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The longest show you've ever seen


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What's the longest you've seen a performer play? I realize that touring can/would get old. But I've always wondered about how musicians can put on a 1:15 show and then just shut it down and move on to the next city. A 1:15 show just isn't enough for me (as a fan). And for the musicians, seems they would just be warming up! Seems that some would genuinely love performing and would just not want to stop after 1:15. I play golf. Golaholic. I cannot get enough. My group almost NEVER plays less than 27 holes. Commonly 36, even in the heat of summer. And several times a year, 45 holes. Just can't get enough. And there is a professional Senior PGA player, Dana Quigley, who cannot get enough. He plays almost every tournament. When he's off, what does he do? Plays golf with his hometown buds. Why wouldn't some big star do a long set and then just take a break, like a normal gig. Take a 20 minute break. The audience can go pee, they sign autographs or just kick back. Then fire up again. Now, that would be a cool concert.

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[url=http://www.maceoparker.com]Maceo Parker[/url] . I think he was up to about three hours when I realized that... although this was the most incredible, funkiest concert I had ever seen, I still needed to get up for work the next day! So I left "early". I don't know how long the concert lasted. It could've gone on for another seven hours for all I know, based on the stamina of the band and the audience's wild response.
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Popmusic, this one's slightly related to yours... I went to see George Clinton and P Funk(Maceo's an ex member) in '92 at the Masquerade here in Atlanta and I got there at 8:30pm, they had already been onstage since 8pm and I left about 12:30 am... drunk, ears ringing, and completely satisfied!! There were 2 or 3 bass players alternating, about 4 guitarists and 6 or 7 backround vocalists etc but old George was up there the whole time except for about a 20 min Blackbyrd guitar solo and half of Maggot Brain!! Luv that old guy!
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That's weird you would ask that today. Just yesterday I was thinking about my eclectic tastes in music and recalling a Chuck Mangione concert at the Old Massey Hall. It was going to be used for a live album (Chase the Clouds Away was the one I think). To make sure they had enough good takes, Mangione announced at the normal 'finish' that they were going to do some of the songs again, so if the audience wanted to stay they were welcome. And would someone prop open the doors, please? (It was a full house in an old hall in August) That stretched out the night to about 4 beautiful hours; just about everyone stayed. Fortunately when I bought the vinyl I didn't hear the goofs who were shouting in the hope they'd hear themselves on the album. I briefly met Chuck Mangione after another concert and he is one of the most gracious people I have ever spoken to. The O'Keefe Centre has a lounge where you can relax with a drink and on this night the musicians came down to meet and greet. When you shake hands with a performer after a concert, how many would bother to introduce themselves, "Hi, I'm Chuck Mangione, my father's ... Mangione." (I'm not in the biz and I was only 20.) Anyway, to answer the question again, 4 quality hours.
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Guided By Voices have been known to play for 4 hours plus. And get drunker as the night progresses. :D Springsteen and the E Street Band used to top out at over 3 hours. And of course the Beatles used to play 7-8 hours a night in the clubs in Hamburg. Maybe you feel like 1:15 isn't enough (although lots of people do play longer than that) but it really depends. Playing isn't golf. It's intense. Usually it's more like sex. Imagine having sex for 1:15 and well, you'd probably be pretty worn out, right? :D Maybe you could take a 20 minute break and go for another hour but... lots of people couldn't. The pace of the music matters too. Our band does some gigs where we play all night (3-4 hours) but they're pretty low key. We pace ourselves, do acoustic numbers and are not playing hard. The atmosphere at the places where we do these gis, lends itself to that. When we do a full-tilt set at a rock club, we don't hold back, we beat the hell out of ourselves, and we're totally worn out after 1:15. So, ya know... it's different for everybody. Some musicians are just plain lazy. --Lee
