Three Piece SWEET

[beautifuldistortion]

OK I know it's been said a thousand times, but lets all hope for the band to play as a three piece at the NT show!

Last nights appearance on the SEAT programme was the best I've seen them for ages.
They clearly love each others company and were on superb form, the song choices may not have been spectacular but the versions were excellent.

I know there's a thread relating to the SEAT programme - so I just want to use that as a catalyst for starting a thread to try and get the word to the band that (hopefully people agree) as a 3 piece our band ROCKS

[Midlands_Junk]

You seem to be ignoring the fact that they sound much, much better with a backing guitarist (see all performances of Faster, Tolerate and Masses since 2004)
I'd much rather have a four piece and experience the full-on Manics sound.
It's not as if the extra musicians have any stage presence anyway, and having them there certainly won't distract them from 'enjoying each other's company' or 'being on superb form'.
The multimedia stuff along with every single and the focus on the band will create a pretty intense experience as it is.

[sculptureofabloke]

It's a hit and miss thing really... Sometimes the keyboards are a bit too much and sometimes Wayne's vocals don't work too well but overall I think there's more good than bad to come out of them as a live five piece. Just gives JDB that bit more freedom. Then there's the troubles he's been having with his voice last year and that scary thread about this new singer malarkey. Haven't read it, scares me too much. As far as vocals go, I'd rather someone contribute than take over.

I was lucky enough to be at the King Tuts gig last year when they performed as a three piece and it definitely is my favourite Manics gig I've been too, but after seeing them as a five piece so much there were a couple of things that struck me about the gig. I thought From Despair To Where seemed a little bit weird without the keyboards but on the other hand Tolerate sounded great and JDB did a good job of recreating the synth sounds at the start on his guitar.

That said, this is the o2... King Tuts, great. o2, not so sure.

[Flint]

A lot of the songs sound far better with the keyboards augmenting the sound, especially the ones with where the keyboards takes a heavy role in the first place. And pretty much every song sounds better with the additional guitar.

So no, have to disagree, fill the sound. If anything, I wish they'd have even more additional instruments where wanted/needed to make a special gig like this sound even more special.

[The Gutless Wonder]

Originally Posted by sculptureofabloke

It's a hit and miss thing really... Sometimes the keyboards are a bit too much and sometimes Wayne's vocals don't work too well but overall I think there's more good than bad to come out of them as a live five piece. Just gives JDB that bit more freedom. Then there's the troubles he's been having with his voice last year and that scary thread about this new singer malarkey. Haven't read it, scares me too much. As far as vocals go, I'd rather someone contribute than take over.

I was lucky enough to be at the King Tuts gig last year when they performed as a three piece and it definitely is my favourite Manics gig I've been too, but after seeing them as a five piece so much there were a couple of things that struck me about the gig. I thought From Despair To Where seemed a little bit weird without the keyboards but on the other hand Tolerate sounded great and JDB did a good job of recreating the synth sounds at the start on his guitar.

That said, this is the o2... King Tuts, great. o2, not so sure.

Sorry my thread scares you Rich!

[darkanddivine]

I can't see them ever being a 3 piece live again. There is way too much going on for them to consider it. The alternative, which would probably work, would be a 4 piece with all strings/synths on a backing tape and the extra guitar which is much needed. Holy Bible is more or less the only record without any backing keys or synth noises, so in reality it has to be a fixture for the band.

[UEF]

I prefer the sparse 3 piece sound. Only playing the lines that matter sounds much cooler, and it never did Queen or Led Zep any harm.

[Midlands_Junk]

Originally Posted by UEF

I prefer the sparse 3 piece sound. Only playing the lines that matter sounds much cooler.

Disagree. Take a song like Tolerate - that NEEDS something extra. The combo of electric and acoustic guitar not only gives the song the atmosphere it deserves, but allows James to focus more on his vocals.
Same goes for having two guitars on Faster etc - ever since 2004, James' all round performance has been better (well, except for a few dates on the last tour where his voice was very weak)

[Embla Claymore]

Three piece all the way!

I've heard those other two ruin more than one song with super loud/ugly keyboards/backing vocals.
I guess an extra guitar could be fine, but I'd rather see them as a trio.
They can do it.

[tzb]

I don't think they could do it in a venue like the O2 (without sounding fucking terrible).

[Midlands_Junk]

Originally Posted by tzb

I don't think they could do it in a venue like the O2 (without sounding fucking terrible).

This. Just imagine Motorcycle Emptiness without backing guitar. It would be flat and just flap around the arena.

[Embla Claymore]

ok then, rhythm guitar. No keys.

[Scarecrow]

Can you imagine There By The Grace Of God or The Everlasting in an arena with one guitar and no keyboards? It'd be a huge pile of wank.

[Midlands_Junk]

Originally Posted by NasalScarecrow

It'd be a huge pile of wank.

Big time.

[beautifuldistortion]

Just chucking another thought out there....do you think it would be nice as a 3 piece (disregarding sound quality etc) for a bit of nostalgia or maybe nostalgia's not the right word, a bit of appreciation for the way the band carried on after Richey and made it big as a three-piece?
I know that during most live shows since Richey they have used extra musicians but wouldn't it be nice to see them as we love them, 3 members of the greatest British Rock band together.

Oh and they sounded OK as a 3 piece when Richey was in the band

(I know all the counter arguments about Arenas etc etc - just looking at it from a different angle than musically!)