Our artistic whims....
We had a lot of fun this weekend playing acoustically with FOW. Perhaps a little too much fun - now that we have our sights set on SXSW, we have struck a quandary: To go acoustic, or not?
We have always been a band with sort of a split personality, we love getting as loud as we can, but we also enjoy getting as quiet as we can - sometimes performing with no amplification at all. Both feel like home to us, so when it comes to shows like SXSW showcases where you are suppose to play a set that accurately depicts your band - we always have the same problem...which Visuals do we present? Acoustic, or electric...?
The other tricky thing is the question of context - that is, do people react so well to our acoustic show because they have seen the electric one, and the stark contrast impresses them? If that were true, would people who have never seen us before just think of our acoustic set as average - could the acoustic set only be good in the context of the difference of our electric leanings?
This is a problem that has haunted us for some time now, when you only have one shot to 'wow' someone - what would you do if you were us? The answer would be simple if we enjoyed one set more than the other, but we love them both equally, and whats more - we feel they both accurately represent us.
Oh - to be a rich headlining act. That would solve all our problems, because we could do both: travel with two kits, acoustic drum kit, electric one...play an 'acoustic set' in the middle of a rock set. Hmmm. To have that luxury, the luxury to fully satisfy every artistic whim - now THAT'S success, in my eyes.
What do you all think?
Christopher
We have always been a band with sort of a split personality, we love getting as loud as we can, but we also enjoy getting as quiet as we can - sometimes performing with no amplification at all. Both feel like home to us, so when it comes to shows like SXSW showcases where you are suppose to play a set that accurately depicts your band - we always have the same problem...which Visuals do we present? Acoustic, or electric...?
The other tricky thing is the question of context - that is, do people react so well to our acoustic show because they have seen the electric one, and the stark contrast impresses them? If that were true, would people who have never seen us before just think of our acoustic set as average - could the acoustic set only be good in the context of the difference of our electric leanings?
This is a problem that has haunted us for some time now, when you only have one shot to 'wow' someone - what would you do if you were us? The answer would be simple if we enjoyed one set more than the other, but we love them both equally, and whats more - we feel they both accurately represent us.
Oh - to be a rich headlining act. That would solve all our problems, because we could do both: travel with two kits, acoustic drum kit, electric one...play an 'acoustic set' in the middle of a rock set. Hmmm. To have that luxury, the luxury to fully satisfy every artistic whim - now THAT'S success, in my eyes.
What do you all think?
Christopher
2 Comments:
As someone that was introduced to The Everyday Visuals by your acoustic set, (saw you guys at paradise) I can definitely say that your acoustic set comes across just fine to new comers. I wasn't impressed by a stark contrast, I was impressed by a great show.
That being said, I ended up getting a copy of "Things Will Look Up" at the show, and was impressed by stark contrast the next day in the privacy of my apartment. It was still there, and just waiting to ambush me.
While I was personally blown away by your acoustic performance as a newcomer, I would really like to see an electric show.
In conlusion, I'm going to be unhelpful and just say play whatever you guys want to play. I'll show up next time you're in Boston whether or not you bring the amps.
i also saw you at the paradise for the first time. i thought that your acoustic set was fantastic and would love to see an electric show too. i think a stripped down set is the way to go in that it requires more from the listener. you'll entrance those interested.
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