Oblivion Ball Tokyo Live Streaming

[khouri]

/de-lurk

Been following the dirtysite for about 10 years now and felt compelled to add my voice to this discussion.

I think a point of view missing from this discussion is that of Underworld, who are human beings with their own personal tastes. It's rather likely the band considers the songs they've been playing to be not just the tunes concert-goers want to hear, but indeed their best tracks; the songs they are most proud of, most into, and most enjoy playing live. I can't think of any band who on a purely taste-based level prefers their more obscure or early material to the latter-day accomplishments -- unimpeachable classics like "Rez" notwithstanding, of course. It seems only natural that as they continue to mature as artists and performers, Underworld would want to play as many of their personal successes to as many people as possible -- for the band's own gratification.

The same can be said for arrangements, I think. For example, the number of times Underworld have played "Nuxx" live is all but incalculable, but they've been developing it with every subsequent performance. It probably sounds the way it does lately not because they're lazy, but because that's the way Underworld thinks it sounds best -- for now, anyway. Why would they play it in a way they thought wasn't as good?

However, it's a fact that setlists can get samey. dubman is correct in that Underworld Live is as valid for criticism as Underworld Prime is -- that is why forums like this exist. This can't just be some unmitigated orgy of praise. "Samey setlists" is a valid criticism from a diehard Underworld fan, and Underworld can choose to take it to heart or not.

I don't think leveling such criticism should be an invitation for other fans to get righteous and defensive. Certainly, as Underworld fans we're part of an experience that is as far as I can determine unparalleled in pop music. The amount of content we see and hear and the level of interactivity is nothing if not incredible. But Underworld is still a band, not a religion, and any listener -- diehard, casual or otherwise -- should be able to observe the fact that this weekend's Tokyo setlist was similar to that of other recent shows and dream of more. Again, Underworld can take that sentiment to heart or not.

Personally, I've also had moments of frustration with the setlist question, but then I hear something like Roundhouse 2, which featured a rather typical setlist, yet was one of the absolute best Underworld performances I've ever heard on my stereo or in person, and I've seen them 6 or 7 times by now and twice on this current tour. The truth seems to be found not in setlists, but in that wholly intangible, performance "thing" that changes from show to show to show -- and that's rather the whole point of the band, isn't it?

P.S. Regarding the 3-hour shows -- that's Sven Vath, Luxembourg and Live In Tokyo 2005, right? Just making sure I didn't miss one.

P.P.S. While I'm stepping out of the shadows, I'm still waiting for the rest of that Moscow show to go up on underworldlive.com -- please, guys!

P.P.P.S. The "Autotrader/Phonestrap" and "Mama.NUXX Jam" business is fabulous and I hope you continue to put more of it online -- for free or whatever.

/re-lurk for another few years

[galama]

Since i tuned in my eyes were transfixed in the monitor. I put some thought into how much trouble they had to go through in order to bless us with such a generous gift. Who else does that? To what extent have they gone to keep in touch with a few dozen people! Quite honestly i feel privileged as fuck. A live broadcast all the way from across the other pond is a notty perk. And oh my, the way it was done. So careful to grasp all the aspects of the performance. Rick tweaking knobs, Karl singing and dancing, the crowd, close-ups, visuals...accumulated into a screen, right in front of my person, to give me a splendid afternoon.
Regardless of having heard those tracks so many times, each live performance radiates with a unique twist of energy. Dubman, you made several great points. WeAs far as hearing rare and unheard tunes...noone has the right to whine. We get live broadcasts made just for a few hundred people. No publicity, no advertising, no banners all over the internet. That is privileged.

[industri_studios]

I was raking leaves - thanks all for the reviews... appreciate it. Even if this never surfaces for those of us that missed it (which is fine) - thanks to UW for keeping us in the loop of what they're doing. Appreciate it!

[dubman]

nuxx was notable, boy boy boy was a replica of the studio version, everything else passed by like cars on a freeway.

[kowalski__]

they were brilliant. people should cut the crap and be thankful.

we have to respect artists.

[industri_studios]

This is crazy... when Karl made that "everyone wants stuff for free" comment during the last (or prior?) radio show - I thought "no - we're all willing to pay for this stuff..." - but seeing some of these posts, and the reaction to how they choose to do their shows, I can see where they're coming from.

It's a real bummer.

This band has been more transparent than almost any other - and yet that transparency has gotten them no end of grief. You have no idea what will and won't be offered for free on the new uwlive - but you complain because they HAVE charged for some of their live material? The Electraglide disc, these LHN discs... this is the best sounding live stuff I have (barring BB and EE)... and I'm glad to have it, and glad I could support the band in buying it.

It's all choice - and if you think you're being scammed -- don't partake. But coming here and complaining isn't going to change anything. If everyone spoke with their wallets, and no one bought these recordings, I'm sure the band would reconsider their stance... but most people seem happy to part with $30 for a good quality 2-Disc set, so clearly the minority are expecting this for free. What do all the people complaining here REALLY expect to come from this? Do you think whining will change the band's minds about how they distribute this stuff?

