Reviews

Alright! Here's my review for the September 21, 1997 Live show in Dallas, TX at the Starplex Ampitheatre. To sum it up in one word, Wow. Live is the best concert I have EVER been to...and I've been to quite a few. The opening bands, Manbreak (an English 311, in my opinion), and Luscious Jackson, did absolutely nothing for me. Manbreak was a significantly better show than the over hyped Luscious Jackson. When Live came onto the stage with "Rattlesnake", I knew that this would be the best concert ever. Live's stage setting was very simple--a few rustic looking columns, but it added significantly to the ambience of the night. The crowd was a mixed one, but it was mainly 20 - something's from the nearby colleges. It was a relatively good crowd too, in that the people were there for the music, not just to say they went. "Lakini's Juice" immediately followed "Rattlesnake" and it got the crowd going. Live was very appealing to this Dallas crowd, as he made references to the people in Deep Ellum (the arts district in Downtown Dallas) before launching into a very insightful "Waitress". Before starting "Freaks", Kowalczyk looked into the crowd and said, "There's been a lot of discussion about this song...and we don't even know what it means! But these people up here with the signs are right, We are all freaks!!" Live did some vintage Live works with, "Operation Spirit". At the beginning of "Merica", Live mentioned to the crowd that they, "didn't usually do this one in concert..." The night was charged with a spiritual energy...I knew I'd leave changed, and I'd leave an even more avid Live fan. I don't know if I can put into words the intensity of Live's set; it touched everyone in the audience, I hope. The songs took on a complex new meaning in concert, leaving me to question, and think. Although Live's songs weigh heavily on the mind and heart, there is some kind of transcendence and uplifting that you don't usually find with most bands. It was one of the best experiences in my life, and it's not to be soon forgotten. Live also is a band with integrity...you can admire them, unlike the other American acts out there today. They truly are, to quote the "Dallas Morning News", "the heavy-thinking masters of hard rock."
STEFANIE PHILLIPS

As I walked through the gates to Coral Sky Amphitheater on September 26, I thought to myself, "Okay, I better get my shirt now - I know I won't want to miss any part of the show, especially when LIVE comes out", that was a very good move. I got to my seat and shortly after, ManBREAK,the first opening band, came out to play. They were pretty good and as it happened I ended knowing one of their songs, as I thought I didn't know anything by ManBREAK. Then, once ManBREAK was finished and the instruments had all been retuned, Luscious Jackson, the second opening band, came out. I was very disappointed. When they played, I couldn't even hear the vocals, and the beats didn't make up for that because it had a little too much of a pop sound for me. Finally, Luscious Jackson finished playing and they paused to change instruments and sets. I was just talking with my brother, who, was nice enough to take me to the concert, when the lights went out in the amphitheater and the stage lights came on. Before I knew it, I was standing on my feet singing 'Rattlesnake' along with Ed, the concert had begun. While completely enjoying the energy put out by both LIVE and the crowd, I managed to take in the set. They had rustic golden arches, hanging from above, and towers at either sided of the stage. Nothing too much but enough to fill the rest of the stage where the band wasn't. Lights of various colors flashed, fans screamed, LIVE kept on playing. The atmosphere was great. there was such a wonderful vibe from the rest of the crowd and, of course, from the band too! After playing 'Rattlesnake', in which the towers were covered up, LIVE busted out with 'Lakini's Juice'. In the beginning of 'Lakini's Juice', the towers were uncovered, revealing the rest of the stage. Here's the rest of the set list : (all of the songs are here but I might have them in the wrong order). 'Selling the Drama', 'Century', 'Unsheathed', 'All Over You', 'Freaks', 'Iris', 'Ghost', 'Turn My Head', 'Operation Spirit', 'Lightning Crashes' (my personal favorite of all their songs - although it's not their best concert song), ENCORE, 'Merica', New song (untitled, something about the Taj Mahal), 'I Alone', 'Heropsychodreamer', 'White, Discussion'. This song was awesome - it lasted for at least ten minutes and yes, Ed did come out with his purple sequin shirt and purple boa. So, overall, the concert was really awesome. There was a great vibe in the air which made for a very nice atmosphere. Everyone, as far as I could tell, had a kickin' time at the concert. LIVE is in totally a must see live band.
ROBIN RIEGELHAUPT