This years shows......how do you think they are?

If they could get that show for free, even if it was hideous, they'd take it.

what do you think of the show at the red garter without a band. i think it needs a band

I think getting rid of the band was one of the worst decisions in recent Live E history. Its harsh, but I find it true. The Garter was the last show in the park that was actually unique and could be a real performance oriented show, and now without the band, that has been taken away. Accompaniment tracks lack the performance power and spontaneity that make real shows unique and entertaining. It was the only show at the park that I actually made a point to see every visit, and usually twice each visit, because the band and the vocalists put on a great show. Of course, I also knew the band, so that had a bit to do with it. However, the former Garter Band has gone their own ways recently (and all are doing some very exciting things in the music world, trust me) and it would not have been the same bunch of great guys that is has been for the last few years. That may have factored into the decision somewhat. But regardless, I really think it was a horrible move.

Disclaimer: I am an instrumentalist/percussionist and a sound tech, so my view may be seen as biased.

I agree I also knew some of the band and yes they definitely are having fun and doing things, in fact all around the world. I really miss it they were so versatile. not to mention last year on the last day of halloweekends they were having fan giving them DVDs of home videos they made. It will definitely be missed.

The former Garter band parting ways and doing their own thing had nothing to do with the decision with tracking the Garter. Garter band members have been parting ways ever since the first instrumentalist set foot in that venue...last year's guys weren't anything special enough to warrant such a paradigm change like that. That decision was made from people higher than the middle managers of Live E.

Oh, I don't believe for a minute that them all parting ways had much to do with the actual decision, and I don't doubt the ultimate decision was influenced from much higher than Live E, outside the department, even. I was just voicing my opinion on them as a band, and that was basically my way of saying that particular group of guys are some of the better musicians I've met. I know I'd be kind of doubtful about finding that kind of talent again. But that's just personal opinion.

yea, I also believe they were just really good musicians.

I don't think I'll be seeing the show without the band. The other shows that feature singers and canned music have never really done it for me. I hope they'll bring a band back for the Halloweekends show.

Ralph, I hope you at least check out Sign, Sealed, Delivered;)

I dropped in and cought about 5 min of the show.

That was enough......BRING BACK THE BAND.

^^ I suppose I could find some time to check that one out. :)

We walked by Red Garter opening weekend and looked in to see if the band was indeed was gone or not. After seeing an empty stage, I said that's it, I will not be seeing the show this year. I hope they see a decline in beer & food sales because of it.

Interestingly enough, I heard rumblings that they were previously dissatisfied with sales at that location. Gosh, let's do the math on that one. They never had enough staff to efficiently serve a full venue's worth of food during the course of one show, the menu sucked, and the bartenders were too few in number to serve people to ever get ahead.