Stevie's Touring Band- Is A Refreshing In Order? - Page 2

jeffd8382 · #16 04-23-2010, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

From Waddy's Ledge Q&A:

Waddy Yeah, could have been. That's a wild tune, "Bella Donna." I tried to get Stevie to do that one . . . but there is a lot of stuff to remember in that one. I mean on the last tour (Trouble In Shangri-la tour) I kept saying, "we need something unique, something that you don't do often, like 'Bella Donna.'" Then we listened to it, and went, "Too much work! (laughing) Too hard." Then I was like, "Did we actually used to perform this?"

Am I the only one that actually gets slightly angered by this? I do like Waddy, and I've never been a champion in wanting him replaced. But why is a song thrown away because it's a challenge... excuse us for making you have to work at something, Waddy!

Now if vocally Stevie just couldn't pull it off in a way that remotely worked, that's a different story of course.. and who knows.. that may have been the reason. I don't mean to criticize a scenario that I obviously had no part in... and he probably was just trying to be light-hearted in his response. And I'm certain the time factor of putting the tour together played a role. But that mentality just bothers me.

Nikolaj · #17 04-23-2010, 02:25 PM

I believe most people didn't agree, but I LOVED when she had Peter Michael as musical director- it was right around 'Timespace'-- the live boots I have of shows Peter is in, the music sounds great and re-energized. Stevie herself was hit or miss those shows with the Klonopin in full effect, but I really liked Peter, really liked Cat Grey on the keyboards, and Les Dudek was great support, I'm still partial to that band. A guy from Heart was in the band then, also. It must have been Stevie's largest touring band, lots of guys onstage, of course a drummer, and a good sax player on 'IAF' and 'TTM'. Plus the singers, 3 of them I think. Waddy's fine. But I'd like to see Peter, Cat, and Les back. I'd also like more male backup vocals, generally, maybe that's why I like the clip of 'Everybody Loves You' so much.

petep9000 · #18 04-23-2010, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffd8382

Now if vocally Stevie just couldn't pull it off in a way that remotely worked, that's a different story of course.. and who knows.. that may have been the reason. I don't mean to criticize a scenario that I obviously had no part in... and he probably was just trying to be light-hearted in his response. And I'm certain the time factor of putting the tour together played a role. But that mentality just bothers me.

This is sort of like how Stevie claims that 'I Can't Wait' didn't translate to stage well. I don't think that was true at all, it sounded rocking and hard and great.

LukeA · #19 04-23-2010, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffd8382

Am I the only one that actually gets slightly angered by this? I do like Waddy, and I've never been a champion in wanting him replaced. But why is a song thrown away because it's a challenge... excuse us for making you have to work at something, Waddy!

Um, he did say "we". As in, the band & its vocalists. It was too much trouble for all of them.

nailatixela · #20 04-23-2010, 02:38 PM

I think Waddy should stay for sure. The only fault I have with him is I think his playing can be too loud. Other than that, he's on of the best session guitar players in the business. I don't think he's holding Stevie back either. I remember him saying he wanted and encouraged Stevie to mix it up and do something different...open up with something that would really knock our socks off - like Talk To Me!

I don't see her getting rid of Waddy at all - he only won't play with her if he is busy with something else. Same with Carlos and Brett Tuggle even, they've all been around for a while.

I really don't care too much about the backing band. I'm happy that we will only have Lori and Sharon on BG vocals. I don't think it would be a good idea to replace anyone else with a woman - they might outshine Stevie!

I'm glad they didn't do Bella Donna - I don't think Stevie could pull stuff like this, or Wild Heart off these days.

And on the OSOTM & Timespace band, I found their arrangements to be annoying.

HejiraNYC · #21 04-23-2010, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffd8382

Now if vocally Stevie just couldn't pull it off in a way that remotely worked, that's a different story of course.. and who knows.. that may have been the reason. I don't mean to criticize a scenario that I obviously had no part in... and he probably was just trying to be light-hearted in his response. And I'm certain the time factor of putting the tour together played a role. But that mentality just bothers me.

I would have to tend to agree that this is a hard song to pull off without it all sounding like a clunkering mess. Stevie probably hates it because 90% of it is sung in three-part harmony, and Waddy probably hates it because it is so full of stops/starts and changes time signatures from one verse to the next. I suspect that the only reason they could pull it off originally was because Roy Bittan and Russ Kunkel were in the BD touring band as well as the recording. It's one thing to get up on stage and attempt something like this when you're ten sheets to the wind, but when you're sober and full of stage fright, I don't think this is the type of song you would want to perform.

jeffd8382 · #22 04-23-2010, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LukeA

Um, he did say "we". As in, the band & its vocalists. It was too much trouble for all of them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

I would have to tend to agree that this is a hard song to pull off without it all sounding like a clunkering mess. Stevie probably hates it because 90% of it is sung in three-part harmony, and Waddy probably hates it because it is so full of stops/starts and changes time signatures from one verse to the next. I suspect that the only reason they could pull it off originally was because Roy Bittan and Russ Kunkel were in the BD touring band as well as the recording. It's one thing to get up on stage and attempt something like this when you're ten sheets to the wind, but when you're sober and full of stage fright, I don't think this is the type of song you would want to perform.

My apologies if I seemed too critical... I think part of it is frustration over the lack of bringing in other older, and less performed material. I just think that they if they really worked at it, the band could really pull it off... they are all seasoned, accomplished musicians. My sense is it probably would have to do more with time constraints, where the band may not have had the time to prepare a song like that.. and then, yes, there is the vocal issue.