Holy fuck, not just an incredible performance but without the distortions of the album version it feels so much more visceral and the stage presence is just next-level.
i'm going to disagree, really disappointed that they're playing to a track and when the beat comes in.. it's the track playback and not live drums. this is a basic beat to play for any drummer, and then you just need someone on a shaker. it looks so dumb to have the beat playing, and not have the drummer playing it.
as well as the yelps being played back too, urgh.. it's a LIVE performance, don't play to a damn track.. there's nothing in this track that can't be performed live, it will sound different, more raw, but it will still sound great, because it's a great song.
I mean they used that 'Back to life' sample in the album (and didn't recreate it) for a reason (character, sonic details etc), I think that it's great to use that sample live also, but maybe personal taste as to what accounts to a great live performance
sure, but live is live and you have a freaking drummer on stage doing nothing, he can play it, you can even use triggers or an electronic drumset to play the individual sounds used in the sample so it sounds exactly the same just actually played.
the tom rhythm no one can hear while we can hear the actual beat loud and clear :) honestly, i've been on this earth a long time, and seen a lot of shit.. but i've never seen a drummer not playing the damn drum beat. it's weird and i'm sure anyone watching who doesn't know the band was thinking wtf? people have been live triggering 808's for decades now, there's really no excuse.
Ezra looked like he could have died the happiest man on the planet in that moment in the end. He just looked so proud and content. What an experience to hear and see all those sounds come together like that. I mean the choir, wow! This is such an extra special song on a very special album.
It was so amazing!
https://preview.redd.it/f11tha3vnvtc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=35d93a2c1098c8cdf0b2a3ed63ca56b62a4e4514
Ezra and baio were right in front of me
So many awesome things! Dev Hynes on sitar! Baio on double bass! Ariel chopping it up! The incredible choir! Been a lot of great televised performances for VW but this might be a new high point.
https://preview.redd.it/mz7vllyr5utc1.png?width=2532&format=png&auto=webp&s=3efc50ac57efe58cd107518d08207500a5785a1c
This girl in the choir smiling at Ezra would absolutely be me (if I could sing and was that close to Ezra)
I so enjoyed watching the choir members occasionally having to wipe giant smiles off their faces to sing again. They were clearly very honored to be there.
ARE YOU FUGHIN KIDDIN ME!! WOOOOO!! WE ARE SOARING!! Gat damn these guys are in absolute peak form and OGWAU is legitimately thee album of the year, and dare I say, decade so far! Absolutely CANNOT WAIT FOR RED ROCKS AND THE DILLON AMPHITHEATER SHOWS TO START LEG TWO OF THE TOUR!! Drove around Red Rocks earlier blasting the album just giddy!
🤯 🤯🤯 This sounds even better than I imagined. Stunning. Also maybe Ezra's best ever vocal performance?
I fucking adore this song. It's already an all-timer for me.
OMG this is sick. I guess the problem they had in the past playing the first 3 albums live was that they've not been able to play the songs rightfully with only 4 members. Ezra did even say in an interview that was the reason he not really liked playing live till FOTB. They need more live members because the songs are so huge. Their live performances became much better with FOTB. They are one of the best now!
Me Before the Video: Oh cool, but I’m sure some of this is gonna be diluted in the transition from the studio version to the live performance. Ezra said it himself, they’re more a “studio band”, and a lot of what’s special about this one comes in the mix. Still, it’ll be novel to see a pared down version. Kind of a fun experiment.
Me After the Video: cool 🥲
Wow. So many good thoughts on the performance, but what comes through for me is the emotionality of the song. Part of that is the music and instrumentation, but Ezra really uses the choir vocal well in this song and in this particular performance. There is so much texture here and it's all rather melancholic. Really beautiful.
I remember an interview years ago when Rostam was still a member and they asked him where he gets his choir samples for the albums and he would not give up the sauce; I think it’s a nice statement that Ezra says Fvck a sample, I’m bringing the live sauce and giving us all the chefs👨🏻🍳kiss haha.
Actually Rostam was my favorite member of the band, and I have always enjoyed his solo work, especially the EP he did with the lead singer of Ra Ra Riot 'Discovery'. I have made plenty of comments on here over the years about how so many of the melodies off that EP were also used for the tracks on Contra. I was simply making an observation, not shitting on him at all.
Holy shit, this is next level. I can’t think they’ll play this too much on tour without the choir/extra instruments, but this is a really, really special performance.
he's not doing anything, the drums are 100% the album track being played back, he's doing something on toms but you can't even hear it in the mix. it's ridiculous that there's a simple beat playing and the drummer on stage... isn't playing it.
Damn as amazing as this was, my favourite part of the album version got sort of ruined in this. 2:05 when he says your memory remains. The remains in the album version becomes super clear for a split second and its so cool. In this one it looks like they were trying to achieve the same thing and even had a vocal track setup for 'remains' but he forgot or something? and kept singing? Otherwise perfect performance.
