quoted 5 lines DAT is fine but there is no substitute for watching some one play>> DAT is fine but there is no substitute for watching some one play
>
> WHY would you want to watch someone "play"? At best, it's a series of
> mechanical movements; at worst, it's mechanical movements plus theatrical
> wanking. Does it convey ANY useful information?
Does "entertainment" in general convey any useful information? Bands can
always be fun, but will it help me run a business?
I think the "theatrical wanking" is a fairly broad term. My eyes sparkled
all night at the Orb's last Warfield performance. I couldn't have had a
better time, yet Alex and Thrash were fairly bland in themselves. What
surrounded them was the key. On the other side of the spectrum,
performances from "bands" like Fierce Ruling Diva, The Shamen, 808 State,
and Moby have left me completely dry. Watching someone skillfully play a
single guitar on an empty stage is far better than watching someone jump
around and pretend they're God to a tape with a jillion Intellibeams.
I would _kill_ to see Graeme Revell bang some cans on stage, much more so
than a hundred 303 twankers. Yet, personal levels of entertainment are
subjective. We go to see performers for the general celebrity closeness
and then to see what they can do. I've sold off music after bad
performances and bought music after good ones. Tours are marketing, but it
also gives us the ability to scrutinize talent and throw out the poseurs.