Now that we've all heard the Louisville show...

[ClamsCasino]

Well, that was a great rendition of If Only You Were Lonely, but overall he sounded less prepared and less practiced than he did on the Stereo/Mono tour. For some reason I was expecting that he would try to polish it up a little bit for the cause (getting some radio attention). It's a little ironic that IOYWL was one of only two songs that he actually remembered how to play from beginning to end considering that he flubbed it (seemingly on purpose) every night of the Eventually tour.

I mean right out of the gate he has to stop It's A Wonderful Lie to ask what the next line is, and then he completely forgets to sing the final verse. An impromptu half-mumbled version of Kentucky Rain is cool, but you'd think he could at least learn Wonderful Lie, especially if it's going to be the opening song. I think we've definitely reached the point where forgetting how to play his own songs has stopped being entertaining or funny. It's just annoying now, isn't it?

I suppose it's no surprise that he can't really sing What A Day For Night, but hopefully that one will sound better when (if) he tours with a band. Valentine and Alex Chilton sounded good, but I still don't think that I Will Dare works without a band. Drums and bass are essential to that song and it just falls flat when it's just Paul. The solo acoustic treatment didn't do Can't Hardly Wait any favors either. The man needs a band.

[DaveinDK]

Clams, I was thinking exactly the same thing after listening to the show. What A Day and I will Dare espescially NEED a band. It would ALL soudn so much better if he rehearsed, and I don't think he's gonna do that without having 3 or 4 other guys to impress.

And your right...the solo shows should end. I think back to those Eventually tour shows I saw, and how they really rocked, the band had a punch to it. That's gone now. And while the absent minded mumbly/whining thing was kinda interesting and even fun for awhile. It's time to move on, and put a classy hard rocking outfit together, work out the songs, and hit the road.

[stargazer]

There is something very sad about this thread in accordance with "What does he owe us for our fervent fandom" and what has been posted here about Paul's latest live performance. How dare people attack him when his performance in Louisville was absolutely Real and absolutely Paul. How dare people think he owes his fans something and at the same time these "fans" are giving negative "reviews".

[troublkepnyerhedup]

I think it's healthy

and nutritious

[Christy]

i agree with trouble.

i think it should be filed under, "constructive criticism".

or, under "celery sticks with peanut butter" (ok, here i'm reaching and just trying to follow the nutritious theme)

i think if he goes out with a band, some things will just have to change, by the nature of playing with other people - this is my guess anyway.

[ClamsCasino]

kgp said:

I've been listening to some older shows as of late, and I really hear the difference in his energy level from the older "band" shows through the last tour. Of course he's older and maybe some of that energy came from "playing off his band", but sometimes he doesn't really seem to be into it. But the 14 Songs and Eventually tours were the ones where he wasn't enjoying himself, right?

It is interesting that he sounded absolutely amazing on the two tours that he says he felt "like a stone on a grave." His singing and his guitar playing have never been better than they were on the Eventually tour, and he certainly looked like he was having a blast up there on stage. I do think that having a band up there with him could have a lot to do with it.

And Stargazer, there's nothing "sad" about offering a less-than-glowing opinion of the Louisville show. I wasn't "attacking" Paul. I've been a fan for 20+ years, but I've never blindly and unconditionally loved every single thing he's ever done.

[stargazer]

Okay, okay. I understand, point well taken. And thank you, really, for letting me ponder this a little more extensively as well as appreciate constructive criticism. Perhaps I shouldn't have been so harsh in the way I stated my last post - I'll take that. (And please forgive someone for being a little salty while intoxicated ). Let me state it this way: The Louisville show was 35 minutes of stage time that he got and it wasn't part of a tour - we are all very fortunate to have gotten to see Paul be a part of something live that wasn't even his tour. In light of that I just think maybe it shouldn't be reviewed under the context of a tour show. That's all. No harm meant. I just thought it was good for what it was about.

[Elizabeth]

I am begging all board members to file this under celery sticks and peanut butter, as Christy suggested.
please. I'm feeling slightly desperate today.

[kgp]

I had to delete my first post. Clams sort of agreed with and it got a little too scary for comfort.

Elizabeth said:

I am begging all board members to file this under celery sticks and peanut butter, as Christy suggested.
please. I'm feeling slightly desperate today.

I lived off peanut butter and Doritos for an entire summer, but that just a cover for anorexia.

[kgp]

I'm kidding! I mean about the Clams thing.