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[quote]Originally posted by LiveMusic: [b]What's the longest you've seen a performer play?[/b][/quote] P-Funk 4 hours+ many times. Stones 3 hours One of the longest gigs is a marching band at a football game. We would play marching to the stadium, all through the game, half time show and, play marching out. [b]I realize that touring can/would get old. But I've always wondered about how musicians can put on a 1:15 show and then just shut it down and move on to the next city. A 1:15 show just isn't enough for me (as a fan).[/b][/QUOTE] Sometimes that's how the gigs are booked, the act is hired to play 1-1 hour set. And if you have a lot of gigs to do and a lot of ground to cover, you don't have time to play extra sets, even though you may want to. I used to play with some legendary cats and sometimes they'd be booked for two shows. [b]And for the musicians, seems they would just be warming up! Seems that some would genuinely love performing and would just not want to stop after 1:15.[/b][/QUOTE] Most bands have rehearsed and are prepared to play shows of different lengths and, most times they know how much time they'll have before the show starts. [b]Why wouldn't some big star do a long set and then just take a break, like a normal gig. Take a 20 minute break. The audience can go pee, they sign autographs or just kick back. Then fire up again. Now, that would be a cool concert.[/b][/QUOTE] Went to a Chicago concert, they played 3 hours with a break. I think Yes played a long show too, couple hours. Sly :cool:
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Lee, 45 holes? My back hurts just thinking about it. And I love golf. 36 is the most I've played in a day, and only once. Longest show? Probably one of those epic Dead concerts of the 70s. Of course, they spent a lot of that time tuning, which they seemed to do compulsively, and silently. Then the legendary second set rolled on and on. I would love at least the first three hours of a Guided by Voices 4 hour show. Shortest show: Gregg Allman ay my old college. He played about 5 tunes then bolted for no good reason
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Sloan - 3 and a half hours non-stop. I was lucky enough to be the promoter and organizer (two shows sold out in 90 minutes in two different cities), and for that, I got them for 1/5 of the price they went for at the time :cool:
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[quote]Originally posted by LiveMusic: [b]What's the longest you've seen a performer play? I realize that touring can/would get old. But I've always wondered about how musicians can put on a 1:15 show and then just shut it down and move on to the next city. A 1:15 show just isn't enough for me (as a fan). And for the musicians, seems they would just be warming up! Seems that some would genuinely love performing and would just not want to stop after 1:15... ...Why wouldn't some big star do a long set and then just take a break, like a normal gig. Take a 20 minute break. The audience can go pee, they sign autographs or just kick back. Then fire up again. Now, that would be a cool concert.[/b][/quote] The fact is, it's business. Most of the bands/artists that play extended sets are the upper eschelon of celebrity, they've had many records and have plenty of material to choose from. An Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, or Billy Joel, or Greatful Dead could play for 4 hours without making any of the longtime fans say, "What's that song?" They're at a point in their career where they tour as long as they [i]please[/i]. There is no financial reason for Billy Joel or Paul McCartney to tour. They're doing what they love. For moderately famous bands, they hit as many cities as possible in support of their CD's. Can you say, "one-hit-wonder?" That feeling doens't go away, even after several years of touring and platinum record sales. Look at most of the bands you loved from the 1980's. How many of them are still touring? Of those, how many can fill stadiums, as in their prime? The acts I've toured with were big enough to play all the festivals and fairs, and open for bigger names at places such as Starwood (outside Nashville) or the Rosemont Horizon, etc. We never carried our own PA, so they planned gigs just about every day on one tour, for several months. On my most recent touring gig, we had less gigs, but had to travel most every day, arriving just in time for setup and show, then leaving as soon as possible. I'd hoped to meet Tedster over July 4th, when we played Junction City, KS, however, we drove in from central Illinois on the 4th, then headed up for a gig in the North-western-most point in Minnesota. From there it was on to Calgary, where, thankfully, we had a few days off. Of course right after the Stampede show we rode 52 hours to Virginia. Ouch! (I still enjoyed touring, very much!) The point is, add to this the fact that most of these shows are 2, 3, 4 or more acts, and playing more than 45 min. - 1:15 isn't feasable. Don't forget to consider the 5 figure per month bus costs and pay for 5 musicians, 2 crew, and the bus driver, in addition to the artist's cut. They're going to want more money, onstage, if the show lasts that long. Multiply that by 20-25 dates per month! Not everyone is getting rich, just because they play the big stage. When you're young, and have plenty of time between travel, perhaps because you're gigging several times in one city, or you're so rich and famous you don't need to tour in the first place, it's much easier to give in to the temptation to play your heart out every night, for 2 - 4 hours. The former is an example of being young, the latter can stop touring whenever they please. No real obligation. Now, c'mon... Someone else who's toured more extensively, please explain how much weight you can lose, touring. (Or gain! :D ) 2 hours is a long time under hot lights, in a loud environment, even with periodic breaks. Where are ya' NYC Drew? ;)

