Your Take: On-Stage Theatrics

But I do feel for Brad, Keith Carrie, and even Kenny for Taylor as dropped the gauntlet that the new country show needs to have dancers, costumes, props, etc.

Barbara Mandrell used to put on an 80s-style Vegas show in the 80s and Reba did it in the 90s — plus Garth had his famous stage theatrics during his shows. But this kind of “spectacular” didn’t spill over in any big way and become the norm for other country acts. I don’t see any reason to believe that it will become the norm now just because Taylor is doing it.

It’s worth noting that the Womack-McEntire-Strait concert review said virtually nothing about on-stage theatrics; the contrast between the first two performers and the last focused predominantly on the degree of variety in the set lists.

Sorry…I meant: Brad Paisley and Keith Urban bring an electrifying…

I saw Reba in concert as part of The Girls Night Out show. The Broadway style production for Fancy was pretty cool, but it was totally unnecessary for Why Haven’t I Heard From You (and came off a little like she thought the song wouldn’t be good enough to hold our attention on its own). Plus it was annoying when she would act out the words to her song, like during “And Still” she sang “I watched as the people walked by” and she craned her whole body around to watch as the people walked by. 1. We heard her say it and 2. The song says watchED, as in something that happened in the past rather than the present.

I saw Jo Dee Messina and Sara Evans, and they both sing amazing and they worked the stage great so I had a real good time. Jo Dee Messina’s bubbly personality is really infectious too, so I liked all the talking and giggles and everything.

But no, I don’t desire the need for country acts to bring the high-tech lightshow stuff, because that’s what I’d expect from a pop concert, where it seems normal rather than out of the ordinary.

What Jon said. And that issue (“the degree of variety in the set lists”) matters a lot. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been to a show, liked the first song, thought the second was sort of similar in tempo, topic, attack, and been ready to leave by the third, because too much of the same thing is boring. Pacing, folks, pacing.

That said, I’ve been to George Strait shows, and I don’t think that too many people who are familiar with country music beyond a superficial level would agree that he doesn’t mix things up. The review seems to me to be written by someone to whom all honky-tonk sounds alike. He’d probably have the same reaction at any bluegrass show.

NM,

You speak the truth.

I like the stage theatrics. If the singers just standing there and I like them i’ll just save the 50$ or so and listen to the album. Last two concerts i went to did it well. Keith Urban and Swift, Keith Urban and Carrie

Thanks! I guess then time will tell with awards whether it’s all about the singing or about the theatrics in the show combined with the singing. Although, since the ACM’s are fan voted for Entertainer of the Year, it won’t matter anyway.

@NM I’ve been to George Strait shows, and I don’t think that too many people who are familiar with country music beyond a superficial level would agree that he doesn’t mix things up. The review seems to me to be written by someone to whom all honky-tonk sounds alike. He’d probably have the same reaction at any bluegrass show.

That wouldn’t surprise me, and I didn’t address the validity of the criticism, just the fact that it didn’t have anything to do with “theatrics” per se. As for my take on “theatrics,” I like them fine when they work, not so much when they don’t – and need I add that whether they work or not is a subjective appraisal? ;-)

I think it depends on the artists. There are some people whose nature is to run around and act crazy on stage. Maybe it’s as a distraction(read White Stripes use of color and aesthetics to keep you from noticing their playing the blues) or maybe it’s purely for the show of it (read Garth Brooks). When these people use theatrics on stage, it is entertaining because it’s natural and not forced.

On the flip side, there are people that use theatrics against what would seem to be their nature, or out of necessity(read Taylor Swift). When they run around and act crazy, it feels kind of awkward, to me, at least.

Jamey Johnson, Guy Clark, George Strait and the like are a little more reserved and quiet, so it makes sense that their stage presence would be a little calmer and laid back.

As far as my preference is concerned, I like whatever comes natural to the performer. I’ve had just as good a time watching Eric Church jump around and pump his fist as I have watching Jamey Johnson glaring at the crowd like he’s angry.

I think in the case of Reba, she used to be VERY theatrical, however, she has since downgraded her shows. However, Reba is very good at interpretting the lyrics in her body langauge.

Reading the article, I didn’t get so much that Reba and Lee Ann were theatrical, but that they had more personality and livelyness on stage. Where as, I will agree that George just stands there and sings. He’s not as personalable. However, I have seen George 4 times and concert and will continue to see him as he has the songs.

K asks “are the theatrics there for the right reasons? Meaning, are they there for entertainment, and not to distract from a boring song or bad vocals?”

I don’t see why the reason of “entertainment” is a right reason and the other reasons are not. Perhaps the best solution is to ditch the boring songs and bad vocals.But if the boring songs are kept and vocals remain unimproved, and if the show is nonetheless made more entertaining by using theatrics theatrics, I think that is all to the good.

