General concert discussion

[Amy]

I thought I'd start a new thread here since stuff can easily get lost in the individual threads.....and this is a general concert comment.

For those who have been to the shows, have you been pleasantly surprised? I was. The songs are much more fun & happy live. I know part of it is the vibe of actually seeing them in person and watching them sing & play.....but the music more playful in person and less "in your face" like on the CD. What do you think?

[Sharon (sdbrins)]

I have to say I was not all that familiar with LAGs because I was not a big fan. I just didn't care for what I had heard. I do have faith in Marty and knew he would put on a great show whether or not I would like the songs was another thing. I did go in with an open mind and was just ready to enjoy seeing him perform. I was very surprized! Not surprized that Traci was fantastic or that Marty was amazing, but that I really loved it! The entire band was wonderful, Chad's vocals are a great assest to their sound, Al is terrific, and Jeremy really tore it up. I think that because I didn't care for the previous vocals of LAGs I didn't have any interest in their music. The LAGs I saw 4 times last weekend were so good together I can not wait to see them again! I highly recommend everyone that can, check it out for yourself. I have never been disappointed in what Marty is capable of, but I was surprized at how much I suddenly feel in love LAGs back catalogue.

[BBE]

I agree with what you both said. These songs aren't stale relics from the 80's, they are songs that rock for real today. I don't think the band or the songs are 'dark' either--they are just straight out rock and roll, and I like it, like it, yes I do!
They are having a lot of fun, and putting on excellent shows, both in terms of performance and musicianship.
The only thing I didn't like about the LA Guns back catalog that I'd been listening to was Phil Lewis' voice. I just have never cared for the high-pitched wailing kind of vocals. So with Marty's voice on these songs, I'm really enjoying them!

BUT.......wait till you hear the new stuff!!!! They did "The Sound" and "Black Majesty" at Green Bay, and those are so good. They inject Marty's fantastic lyric writing and emotionalism into the LA Guns sound, with stunning results.

Before we went into the venue to get our tickets that afternoon, we were sitting in the car waiting for the place to officially open, and we heard the band starting soundcheck. There were the usual guitar tuning sounds, and drum beating. Then all at once, THAT VOICE came floating out, so clear and strong. Marty was soundchecking by singing "The Sound" a capella. It was haunting and incredible. Duane and I just looked at each other with our mouths hanging open. When I could speak again, I said to Duane, "You can just hear, right there, how very ready he was for a change. You can hear it all in his voice."

There's a line in "The Sound" that comes at an emotionally climactic moment, that goes "In the end, even true love dies".
Between the lyric and the music, it just rips your heart out. I can't wait for the new CD!