powder blue

when was the last time they played this live? they seem to have given up on it

russycarps wrote:

when was the last time they played this live? they seem to have given up on it

They've played it some time where I've seen them recently, I'm sure. Maybe Porchester Hall? But I agree, they don't play it anywhere near enough.

Definitely wasn't Porchester Hall. I was there, and the setlist was:

Station Approach
The Bones Of You
Red
Fugitive Motel
One Day Like This
Switching Off
The Loneliness Of A Tower Crane Driver
Grounds For Divorce
Leaders Of The Free World
McGreggor
Great Expectations
Forget Myself
-
The Stops
Newborn

This 2006 interview with Guy and Pete may enlighten you:

http://www.popmatters.com/music/interviews/elbow-060217.shtml

Pete mentions people's different interpretations of the songs and says in reference to songs and particularly PB, "once you put them out there, they aren't yours anymore."

Later on, the journalist asks Guy if they'll be playing Powder Blue, and he replies "Oh man, we haven't played that song in like seven or eight years. I wouldn't count on it, but we will see." I think Guy's maths is a bit dodgy here - seven or eight years before 2006 would be 1998 or '99 - but they end up playing it that night.

I'm sure I read another interview, or perhaps it was on the powderblue forum, where Guy said he couldn't sing it any more because the lyrics weren't really from his own point of view.

i think he answered a heckle/request for it recently with something along the lines of "I wrote that before my balls dropped"!!!

Like huh said, they don't perform it live anymore because Guy's voice isn't as high as it used to be.

ukkonen wrote:

Like huh said, they don't perform it live anymore because Guy's voice isn't as high as it used to be.

I dunno man. On "weather to fly" for example Guys voice goes pretty high although I clearly hear some difference from now and earlier...his voice sounds more rough now than before

They could lower the key if it gives Guy problems, but that might sound a bit odd.

Robeman wrote:

ukkonen wrote:

Like huh said, they don't perform it live anymore because Guy's voice isn't as high as it used to be.

I dunno man. On "weather to fly" for example Guys voice goes pretty high although I clearly hear some difference from now and earlier...his voice sounds more rough now than before

yeah, and what about 'Tower Crane'? He goes pretty high on that... and pretty low...

I think it's the power he would lack at high pitch, particularly for the last "Powder BLUUUUUUUUEEE"!

Weather to Fly hasn't been done live either yet, though if the plans to perform the whole album happen then obviously it will then.

they played it in 2005 in Germany. Guy did not sing the long note anymore, maybe that's the difficulty of that song. "Can't stop" I heard the last time in 2003...

thanks for the replies, especially that link to the interview. Well I am lucky enough to have seen it live but that was years ago. Maybe we'll get lucky at glastonbury huh

I've heard a rumour that this might be on the set list for the current tour.

Can't. Wait.

So, for those who've heard it, can Guy's voice still pull it off?

It was on the list in Cambridge. Hope it's a permenant feature for the remainder of the tour

i play powder blue in Cmaj/Emin, so i can sing the high bit; sounds fine to me.

seen them tonight at wembley. Still no powder blue in the setlist goddaammit!!

Still I don't think it's the height of the note but the lenght. I think I read somewhere that the Elbows are a bit bored by now about Powder Blue. I know there are a lot people who love that song. Must admid I am not among them. I prefer another lung-crasher: "Can't stop".

Hehe! Wonder if they are getting bored of any of TSSK or certain songs on Leaders...yet?