The 4/14 New Pornographers Show Should Have Been Cancele

[kosmo vinyl]

Originally posted by Erinaceous Sonickus:
   

Originally posted by hooknew22:
  I went for the Neko sound.  
 

I am not really sure I get this.  I dont believe she adds as much to NPs as most people think.  I can take or leave her and her solo stuff??  boring.    anyway.  i like Carl's neice too.  
 
   I didnt see the show, but if they played only 3 songs from Challengers, thats sorta lame. [/b]

yikes people usually complain when bands only focuses on the newest record in concert...  I'm guessin' that since this the second swing of this tour then promoting the new record isn't the top priority.

[tigersscareme]

i thought the begining was a little rocky...and out of tune, but their cover of ELO's 'don't bring me down' was one of the cutest and happiest things i've ever seen.

[sch2383]

The far more jarring part of the show was when the NPs did Dan Bejar's songs.  They did them well, but nobody quite sounds like him, so it was odd to hear normal sounding voices sing those songs.
 
 I was disappointed Neko wasn't able to go on.  She certainly adds a special something, nobody sounds like her, but I had no idea if she'd even be there when I bought the ticket way back when.  Good show, worth the time and money, had much more energy than I would have thought for a Monday night.

[kosmo vinyl]

This show had to have been better than the time they warmed up for Belle & Sebastien when Kathryn was sick and unable to sing at all... Had to have been one of the most awkward performances I've ever seen.

[shoelaces22]

Originally posted by MyraEllen:
  Yeah, set times were pretty exact.  The whole thing was over around 11.
 
 Really hope we get Ex-Girl Collection tonight.  
 
 As for the number of Challengers songs, I count 6.  Whoever counted three just wasn't paying attention or doesn't really know the album that well.  So much for being a TNP neophyte

They definitely played six-- "All the Things That Go To Make Heaven and Earth," "My Rights Versus Yours," "All The Old Showstoppers," "Challengers," "Unguided," and "Adventures in Solitude."  I thought it was a well-chosen set, and Neko or not, I thought they put on a great show and I was glad to have seen them.  I've never seen them with Neko, so maybe that would make the difference in helping me understand the whining more.  No complaints about last night from me though.
 
 Also, Charles Bissell being there was a definite highlight for me.  I won't be there tonight so if "Ex-Girl Collection" is played, I'll be really jealous!

[lomein]

this is really disappointing, I hope she's able to make it to the Richmond show.
 
   

Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
  hunh, i specifically did not buy tickets to this show because i could not confirm that neko would be there before it sold out. i am curious to know how people knew for sure she was supposed to be there, because i couldnt find anything promising neko

The toad's place website advertised the show in Richmond on Wed. as "featuring Neko Case" way back when tickets went on sale (can't find the link now) and I think the new pornographers generally advertised their tour this way which is why some people are disappointed. Also, Dan's also not there so without Neko AND Dan a big chunk of the band is missing.

[lomein]

Originally posted by kosmo:
  This show had to have been better than the time they warmed up for Belle & Sebastien when Kathryn was sick and unable to sing at all... Had to have been one of the most awkward performances I've ever seen.

yeah for real. without Neko and Dan the NPs play opening slots.

[nkotb]

Here's a hint:
 
 1) Close your eyes.
 
 2) Listen to the female voice.
 
 3) Mentally picture Neko.
 
 That's really all that missing.
 
 As for two bigs chunks of the band missing, how many tours has Bejar even been on?  One or two?  That's definitely a vast majority of shows without him.
 
 I'm honestly curious: what's the big deal about having Neko there? A pretty voice?  The bragging rights of seeing her on stage?  I don't really get the draw.
 
 

Originally posted by shoelaces22:
 I've never seen them with Neko, so maybe that would make the difference in helping me understand the whining more.

[lomein]

Originally posted by nkotb:
  Here's a hint:
 
 1) Close your eyes.
 
 2) Listen to the female voice.
 
 3) Mentally picture Neko.
 
 That's really all that missing.
 
