LA Guns - What am I missing?!

[LL]

I don't know how to ask this question without sounding rude.
I'm a Marty fan and have seen Lovehammers a couple of times in Chicago, so was sad to hear of the breakup. I wanted to give LA Guns a chance and have been checking out all the videos being posted of the performances. Marty is screaming in all of them. Does he still ever sing? I even found a clip of Marty singing a "ballad" of something or other and he yelled throughout it.
Do the same fans that attended Lovehammers shows also go to hear this?! Those who like the "New Marty" do you listen to other bands like LA Guns also or just this one because Marty is in it? Let me know if I am just not understanding what is popular nowadays.

[lesley]

Hi LL,

As far as I can tell, a lot of the same fans who go see Lh go to see LAG. Whether you like LAG or not is totally up to you. Me? I liked what I saw and heard when I saw LAG live.

I'll just say that it would be a mistake to think that the audio quality that you hear on YouTube is what you hear in person. The audio quality on YouTube depends significantly on the recording device, which is frequently someone's hand held video camera or phone. I never saw a YouTube video of Lh that I thought matched what I heard live either. I don't actually listen to much of what's posted on YouTube of live performances of any bands, unless it's dubbed from a professionally shot/recorded show, because I find most of it frustrating due to the audio quality.

Disclaimer ;D: This is not to say I don't appreciate people taking the time to tape stuff and post it. I do appreciate it and I know many others do to. I enjoy getting a visual sense of the show, even if the audio quality isn't my cup of tea.

I attended two LAG shows - one with a somewhat crappy sound system and one with a great sound system. Both sounded far better than anything posted online. My opinion? He sang even better than I necessarily even knew he could on a few tunes at the LAG shows I saw.

[Sharon (sdbrins)]

Hi LL and welcome to Marty Casey.com

I have to agree with lesley, that you can't really judge the 'Marty Casey with L.A. Guns sound by the videos on youtube. While I also cherish being able to see shows I am unable to go to, sound quality usually lacks a lot to be desired. I was able to go to 5 shows this summer. I had no previous knowledge of any of L.A. Guns catalogue. This is what I wrote after seeing the 4th show.

"they sounded soooo good! I'm really loving these songs from the LAG's catalogue. I don't know what they sounded like when someone else was singing them, but I can tell you i'm lovin them as Marty is doing them."

This is my opinion. I can't speak for anyone else. But I hope it helps you to have, 'a wait and see' perspective.

[cgs2007]

granted i have never seen LH live (i would LOVE LOVE LOVE to). i have seen LAG. the show i went to was way better then any of the recordings put on youtube. i have to agree that the sound quality on these youtube videos is NOT what you hear at the actual show. marty sang not screamed the songs at the show i was at.

i still listen to the lovehammers all the time. and that will never change. granted i dont own any of the old lag albums im going to buy the new one. along with the new lh one.

[cfbj01]

Hi LL - I am a big fan of the LH's. I was lucky to have seen Marty with LA Guns this summer and the show was fantastic. The Ballad of Jayne was not screamed at my show. It is my favourite LAG's song sung by Marty. It is to bad you were not able to make it to a show. Some of the videos sound great that are out there and some don't. As Lesley said it depends on the quality. Yes, the music is lounder than a LH's concert but the show is excellent.
I am looking forward to the new CD.
(and I enjoy all those videos too - regardless of the sound)

[bostongirl]

LL - I agree with what everyone is saying about the vids. But I also think we have to remember that this is the LA GUns catalogue and it is vintage. I was also able to see a few live shows this summer and they were a blast. And Marty did not scream everything. I was never a huge fan of alot of 80s music. But I must say that Marty does bring a different flare to it. And I do admire that he is honoring the music for what it is. It is just fun and guitars rule! It is not Lovehammers music and should not be performed as if it were. IMHO.

I think what is really going to be amazing is to see what the convergence of these two very different universes on the new album is going to be. I think they are going to blow our minds. And I for one can't wait.

I absolutely believe that Marty Casey is going forwards in a big way, not backwards.

[BBE]

LL, I agree with the other posters that you can't get a true sense of a band's sound from fan-recorded live videos posted on YouTube. LH vids on YouTube don't sound like being there did, either. You have to judge from being there, or hearing a professionally recorded video (and sometimes even those don't capture the concert properly.....).

Also, a LOT depends on the venue's sound system as to how good (or bad) a band's sound is, and how loud they are. One of the loudest shows with the worst sound that I've ever been to was Lovehammers at Hard Rock Chicago in March of this year. The sound was mind-blowingly loud, and it was badly distorted, too. I ended up suffering more permanent damage to my hearing that night, even though I had earplugs in. The low level whine of tinnitus that I'd had before that night, from shows in the past, is now a loud and ever present high-pitched shrieking sound in my hearing.
After that, I vowed to wear better quality earplugs, and keep them in at loud shows. LA Guns were nearly that loud the first time I saw them this summer, in Green Bay. They fixed the problem, though, and the sound was much better for the later shows I saw.

