Klinghoffer - Necessary?

Abe Froman

I think he’s a great addition for them live. Mostly, he can help Ed with some vocals and help make his voice last longer. I also think he fills in some of the spaces where they need effects that are too hard to recreate live with just Boom. Lastly, Ed only needs to play guitar now if he wants to and not out of necessity 

CarryTheZero

Josh is awesome! Loved his opening set in ‘22 and yes he saved multiple shows from cancellation.

Also, seeing Retrograde, he killed it adding in the percussion for the outro. Good stuff.

bobasfeet

Merkin Baller said:

bobasfeet said:

Milestone said:

I like Josh Klinghoffer.  Quite a bit.  But my question is:  Do they really need to take him on tour?  Isn't it already overkill when Ed plays the 3rd guitar? Isn't Boom on keys? What's going on here?  I haven't seen PJ live since 2018.  Is he going to be on this tour?  Thank you. 

Is it the beanie?

It is for me... JFC, get another hat dude... change it up every now & again.    

Isn't it PJ law Jeff is the only member allowed to wear hats?

Merkin Baller

bobasfeet said:

Merkin Baller said:

bobasfeet said:

Milestone said:

I like Josh Klinghoffer.  Quite a bit.  But my question is:  Do they really need to take him on tour?  Isn't it already overkill when Ed plays the 3rd guitar? Isn't Boom on keys? What's going on here?  I haven't seen PJ live since 2018.  Is he going to be on this tour?  Thank you. 

Is it the beanie?

It is for me... JFC, get another hat dude... change it up every now & again.    

Isn't it PJ law Jeff is the only member allowed to wear hats?

Someone remind Ed ASAP, please. 

jjflash

Short answer: yes

Josh is like a Swiss army knife of a musician

IMO, he and Watt are the two secret ingredients that make DM what it is. The core PJ five have a collective musical vocabulary that naturally has a limited range. Josh and Andrew on this album, and Josh in a live setting, allow them to stretch into territory untread otherwise.

BF25394

Vitalogensia said:

I've still yet to listen to Prince's original, 

So tell me more about this cave you've apparently been living in since 1984...

MikeDigs

Re-reading this thread, it does seem that everyone is on board with Josh's overall talent, and the value that he brings.  It's just that the original question of "Is Josh Necessary?" seems off, given that we know the value he brings.  Unless you are thinking along the lines of tour budget?  I have no doubts that the tour budget can support Josh.  Did you see those ticket prices??

Is Josh necessary?
Josh is inevitable.

Milestone

lastexitlondon said:

This is a silly thread. (Is it?)
Yes he is needed (Needed?  I liked PJ quite a bit the past 30 years and never felt they were lacking)
 and what's more Wanted! (Ok, cool.  I'm genuinely looking forward to seeing him in the lineup)
The band see's the benefits (fair)
so who is anyone to question it. (why not?  I stated my admiration for Josh in the original post. I simply wanted some opinions from those who have seen this lineup)

nicknyr15

MikeDigs said:

How has in not been brought up that Josh filled in for John Frusciante in RHCP?  Surely you know how amazing John is.  RHCP trusted the amazing Josh to fill that massage role.  Josh performed admirably for what 10 years?

Do you know how hard some RHCP songs are go play?  Snow?  As mentioned, why does thread even exist?  Josh is much much better than some of you give him credit for.

I'm VERY thankful to have a musican of his caliber contributing to the upcoming shows.   How could you not be? 

He filled in for Matt Cameron and helped avoid cancellations. This alone is the end of the discussion. Everything you mentioned is just a bonus (and true). 

MikeDigs

It just feels like, for example, having a gourmet dinner prepared for you, with all of the best foods.  But then asking, is the lobster and steak necessary?  When we have already have the pulled pork and BBQ chicken.  I think yes, also enjoy the lobster and steak!