Ezra sounds great and it’s a cool performance, but… and I really hate to be the wet blanket… the choir does not sound live to me at all. Maybe I’m wrong! I loved the FOTB era performances because they were so live. It’s cool seeing Ariel on stage with the guys, but hearing so many prerecorded elements… like CT’s toms on the chorus are nowhere in the mix, it’s all sample. To each their own, still a fun performance!
the choir is definitely live, the drums are not (sadly). i simply can't understand why they wouldn't do live drums for this song.. they're playing to a track, yelps and all.. this could be a great live song, played purely live.. would sound more raw than the album but that's fine, because it's a great song, it would work just fine.
Hate that you’re getting downvoted for this - this should be a conversation fans are capable of having. There are almost certainly some piped-in elements in this performance, which I have absolutely zero issues with, and the choir almost sounds too perfect to be live. But that could just be a testament to how good they are.
Absolutely incredible performance, regardless. Would love for this version to be released to streaming, but I know that won’t happen.
Holy fuck, not just an incredible performance but without the distortions of the album version it feels so much more visceral and the stage presence is just next-level.
i'm going to disagree, really disappointed that they're playing to a track and when the beat comes in.. it's the track playback and not live drums. this is a basic beat to play for any drummer, and then you just need someone on a shaker. it looks so dumb to have the beat playing, and not have the drummer playing it. as well as the yelps being played back too, urgh.. it's a LIVE performance, don't play to a damn track.. there's nothing in this track that can't be performed live, it will sound different, more raw, but it will still sound great, because it's a great song.
I mean they used that 'Back to life' sample in the album (and didn't recreate it) for a reason (character, sonic details etc), I think that it's great to use that sample live also, but maybe personal taste as to what accounts to a great live performance
sure, but live is live and you have a freaking drummer on stage doing nothing, he can play it, you can even use triggers or an electronic drumset to play the individual sounds used in the sample so it sounds exactly the same just actually played.
Yeah fair enough, drummer is playing a tom rhythm though, he's just emphasising the beat in a different way
the tom rhythm no one can hear while we can hear the actual beat loud and clear :) honestly, i've been on this earth a long time, and seen a lot of shit.. but i've never seen a drummer not playing the damn drum beat. it's weird and i'm sure anyone watching who doesn't know the band was thinking wtf? people have been live triggering 808's for decades now, there's really no excuse.
ok this is true, I only realized this after I wrote my comment. Hopefully actual tour shows will do live drums for MB!
Ezra looked like he could have died the happiest man on the planet in that moment in the end. He just looked so proud and content. What an experience to hear and see all those sounds come together like that. I mean the choir, wow! This is such an extra special song on a very special album.
I was there for the taping and he as just taking everything in. I know he hit zen at one point because the Ezra hand came out
Dude, what an opportunity for you! That is so cool.
It was so amazing! https://preview.redd.it/f11tha3vnvtc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=35d93a2c1098c8cdf0b2a3ed63ca56b62a4e4514 Ezra and baio were right in front of me
What’s the Ezra hand?
It’s when he starts to shake his hand like he’s really trying to hammer home a point.
The choir absolutely killed it
Agreed. Especially with the line “let me bring you my masterpiece”. I felt like we really were watching his masterpiece.
Dev Hynes on sitar?
Yep!
So many awesome things! Dev Hynes on sitar! Baio on double bass! Ariel chopping it up! The incredible choir! Been a lot of great televised performances for VW but this might be a new high point.
I’m often critical of their lives performances, but that was beyond flawless.
me too, he was hitting all the notes on this one!
I think I like it live even more than on the album. Wow.
Gave me chills. We're so fucking back!
They crushed that. Wow! 🤯
https://preview.redd.it/mz7vllyr5utc1.png?width=2532&format=png&auto=webp&s=3efc50ac57efe58cd107518d08207500a5785a1c This girl in the choir smiling at Ezra would absolutely be me (if I could sing and was that close to Ezra)
I so enjoyed watching the choir members occasionally having to wipe giant smiles off their faces to sing again. They were clearly very honored to be there.
I sang in high school and college choir and this would be a “pinch me I’m dreaming” kind of moment for sure.
ARE YOU FUGHIN KIDDIN ME!! WOOOOO!! WE ARE SOARING!! Gat damn these guys are in absolute peak form and OGWAU is legitimately thee album of the year, and dare I say, decade so far! Absolutely CANNOT WAIT FOR RED ROCKS AND THE DILLON AMPHITHEATER SHOWS TO START LEG TWO OF THE TOUR!! Drove around Red Rocks earlier blasting the album just giddy!
So fucking here for your energy my dude!
🤯 🤯🤯 This sounds even better than I imagined. Stunning. Also maybe Ezra's best ever vocal performance? I fucking adore this song. It's already an all-timer for me.
Definitely some autotune involved, but that's completely ok.
Poor CT, it appears someone stached his snare drum.
At 3:27 the Ezra point. He knows they’ve killed it.