Marty sings on some LA Guns songs, and lets it rip on others. That's rock n' roll. It was the same with Lovehammers--he sang some things and screamed others. I have seen many LH shows since Rock Star INXS ended, starting with the Metro show in 2005. Even then, he was not locked into some image that was created on TV. Everything you saw on TV seemed to have already been in his repertoire as a performer, because he's brought it all out at every show since the TV series ended. He's played shows in a wide variety of clothing styles, and sometimes goes from multiple layers at the start of a show, to bare-chested and even bare-footed by the end of the same show. In any one show, he will stand or sit and sing some quieter songs, and then go kinetic physically and vocally on other songs. It's all there, and always has been. I don't think the producers or INXS taught him anything he didn't already know, or had the ability to do. I think he just learned what they wanted to see, and showed them that. Thankfully at his shows, with whichever band he's with, he shows us his full range of versatile talent. Watching Marty perform is like a roller coaster ride. You don't know where he's going to take you next, but you know it will be utterly thrilling!

So any given video on YouTube only shows you one slice of a show, and the sound quality does depend not only on the venue's sound system and techs, but also on the fan's recording device. Some are better than others. Many max out from the volume, and "clip" the sound, which makes it sound even worse. Really, they were never intended for that purpose. They were intended for recording small videos of family or friends at relatively quiet gatherings, so the little microphones in these cameras were never made to stand up to that kind of volume.

I don't think Marty is a "new Marty" with LA Guns. I do think his voice has been getting stronger and richer as the tour has gone on, and that's from getting to use it regularly. That makes a big difference for a singer. As far as whether I listen to "other bands like LA Guns", I listen to rock. I like a lot of different bands, and came to appreciate a wider range of rock from Marty's song selections on the TV show. My long-term favorite band is The Who, and they have one song with what may be the most famous scream in rock--toward the end of "Won't Get Fooled Again". Roger Daltrey didn't hold anything back on that one! What's amazing is that at age 64, the man can still hit that scream! So yes, there is screaming in rock.

Sometimes I like rocking out full tilt, and other times I feel like something more mellow. Rock encompasses all of that, too. A currently popular band who can also reach both ends of the spectrum is Hinder. Their song "Lips of an Angel" is such a moving ballad that it can make me cry, then some of their other songs are hard rock screamers. You can listen to modern rock radio stations to hear what's popular now. Foo Fighters are also popular. Their lead singer can scream with the best of them, and he ought to know, because he used to be Nirvana's drummer. Cobain was a master of the grunge scream. There are times I wish I could go back in time to Seattle in the late 80's/early 90's, to let loose in the mosh pit at one of their early shows. Like I said, sometimes I like to rock out!!! My tastes also include classical music and folk music, so I do enjoy a wide range of music.

Anyhow, look under the Marty Video section of this board and try to find the acoustic version of "Ballad of Jayne" that was from Tracii. That may show you how beautiful these guys can make the music. Also look for "Wish You Were Here" done by Marty with LA Guns. Not a new Marty at all!
Well, I'm rambling, but I hope that answered some of your questions.

>>>Edited to add: I can't seem to find that video for "Ballad of Jayne", but the one for "Wish You Were Here" is still up in the video section on this board. If anyone knows where to find the "BOJ" video, please let us all know.

[starcrossed]

I have been to 4 LAG shows in Cali.... and I loved every single one of them. Marty is doing an incredible job and the rest of the band is awesome.

Honestly, I have to agree with what everyone is saying about the videos and You Tube. I appreciate every single one of the video's shot... and I know how hard it is for those filming or taking pictures in the venue. Still, you cannot compare the live performance versus that of a recorded one off the internet. The quality is just not going to be anything close... unless it was done professionally.

I would just hope that you would try to see them live... Marty is still Marty... doing his own thing on stage and doing what comes naturally to him... kicking some major rock a**!

As far as "popular nowadays" goes... I don't have a clue what is in or not . I just know what I like, and I like what Marty is doing with LAG.

* sorry, I came back to correct typo's... LOL and to add...*

Music genre's wise, I do listen to other rock bands and other type's of music. This was the first for me regarding listening to LA Guns, but I am happy that I went. That first show was amazing.

... Sometimes tasting or listening to something new, can open your eyes to a world of other possibilities...maybe you will like it... maybe not... when it comes down to likes and dislikes that really is going to be your own personal call.