And why not turn this sort of analysis around and say, “I support good vocals and entertaining songs, but only if for the right reaons. I oppose good vocals and entertaining songs when they are used for the wrong reasons, namely,to distract the audience from the fact that the performaer (e.g., George Strait) lacks a flair for the theatric?)?

If it be objected that my statement is absurd, why is not the reverse statement?

I personally like to see a little flash on the stage. I don’t think a singer needs a dozen dancers behind them and pyrotechnics and all that to put on a good show, but it does help. And as a member of the audience, it makes you feel like the artist put more time and energy into the show, and that makes me feel like I got more as a fan.

But it’s more than theatrics. Some artists, I won’t name, just don’t have the stage presence of their contemporaries. Some make up for it with theatrics and others just bore their audience. But to me, the best entertainers are able to interact with an crowd of 200 or 40,000, and leave each one feeling like the show was just for them.

Quoting Paul W. Dennis:

“… I prefer to listen to music in smaller venues where the smoke and mirrors are impossible and the light shows largely subdued. Yes, I go to live music shows to listen to MUSIC. The ability to deliver a song and tell a few interesting stories are what make an entertainer.”

I agree Paul, and this is what makes an artist as well.

This is one of many reasons I am a huge Patty Loveless fan. It is all about the music with her. And on her current tour, she peels away yet another layer of glitz by omiting the drums, and gives her fans intimate, mostly acoustic shows.

Such an arrangement highlights her expressive and nuanced vocals even more. Patty’s voice serves the soul and essence of the song, and communicates deep emotion. This makes gimmickry superfluous. No screaming diva histionics, nor ostentatious threatrics can compete with such a profoundly graceful musical presence.

Trisha Yearwood is another artist who dispenses with the bells and whistles, and focuses on the music. She too deserves a lot of credit for that.

Patty and Trisha epitomize artistic integrity, and both put on VERY entertaining shows with minimal theatrics.

Actually Garth’s ‘theatrics’ were confined to the NBC specials. Yes he did use the entire stage to connect with his audience, but it didn’t rain except on telly.

Having seen Springsteen, Merle Haggard, the Rolling Stones and Roy Acuff, among many others , I would place Springsteen tied 2nd/3rd with Haggard’s stage shows of the 70s & 80s. No one ever put on a stage show like Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys except for possibly Spike Jones (whose stage shows I’ve only seen bits of on film)

Actually, although no Springsteen fan would ever likely see one of his stage shows, I might also rate Mandy Patinkin above Springsteen and Haggard, although a one-man show with only a pianist for accompaniment is a whole ‘nother animal from a rock concert

I agree with Steve M. I want my performers to be enthusiastic without needing them to be particularly theatrical. Recently, Kathy Mattea and Punch Brothers (Chris Thile in particular) fit that bill. They had lots of energy without being ridiculous. Outside of country, Ani Difranco put on great shows that we’ve seen twice. She really bangs on the guitar, but the stage is simple enough.

You know i really hate to be a buzzkill, but i’m gonna be one anyways.

I really want to latch on to the idea of Strait as a boring artist….he is in concert, but his songs are masterful and among the best country music has ever had. He really is the king.

However, an entertainer is more than just a song. While in country the song does matter, when you’re onstage you need to show the crowd something they can’t get by simply popping their record into the CD player and unfortunatly the likes of Alan Jackson and George Strait are just that. I love their music, but why spend $50 on a ticket when i could spend $10 on their CD and get the same exact thing. You might say just to SEE them, well I can look at their picture on the album and get the same effect.

My first show was Brad Paisley, followed by the ever entertaining Charlie Daniels and while they are massivly different acts, both of them showed a lot of charisma and flare with every note. In fact i went back to see Charlie two more times, athough Brad would have been a repeast as well if he was at smaller venues still.

So yeah country has a lot to do with the song, but if i can’t watch an artist enjoy themselves, feel their songs, interact with every word ans the audience instead of just standing around thats not real entertainment.

Oh, fo those who think I might be a supporter of Swift, i like some of her music but sometimes you can OVERDUE the whole performance thing and yeah, she really does overdue it a lot.

His songs DO all tend to bleed into eachother, soundwise. Not to take anything away from some of the classic Strait songs, but there’s not a lot of variety.

Well folks ,I admit to not attending any concert in two or three years. The last being a blues show to see B.B.King.(who just sat there ,he can barely walk).
In my wild and untamed youth I saw the Killer three times in the 70’s.Three entirely different shows.One he just did signature moves like kicking th e piano bench,one at a “joint ” in Poteau Oklahoma where he tore it down.(broke the piano lid on the firast song.His tyheatrics fit the show.

I saw George Strait in the early 80’s and he just sood there then.He has never been a dynamic presence,but maybe he doesn’t need it

I saw Reba in the late 80’s and her show seemed contrived even then.

I liked Jerry Lee’s shows better than any of them so what does that say about theatrics appeal to me?