their biggest hits as they can in the quickest possible time to keep the excitement level up to that of a high school pep rally. I think the audience of a GL concert is capable of savoring and appreciating a song in it's original form. In particular I think a song about whales really ought to include the line "and the killing never ends, it just goes on..."
On the other hand there is always an element of an audience who wants to hear what they know, and probably started partying a liitle too early that day, and have little patience for anything else. I was at the last CSNY concert at the Pond (right accross the freeway from the Grove). There was at least one person in the crowd who couldn't resist, when Crosby and Nash were in a really quiet part of a soft acoustic number like Guinnevere, in showing everybody in the place how long and loud they could produce a high pitched whistle. I coule have killed them, and many people expressed similar sentiments.
While there wasn't anyone that obnoxious in the audience Saturday night I think I can maybe understand the balance that an artist must try to strike. Some people who show up for a concert are first-timers who want to hear all the hits they know. Other people are hard core fans who, in truth, would love to hear a whole concert of the obscure tunes that the artist has never before done in concert. If you try to completely satisfy either group you alienate the other. So you look at this huge mass of people clapping at your coming on stage and you try to put on a good show to all.
I am a huge Gordon fan, and I think he does a wonderful balancing act. Gordon, if you ever happen to read the notes on this board, please understand that the notes above are meant as a respectful suggestion and not a beligerent demand.

08-05-2002, 11:43 PM	#9
Rev Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Silverado,CA,USA Posts: 3	Guys (and/or gals) Thanks for the nice replies to my first post. I do remember thinking that a couple of other songs might have been edited, but Big Blue was the one that I was fairly sure of. I personally would just as soon here the complete songs, even if there be a couple fewer. I have seen concerts of groups like 3-Dog Night and America where they just tear through as many of their biggest hits as they can in the quickest possible time to keep the excitement level up to that of a high school pep rally. I think the audience of a GL concert is capable of savoring and appreciating a song in it's original form. In particular I think a song about whales really ought to include the line "and the killing never ends, it just goes on..." On the other hand there is always an element of an audience who wants to hear what they know, and probably started partying a liitle too early that day, and have little patience for anything else. I was at the last CSNY concert at the Pond (right accross the freeway from the Grove). There was at least one person in the crowd who couldn't resist, when Crosby and Nash were in a really quiet part of a soft acoustic number like Guinnevere, in showing everybody in the place how long and loud they could produce a high pitched whistle. I coule have killed them, and many people expressed similar sentiments. While there wasn't anyone that obnoxious in the audience Saturday night I think I can maybe understand the balance that an artist must try to strike. Some people who show up for a concert are first-timers who want to hear all the hits they know. Other people are hard core fans who, in truth, would love to hear a whole concert of the obscure tunes that the artist has never before done in concert. If you try to completely satisfy either group you alienate the other. So you look at this huge mass of people clapping at your coming on stage and you try to put on a good show to all. I am a huge Gordon fan, and I think he does a wonderful balancing act. Gordon, if you ever happen to read the notes on this board, please understand that the notes above are meant as a respectful suggestion and not a beligerent demand.