They played it at Scala with Taylor Hawkins last year too. Not sure if that counts, or what audio is out there, but it's on YouTube in some (possibly terrible) form.
Bob is correct. They played it (supposedly) in Portland Maine I believe at the start of the NOTW tour but according to a few stories that have circulated, it just didn't work that well live. If there is a recording of that gig it would be nice to hear it and judge for ourselves
Got the box in the mail today, heard the track, and I get why they didn't perform this live very often. Not that Freddie isn't great, but it's not nearly as great as the other songs they did live that tour.
That said, now that we know that they have a recording of pretty much every show, what the actual fuck are they waiting for to release shit?
Guess we'll have to wait until 2077 to hear the full Portland show.
It's OK, it's better with Freddie singing it. I think it's only an average song as it is.
It's nice and rock n roll though, which is more than can be said for some of today's theatrised numbers.
Hindsight is 20/20 of course, but if they felt that number didn't work too well they could've put it on rotation. Clearly, however, I'm aware it was their call, not ours.
This version has led me to rediscover the song. It's really good.
At least we have a confirmed uncirculated recording of Providence '77 from 3 days before. Maybe when it sees the light of day we can get more awesome early NOTW Tour gigs.
Daniel Nester wrote:
It's freaking fantastic. It's Sleeping on the Sidewalk, live, with Freddie singing.
Pretty cool huh?
Still seems in its infancy like Freddie is trying desperately NOT TO SING IT in a blues style and timbre.
U know damn well he could've. I like his inflections but it sounds like he's clearly "searching" for it.
Brian and Roger DID perform SOTS at the Ivar Club (or 1650). I was there, as was my wife on Day One of our honeymoon. I recorded the show on a mini cassette recorder, which was no match because of how frickin' loud it was in there that night.
Eons ago, I tried using a good old cassette recorder, with microphones, to tape it on to a regular sized cassette. I have absolutely no clue of the whereabouts of either cassette. But, trust me, Brian sang LVs with Roger on drums.
I'm actually surprised Freddie remembered all the words--granted, he's not in his late-career "fuck it" phase at this point, but it really sounds like he studied up on the song, or was in there in the studio when it was recorded.
Someone said it reminds them of 'See What a Fool' and I can see that, but with his growls it reminds me of "Big Spender," with the overpronounced, American-y growls.
*goodco* wrote:
Brian and Roger DID perform SOTS at the Ivar Club (or 1650). I was there, as was my wife on Day One of our honeymoon. I recorded the show on a mini cassette recorder, which was no match because of how frickin' loud it was in there that night.
Eons ago, I tried using a good old cassette recorder, with microphones, to tape it on to a regular sized cassette. I have absolutely no clue of the whereabouts of either cassette. But, trust me, Brian sang LVs with Roger on drums.
Bummer.
I've always wanted to hear that. I ditched work to attend the ceremony but was 3 1/2 WEEKS shy of being 21 so i could not get in.
It's scarred my fan- soul for years that i could've seen them perform in such a small venue.
That afternoon I'd gotten an autograph and photo with Nuno and a brief talk with Steve Vai but nothing to do with the gig :*(
Even the guy who took the pic for me took a terrible photo. It was ALL a bust.
I think i even spent the dollar Nuno signed for me **(i hadn't expected autographs) sometime later by mistake or just plain lost it (folded away in the back of my wallet)
Thankfully I've remedied the signature with extreme...I've got a beautiful 89' Washburn cutaway signed by Gary and Nuno.
Have recordings ever emerged from that Club Ivar gig?
It's THE performance! Thanks for posting it.
Brings back great memories....and bad ones. We were near the 6'4" dick that was waving his arms and bumping people constantly, until a couple of verbal confrontations with others caused us to move more towards the back.
(matt....I've seen your occasional posts of being 'underage' at the time of this show. A real shame)