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years ago, a club in Hoboken paid the band i was in a ton of money and free food/drink to play on St. Patty's Day from 4pm - 2am. (Hoboken has a huge St. Patty's Day festival. it's just as horrible as you can imagine)...anyways, we played something like 9 sets that night to a revolving crowd of drunken/puking slobs, including the mayor. by the end of the night, we had all switched instruments and were taking any request at all.... that was a long night. -d. gauss
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[quote]Originally posted by LiveMusic: [b] Why wouldn't some big star do a long set and then just take a break, like a normal gig. Take a 20 minute break. The audience can go pee, they sign autographs or just kick back. Then fire up again. Now, that would be a cool concert.[/b][/quote] Not really a big star, but Mr.Bungle did that. It was GREAT! Everyone got to go pee, grab a beer & a smoke! Besides the fact it was one of the best bands I've ever seen. My friend remarked in the middle of it, "This is the closest we'll ever get to seeing Frank Zappa." [ 01-08-2002: Message edited by: Duhduh ]

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Definitely the Dead Shows especially '68-- '74 6 hours no problem--with many tunes evolving into another--so a song could be well over an hour--for 5 dollars you could listen (or what ever we did in those days )from 8pm until after 2am afternoon shows would be as along also--although there were maybe three groups--from noon to dusk ...for free For dual headliners>>I think Allman Brothers/Dead was the longest ('72)in Flordia or Who/Dead ('76) in Oakland When I performed in a band back in Mid 70's,,, we played twice a day ,,mainly because the pay was not the greatest--we would play Friday through Sunday 12:00 to 4:00 --- 9 :o o to 1:00 We would open for the larger acts traveling through on the circuit--Jimmy Buffet payed 35.00 per (but bought me a cheeseburger in paridise St Thomas, two years later) ,,,Taj Mahal was 32.00,,,Doc Watson was 40.00,,,Hoyt Axton/Nicolette Larson was 25.00...Marshall Tucker/Outlaws (20k attendence) was still only 38.00,,,Commander Cody & Lost Airmen was 35.00,,,David Bromberg was 30.00,,,the rest were pretty standard priced---you played for fun or you didn't play>>>>>that why I went to engineer/producer in the 80's
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As far as breaks go...James Taylor does take a break during his concerts Oh, and yeah, Neil, we'll catch up one of these days... Who knows, I might make it to Nashville before you make it back around this way... [ 01-08-2002: Message edited by: Tedster ]
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i suppose you would all prefer this to stay in "rock terms" thats cool quick "rock" story... DANDY WARHOLS are so self obsessively cool they sit down in the middle of the set, ignore the audience, smoke some joints, chat to each other, never looking at the crowd once. its pretty funny actually. they sit their nonchalant drinking and smoking and relaxing in full view of an anxious, loud crowd. then they get up, play their hearts out, a few songs later proclaim "we hate that encore shit, so this is your encore", then play a few more songs with intensity, then go home. a nice fresh approach. anyway, to deviate from "rock terms" for a bit. in the world of electronica/rave its common for djs and live acts like myself to get only 45 minutes sets for djs, well who cares. their djs. for live acts like us this is ok cause our music is painstakingly programmed and we perform with live aspects too, i play a digeridoo through fx, we have live percussion and a tricky scratch dj with crazy samples. anyway, promoters sometimes get djs LONG sets, easily over 2 hours, sometimes over 3, and its even heard of for a dj to have 6 hours set. well, once we were given a two hour set without being told, without the promoter realising we ARENT djs, that we have our OWN music and only 45 mintues worth... gack! at least in ROCK you can take breaks and talk or whatever... but anyway, enough about our minor experiences... back to the MR BUNGLE statement someone made... now they are very funny guys. one gig one of the keyboardists keyboards just plain wasnt working. i think it might have been a K5000 by the looks of it. anyway, the whole gig he just stood there smiling at the crowd, arms by his sides. need i also mention the drummer was wearing the FULL outfit the australian cricket team wear, in mockery of our wicket-keeper. funny stuff.
