Hacker News Reader

Comment by devilbunny | Hacker News Reader

Kiss was known for putting on a show. Much like Taylor Swift is nowadays. You might not love her music, but by all accounts Ms Swift is one of the best entertainers that has ever lived. People who hate her songs love her shows.

Rush toured with Kiss. Probably the most technically talented band in history said “yeah, we knew how to make music, but those guys taught us how to put on a show”.

View on HN

I wish music concerts weren't about putting on a show in any way except musicians playing their stuff... maybe some atmospheric lighting and that's it. No smoke machines, no light shows, no multi-stage crap, no cranes, not background scenery, no shit...

You might as well play the cd at home then.

The difference between a recording and a live gig (that relates to music) is a fixed artifact vs live in-the-monent playing (improvising, imperfections, reacting to the audience's and night's flow and energy, vulnerability, and so on).

Apparently some people think it's the light show, background settings, smoke machines, makeup, and general clowning about.

It's rather them that might as well go to watch some Michal Bay flick on IMAX then - as they aren't interested in the musical performance.

My friend let me tell you the good news of an Autechre show.

Well, most folk and jazz and blues and indie shows as well, including indie electronic acts.

Autechre goes complete lights out. Maybe not completely - depending on venue rules, but they try to go as dark as possible. Metro in Minneapolis 2005 was the literal darkest show I've ever been to, barely could see in front of me. Just sound and the presence of others... Amazing show.

As someone who doesn't like concerts and is a big Autechre fan. That sounds amazing.

Nice. Used to listen to them a lot around early 00s, but never been to a live show.

They're a crapshoot live, moments of profundity with a tonne of drivel.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com