¿como son los concertos del Long Winters en España?

[Liesbeth]

They seem (and sound!) really comfortable as a power trio, but some of the finer arrangements of the songs were missed, like the intros in "Blue Diamonds" or "Scared Straight", wich I kind of didn't recognize at the start without the horns part.

I must say that I really quite like this sound. Was kinda unsure how I would like this live, without the keyboards and without Sean's vocals. But I think Eric is a good singer. And musically, I like how now the structure of the songs comes out quite well. So many of the songs have amazing bass parts and I also like how the drum parts become more of an instrument as opposed to just a rhythm track (I usually am so caught with the melody that I just take the rhythm for granted, this live setting makes me more aware how much the drum tracks add to these songs).
If I had to choose between the 4piece LW and this trio setting, I might choose this one.

[Betty Felon]

I must say that I really quite like this sound. Was kinda unsure how I would like this live, without the keyboards and without Sean's vocals. But I think Eric is a good singer. And musically, I like how now the structure of the songs comes out quite well. So many of the songs have amazing bass parts and I also like how the drum parts become more of an instrument as opposed to just a rhythm track (I usually am so caught with the melody that I just take the rhythm for granted, this live setting makes me more aware how much the drum tracks add to these songs).
If I had to choose between the 4piece LW and this trio setting, I might choose this one.

Yeah, it's pretty amazing isn't it? I felt exactly the same way ...wary. But after the show I loved the songs more than ever.

LIVE ALBUM! NEED LIVE ALBUM.

[Los Largos Inviernos]

You've been more than helpful. thank you SO much, and if you decide to go, please drop a line. I definitely owe you a drink. (Or alternately, if you're a pixies fan, drop me a line...) I'll bring the sunblock AND the paraguas.

Hey, I don't know yet if I'm going to the PS Festival, but that drink you promised may tip the balance. Anyway, I'll decide at the very last moment. I'm a Pixies fan (is there anybody here who isn't?) and hell bent on watching Mudhoney on stage, so I may go just for friday. I also love Wilco, and it's their first time here in Spain, I think, so that's another factor. And Kozelek/Sun Kil Moon should be great, I 've seen Red House Painters twice live, and they were a thing of beauty. Saturday looks fine too, with PJ Harvey, (Smog), Liars Witch Project et al, so who knows? I'll let you know if I go, promise.

Btw, how do you come to know so much about spanish music? I'm impressed...

[Los Largos Inviernos]

If I had to choose between the 4piece LW and this trio setting, I might choose this one.

I had the chance to meet John after the gig (there were few people, and he was kind of wandering around this wicked building where they had played), and he said they were starting to like a lot the trio format, so he may be with you in this one. Don't get me wrong, I loved the gig, but I was used to the recorded versions of the songs and this trio thing caught me by surprise (I was not a regular here, so I missed the news about Sean's departure). But I agree with you, they are amazing as a 3 piece.

[anthropomorphizing_kitty]

I must say that I really quite like this sound. Was kinda unsure how I would like this live, without the keyboards and without Sean's vocals. But I think Eric is a good singer. And musically, I like how now the structure of the songs comes out quite well. So many of the songs have amazing bass parts and I also like how the drum parts become more of an instrument as opposed to just a rhythm track (I usually am so caught with the melody that I just take the rhythm for granted, this live setting makes me more aware how much the drum tracks add to these songs).
If I had to choose between the 4piece LW and this trio setting, I might choose this one.

Am I a terrible person if I miss Sean terribly?

[Unremarkable]

Am I a terrible person if I miss Sean terribly?

I would say no, as I feel the same way. The melodies and keys were a magical part of their show. No disrespect to the power trio.

[Liesbeth]

Not at all, and my judgement might be clouded by the fact that to me, this trio thing is the most recent and I cannot really step back yet and compare more objectively.
But I do know that even at the time when I saw the band with Sean, on some songs (by no means all) I felt that the keyboard parts didn't add that much to the whole, and maybe sort of muddled the sound. No disrespect meant.

[anthropomorphizing_kitty]

Not at all, and my judgement might be clouded by the fact that to me, this trio thing is the most recent and I cannot really step back yet and compare more objectively.
But I do know that even at the time when I saw the band with Sean, on some songs (by no means all) I felt that the keyboard parts didn't add that much to the whole, and maybe sort of muddled the sound. No disrespect meant.

For me it isn't so much the instruments that are lacking. It's Sean's harmonies.