Sorry if this is a little "rant"ing... just my 2¢ - and no offense to anyone, this is directed as the complaints in general, not the complainants!

[BrotherLovesDub]

i'm happy to pay for whatever UW decide to release.

re: the set list. yes, i agree with dubman in that i wish they'd shake it up, esp. at an event like the Oblivion Ball but at the same time, i understand Janie's position too. the band are obligated to do the songs the crowd want to hear. for bands who have been around as long as UW have, there are some standards that you've got to perform for the crowd. however, as shown by the recent Cure tours, a band can perform album tracks, b-sides and fan favorites and still sell out shows and leave the crowd extremely happy.

my resolution for this would be for UW to start doing megamix style medley's of their tunes. who really needs for TMO to come back in after that break in the middle? is there ever a need for both Push Up and King of Snake? if they used their flexibility with Abelton Live a bit more to do seques and megamixes of their biggest hits, that would leave more time for some of the lesser played Fan Favs to get aired.

all in all, i'm 100% grateful that Underworld treat their fans so nicely. no other band that i know of provides the same kind of interaction and suppport for their fans. we get loads of stuff for free and we've got 2 great people driving the good-ship Underworld. Rick and Karl have been fantastic to the fans and their energy and spirit come through in their performances and their generous supply of demos etc on Underworld Live.

[King of Snake]

Originally Posted by BrotherLovesDub

i'm happy to pay for whatever UW decide to release.

re: the set list. yes, i agree with dubman in that i wish they'd shake it up, esp. at an event like the Oblivion Ball but at the same time, i understand Janie's position too. the band are obligated to do the songs the crowd want to hear. for bands who have been around as long as UW have, there are some standards that you've got to perform for the crowd. however, as shown by the recent Cure tours, a band can perform album tracks, b-sides and fan favorites and still sell out shows and leave the crowd extremely happy.

my resolution for this would be for UW to start doing megamix style medley's of their tunes. who really needs for TMO to come back in after that break in the middle? is there ever a need for both Push Up and King of Snake? if they used their flexibility with Abelton Live a bit more to do seques and megamixes of their biggest hits, that would leave more time for some of the lesser played Fan Favs to get aired.

all in all, i'm 100% grateful that Underworld treat their fans so nicely. no other band that i know of provides the same kind of interaction and suppport for their fans. we get loads of stuff for free and we've got 2 great people driving the good-ship Underworld. Rick and Karl have been fantastic to the fans and their energy and spirit come through in their performances and their generous supply of demos etc on Underworld Live.

Well said. I think it's pretty ridiculous to claim that uw are charging for everything as they're clearly still giving away lots of stuff for free on uwlive, not to mention the broadcasts which are free for all to tune into. So I'm not sure what Testudo is on about. The only liveshows you have to pay for are the ones offered by LiveHereNow, and they are professionally recorded and come with full packaging and artwork. I'm more than happy to pay for stuff like that, and also for new studio tracks/riverrun stuff on uwlive.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by BrotherLovesDub

my resolution for this would be for UW to start doing megamix style medley's of their tunes.

GOD NO! medley's make me think of these sing along song singers.
Anyway, same for UW radio edits, it's just not right (although I agree, KOS and TMO could be shorter). No medley's please, but I do think, if they also play Dirty Epic again, why not do more of those "rarely heard live" tracks.

[Ufotofu]

I'm not sure who to agree with here. I mean, the Tokyo show was fantastic (esp. noodly intros), but it's the same sort of fantastic we've been seeing for a while. However, I think people are unjustly comparing "one-off" shows (Cocoon, etc) to every show on this tour. It's a tour, for God's sake. UW has been (barring illness) playing shows every few days, at least. Asking them to come up with brilliant, on-the-fly, improvised sets for dozens of shows borders on the absurd. Compared to other "electronic" acts, UW's sets are pure gold. I saw Daft Punk in Chicago this summer, which was a great show, but they play the same songs, in the same order, in the same way, every single time. Justice, who actually came to my cold, lovely hometown of Minneapolis, played intense, remixed versions of their songs, but I've heard that they play basically the same set every night. I know those two acts aren't anywhere near UWs caliber, but you get the idea. I think UW might be trying to throw little bits in for us (Monkey Wink + Nuxx, for example), and then using the rest of the set for stable, "tour mode" stuff. If their first show after their tour is just a "greatest hits" night, I might be a little more disappointed, but for now, people, just let them do their thing.

The only thing that really bothers me is the way they almost always seem to play Jumbo/Moaner as the encore. Rick, Karl-- Jumbo is a brilliant tune, and is definitely in my top five. However, could you perhaps surprise us next time? Or, at least play a slightly remixed version of Jumbo? Por favor?