How many times can you see an artist in concert?

dermahrk

How many times can you see an artist in concert?

Posted over 5 years ago

Artist:
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Jules Shear

Seems to me that, after seeing an artist in concert, "been there, done that" sinks in. Even artists that I really love, like McCartney and the Zombies (Colin Blunstone & Rod Argent) got old the second time around. There are only two artists I've seen repeatedly (as in, 4 times and counting..) : Jules Shear and Marshall Crenshaw. But the fact that neither is particularly popular and go out these days without a band does limit their musical palette.Are there artists you've seen repeatedly and plan to continue seeing the next time they come to town? I would guess that Jam Band fans are the most repetitive, but I heard too many live Grateful Dead recordings to ever consider seeing them. And, of course, some are now REALLY Dead.

Comments (14)

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Jonh Ingham says For myself, it depends on how interesting the artist is on stage. Those who play differently every time they step on stage remain endlessly interesting. If it's show-biz, like Britney or Madonna, then 'been there, saw that, is a good summary. I saw 22 of the first 25 Clash gigs because they were so damn exciting. I kept going back to the Sex Pistols because they were better every time. Ditto Talking Heads...watching David Byrne learning to be comfortable and control the stage was hilarious. Others who satisfy/staisfied every time include The Who, Neil Young, Zeppelin, and any number of 'world' artists. (I'm not naming newer artists because I rarely go to concerts nowadays.) That said, Dylan plays differently every time but seeing him once was once too often. How audiences flock back to a man who seemed to be treating them with total contempt was a question I couldn't answer.

Permalink posted 11/08/2006
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dermahrk says That brings up an interesting point. When did you see Dylan? I've never seen him live, but am a big fan. Concert-wise, I think I've seen four performances: Early acoustic stuff: awe-inspiring Early electric - much worse than the records. Hard to listen to Concert For Bangla Desh - absolutely fucking awful. Embarassing... TV concert from the 70s - again, awful Though I really love his recent CDs and wonder how they come across in concert?

Permalink posted 11/08/2006
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lemontwist says I've seen Guster three times and I'd see them again. They put on an awesome show. I've also seen CSN three times, Neil Young once and CSNY once. Not sure if I'd ever want to see CSN again, but the CSNY show I saw was so awesome, I'd definitely go again.

Permalink posted 11/08/2006
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Masoo says I've seen Bruce Springsteen close to 30 times, including as many as five times in a week, and I'd happily see him another 30. Only other act I saw "in double digits" was (it pains me to write "was" and not "is") Sleater-Kinney, and the same goes for them ... I'd go tomorrow if they'd get back together.

Permalink posted 11/08/2006
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LostSouthernHeat says The Stones are a band I can see repeatedly (although ticket prices are unaffordable) they put on a great stage performance, they do more stage antics then some bands half their age. Can't stand a band who just stands there, no lights, no action, but I have never liked bands in costumes.

Permalink posted 11/08/2006
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bubb says Jules Shear is Cool! Todd Rundgren produced his 'Watch Dog' cd which was excellent!

Permalink posted 11/08/2006
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Jonh Ingham says I saw Dylan 3 years ago at an awful shed in London. Things that got me: [1] he would cram all the words as fast as he could into the front of the line, leaving a big musical gap until the next line. Then he would reverse it and wait as long as possible before cramming all the words into the last possible space before the end of the line. About the 4th song he got bored after the first verse and began singing normally. Then in the 3rd verse he went back to rushing everything. It just destroyed any emotional setting and exposition of the songs. [2] He played about one note on the harmonica and the whole shed went mental. So he proceeded to play the most ordinary, bland music he could. 'Contempt for his audience,' is the thought I kept coming back to. [3] The guitarist and drummer sounded so complacent and bored and just as I was thinking this guy deserved better musicians, he introduces Charlie Sexton and Jim Keltner! I got the impression they knew that anything they played would be lauded, so were coasting. That said, on some Texas r'n'b and swing type numbers he played some fabulous guitar and seemed really involved. Listening to the new album - which I love a lot - keeps reminding me of that small thread in the show. I do wonder, when (for example) Neil Young and Pete Townshend can play the same songs for 30 - 40 years and keep finding fresh ideas in them, what keeps Dylan on the road when he seems to have such disregard for his 'babies'?

Permalink posted 11/08/2006
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Viva La Britt says Goddamn Masoo, _thirty_ shows ans as many as five in one week? You have the life I want, man. I've seen Better Than Ezra five times, and Queens of the Stone Age and 311 tie for third with four shows each. I don't patronize BTE anymore, and it's been too long since my last 311 show. As for QotSA, I'd go to see them open an envelope- this band means way too much to me.

