STP is not as good as it used to be

[rocker rockstar]

I am sad to say that after seeing stp several times after the reunion that I am dissapointed and I think many fans are too.  STP has certain songs they do very well with still.  In general I would say the band is not the problem but Scott's choice to sing the old songs differently is.  For instance cracker man or sex type thing have not been as good.


The oww oww or ah ah thing after the lyrics is an example.  He does this thing with his voice that he did not do on the records or on any of the early 2000 or earlier tours.  I don't like it.    The sad part is that Scott also likes to do similar things to just about every song he sings from the older songs.  Watch some videos of the tour and focus on it and you should here it too. 


Also, he changed the lyrics to sex type thing in one of the shows to Dumb Love is Dumb versus Here I come I come I come.  Not as cool.


The good news about the current tour is that Scott sings the new songs flawless and he did a great job on Interstate Love Song.  In general I can get over the imperfections of his singing even though it annoys me. 


I absolutely hate it when STP does this jam thing between songs.  It normally is not very good and Scott just mumbles up there and it makes no sense.  It is slow.  It normally just makes the crowd unhappy and later they say how Scott has lost it after the show.  It happened at the last show.  I talked to a guy that saw them back in 98 and he said how far STP has fallen as far as being a great band.  This sorta of stuff just makes people leave and go get a beer or go to the bathroom.  Just my thoughts.  The other problem is it just slows down the temple of the show at many different spots.  I think it drags down the quality of the show.


I know in the Family Values tour they had a real cool set list and all the songs flowed really well and Scott was amazing.  That was an amazing show.  It is what really made me love STP even more then I did before I went to that show.  I have seen them many times since and VR. 


Scott had much more energy in the older shows I guess it could be because he is older so  I will give him a break.  I know he put on amazing shows in the past with STP and VR.

[Casual]

I can see why some fans may not think they are the same as they were 10-15 years ago, and they ARE older now.  But I don't really agree with any of your points, and that is nothing personal.  It is just that none of those things you mentioned really bother me. 

I will bring up a few points though to kind of agree with you.   I wish the setlists had a little more variety...but like Scott said...they have to constantly tour to make money and it doesn't give them as much time to prepare new setlists.   I will also say that I think Scott and Rob have really been bringing it, but I don't really feel the same for Dean and Eric lately?   Dean is still super cool and I like his aura, but then again I think Scott and Rob are just more my favorites. 

[rocker rockstar]

The set list is not the main problem but the jamming between songs disrupting the flow. 

Beside that the flaws in Scott's singing that were not there before which I think he does on purpose.  I miss the old way of things. 

[sharky]

Funny, I think ISL is the song that is sung the worse since the reunion.
 
Look, in the 20 years Scott has been singing, he changed his style quite often. People change and get old. Would you prefer he stay home and play Jenga?
 
I've seen them 5 times since the reuinion and the only bad song that needed to be dropped was Sour Girl. But IMO, he never could hit that one quite right live even before the breakup.

[andrew]

They're a great live band. Seen them at least half a dozen times since the reunion and would see them again if they changed up the setlist more often. I know they've been playing Bi-Polar Bear, and I'd give my left arm to see it live but I've got like a 70-80% feeling they aren't going to since the nearest show is a festival. Plus I'm broke right now.

Still worth going to see even if they ain't what they were back in the 90s. Over 10 years ago now. Life takes a toll on people and in Scott's case there's other shit taking it's tolls. Lots of stuff.

I've never once been disappointed after seeing STP. Even if the stuff doesn't sound like it does on the record, for the most part it sounds good. Scott's still a great performer.

I also enjoy the various jams they've done since reuniting. Robert and Dean know their shit so most of the stuff they play is pretty dope. Of course if they replaced jams with a 7 minute acoustic set that would be 40 times better but shit goddamn that isn't going to happen in our lifetime!

[rocker rockstar]

They used to do an  acoustic set  back when I saw them a long time ago.  The stage would turn and they would be playing acoustic on couches.  It was cool.  I think it was the family values tour in Auburn Hills the Palace.


Sure STP is still cool to see but they could easily be better if they just changed a few things.  I hate hearing people complain about the show.  If they just worked on it more they could be as good as they used to be or at least closer to it.  There was a few shows I have seen since the reunion that were good but each had moments that I wished they could have done better.  STP is such a great band I just wish people could witness the greatness I have from them in the past.


Scott did a good job of ISL at the horse shoe casino where I saw them last Friday.

[andrew]

The used to do an  acoustic set  back when I saw them a long time ago.  The stage would turn and they would be playing acoustic on couches.  It was cool.  I think it was the family values tour in Auburn Hills the Palace.

Yeah.... Back in the good old days when the record company probably paid their roadies twice as much as they do now.

Somethings pretty weird, STP has done zero acoustic stuffs since the reunion. Granted, a lot of the acoustic stuff from Scott's solo music promotion was pretty iffy, there was some good stuff.

[rocker rockstar]

Found video from the concert I last went to.  Check out cracker man and you will hear the oww part he adds to the end of some of it.  It is annoying.  But still a decent to listen to.    Problem is he does this on a lot more songs too.

http://youtu.be/keJ8-aOjlGQ

[TemplePilot]

I saw them tonight and agree with you on all counts.  Especially the little jams in between songs.  It was so obnoxious and kill the energy.  I wouldn't think anything of it if they did it once, but they probably did it six times.  They could fit two more songs in place of time spent fucking around.  They looked bored, and I was often bored.  The whole thing has taken on an almost Vegas style production.  All very calculated, very pre-produced.  Lacking the spontaneity and maniacal nature of them in their prime.  And I agree that part of it is their age, I don't expect Scott to move like he did 15 years ago, but they're so clearly just going through the motions.  I will say that the band was spot on tonight, and Scott's voice was probably the best I've heard it in over ten years.  I was really surprised by that. 

