Be so bold: new arrangements for old songs live

[torethatbridgeout]

ClamsCasino said:

I think "I Will Dare" is one the best songs he's ever written, but we've all heard him do it a hundred times and it's always the same.

Maybe he could do something different with "I Will Dare" this time around. Horns? Harpsichord? Tuba bass lines?

I'd like to hear the extended version of "Never Felt Like This Before" live. The drums could kick in right where it ends on the CD, similar to the alt. version of "Crackle and Drag."

[gravy]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Is what I say.
Do you want to touch up the Sistine Chapel while you're
at it?

[BigWheel]

I think Westerberg needs to treat Stereo/ Mono like it is his frist record and just get out from under the weight of all his old songs.
get a band, play stuff from the last 4 records, and start all over again.

You know, he is gonna get back out there and play left of the Dial and I will Dare and just hate it all over again.

If I were him I would start over and get a band and go heavy on Dead Man Shake material and just go blow the doors off of a few places for awhile and not worry about the "old fans".

[Placemat]

I'm W/TTBO on this.

New arrangements for a few of the "classics" is a grand idea.

Paul's f*cked W/songs in the past & I've rather enjoyed the different takes. & It'd be nice to see what Paul could do W/the DTS stuff.

However, with the last tour still fresh, I'm hoping Paul will focus on the newer material this time around & maybe spice things up W/songs he's neglected to play live in the past.

In the end, I don't really care what Paul plays. As long as the man's into it & the shows 3hrs long, I'm happy.

[TomT]

BigWheel said:

If I were him I would start over and get a band and go heavy on Dead Man Shake material and just go blow the doors off of a few places for awhile and not worry about the "old fans".

As much as I'm a fan of his old stuff I really like this idea. It would be a fresh take on the man. If he wanted to compromise a little he could do an encore of 4 or 5 "oldies" with creative new arrangements to make everyone go home happy.

[torethatbridgeout]

sounds good. why doesn't he just play a mess of completely new stuff we haven't heard yet? Or Jesperson liked Greendale so much, maybe he could help paul write an opera or epic or whatever that is.

[ElegantMule]

I'll throw in a hey yeah - I love the guy but if I hear "Can't Hardly Wait" live - in any form - anytime soon I will throw a cup of beer at the audience. I want the new stuff and some Prince covers. Is that too much to ask?

Barring that I'll take an acoustic version of "Valentine" a rocked up version of "Skyway," (more powerful with a little electricity, non?" and "Androgynous" with Johnny on piano.

[A Regular]

At the end of the promotional tape for SG that was shelved, he plays a swinging version of Bookmark. Looked like they were just goofing around in the studio, but it would be fun to hear that song performed with an upbeat rthym...kinda like the original take of crackle and drag.

[claypigeon]

ElegantMule said:

...and "Androgynous" with Johnny on piano.

Mathis or Westerberg?

[ElegantMule]

The child, clay, the child.

Bring Johnny out in a flourish and sit him down at the old pianah.

[torethatbridgeout]

ElegantMule said:

I can still - almost 20 years after picking up Let it Be - listen to that record about three times a day.

How bout he plays the entirety of Let It Be, in order, with or without band ("I'm Coming Ou-ow-ow-ow-wow-ow-wow-T"). then whatever new stuff tickles him.

[A Regular]

I believe Cheap Trick did that in Chicago a few years ago, over a few nights. Night One they played their first album, and then others, played in Color the second night, and Heaven Tonight the third night. That would be a great idea for another trio of shows at the Guthrie, or someplace for central for the rest of us!

Lou Reed also did this when he put out his New York album, playing it in entirety before playing the old stuff.