Permalink posted 11/08/2006
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OldRockr1 says I have a bit of an addictive personality. I've seen so many artists multiple times (Allman Brothers, Springsteen, Gov't Mule all over 20 times). I lose track. I am lucky, I have an understanding wife and a little discresionary income. Of course, I'e been going to shows since 1975. I have seen a few. As for the Dylan thread, I saw him 6 or 7 times from 1997 to 2003. All of the shows were really good, except the last one. I guess I went to the well one too many times. Call me crazy, but i have Gov't Mule tickets again for December, and the Brothers will be Peakin' at the Beacon again real soon.

Permalink posted 11/08/2006
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morst says I've seen Dylan 94 times now, I think, which is more than I saw Phish (93) or the Grateful Dead (53) and I hope to get to 100 Dylan shows in the next couple years, although his ticket prices are a little too high for me to go out and see 5 shows in a week (Madison was $60! to sit up front, although everyone else in the front row probably paid 5x that from brokers!!) Dylan was the best for me when Charlie Sexton was in the band, but I get the feeling that he was holding back most of the time. Dylan's current band makes Bob happy, and that's what keeps him on tour. He said he learned from the Grateful Dead how to "keep it fresh" and I'm sure that he is out for his own enjoyment now. If his crowd doesn't "get it" perhaps it's cause they are not keeping up with his current style. He definitely changes the way he performs songs, and I figure it's not to piss anyone off, but rather to keep it interesting for himself. Imagine being him- I assume that the world is just too weird for him when he's not on tour, and that he doesn't relate to most people in a normal way, cause people tend to get starry-eyed, so he just keeps it real by playing live for months on end. For good live-concert value, I'd say Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven continue to please me, I've seen Camper 7 times, I think, and I would love to see them 100 more!!! The ticket prices are reasonable, and the bands really put a lot of energy into the performances (and a lot of heart into the songwriting!) Jam bands are fun, in that they mix it up a lot, but I don't get the "good song" satisfaction from most jam bands that I do from Camper and Cracker. Edie Brickell and New Bohemians was really good a couple weeks ago- I saw them once in 88, once in 89, then twice in 1990, opening for the Grateful Dead. I'm just glad they're back and playing, cause they are really good. I downloaded the show after the one I saw (the final night of the tour in Chicago) and there are definite differences in the music- different song selection, different solos (keyboard solo on What I Am before the guitar solo in Chi-town but not in Madison) I've seen Umphrey's McGee three times now, and they continue to grow on me, although I am not really familiar with ANY of their original songs. But the band I have seen the most is Blue Dixie. Now defunct, I mixed sound for them for 250 shows, and really dug it, at least until the end of my tenure when I got a little burnt with the road miles. I have a local favorite here in Madison - Reason For Leaving. I've seen them in excess of 75 times, maybe close to 100, and I still dig the way they are progressing. Their originals satisfy me much more than the covers they play, although the crowd certainly gets a kick out of the cover tunes. I've seen Rush 5 times, they are worth seeing about once every other tour if they come near. .. I've seen YES three times, and I'd love a chance to see them every tour. The Residents are worth seeing every tour- always something different, but I have little hope to get to 100 of their shows cause they barely ever play live. Great subject. . . thanks for asking!!

Permalink posted 11/08/2006
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deadmandeadman says Oh people, people, c'mon.......Dylan is the only one i'll drag me old carcass outta the house for (To actualy go to a quote unquote concert). Yes he's had bad shows but who hasn't. I was lucky enough t'see him in NEWPORT in 2002 (tho that was far from the first time for me, it WAS the first time f'my current wife) He and his band SMOKED!!!! Listen to the bootlegs!!!! I b'lieve he ENJOYS SINGING now, more than ever. He's certainly DOING IT better . No, he ain't gonna give ya no whiz-bang an' laser-lightshows.....just a trip through one of the most respected songbooks on the planet.

Permalink posted 11/10/2006
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Misstee says I've seen Everything But The Girl 6 times in various and sundry forms: full band, acoustic, backed by orchestra. My favorite show of theirs was just the two of them with Ben on guitar and Tracy in front of a microphone at Fez in NYC. I was 5 feet away - that was pretty impressive. I've seen others 2 and 3 times especially in my youth but I followed a band on the road for a summer or what not - always wanted to though :-)

Permalink posted 11/11/2006
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KatsPajamas says Richard Thompson. He blows me away every time I've seen him.

Permalink posted 11/12/2006
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scotfree says Jules Shear is fabulous...was just listening to the Polar Bears last night...that's how I wound up here... I've seen Cheap Trick 6 times...they never fail to put on a great show! Waaaayyy back, I saw Blue Oyster Cult numerous times...they seemed to always be playing somewhere in the midwest on a good bill.

Permalink posted 03/15/2007