(11-11-2014, 05:19 PM)john Wrote: ^ I also prefer the Hotel Cafe performance. Dylan and Haley had a tight little arrangement with some basic percussion in support. But Casey and Mark didn't add anything IMO at Room 5. Mark must have been feeling it, but his flailing arms and symbol smashes are a distraction. I found my eyes drawn to the right side of the screen with all the motion from Mark and Casey. Haley seems almost pushed away from center stage, which doesn't fit the song at all. It turned into a jam session and the performance was diminished as a result.
I think she could do a great job accompanied by an electric guitar, bass, and robust percussion. But they would need to rehearse it.
I'm not distracted as much...... i think I would be distracted in a different way if the guitar player were in frame and was not moving like he did... I want the ensemble just as into it as the lead
...but to be honest I don't watch the video itself too closely except actually to focus on the instruments other than the lead singer. I like seeing the musicians attitude and facial expressions in relation to the lead singer(as a sign of their interaction and attentiveness to singer's style and vice versa) and I notice their finger and hand work as it's sort of more a visual way of seeing the sound they're making (can't look into a larynx of a singer) . (another example ... I think we all loved the Mayfield god bless the child ... but for me it wasn't just about the surprise on the faces)
But I can see those of you that love Haley's pretty face and perhaps adore her as a person as much as her voice would be a bit bothered : )
Maybe Part of the issue is how small the stage is.. more often than not the lead can step forward a bit more and the musicians are a bit more stage left and right and the singer might walk back and forth to them at times to highlight them then walk back to center to reclaim exclusive focus.
