Pros and Cons of Concerts

I ask you, am I not a true music fan if I sometimes prefer the slick, clean production of a studio record to the bad mixing of a live show? I also like it when the song adheres to the album version, so you can bet that's another reason live shows aren't always as pleasant to me. Then again, there is the absolutely awesome feeling of being truly involved in a moment in history that is full of the energy of so many other people in a way that feels like it can never happen ever again. . . I guess I like each medium for a different reason. I can tell you that I sure don't usually buy live albums though! If I'm going to listen to something without the benefit of a visual, awesome crowd energy, and the concert atmosphere, I want my music CLEAN. Like this:



But of course Frank Black (of the most awesome Pixies) is not a great example, because he sounds awesome live, even so long after the original.



I remember the first time I ever heard a Pixies song. I was driving to Ogunquit and I heard "Here Comes Your Man", and I remember thinking "This is fucking awesome! Who is this?" And it was one of those lucky times where they actually said the artists's name when the song ended, and I took my little self on down to Bullmoose and bought "Doolittle", and later every regular Pixies album there was. I just listened to "Trompe Le Monde" all the way through twice yesterday, and it was awesome. Just a little music nostalgia there.