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blog post Tariq's Basement Studio: To Tour Or Not to Tour

posted by Tariq Hussain on Jan 08, 2010

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On yesterday's show, I chatted with songwriter Chris Eaton of Rock Plaza Central about his decision to stop touring. In his blog on Myspace, Chris recently wrote:

While I have had many practical and philosophical issues with touring in the past (chiefly the environmental guilt of driving and flying so much, and the damage that sitting so much every day has done to my knees), it is my lack of productivity while traveling that has affected this decision the most.

There are a lot of good reasons for hitting the road when you're a band but there are plenty of cons too, some of which Chris mentioned above.

Now, even though I've likely been killing my back these last few months standing around watching bands, I can't imagine not going to see live music however. Can you?

SHOULD BANDS STOP TOURING? Do you have to see a band play live to before you're a fan? Can't you just love 'em for their great records? Or do you NEED to see them live?

Let me know what you think by commenting on the blog.

Tour Diary expert Lisa Christiansen joins me on today's show. As well, if you want to get involved with a similar discussion on Lisa's upcoming Extended Play podcast, you can call in to our toll free line 1-800-955-6565 with a "voicemail" version of your answers to our question today.

posted by Tariq Hussain on Jan 08, 2010

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#1 posted by
daa1982
on Jan 08, 2010

Sweet Ride Tariq!

#2 posted by
suckamc
on Jan 08, 2010

I feel like I'm the kind of person that really needs to see most bands live before I can really 'get' them. There are some bands that are exceptions, for whatever reason I just get them right away. It's not like their music is better, but it must speak to me differently somehow. I can get just as into a band I had to hear live to love just as much though. Thankfully we had a lot of bands tour through Charlottetown last fall, so I massively expanded my bands I love list, as well as depleted my wallet while increasing my albums (see the picture, for just merch I bought in October alone!).

So that's a reason to keep touring, despite the negatives, I buy your stuff when you come to Charlottetown! As well, a touring band (small indie band) really isn't having a big impact on the environment (unless they fly everywhere of course, but driving, bus, and train are pretty efficient).

Martin

#3 posted by
martyman5000
on Jan 08, 2010

I think now young bands have to really look at touring as a life experience that they will either lose money on or just break even. Bands used to build up a local rep and I just don't see that now a days with the advent of the internet and all the other distractions that came with that. The skill level and sheer amount of great bands you are competing with really takes out that amount of bands that might have spent years, well sucking. I would love to see many young bands in small Venues like The Tranzac and wished I lived downtown and was not over 40.

#4 posted by
mattyjames2001
on Jan 08, 2010

I don't really feel a personal connection to a band until I see them live. Plus, I feel guilty wearing a band's T shirt if I've never seen them.....

#5 posted by
Bio Spice
on Jan 08, 2010

oh, i like this question. it's a toughie.

because i'm right with Chris Eaton on the environmental impact thing. and from the musician's perspective, what so much time away from home does to your life.

but, i absolutely love live shows. usually what induces me to buy music is having seen the person play live, and connected with them/their music through the live show. so i can't imagine not having that. especially because often the music in a live performance is very different from on the CD. take a Danny Michel solo show vs. CD, for example. both are great, but i'm not sure that i would have felt a connection to the music if i hadn't seen him play live first.

so, from a selfish perspective, i could never say "bands shouldn't tour".

#6 posted by
mattyjames2001
on Jan 08, 2010

"That's what The Last Waltz is: 16 years on the road. The numbers start to scare you," Robertson tells Scorsese. "I mean, I couldn't live with 20 years on the road. I don't think I could even discuss it."

Robertson: There’s not much more we can take from the road. We’re had our share of… Or maybe it’s just superstitious.

Scorsese: Superstitious in what way?

Robertson: You can press your luck. The road has taken a lot of the great ones. Hank Williams, Buddy Holly, Otis Redding… …Janis, Jimi Hendrix… …Elvis… …it’s a goddamn impossible way of life.

Scorsese: It is, isn’t it?

Robertson: No question about it.

#7 posted by
tb3
on Jan 08, 2010

Bands don't owe us a thing. So no, they aren't necessarily obligated to tour.

With that said, like Martin alluded, there is a lot about seeing the band play live, that cannot be replicated in a recording. Sure, you can get the sound, but it's impossible to recreate the experience of being in a room with a bunch of people you don't necessarily know, feet from the people who make the noise. So, it is very hard to get that connection to a band, just in rotating the vinyl…

I think playing live, and touring songs is a very crucial part in a band's life. It helps them not only get intimate with the material, but also the audience, and their members. So it integral I think on some level.

BUT.

While it is an important part of a musical career, it is not something that will make or break a band. If someone can put together something compelling enough, it doesn't have to be seen and heard live to appreciated, and most importantly loved.

You see a band play an album's material live once, maybe twice. But you can – if you want – spin that album hundreds, even thousands of times.

So the answer is Yes. And no.

#8 posted by
mattyjames2001
on Jan 08, 2010

I think you hit the nail on the head on this one.

No they don't owe us anything, but it's sure nice of them to swing on by. And really, with the internet, you don't need to see them live just to hear them anymore.

but it's so refreshing to get your mind blown live. I can safely say that is how I truly appreciate a band, seeing them ply their craft in the same room as me. It's magical. I still remember about 5 or 6 years ago, and about 30 seconds of hearing the Cons start playing and absolutely falling in love with their music. It's happened a few times here and there since then, but I'm sure we can all appreciate that feeling when all the stars seem to be aligned for that one special moment.

...that's a pretty selfish thing to ask from strangers on a regular basis though. haha

#9 posted by
burgandy
on Jan 08, 2010

I'm going to have to say yes, because there is something just magical when a band plays live, but it's not like they are required to so for our pleasure just because we want them to.

#10 posted by
andaoneandatwo
on Jan 08, 2010

Dear Friends,

Driving 7.5 hrs to play for 4 people playing pool, your aunt and uncle, and then sleepiong on their floor wil humble most anyone.

But, it gets better. You get better.

If this is not what you want to do then becoming a perfoming indie musician might not be for you.

But, if you're just starting out, without the responsibilities of mortgage payments, family comittments, etc... tour now and tour hard. It gets harder to get in the van the older you get.

This is the best LINK for any working musician and partner of a working musician.

Marek

#11 posted by
Chris Alscher
on Jan 08, 2010

THE STUPIDEST QUESTION EVER. YEAH SURE. SO WHEN THE BAND GETS POPULAR AND THEIR FANS WANT TO SEE THEM LIVE, THEIR PERFORMANCES WILL BE ABSOLUTELY DREADFUL. TOURING IS THE MOST INTEGRAL PART OF BEING A MUSICIAN. WITHOUT IT, YOU DON"T GET THE CHOPS, THE GELLING OR LACK OR GELLING OR YOUR CREW, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU DON"T GET THE STORIES!

#12 posted by
Tariq Hussain
on Jan 08, 2010

Okay Chris, I'll hold you to it.

I expect to see you back on the road, eating bad food and missing your wife STAT! Otherwise, I'll never listen to anymore of your "homebody" boring stories again. ;)

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