[TomT]

ClamsCasino said:

Well, that was a great rendition of If Only You Were Lonely, but overall he sounded less prepared and less practiced than he did on the Stereo/Mono tour. For some reason I was expecting that he would try to polish it up a little bit for the cause (getting some radio attention).

I just heard the show and agree with you. C'mon Paul, prepare your ass before a show and get it together already. I understand and like the flubs when taking "off the cuff" requests but when the setlist is butchered there's just no excuse anymore.

[A Regular]

TomT said:

I just heard the show and agree with you. C'mon Paul, prepare your ass before a show and get it together already. I understand and like the flubs when taking "off the cuff" requests but when the setlist is butchered there's just no excuse anymore.

I hope you didn't mean Kentucky Rain. I gotta figure that was a last minute addition, based on location and the climate that day (it rained all day). But, yeah, to wonderful lie.

[Ginsu]

don't you kind of expect some "oblivio" at a PW gig? just my .02

[Numskll]

Ginsu said:

don't you kind of expect some "oblivio" at a PW gig? just my .02

Two things:

1. What the hell is 'Oblivio' and what kind of wine goes well with it?

2. I understand wanting PW to know most of the words to most of his songs when he is on stage, but I disagree with your assessment of the Louisville show in terms of performance. PW delivered exactly the product he has been advertising. A warm loose and intimate performance. As for his energy, he is 42 now, better that he bigins to age gracefully then strut around stage like some reanimated cadaver ( Sorry Sir Mick). I mean we don't expect John Lydon to be Johnny Rotten anymore do we?. (OK , that's a poor example, but you know what I mean)

As for what he owes those who pay to see his shows. I have no problem paying to see him clown around on stage as he has of late. I loved his 2002 show . . loved it. I wish I could see him do the exact same thing every weekend. That's his schtiick. And I think the lousiville songs are play worthy, the have a good beat and are ez to dance to.

If he does tour with a band (if he tours at all . . sigh) I think it would be nice if he practiced with them prior so they could sort of follow along better. Sorry for getting all technical here for you musical laymen.

My solution for Paul's zoning-on-the-lyrics problem:
A Karaoke[sic] Machine on stage. Problem solved

[stargazer]

Hey, here's my "Tootsie" moment:
I own the shirt on the cover of "Folker".
And, oh, yeah, I'm not a guy.

[DDog]

stargazer said:

Hey, here's my "Tootsie" moment:
I own the shirt on the cover of "Folker".
And, oh, yeah, I'm not a guy.

So does this mean you're Paul or are you saying Paul is in touch with his feminine side (comfortable in women's clothing)?

[ClamsCasino]

Numskll said:

As for his energy, he is 42 now, better that he bigins to age gracefully then strut around stage like some reanimated cadaver ( Sorry Sir Mick). I mean we don't expect John Lydon to be Johnny Rotten anymore do we?. (OK , that's a poor example, but you know what I mean)

Paul never strutted around the stage like Jagger, so that's not the kind of energy we're talking about. The Lydon/Rotten example actually is a good one, but maybe in the opposite way you were thinking. With the Sex Pistols reunion shows I think people were expecting to see and hear Rotten, and sure enough, that's exactly what they got. Lydon still performs with the same amount of energy and venom that he spat out decades ago. I think he's a great example of a guy who sounds just as into it as he did when he started. Maybe anger is an energy.

Numskll said:

As for what he owes those who pay to see his shows. I have no problem paying to see him clown around on stage as he has of late. I loved his 2002 show . . loved it. I wish I could see him do the exact same thing every weekend. That's his schtiick. And I think the lousiville songs are play worthy, the have a good beat and are ez to dance to.

If he does tour with a band (if he tours at all . . sigh) I think it would be nice if he practiced with them prior so they could sort of follow along better.

Well yeah, that's pretty much the least we could expect. I mean, are people still entertained by the "I don't know how to play any of my songs" shtick? What if Tommy came out during his solo shows and couldn't play half of his songs? Would it be just as funny/endearing as it apparently is when Paul does it? 20 years ago Paul was forgetting how to play Jackson 5 and T. Rex songs and it was funny to watch him stumble through, but now he can't even remember how to play his own tunes. It just doesn't hold the same charm for me.

[prozach]

ClamsCasino said:

overall he sounded less prepared and less practiced

rumor has it he was distracted by two beautiful women and one loudmouth in a lampshade.