My parents exposed me to almost every type of music available as a kid. However, over the years there are three types of music that pose difficulty for me in listening; yet I love to watch the artists in person. These are Jazz, Bluegrass and Rock/Jam Bands. I know there are many who disagree and I admire the ability to love these genres as recordings. Yet, for me all three have at their core a superior craftmanship regarding their instruments. I love to watch a jazz sax player but grow bored with a CD. The same is true for Bluegrass. I can sit for hours watching a great banjo, mandelin, fiddle, player. Recently I attended a festival of jam bands in the style of the Allman Brothers Band and as usual was mesmerized by songs that lasted over twenty minutes. Yet, I cannot listen to twenty minutes of the same song on an album. Do others have this same experience? I have often wondered if these forms of music do not sell as many albums because of this factor. I think of bands like the Grateful Dead who drew and continue to draw thousands of fans yet sold only a mediocre amount of records (in comparison to other great rock bands). How about it?

I definitely understand what you are saying Rev. While i live in the Heart of Bluegrass and regularly attend Bluegrass festivals and enjoy them immensely, I only own a handful of Bluegrass recordings (Dr. Ralph Stanley, Ricky Skaggs) and very rarely ever take the CDs out of the case. The recordings just don't compare once you have experienced it in person and with other people. Bluegrass and Jazz are better experienced in person IMO.

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Originally posted by mymindsblank:
The recordings just don't compare once you have experienced it in person and with other people.

I think you make a big point when you mention "with other people". I have very little live music experience, but I know there is a huge different between listening to music on headphones alone in my room and listening to it live in a large crowd. The collective participation and almost conversation between the crowd and the musician makes it a completely different experience, and as such, there is different music that fits into both areas.

I think my interests in music would be much different if I experienced it more live.

i agree i feel like music is completely different live than recorded. when it is recorded they have the opportunity to change it around and make it better as opposed to live