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[quote]i saw this band the other night open up before some friend's of mine. having to sit thru their horrible set was the LOOOOOONGEST 40 minute show i've ever see! -d. gauss [/quote] d., I've seen that show way too many times! t.fall
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Last gig I played we did one "song" non-stop from 11:00 pm until after 3 am... still had about 50 people hanging out listening. There used to be 2 clubs in town where you started at 11:00 and played until... wait for it ... ................5:00 am. Lots of shift workers here. I played at one of these places from *before* 11:00 (they start taking at the door 30 minutes before you start, so hey... may as well try to make that extra $10 by starting an hour early...)... played until ... wait for it..... ... after 8 in the morning. 10 until about 8:20 or so. Still had a roomful of people, they were still tipping, and I like playing... why not? The strangest thing about those gigs were that you'd arrive at night - and leave in the daytime. That was always surreal. But there's something distinctly.. rock and roll about playing to 150 people at 4:30 in the morning. What's the record? I know between how much I like to play and my insomnia I could probably go close to 3 days, provided I could take a bathroom break (heck, give me a wireless, it hasn't stopped me before...

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[quote]Originally posted by Chip McDonald: [b]But there's something distinctly.. rock and roll about playing to 150 people at 4:30 in the morning. [/b][/quote] hahaha, i love that. i dont mean to sound like a smart ass but ive had a bundle of gigs at raves where we'd go into soundcheck while its daylight, and our set-time was listed at 3, 4 or 5am! (just as a FYI the "best" time to get a gig at a rave is about 2am i feel. everyone is pumped, everyone is there, all the chemicals are inside the chemical people, and all the caffiene/alcohol is inside the rest of the people..... im with the caffience crowd i must admit... do you know how stupid it looks to be drinking TEA while getting yourself prepared to perform! AT A RAVE! hahaha) some raves go to midday the next day, and still have thousands of people. but i digress, this has ntohign really to do with your posting chip :p lets agree theres something MUSICALLY MAGIC WHICH DEFIES CATEGORISATION about playing at 4:30am to an eager crowd :) heh heh heh :) ) the only bit i hate about this type of situations is lugging the gear home! thats DANGER time for being to tired to care about proper gear stowage/handling "just toss it in the van, im tired"
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Longest show: saw Springsteen turn in a typical 4.5 hour set at Saratoga Springs on the Born in the USA tour, circa '84. It's 17 years later, and from the looks of the HBO concert last year, he can still pound it out. Most disappointingly short set: Ivan Lins at the Blue Note in NYC. I expected a club date to be a short set. But it seemed time to end exactly 60:00 after he started. With a $37.50 cover, $5 minimum (basically one drink), $20 to park for up to 2 hours, $4.50 to cross the GWB into Manhattan, I'd hoped for a little more for $67 than an hour of music (not the mention to $20 I dropped for an import CD at the club). But he was fantastic.