Snubbed again at the tour bus for an autograph too.  I know this will cue a lot of "They don't owe you anything, man" type posts, and while yeah, technically, that's true.  I just think it's really shitty.  And I would totally understand if there was a swarm of 200 people outside waiting.  But I counted, and including myself, there were 9 of us standing next to a rope just trying to get some liner notes signed.  The rope was maybe 15 feet from the exit.  They run from the door to the bus and pretend not to see everyone, again.  It would literally take less than two minutes of their time to do something for the die hards.  That always pisses me off, I don't care who it is.

[DeadAndNotForSale]

I saw them tonight and agree with you on all counts.  Especially the little jams in between songs.  It was so obnoxious and kill the energy.  I wouldn't think anything of it if they did it once, but they probably did it six times.  They could fit two more songs in place of time spent fucking around.  They looked bored, and I was often bored.  The whole thing has taken on an almost Vegas style production.  All very calculated, very pre-produced.  Lacking the spontaneity and maniacal nature of them in their prime.  And I agree that part of it is their age, I don't expect Scott to move like he did 15 years ago, but they're so clearly just going through the motions.  I will say that the band was spot on tonight, and Scott's voice was probably the best I've heard it in over ten years.  I was really surprised by that. 

Snubbed again at the tour bus for an autograph too.  I know this will cue a lot of "They don't owe you anything, man" type posts, and while yeah, technically, that's true.  I just think it's really shitty.  And I would totally understand if there was a swarm of 200 people outside waiting.  But I counted, and including myself, there were 9 of us standing next to a rope just trying to get some liner notes signed.  The rope was maybe 15 feet from the exit.  They run from the door to the bus and pretend not to see everyone, again.  It would literally take less than two minutes of their time to do something for the die hards.  That always pisses me off, I don't care who it is.

I think the jams are pretty cool.  Keeps things fresh at times, and makes the show last longer.  I understand you getting a little pissed about them not coming out to sign some stuff before getting into the busses but rock and roll is not their number one priority anymore and you can tell.  They all have families and personal lifes, and a lot has changed since the 90's.  I felt grateful that Rob chatted with us after the show in Austin and did not expect more than a wave. 

And you said it yourself, the crowd was lame.  Who's to say that they wanted to take some extra time and hang out with anyone from that crowd.  This was their last show for a couple of weeks and they probably just wanted to get home. 

But I can only speak for myself.  I never saw them pre-break up and my expectations have not been raised as high as others on this board.  That being said, I understand that they are all in the 40's and reaching their 50's and their popularity is waning, so they might not have much of an incentive to change up the setlists too often. 

[TemplePilot]

No way man.  I get that they have families, but there was no justification for that.  There were 9 people.  It would have taken two minutes of their time.  They're in one of the most privileged positions in the world the the people who wait at the bus after a gig are the reason they've been able to do this for nearly 20 years.  No excuse for that.

And the jams don't make the show last any longer either.  They're just filler.  If they played a couple songs in the time spent doing that it would be the exact same set time.

And I know people get sick of hearing it, but I think the reason it gets parroted so much around here is that it really is true.  I hate being the guy who pines for the old days, but they really were something to see.

[DeadAndNotForSale]

No way man.  I get that they have families, but there was no justification for that.  There were 9 people.  It would have taken two minutes of their time.  They're in one of the most privileged positions in the world the the people who wait at the bus after a gig are the reason they've been able to do this for nearly 20 years.  No excuse for that.

And the jams don't make the show last any longer either.  They're just filler.  If they played a couple songs in the time spent doing that it would be the exact same set time.

And I know people get sick of hearing it, but I think the reason it gets parroted so much around here is that it really is true.  I hate being the guy who pines for the old days, but they really were something to see.

I see your point.  I saw it all taped off and the busses were a pretty good distance from the exit doors.  Did they even know their was a small group waiting?  They may have not even seen you.

[Pingfah]

When they are good, they are as good as they ever were, but I think those times have become a little less frequent.

I don't think the album is up to the standard of the previous albums, but I have seen them live twice since the reunion and at the second show in London (UK) they were firing on all cylinders just like the STP of old, but with less variation in the show (no acoustic numbers, less album tracks etc).

Still, STP on an average day blows most rock bands out of the water.

[zjt228]

Well I think they've all remarked that their concerts are less about high-paced energy now and more about the vibe. Given all the jamming and pauses, I think that's an accurate statement.

[TemplePilot]

No way man.  I get that they have families, but there was no justification for that.  There were 9 people.  It would have taken two minutes of their time.  They're in one of the most privileged positions in the world the the people who wait at the bus after a gig are the reason they've been able to do this for nearly 20 years.  No excuse for that.

And the jams don't make the show last any longer either.  They're just filler.  If they played a couple songs in the time spent doing that it would be the exact same set time.

And I know people get sick of hearing it, but I think the reason it gets parroted so much around here is that it really is true.  I hate being the guy who pines for the old days, but they really were something to see.

I see your point.  I saw it all taped off and the busses were a pretty good distance from the exit doors.  Did they even know their was a small group waiting?  They may have not even seen you.

Nah, the exit the band and crew uses is right by the doors actually.  We watched them all come out.  If there wasn't a rope, I could have touched each one of them by taking four or five steps forward, that's how close they were.  People were yelling each time one would walk out and then get pissed when they would speed walk on the bus and shut the door.  Definite blow off.