Bands Improvising Live Options

[Gabriel Leopardi]

Hey guys! I saw the Foo Fighters live yesterday and they blown my mind. Once thing that I noted is that they use to improvise a lot in their concerts. Maybe you will note that those sections aren't 100% tight but that makes their concerts sound always fresh.

Do you like bands that improvise live or you prefer when everything is 100% rehearsed and sounds tight and perfect? What examples of bands can you give us?

[Ben Higgins]

Hey guys! I saw the Foo Fighters live yesterday and they blown my mind. Once thing that I noted is that they use to improvise a lot in their concerts. Maybe you will note that those sections aren't 100% tight but that makes their concerts sound always fresh.

Do you like bands that improvise live or you prefer when everything is 100% rehearsed and sounds tight and perfect? What examples of bands can you give us?

Good question, Gab

I mainly prefer bands not to 'jam' in a live setting as sometimes it can ruin the effect. For example I never liked it when Metallica jammed in the middle of their songs and made them sooooo long !

However, it's probably more enjoyable when you're actually at the gig itself !

This post has been edited by Ben Higgins: Apr 5 2012, 06:52 PM

[Gabriel Leopardi]

Good question, Gab

I mainly prefer bands not to 'jam' in a live setting as sometimes it can ruin the effect. For example I never liked it when Metallica jammed in the middle of their songs and made them sooooo long !

However, it's probably more enjoyable when you're actually at the gig itself !

yes, if it's a problem if it becomes boring to the audience, but that doesn't happen with the Foo, at least for me.

[DeGroot]

I can understand a band wanting to improvise since they play the songs over and over again. I guess as long as a band doesn't change my favorite moment in a song it can be interesting to hear. I've seen Opeth do some nice changes to there tunes.

I agree with Ben...I'm not a big fan of the overextended jam improvs or just a bunch of filler to make the song drag on. I don't like medleys that cover the best parts of a bands past in one song either. I'm talking to you Metallica and Ozzy!

I have always wanted to see the Foo Fighters. I have heard many times they are a fantastic live band!

[SirJamsalot]

I'd love to see them live. My band covers Learn to Fly ~ fun song. I'm planning on doing a few more covers from them (and Cheap Trick cuz they're just fun!). As far as improvisation goes ~ really depends on the guitarist (I hate being biased here, but the guitarist really does tend to own the melody in an improvisational jam). If it's just a full band jam, those tend get a little repetitive, but if there's a good guitarist like Satriani who can lead you through slow, then speed up to change the tempo and mood, then It's fun to listen to. Otherwise I think it tends to meander a bit. Santana is good at improv like that. Dave meneketti is great no matter what he does on the guitar. I don't have any samples on hand, but that's my take anyways.

[Todd Simpson]

Great question! A band can really add to the live experience by building up or bringing down a tune with a bit of a jam thrown in. But It always works best when it's being lead by a band member who can really gauge the audience. If the audience is not feeling it, cut it. If they are digging it, tell em a story. If it is used to make the gig better of course it's awesome If it's used to let the band not get bored, then it usually feels indulgent.

I saw Megadeth and they played with the peach sells intro a bit and it was cool. But as soon as the crowd started to get antzy they busted in to the song. Which worked well.

Todd

Hey guys! I saw the Foo Fighters live yesterday and they blown my mind. Once thing that I noted is that they use to improvise a lot in their concerts. Maybe you will note that those sections aren't 100% tight but that makes their concerts sound always fresh.

Do you like bands that improvise live or you prefer when everything is 100% rehearsed and sounds tight and perfect? What examples of bands can you give us?

[bluelineman]

I'm guessing that a lot of band improvise because they get bored of playing the same things over & over. As a side note, some may not remember exactly how it's played. Listen to this clip, Dave Mustaine explains it @ :40 seconds into it. And some, like Kerry King (who's solos aren't structured at all) just make it up as long as it sounds close.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J_El0Nodv4...2B41F26EB596B56

[Gabriel Leopardi]

Great question! A band can really add to the live experience by building up or bringing down a tune with a bit of a jam thrown in. But It always works best when it's being lead by a band member who can really gauge the audience. If the audience is not feeling it, cut it. If they are digging it, tell em a story. If it is used to make the gig better of course it's awesome If it's used to let the band not get bored, then it usually feels indulgent.

I saw Megadeth and they played with the peach sells intro a bit and it was cool. But as soon as the crowd started to get antzy they busted in to the song. Which worked well.

Todd

You said something really important here! The band member that gauges the audience in this case is Grohl and that's why it works for this band. Good point!

[Alex Feather]

Here is the video of Muse jamming they do it every show! Very fun to watch!

[Gabriel Leopardi]

Here is the video of Muse jamming they do it every show! Very fun to watch!

Wou! They are one of the bands that I must see live! I couldn't see them before.