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in the heyday of chicago blues, the town was filled with shift workers in the factories. for those on the late shift, hound dog taylor had a regular gig at a bar where he started his shows at something like 7am... -d. gauss
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I had a George Clinton experience, too. Right after Atomic Dog was released, there was a concert at the Capital Centre in Washington DC. On the bill: EU and Chuck Brown (1 great DC go-go band and the Godfather of the DC go-go scene), Confunksion, Bootsy Collins (by himself) and then Parliment/Funkadelic. We got to the Centre early around 6 PM. We had skybox seats and catered food, so we partied a bit before things got going. Imagine me, 17 years old, hanging with my brother 12 years my senior and his friends (majority women :) ). They gave new meaning to corrupting the morals of a minor, and that night I was corrupted several different times... I experienced stuff that night that still makes me blush today. Suffice to say, by 7 PM, the ENTIRE stadium was baking. If you had some Mary Jane, you were smoking. If you didn't have some, but wanted some, you were smoking. And if you didn't smoke at all, that night you were going to smoke because there was no way NOT to catch a contact. George and company didn't take the stage until around 12 AM, after EU and Chuck rocked the place. Confunksion smoothed things out and Bootsy funked it back up. When the Mothership hit the stage it was on! They rocked non-stop for alomst four hours, doing basically the ENITRE catalog and parts of others (they rocked out some Hendrix and Sly Stone during the set as well). We didn't get home until 5 AM the next morning, thoroughly high, hung over and satisfied with the expereince... Definitely a "once-in-a-lifetime" moment. [ 01-09-2002: Message edited by: MusicWorkz ]

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Long shows can be cool if a) it's a band you're dying to see or b)it's a band/artist who keeps it interesting, but there's something to be said for leaving 'em wanting more. I like the Boss, but I'm not so sure I could endure one of those legendary 5 hour sets. My ears! My ears!
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[quote]Originally posted by mzeger: [b] Most disappointingly short set: [/b][/quote] i was at the montreal guns n roses/metallica show where metallica's singer caught on fire causing their set to end early and, after a 2 hour delay, axl stormed off the guns n roses stage after only 2 or 3 songs. massive riots ensued. kinda sucked all the way round. -d. gauss
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[quote]Originally posted by Tedster: [b]As far as breaks go...James Taylor does take a break during his concerts Oh, and yeah, Neil, we'll catch up one of these days... Who knows, I might make it to Nashville before you make it back around this way... [ 01-08-2002: Message edited by: Tedster ][/b][/quote] Yeah, Ted.. JT does take an intermission. I worked the Starwood show, here in Nashville, in 1997. (Wow! Was it that long ago??) Didn't get a spot-op or stage show-gig, so I was left to enjoy the concert for free. It had been sold out for some time, so I expected to be botted several times from, initially, empty seats. I was sitting next to FOH. [i]GREAT[/i] sound. JT had (has?) one of the finest FOH mixers. I digress. I sat down in that seat and didn't move [i]once[/i], while the seats around me slowly filled in. At intermission, I walked backstage and chatted with Jimmy Johnson about the gig. Beforehand, I hadn't known Lee Sklar had ditched the live gigs, and was familiar with Flim & The BB's, but had no idea J.J. was "Flim"! :D I returned to my seat for the second set. Sure enough, it was still open. It was the only open seat I could see in the pavillion. Great concert, and he did perform over 2 hours, that night. JT is at a point in his career when I wish he performed marathon concerts, as there are too many songs I'd love to hear and see him perform, for a 2 hour show. Oh, well. If I'm not mistaken, JT has been doing two moderately long sets since the first time I saw him, in 1982. Ted, just let me know when you're coming to town... ;)

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Yet another twist. Any of you cats even been to carnival in Trinidad? ------- Or did a show in Africa? One time we did our thing...about 2hr 4 min total. We get off the stage, the people are not going anywhere. One guy approaches us and sez.." I walk 30 miles to see this concert! You MUST play agian." So we went back up and did the whole fucking show from the top to the bottom. NYC Drew
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<> Great story Musicworkz! I've had many many EU & Chuck Brown experience's also. My god, the go go Ive scene and felt on Georgia ave in DC!! Many would remember EU from the "Doin The Butt" single back in the days. Most probably dont know that Miles Davis came to DC to get Sugar Foot Ricky from Chuck Brown to play drums with him. I believe Rick was Miles's last drummer but I could be wrong. Funky Ned from EU was my engineer for a project I did in DC way back when, he went on to be Maxwell's touring bass player. Many many stories to tell about the DC go go scene! Small world indeed!!
TROLL . . . ish.
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