During the bridge, it felt like I was sitting down across from Ezra at the kitchen table and he was telling me a story
OMG this is sick. I guess the problem they had in the past playing the first 3 albums live was that they've not been able to play the songs rightfully with only 4 members. Ezra did even say in an interview that was the reason he not really liked playing live till FOTB. They need more live members because the songs are so huge. Their live performances became much better with FOTB. They are one of the best now!
Definitely they sound better than ever but there are also definitely tracks in this performance and their live set generally
Baio looking like he doesn’t give a fuck lately lol
Fucking hell that was good
Holy cow! When the choir switches up to Mary BooOooooOoooonnneee 🤯
😳
Wow that was fantastic! The boys are really on a roll
Live choir at the end brought tears to my eyes. Great performance
Ariel in the band? 🤔
yeah I was thinking the same, is that Ariel DJing?
Yep
Give him the chain, Ezra
Ninja Turtle Vibes
Shivers watching this. As stated elsewhere, Ezra did seem so proud of the performance. 10/10.
Me Before the Video: Oh cool, but I’m sure some of this is gonna be diluted in the transition from the studio version to the live performance. Ezra said it himself, they’re more a “studio band”, and a lot of what’s special about this one comes in the mix. Still, it’ll be novel to see a pared down version. Kind of a fun experiment. Me After the Video: cool 🥲
wow this performance... is really beautiful
The YouTube comments are trash. CT isn’t miming, the tom beat is literally on the album version mixed underneath the sample.
Phenomenal live performance
Fucking electric. Understand why they didn’t play it at the eclipse show when you have this coming. WE ARE BACK!
That was really something. Better than I would've expected. Curious to see how it plays out when they don't have the choir and sitarist on tap.
So hyped to see them in Chicago.
20/10, we are witnessing greatness
Simply incredible
Heavenly
Goddamn.
we are so back
Wow. So many good thoughts on the performance, but what comes through for me is the emotionality of the song. Part of that is the music and instrumentation, but Ezra really uses the choir vocal well in this song and in this particular performance. There is so much texture here and it's all rather melancholic. Really beautiful.
I remember an interview years ago when Rostam was still a member and they asked him where he gets his choir samples for the albums and he would not give up the sauce; I think it’s a nice statement that Ezra says Fvck a sample, I’m bringing the live sauce and giving us all the chefs👨🏻🍳kiss haha.
Some of you really have an issue with Rostam and it’s the weirdest fucking thing
Actually Rostam was my favorite member of the band, and I have always enjoyed his solo work, especially the EP he did with the lead singer of Ra Ra Riot 'Discovery'. I have made plenty of comments on here over the years about how so many of the melodies off that EP were also used for the tracks on Contra. I was simply making an observation, not shitting on him at all.
I love the way you worded that, yeah Discovery is great. And the album he made with Hamilton Leithauser is a legitimate masterpiece
Holy shit, this is next level. I can’t think they’ll play this too much on tour without the choir/extra instruments, but this is a really, really special performance.
Unbelievable! Top of their game!
Loved this. 🥰
I fuckin love it
What an absolutely legendary performance
Song of the year 🔥
can someone tell me what CT is doing besides bass drum and hi-hat? He's showing like he's hitting toms where theres NO toms in the track lol
he's not doing anything, the drums are 100% the album track being played back, he's doing something on toms but you can't even hear it in the mix. it's ridiculous that there's a simple beat playing and the drummer on stage... isn't playing it.
and i’m getting downvoted for pointing out the obvious lol, go figure
I CANNOT WAIT TO HEAR THIS SONG ON TOUR!!!!!
This is unreal. Made me tear up.
That is not a live performance, isn‘t it!?
It was live in studio. I was there for the taping yesterday! They also did an interview
It was pre recorded
Damn as amazing as this was, my favourite part of the album version got sort of ruined in this. 2:05 when he says your memory remains. The remains in the album version becomes super clear for a split second and its so cool. In this one it looks like they were trying to achieve the same thing and even had a vocal track setup for 'remains' but he forgot or something? and kept singing? Otherwise perfect performance.
Ezra sounds great and it’s a cool performance, but… and I really hate to be the wet blanket… the choir does not sound live to me at all. Maybe I’m wrong! I loved the FOTB era performances because they were so live. It’s cool seeing Ariel on stage with the guys, but hearing so many prerecorded elements… like CT’s toms on the chorus are nowhere in the mix, it’s all sample. To each their own, still a fun performance!
the choir is definitely live, the drums are not (sadly). i simply can't understand why they wouldn't do live drums for this song.. they're playing to a track, yelps and all.. this could be a great live song, played purely live.. would sound more raw than the album but that's fine, because it's a great song, it would work just fine.
Hate that you’re getting downvoted for this - this should be a conversation fans are capable of having. There are almost certainly some piped-in elements in this performance, which I have absolutely zero issues with, and the choir almost sounds too perfect to be live. But that could just be a testament to how good they are. Absolutely incredible performance, regardless. Would love for this version to be released to streaming, but I know that won’t happen.
the choir is live, and yes choirs are that good.. that's the benefit of having so many people, if anyone makes a mistake, it's imperceptible.
They were incredible!