Which frontman was the best at interacting with the audience between songs?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Rufus rag, Sep 11, 2019.

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  1. twicks

    twicks Forum Resident

    Location:
    Detroit
    Chris Isaak...almost to the point where the songs (pleasurable as they are) are interludes for the comedy.
     
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  2. I know a lot of fans aren't exactly fans of his frequently lengthy speeches between songs, but would The Beach Boys have been the same in a live setting without Mike Love acting as their resident MC? At the very least, without him they might have been able to squeeze a few extra songs into each set, but that's not the point - he definitely stepped up to become the band's voice even when he wasn't singing, and I'm sure the others would have silenced him early into their career if anyone felt this detracted from the actual music too badly.
     
  3. Robert Pollard can be pretty entertaining between songs.
     
  4. Thunderman

    Thunderman Forum Resident

    Location:
    New York
    Obviously, Charlie Higson

    Higson is one of the UK's funniest television comedians. Before he went into that line of work, in the '80s Charlie Higson was the frontman for the band The Higsons. I saw that band live once and sure enough Charlie put on one hell of a show between the songs.

    [​IMG]
     
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  5. Christian Hill

    Christian Hill It's all in the mind

    Location:
    Boston
  6. aoxomoxoa

    aoxomoxoa I'm an ear sitting in the sky

    Location:
    USA
  7. Bill Diercks

    Bill Diercks Forum Resident

  8. swandown

    swandown Under Assistant West Coast Forum Resident

    Location:
    Portland, OR
    I was going to mention Harry Chapin, but he doesn't really fit the definition of "frontman". But he was a great storyteller.
     
  9. Chuckee

    Chuckee Forum Resident

    Location:
    Upstate, NY, USA
    I thought he was entertaining when I saw them twice in the late 70s, wasn't aware of the band politics at the time.
     
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  10. shelflife

    shelflife Forum Resident

    Location:
    Florida
    Completely agree. I expected him to be Uber-serious and couldn’t have been more wrong.

    Taking that a step further.....Barney Greenway (Napalm Death) and Jeff Walker (Carcass) are also funny as hell. Really surprising to me given the music they play.
     
  11. flaxton

    flaxton Forum Resident

    Location:
    Uk
    Neil Young used to be very entertaining. Not sure if he still is these days.
     
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  12. blastfurniss

    blastfurniss Forum Resident

    Location:
    Marion, OH, USA
    Richard Thompson-very self deprecating sense of humor on stage.
     
  13. Neonbeam

    Neonbeam All Art Was Once Contemporary

    Location:
    Planet Earth
    Something I'll never forget is how Interpols Paul Banks broke a string at Roskilde Festival 2005. He stops, technician comes, Banks turns to the audience: "I guess now we'll have to wait!", lighting up a cigarette and smoking silently while watching the man fixing the guitar. Before continuing as if nothing had ever happened. :evil:
     
  14. sacsongs

    sacsongs Senior Member

    Location:
    St. Louis , MO
    Colin Meloy from The Decemberists. Check out audience interaction on Live At The 9:30 Club.
     
  15. Oatsdad

    Oatsdad Oat, Biscuits, Abbie & Mitzi: Best Dogs Ever

    Location:
    Alexandria VA
    Bono's "political waffling" accounts for a small component of his on-stage comments.

    Bono interacts with the audience about as well as anyone. He tells stories, brings people onstage, etc...
     
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  16. Oatsdad

    Oatsdad Oat, Biscuits, Abbie & Mitzi: Best Dogs Ever

    Location:
    Alexandria VA
    I'd nominate Dave Grohl. He's so funny that I sometimes prefer the concerts when he yaks rather than sings!
     
  17. Oatsdad

    Oatsdad Oat, Biscuits, Abbie & Mitzi: Best Dogs Ever

    Location:
    Alexandria VA
    Mick occasionally has some fun between-song patter, but too much of the time, he doesn't say much more than "how ya doin'? Doin' all right?"
     
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  18. Oatsdad

    Oatsdad Oat, Biscuits, Abbie & Mitzi: Best Dogs Ever

    Location:
    Alexandria VA
    Bowie was really good at between-songs banter. Lots of funny comments and stories!
     
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  19. G.G. Allin ?

    (Just kidding)
     
  20. David Bowie, at least in his later touring years (post Tin Machine). His charm and wit really come through in the short in-between song banter I've heard from various shows circa 1999-2004. His VH1 Storytellers even gave him more license to talk (as did his debut of Reality being played live in its entirety in front of that large studio audience (as streamed in conjunction with the release of the album, and I think it was simulcast in a number of theaters too, maybe - I forget all the details).

    I don't know that Bowie's banter was as good pre-90's, to be honest (or at least not from the little bit I've heard from that time). Nothing especially shabby about it earlier, but I think he really came into his own, and his personality really came out more after the Earthling-related tour.
     
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  21. KeninDC

    KeninDC Hazy Cosmic Jive

    Location:
    Virginia, USA
    Indeed. The Live'r Than You'll Ever Be Oakland '69 boot is full of Mick encouraging the crowd to "shake your arses!" over and over. But Sir Mick really seems to feed off a crowd and when he's funny, he's extremely funny.
     
  22. Chemguy

    Chemguy Forum Resident

    Location:
    Western Canada
    Always found him to be too obnoxious on that one. I prefer his interactions on the Matrix Tapes.

    Bruce, though...he’s the man.
     
  23. Wildest cat from montana

    Wildest cat from montana Humble Reader

    Location:
    ontario canada
     
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2019
  24. Wildest cat from montana

    Wildest cat from montana Humble Reader

    Location:
    ontario canada
    I had this bootleg of him called 'Young Man' s Fancy ' , live 1971. He plays ' Sugar Mountain ' and makes humorous self deprecating comments throughout .
     
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  25. Thermionic Dude

    Thermionic Dude Forum Resident

    Colin Hay, funnier than most comedians I have seen.
     
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