 As for two bigs chunks of the band missing, how many tours has Bejar even been on?  One or two?  That's definitely a vast majority of shows without him.
 
 I'm honestly curious: what's the big deal about having Neko there? A pretty voice?  The bragging rights of seeing her on stage?  I don't really get the draw.
 
     

Originally posted by shoelaces22:
 I've never seen them with Neko, so maybe that would make the difference in helping me understand the whining more.

[/b]

Well in that case, why not just get another Canadian with a lisp to fill in for AC Newman and close your eyes and imagine he's there. I'm sure tickets would be a lot cheaper.
 Have you seen Neko Case play with them? She has an amazing voice and blows Kathryn Calder out of the water.
 
 --also-- I'm not arguing that the show "should have been canceled", I'm sure it will be a great show anyway if she's not there when I see them, I'm just explaining that she adds a lot to their show and because it was billed (in Richmond and other cities at least) as "featuring Neko Case", people are going to be disappointed when she's not there.

[brennser]

I'm with nkotb on this one. In fact during Bleeding Heart Show last night, I remembering thinking to myself, damn, she is totally nailing Neko's soaring vocal at the end of the song.....
 
 

Originally posted by nkotb:
  Here's a hint:
 
 1) Close your eyes.
 
 2) Listen to the female voice.
 
 3) Mentally picture Neko.
 
 That's really all that missing.
 
 As for two bigs chunks of the band missing, how many tours has Bejar even been on?  One or two?  That's definitely a vast majority of shows without him.
 
 I'm honestly curious: what's the big deal about having Neko there? A pretty voice?  The bragging rights of seeing her on stage?  I don't really get the draw.
 
   

Originally posted by shoelaces22:
 I've never seen them with Neko, so maybe that would make the difference in helping me understand the whining more.

[/b]

[nkotb]

Yeah, I saw her with them at the Black Cat on the Electric Version tour.  She struck me as no more than a glorifed back-up singer, like I mentioned above.  If memory serves me correctly, she sang lead on maybe two songs.  Maybe.
 
 I get your point about Newman, but would you be bitching if Dahle were sick?  I mean, his singing is pretty integral to one or two songs, and he sings back up on a few more.  Seems to hold just as much weight, if you ask me.  Of course, he's not quite as attractive, but whatever.
 
 

Originally posted by lomein:
 Well in that case, why not just get another Canadian with a lisp to fill in for AC Newman and close your eyes and imagine he's there. I'm sure tickets would be a lot cheaper.
 Have you seen Neko Case play with them? She has an amazing voice and blows Kathryn Calder out of the water.

[Vas Deferens]

The onstage banter?
 
 

Originally posted by nkotb:
  I'm honestly curious: what's the big deal about having Neko there? A pretty voice?  The bragging rights of seeing her on stage?  I don't really get the draw.
 
   

[nkotb]

I think that's what nailed it for me too.  She sounded spot on.
 
 

Originally posted by brennser:
  I'm with nkotb on this one. In fact during Bleeding Heart Show last night, I remembering thinking to myself, damn, she is totally nailing Neko's soaring vocal at the end of the song.....

[lomein]

Originally posted by nkotb:
  Yeah, I saw her with them at the Black Cat on the Electric Version tour.  She struck me as no more than a glorifed back-up singer, like I mentioned above.  If memory serves me correctly, she sang lead on maybe two songs.  Maybe.
 
 I get your point about Newman, but would you be bitching if Dahle were sick?  I mean, his singing is pretty integral to one or two songs, and he sings back up on a few more.  Seems to hold just as much weight, if you ask me.  Of course, he's not quite as attractive, but whatever.

When I saw them last fall she sang lead vocals on a lot more than 1 or 2 songs. Challengers and Twin Cinema feature her more than the first 2 albums did.

[nkotb]

Yeah, but those songs aren't nearly as good    
 
 

Originally posted by lomein:
 When I saw them last fall she sang lead vocals on a lot more than 1 or 2 songs. Challengers and Twin Cinema feature her more than the first 2 albums did.