Mirage Live

[David]

Originally Posted by JazmenFlowers

this is exactly what I was about to say.

also, I don't think Stevie sounds horrible. her voice is strained...which is nothing new, but, to me, it really works during this concert. I do think Gypsy is a little off due to the vibrato. I know from experience that when your voice is strained, vibrato tends to show up more, it's just unconcious.

Stvie had walking pneumonia during this tour, & many dates were postponed, including the nights filmed for the video.

It's just a whole different Stevie that you wouldn't be used to if you turned on to Stevie during The Dance or later. And of course as has already been mentioned, this was back in the day when the four musicians were practically the only people playing the music. Some fans love that & some don't. It was an entirely different era in live music, & probably sounds alien to young people who have no direct experience of a relatively small combo actually playing live onstage. It's that old Woodstock mentality from the '60s. These days, there are millions of dollars at stake so bands pad themselves out live with human & electronic equipment.

[chiliD]

Originally Posted by David

It was an entirely different era in live music, & probably sounds alien to young people who have no direct experience of a relatively small combo actually playing live onstage. It's that old Woodstock mentality from the '60s.

People playing music live without mechanical/electronic adornments has been around since Ogg started beating on rocks with bones from a wolly mammoth...it didn't just start when John Sebastian took the stage in Bethel in '69.

Shame on you, David.

Originally Posted by macfan 57

I would have preferred that they had released the entire set.

I was there...if you had been, too, you'd have a whole different outlook.

[macfan 57]

Originally Posted by chiliD

I was there...if you had been, too, you'd have a whole different outlook.

Why do you say that?

[David]

Originally Posted by chiliD

People playing music live without mechanical/electronic adornments has been around since Ogg started beating on rocks with bones from a wolly mammoth...it didn't just start when John Sebastian took the stage in Bethel in '69.

Shame on you, David.

Let me explain my position. I didn't say this phenomenon started in the '60s. I said that it was part of that '60s mentality & it was. In fact, I remember the KLOS jocks remarking on this phenomenon during their live, on-scene coverage of the US Festival in 83 during Stevie's set. They were comparing & contrasting the clean, professional, "perfect" quality of Stevie's backup band -- guys hired specifically to make no mistakes -- with the bands at Woodstock (& elsewhere in the '60s & early '70s), who were more likely to jam around freely & be out of tune & just be generally rougher.

I was there...if you had been, too, you'd have a whole different outlook.

Mary Anne has undoubtedly heard or seen entire 82 shows. I saw the shows throughout the state that year & I loved em so much I'd have been thrilled with an uncut video record. I'd have been happier with the Irvine Meadows benefit (which I felt was more noticeably powerful & packed a bigger emotional wallop) on video, but the Forum shows were good enough in my book.

[priestofnothing]

Originally Posted by David

Stvie had walking pneumonia during this tour, & many dates were postponed, including the nights filmed for the video.

Also, I'm not certain of the exact dates of either event, but I seem to recall that the Mirage concert was filmed just a couple of weeks before Robin died. So, in addition to be sick and all coked-up, I'm sure Stevie had a lot of heavy distracting stuff on her mind when this show was filmed. The combination of all of the above surely would have affected her performance.

[David]

Originally Posted by priestofnothing

Also, I'm not certain of the exact dates of either event, but I seem to recall that the Mirage concert was filmed just a couple of weeks before Robin died. So, in addition to be sick and all coked-up, I'm sure Stevie had a lot of heavy distracting stuff on her mind when this show was filmed. The combination of all of the above surely would have affected her performance.

Yes, indeed, priestofnothing. Anderson died just two to three weeks before these shows (as well as Irvine Meadows, Oakland, Denver, Baton Rouge, Cedar Falls & Austin). In fact, my theory is that the terrifying stress & the grief brought on the pneumonia (as grief is commonly known to do).

Lots of things to think about when one thinks about those extraordinary, whiskey-soaked vocals of Stevie's on the Mirage Tour, as well as her absolutely extraordinary way (completely new that year) of bridging a word or syllable in a descending motive across an interval structure that went from the 3rd tone of the Dorian mode to the 1st, & then from the 2nd to the 7th below the 1st. That motif in Stevie's singing actually began in 1982, & continued through the 1986 tour. It was at its height during the 1983 tour.

[carrie721]

Originally Posted by David

Lots of things to think about when one thinks about those extraordinary, whiskey-soaked vocals of Stevie's on the Mirage Tour, as well as her absolutely extraordinary way (completely new that year) of bridging a word or syllable in a descending motive across an interval structure that went from the 3rd tone of the Dorian mode to the 1st, & then from the 2nd to the 7th below the 1st. That motif in Stevie's singing actually began in 1982, & continued through the 1986 tour. It was at its height during the 1983 tour.

Example, please?

[Mad4stevie]

I totally agree that this video kicks major ass! The bad editing is annoying but somewhat forgiveable because the performances are so excellent, IMO.

Speaking of the video, I have wanted video files of The Chain, GYOW and SOTM for so long ( I have them on video and dvd, but not on the computer), can any kind soul out there upload them to yousendit ? Pretty please?

[Nicks Fan]

I enjoy the Mirage Video because it has some songs never performed since then or rarely perfomed since that video. It also has no back up orchestra to distract the band.

Matt