Gomez - Live Series Volume 3: Los Angeles

Next up in the monthly series of live albums is one from Gomez. Their show at the Corner last year was phenomenal, and Ben Ottewell's recent Worker's Club gig wasn't bad either. This is one of the albums in what seemed to be an ongoing series of live albums released via their website, although there doesn't seem to have been any additions for quite a while. Volumes 1 and 2 are also available from the link below, but you'll have to pony up for those ones.

This show is from Los Angeles' House of Blues in late 2011. I can't seem to find a complete setlist, but from the reviews I've seen, it looks like this is the complete show.

Bring It On
Hamoa Beach
That Wolf
See The World
Just As Lost As You
Little Pieces
The Place And The People
Shot Shot
I Will Take You There
Whatever's On Your Mind
Get Myself Arrested
How We Operate
Our Goodbye
Make No Sound
Equalize
Ruff Stuff
Here Comes The Breeze
Airstream Driver
Options
Devil Will Ride

http://www.gomeztheband.com/liveseries/#

Ben Ottewell - Worker's Club, 30 June 2013

Gomez are one of those bands that I wasn't a big fan of but figured I should see once. Having gone to their show last year, I now know that they're fantastic live, and have lots more songs that I know than I'd thought. So when Ben Ottewell (the one with the amazing voice) announcned a show I figured I'd go along.

Shows at the Worker's Club seem to attract some weird people who I don't normally see at shows. They seem more keen on talking and being seen than actually paying attention to the show. The recording picks up a bit of this, but I managed to move close to the front, where there seemed to be more fans and things were a bit quieter.

The show itself has got some mixed reviews, but I was impressed. The songs he played from his solo album (including one from the album he's working on) fitted in well, and didn't seem like Gomez rejects. The set was padded out with a few judiciously chosen covers that worked well. He made the mistake of mentioning at the start of the first encore that because there isn't any backstage he didn't really have anywhere to go at the end of the set. The crowd realised that this meant he couldn't leave without walking through everyone, so most people just stood there clapping at the end of the show, figuring he wouldn't have a choice but to play another encore. Sure enough, he came out and played a Steve Earle cover.

The sound of this is really good, like a mentioned, there's a bit of talking, plus the sound at the venue wasn't great (although he explains at one point that the sound guy is a ringin because the normal guy fell of a fence). Nonetheless, this is one I've listened to quite a few times, whereas most shows I record only get one or two listens.

https://mega.co.nz/#F!wYsSEBCK!JhRzGEuwO4MwGmj3aMFcDg

Gomez - 22 October 2012, Corner Hotel

[A little note: there is a ton of stuff coming up, so shows might either start coming thick and fast or I might have no time to do anything, hopefully the former]

Most of the best gigs I’ve been to this year have been when I couldn’t be bothered, but had already got a ticket. And what better reason to not bother than a Monday night show from a band I’m not a huge fan of, but wanted to see once (or at least I did before this show). Sure enough, really not wanting to bother, and got a stunning show.

The band’s Quinceañera tour (literally ‘one who is fifteen’, thanks Wikipedia) includes a bit of fan participation even before the shows, with the ability to request songs. I’d read an interview where they said it was a waste of time to request the hits, since they play those every night, so I requested songs I thought should be hits, but don’t seem to get played much. I’m not sure how many other people bothered, but three of the five songs I requested got played.

Although I heard someone complaining about the crowd, I didn’t they were bad, particularly for a Monday night (who plays a Sunday/Monday double header?!?). There was a bit of a lull through the middle of the set, where they seemed to lose the crowd a bit (you can tell on the recording because there’s a bit of talk for a while, whereas early on there isn’t any). Given they were including a few rarities, I thought they managed to pace the set nicely. As a casual fan I managed to enjoy the show a lot. Enough that I’m now a bit of a convert, and will definitely go see them next time they tour (which, admittedly, isn’t likely to be anytime soon).

The sound for this is mostly outstanding. That mid-set lull brings it down slightly, but for the most this could almost be an official recording (big call I know, but check it out, I’m very pleased with myself). This is one of a small handful of shows I can recommend for download regardless of whether you were there or not.

Bring It On

Shot Shot

Hangover

I Will Take You There

Rhythm and Blues Alibi

Meet Me in the City

Get Myself Arrested

The Place and the People

Drench

We Haven’t Turned Around

Rosalita

Revolutionary Kind

Options

Girlshapedlovedrug

Bring Your Lovin’ Back

Ruff Stuff

Whippin’ Picadilly

Tijuana Lady

Devil Will Ride

How We Operate

http://www.mediafire.com/?ay9kg78et9bpg