Sax appeal

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Sax appeal

Ian D · House on Fire

It's a bit like Springsteen at the moment Noel. His sax player is all over the stage most of the time but goes back occasionally to be with the other brass players. I did find it a bit odd seeing the sax player at the IOW though being so close to Bob, almost felt like he'd been dragged up on stage from the crowd for his once in a lifetime opportunity to be next to BG (again similar to Springsteen and Dancing in The Dark). It did look a bit awkward, like you say if it was lack of room then fair enough, but I too would prefer the sax to be in the background.

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

The stage was pretty large, really. Or maybe I've got too used to those tiny ones they've been playing on

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suss · In the Long Grass

My first thought was he looked a bit uncomfortable up there and didn't relish the limelight, but being such a prominent part of the song he had to be stage front really. It's not as if he was there at the back for other tracks; was wheeled in for the one song so had to be made a fuss of.

I can't claim to go back to Tonic tour, or even Surfacing, but in all the times I've seen Rats since with any brass (is sax brass?) I've always been a bit underwhelmed if I'm honest. Never seem to quite capture that rasping sound of the studio.

Doesn't really have any appeal for me live, and IOW guest did nothing to change that.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

suss wrote:
My first thought was he looked a bit uncomfortable up there and didn't relish the limelight, but being such a prominent part of the song he had to be stage front really. It's not as if he was there at the back for other tracks; was wheeled in for the one song so had to be made a fuss of.
I can't claim to go back to Tonic tour, or even Surfacing, but in all the times I've seen Rats since with any brass (is sax brass?) I've always been a bit underwhelmed if I'm honest. Never seem to quite capture that rasping sound of the studio.
Doesn't really have any appeal for me live, and IOW guest did nothing to change that.

Well, I always liked the sax/horns on the pre-1981 tours until the horn section started to take centre stage (not that I ever saw them from 1982-1986, but I heard it on the radio/bootlegs). That said, I think the Rats from 2008-2012 did make songs like Rat Trap and Joey sound just as good without any brass, and likewise Geldof solo.

Done well, it does enhance it, but it's not essential.

Still, be glad they didn't carry on with the fcuking bagpipes (RE: Loch Lomond 79)

Lisa · Mondo Bongo

I thought it was good to have him at the front of the stage for this track. As Suss said it's a prominent part of the song - he was playing it, so why shouldn't he be there? Better than it looking like it was a backing track rather than live music. I didn't notice him looking uncomfortable and as it was only the one song and he had a part in it, felt that it was quite natural. Didn't feel that it detracted from the Rats at all.

I did think one of the security chaps looked very uncomfortable behind the barrier though - don't know if anyone else noticed, was quite concerned for him, he looked like he was going to flake out!