Dancing to live music

[salsachinita]

In Melbourne, we are lucky to have a thriving live music scene in all genres.......so it is not only possible, but also expected, to go dancing in a live music venue , at least 3 nights a week 8) .

What's your experience dancing to a live band...? Do you enjoy it...? Or do you prefer a DJ?

[youngsta]

I enjoy a great band because I feed off of them. But here in Denver our local bands are mediocre at best so I'd rather have a good DJ (which we don't have either! :lol: )

[SDsalsaguy]

I'm wit Youngsta on this one... a good band certainly trumps anything else -- because of the energy if nothing else -- but I'll take a *good* DJ over most bands any day of the week.

[salsachinita]

Generally speaking, I'm a die-hard live music supporter (as we are lucky here that the standards of bands are quite high), unless there is a sound issue with the venue (some places just arn't mean to have live sounds :roll: ) or if the band plays badly.

The pet peeve I have with bands would be the extended version of songs :x ......!!!!! It's find to be creative with materials, but it's quite a different matter to extend the songs so they can s-t-r-e-t-c-h the set by playing fewer songs, which I suspect would be the case mostly :evil: !

[peachexploration]

Yeah, I'd rather dance along with live band myself but I don't know if it's just this area or not but people tend not to dance when a live band is playing. Mostly, they just stand and watch. :? But I'd take a good band over a DJ. :)

[David]

I haven't had a chance to dance to live music very often, and when I have in the past, it was to small club bands. There was one place called Havana Club here in Atlanta that had a pretty good house band. I liked their music, but the dance floor was not very big. I have never danced to live music from a Big name group.

[squirrel]

There are no live bands here... none better than our DJ, anyway... which is bad enough... :cry: :cry:

[sagitta]

Live band -- My fave so far -- "Rising Sign" - tropical salsa I think... but they play enough cha cha chas...

[SDsalsaguy]

OK, I think I may have to go back on what I said earlier. I was just out of town this past weekend and, of course, went out to get my salsa fix. I liked the band who was playing, but it reminded me of how much time bands take to just yap away...

Seriously, I may love the music that you play, but I came to *dance* -- if I get in twice as many dances with a DJ (and I'm not talking about bands just playing extended songs) than my vote just has to go that way... (mind you, there are plenty of DJ's who talk way too much too. You're hired to play music dude, not be a frickin' MC!).

[salsachinita]

......it reminded me of how much time bands take to just yap away...

So this band.......TALK instead of PLAY......... :shock: ????

[SDsalsaguy]

I wouldn't say "instead" of play SC... but there was a *lot* of talking.

[peachexploration]

It never even occured to me until last night. Salsa Karaoke? :shock: What a blast! :D It's not totally live music BUT we had some awesome friends that put on a slammin' show with some awesome voices last night. Everyone a great time. I think I might use something like this for my next party. It was awesome! Loved every minute of it. Oh, and the dancing was incredible too. :wink:

[Miami Rueda dancer]

anything that makes me move my feet and dance if its a band or artist that I like all of his/her songs then live band all the way. But id rather have a dj. :)

[peachexploration]

Well, hopefully, I'll be dancing to live music March 26th. Grupo Niche and El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico will be in Orlando!! Yippee! Better buy my tickets...:car:

[la celia]

Well, hopefully, I'll be dancing to live music March 26th. Grupo Niche and El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico will be in Orlando!! Yippee! Better buy my tickets...:car:

:cry: :cry: :cry:

Me too!!! Me too!!!!

[vin]

IMO nothing can beat seeing a great band like El Gran Combo live. Unless the sound is really bad.

I can't wait to see them, they are coming here (w/sonorra carouseles) on friday, I already got my tickets:).

[peachexploration]

Hi Vin! Good to see you! :) El Gran Combo will be here next week. :rocker:

[wuthering]

I will see Los Van Van tomorrow :D :D

[la celia]

I hope to see Larry Harlow this summer!!! 8)

[MacMoto]

IMO nothing can beat seeing a great band like El Gran Combo live. Unless the sound is really bad.

I can't wait to see them, they are coming here (w/sonorra carouseles) on friday, I already got my tickets:).
I will see Los Van Van tomorrow :D :D
Wow that's great -- I'm jealous! Report, please! :D

The last live acts I saw were Carruseles and Mamborama at the Zurich congress last month, and both were brilliant! I'm (still) thinking about going to the Paris Congress to see Africando playing live...

