Not sure about everyone else, but I wish Gord (Downie) would put down the acoustic, at least for most of the songs. A few I don't mind (it does have it's places, ie: ABAC), but over the years he's been playing it on more and more songs. From the Sympatico webcast, I think he played it on every new song other than Heart of the Melt. He's even playing it on more and more old ones. I mean, we need "Animated Gord" at his fullest on songs like NOIS. Anyone agree?
Agreed. It's kind of disapointing to see him play guitar on things like NOIS. I just want to see him jump around and be crazy. Ah well. I'll settle for pretty much anything.
Although, there is nothing more entertaining than watching Gord sing, rant and dance around the stage.
agreed. Gord should put down the guitar more often. Most times you don't even hear his guitar. Like it isn't plugged in. Kinda hard to play over Rob and Paul. It sounds like the new stuff was written with three guitars in mind but up till IBE I think Gord's guitar was an after thought. I don't want Gord to give up on guitar just leave it to Rob and Paul the guitarsmiths.
I agree, he needs to put down the guitar. I would rather watch him jump around and rant on stage. Just like when he lied down during woodstock on the camera track not letting it pass.
Yep. I'm always watching at live shows and willing him under my breath: "just water Gord, just water..." If after the song he backs up, unscrews the bottle lid, takes a sip and walks back up to the mic, I know I've done something right.
If however he does all that, sips his water and then picks up the Sunflowers, I'm a little dissapointed.
Anybody else notice that he's actually touring with TWO guitars now? Could be part of the reason for the increased playing time.
`i don't see the purpose of it. Nois was recorded without gord playing guitar.. i think fireworks was too...i mean...he's playing it on all these songs and you simply don't hear it.
the only time i hear his guitar is at the end of gus and thats like...2 seconds?
i dunno just seems gay to me.
The guitar is a good fit when it's audible on certain songs...even some more up tempo songs like Daredevil. I don't really see the point to adding acoustic to NOIS and Springtime In Vienna though.
Certain songs on the new album sound really nice with the acoustic in the background. It adds a bit of layering to Mean Streak and Gus, especially if you have head phones on. I don't really see the point to him playing on Josephine and Ballroom though.
His choice I guess. Musicians are always looking for new challenges. I just wish if he's going to play that you'd be able to hear it. I figure he's improved alot, especially since his solo tour last year when he was playing a Strat.
Rye Wrote:Musicians are always looking for new challenges. I just wish if he's going to play that you'd be able to hear it. I figure he's improved alot, especially since his solo tour last year when he was playing a Strat.
Good point. Anybody remember that oh so great Much Music interview with the Geese in the background? Gord talked about the challenge of connecting with the crowd while all the other guys sent messages through their fingers... he felt kinda left out, hence the Sunflowers...
I gots mixed feelings. It does limit what he can do with body language, although he can still improvise with his lyrics. And the truth is his guitar playing is such that it wouldn't make a big difference if it weren't there. It adds more texture to the songs, so I like that it's there on the albums but live is a different thing. Maybe we should consider that as a man of fourty no longer taking hallucinagenic drugs, hes feeling mellower and doesn't quite have the energy. Or maybe hes intimidated by his formidable reputation.
Right. Gord has such a huge reputation that the risk of becoming a caricature of himself is always present. As I said in another thread, I really, really don't want Gord to feel that he HAS to get up and 'do his Gordon Downie' impression---ranting and flailing, etc.. :jump The wise thing for him to do is to shift the target, develop new strengths, expand his bag of tricks. I'm sure the guitar is part of that; that way, instead of being FORCED to wriggle around, he has other options, and can save that stuff for when it's really there.
And frankly, watching that Sympatico footage I thought he still makes for a riveting presence---an ominous and surprisingly 'cool' figure up there.
Another point is that he lives 300 kms away from his bandmates. Unless he's able to back himself, how will he get any songwriting done? So I figure picking up the guitar also had to do with his move to TO and the need to create independently of the Hip.
Killer Whale Tank Wrote:Right. Gord has such a huge reputation that the risk of becoming a caricature of himself is always present. As I said in another thread, I really, really don't want Gord to feel that he HAS to get up and 'do his Gordon Downie' impression---ranting and flailing, etc.. :jump The wise thing for him to do is to shift the target, develop new strengths, expand his bag of tricks. I'm sure the guitar is part of that; that way, instead of being FORCED to wriggle around, he has other options, and can save that stuff for when it's really there.
And frankly, watching that Sympatico footage I thought he still makes for a riveting presence---an ominous and surprisingly 'cool' figure up there.
Another point is that he lives 300 kms away from his bandmates. Unless he's able to back himself, how will he get any songwriting done? So I figure picking up the guitar also had to do with his move to TO and the need to create independently of the Hip.
All very good points. I don't know, I guess it's good that he's changing. I mean, everyone keeps saying how much they hate NOIS because of the amount of times it's been played and people don't want it to be played much anymore at concerts. Well, don't these same people get tired of the same rants and dances of Gordo? Maybe not. Should we get tired of them? I don't know.
Personally, I miss his tambourine and shakers!