[cheryl]

Sept 16, 2008 19:31:03 GMT -5 LL said:

Those who like the "New Marty" do you listen to other bands like LA Guns also or just this one because Marty is in it?

If you're not loving the LA Guns stuff, why not go to martycasey.com/music.htm and listen to I See Stars, over and over. I swear you can get lost in that song... And it's relatively new, so it's part of the "New Marty" catalog.

An artist has to evolve and grow, so I don't really see it as "New Marty" and "Old Marty" - I just see lots of variety - and I love that!

As for your question about listening to other bands like LA Guns, if you mean in the hard rock genre, then yeah, absolutely I do! But then I always placed Lovehammers in that same genre. Very different bands, but I think if you love one, it's a relatively easy jump to loving the other.

[UandMe]

LL, first, let me say that you did a fabulous job asking a very difficult question. Thank you.

I just want to let you know that I totally get what you are asking. I have kept an open mind since I love what Marty has produced in the past. I, too, have been to a concert or two prior to the LAG gig. Okay, maybe a LOT! LOL I have not been to a LAG show so I can't speak for what they sound like live or what style of singing Marty has while with LAG. I can only wait until the new LAG album is released before I decide what I think about the vibe.

I did go to youtube to try to get a feel of LAG's music as you did. It is very hard rock. And hard to really get a positive feel for on youtube. Honestly, I can't listen to it there. I can only hope that it sounds better live.

To answer your questions:

No, not all fans who listened to Lovehammers go to LAG shows. Some do, some don't. IMHO, the ones that do attend the shows like that type of music and/or would go to see Marty no matter what. You gotta love them for that.

I, personally, do not listen to music like LAG. Did not in the '80's and still don't in the new millennium. But, I do like to keep tabs on what Marty is currently up too since I truly appreciate him as a singer and performer.

Do keep checking out his new stuff, either in LAG, with LH or solo. He's a talented musician.

[keysunset]

LL, I want to applaud you for asking your question! I also do not get a good feel for the LAG music via YouTube, but that is the nature of the beast that is YouTube, I suppose.

I do love the work that Marty does, with LH and solo, and like UandMe, am keeping an open mind on the LAG stuff til the new cd comes out.

In the meantime, I appeciate everyone who is taking the time to answer here and thank LL for asking the question that has probably been on many on a mind.

[Rachel]

Hello! i aggree youtube is not the best place to find good concert footage lol. I prefer to see it face to face.

As o whats popular these days.. I wouldnt know, im 19 and should probably be throwing myself at the Jonas Brothers or blaring Pussycat Dolls or something... their popular right??? Well...... im mostly into Indie, Christian, Hardcore metal, Techno (and a combonation of the 4). Alternative and Classic rock. Pink Floyd, Marty Casey, and Mariyln Manson Are gods to me.

I have seen over one hundred bands live, and loved all of them (well maybe not Wicked Street, or a couple other metal bands). But I have been to some and have found the openers to outshine the Headliners, its purely amazing. Live music has such soul and gives people so much hope. It can change your life.

As for Marty screaming the ballads. I couldnt care less. Im a metal fan o some screaming sometime makes people smile and swear at the bad time they had at work. Marty is Marty, I love him either way anyway. I have seen Marty play with LH 2 times, and they are absolutly amazing, they are so in tune and having fun togather you have to smile. And 2 Marty acoustic shows. which are very intimate and very cool and calm, you can truly appreciate Martys talent when you can hear his vioce in such a pure element. And one LAG show this August, I was very iffy at first but, hey why not go see. Marty has been such a supportive and influencial part of my life, I need to support his desitions as well.

For me personally I like to see musicians as people first, Im not saying that all the bands i have seen have been giddy and i love you. But I find myself really enjoying the artists that come after the show and hang out more than those who dont. I guess its because I like to made connections with people I want to make then laugh, for me a band who gives you a hug, and is personable and so open to talk makes my day, I just like kind people. Some people will say oh, there just trying to sell you for the next show... well i did go to the next show, and enjoyed it. And thats what marty does every show, he is such a nice guy, i dont think i have ever met anyone as kind. And i have met allot of musicians! allott!
So to answer ur question i dont think there is a new and old marty, just a musician maturing and changing and experimenting with his vioce. I love the grungy kurt cobain esc. marty sometimes portreys, but I love a soft sung wish you were here just the same. MArty is so versatile you cant limit him not to sream or not to sing quetly, he will go from one to the other if he so please. and thats why we love him!

RL

[cgs2007]

Sept 23, 2008 20:48:35 GMT -5 Rachel said:

I have seen over one hundred bands live, and loved all of them (well maybe not Wicked Street, or a couple other metal bands).

ha ha i have to agree with that one about wicked street! horrible just horrible!