[wuthering]

Few more hours to wait :)

[peachexploration]

Yes, please report when you come back. :)

[vin]

Ok long late night last night.
Started at 6 at the salsa happy hour. They were playing an El Gran Combo cd. (Keep in mind I had been listening to El Gran Combo at work all day)

Started dancing a bit, then went to the concert venue around 8:30. Danced a bit to the dj music since there was space and great dancers.

First a couple of local bands played, then sonora carouseles, The sound system for carouseles was not very good and by then I was so tired that there fast music was a bit much for me.

Then my friends and I sat down and decided we would not dance unless it was to live music for the rest of the night.

When el gran combo came on the sounds system was fixed. I actually was in the other room and thought there first song was playing off the cd. Missed dancing to that one but it wasn't one of my fav's. After that they played 5 of my favorite songs straight and so I just had to dance. They finally finished around 3am

Got home tired and happy at 4am

[peachexploration]

Great Vin! Now that really makes me want to see El Gran Combo next week! :banana:

[peachexploration]

Yippeee! I'm dancing to live music as week speak. Well...sort of... ;) We have this new radio station, La Rumba 100.3 that plays live recordings of some of the best Salsa Artist. Jose "El Canario" Alberto, El Gran Combo, Tito Rojas are a few that they're playing today. The jam session are awesome. La Paella by "El Canario" is awesome. I love it! This is when you hear the "real" musicianship! Almost just as good as being there. Almost! ;) El Gran Combo on the 26th!!!! :banana:

Edit: Oh my! Oscar De Leon (Lloraras) is a guest singer on "La Paella"! Just awesome. Great combo of these two. :banana:

[peachexploration]

Well, I didn't get to dance at or go to the concert last night. Bummer. Two of my friends pulled out on me. :( Maybe next time. :?

[jimedoc]

So sorry peach!. But you're right: there's always a next time ;)

[sweetmoya]

When I went to Cancun, Mexico. I went to a salsateca called Cafe Mambo. They had an awesome band from Cuba. It was the best dancing experience I've had. I really enjoy live music, it livens up the atmosphere.

[peachexploration]

Any other live music lovers out there?

[theamoebaman]

Well I have to admit that personally I'm more of a DJ person myself. I can justify my position though. I learnt to salsa in Sydney which has more of a club and DJ scene. Live music in general, I find isn't as big in Sydney as it is in Melbourne, where I am at the moment.

Additionaly, most of the salsa bands (I'll even hazard to say all) in Sydney are pretty lousy. They have a repetoir of about 6 songs, talk too much before, after and during their sets and most of the time end up jamming at the end of the song for about 10 minutes. Or they'll play a 10 minute montuno where it'll be each individual band member just showing off to his bandmates how good he is while the dancers walk off in boredom. Added to that most of these bands end up chopping a song apart to the point that you can barely recognise it from the original recording. As a result of that, you basically get to hear about 3 sets with only 2 songs per set. The rest of the time the DJ's playing. As a result, most of the dancers tended not to be huge followers or fans of live salsa bands in Sydney. If there was a really good band then I'd say that we'd all be more enthusiastic. However the current opinion is that we generally prefer a DJ.

I notice though that the salsa bands in Melbourne are a lot better that those we've been exposed to in Sydney. I find that they have more energy when they play, have a better repetoir and generally play a song as it was meant to be played. One thing I do notice though is that in general, the dancers in Melbourne like their music fast. And really fast. Not that it's a bad thing. Just that I personaly prefer medium paced smooth and groovy songs (being an On2 dancer I guess) :)

[salsachinita]

....One thing I do notice though is that in general, the dancers in Melbourne like their music fast. And really fast...

In deed. If the crowd at Park Hyatt is the one you are referring to :roll: .... one of the Cuban Son band (traditionally should have been played slower, and by right should have been danced on 2, which no-one is doing :cry: ) had to adjust their tempo to suit their audience :shock: !!!

IMHO the LA trend hit Melbourne really hard. The schools that teach this style also turned out to be better business people (hence far more influential), who are continually churning out students today. Since musicality has never really been a focus in anyone's teaching material, most people find fast music easier to dance to (masking the off beat factor).....

Have you been to Night Cat yet? The two bands that alternate on Sunday nights are great (though lots of fast descarga happening there)!