Milestone

MikeDigs said:

Re-reading this thread, it does seem that everyone is on board with Josh's overall talent, and the value that he brings.  It's just that the original question of "Is Josh Necessary?" seems off, given that we know the value he brings.  Unless you are thinking along the lines of tour budget?  I have no doubts that the tour budget can support Josh.  Did you see those ticket prices??

Is Josh necessary?
Josh is inevitable.

I was asking from this perspective:  McCready is one of the best lead players ever.  Gossard is one of the best rhythm players ever.  Ed adds texture and his own style.  3 guitars.  Plenty.
But you guys have opened my eyes to Josh's vocal, percussion, and keyboard contributions as well.  Thank you for doing so, respectfully. 

Milestone

MikeDigs said:

It just feels like, for example, having a gourmet dinner prepared for you, with all of the best foods.  But then asking, is the lobster and steak necessary?  When we have already have the pulled pork and BBQ chicken.  I think yes, also enjoy the lobster and steak!

I think this analogy works if you want to add bands to the bill.  In other words, The Who and the Rolling Stones are going to play with Pearl Jam in Seattle!  3 incredible bands on one night!  Enjoy the lobster and steak!

But adding additional musicians to a band that has created their dynamic and sound with 5.5 musicians (Boom accounting for .5) is sort of like adding steak and lobster to a bowl of Captain Crunch.  The Captain Crunch tasted fine on it's own.

Goldy

Abe Froman said:

I think he’s a great addition for them live. Mostly, he can help Ed with some vocals and help make his voice last longer. I also think he fills in some of the spaces where they need effects that are too hard to recreate live with just Boom. Lastly, Ed only needs to play guitar now if he wants to and not out of necessity 

This. In case people have not noticed, the guys are getting older. It doesn't hurt to have a quality musician the band trusts on stage so he can do some of the lifting and save the guys energy for the key spots. I mean Stone even talked about a different kind of show this tour because they just cant do 2.5 hour balls to the wall shows every night. 

We all get older and we all slow down. The last tour showed this. I'm pretty sure St. Paul 1 was 60% songs and 40% Ed rambling about who knows what. Also, the 10 minute Chellios interlude during Chicago 2 was another chance for a break. 

MikeDigs

Milestone said:

MikeDigs said:

It just feels like, for example, having a gourmet dinner prepared for you, with all of the best foods.  But then asking, is the lobster and steak necessary?  When we have already have the pulled pork and BBQ chicken.  I think yes, also enjoy the lobster and steak!

I think this analogy works if you want to add bands to the bill.  In other words, The Who and the Rolling Stones are going to play with Pearl Jam in Seattle!  3 incredible bands on one night!  Enjoy the lobster and steak!

But adding additional musicians to a band that has created their dynamic and sound with 5.5 musicians (Boom accounting for .5) is sort of like adding steak and lobster to a bowl of Captain Crunch.  The Captain Crunch tasted fine on it's own.

Only if they include the Crunch Berries!   That makes sense, and now I understand your perspective of having that core original Pearl Jam sound.  But given how much Josh has contributed to the new masterpiece Dark Matter, I think he's earned a seat at the table.  In addition of course to his versatility to help the band in so many aspects on tour.

Milestone

MikeDigs said:

Milestone said:

MikeDigs said:

It just feels like, for example, having a gourmet dinner prepared for you, with all of the best foods.  But then asking, is the lobster and steak necessary?  When we have already have the pulled pork and BBQ chicken.  I think yes, also enjoy the lobster and steak!

I think this analogy works if you want to add bands to the bill.  In other words, The Who and the Rolling Stones are going to play with Pearl Jam in Seattle!  3 incredible bands on one night!  Enjoy the lobster and steak!

But adding additional musicians to a band that has created their dynamic and sound with 5.5 musicians (Boom accounting for .5) is sort of like adding steak and lobster to a bowl of Captain Crunch.  The Captain Crunch tasted fine on it's own.

Only if they include the Crunch Berries!   That makes sense, and now I understand your perspective of having that core original Pearl Jam sound.  But given how much Josh has contributed to the new masterpiece Dark Matter, I think he's earned a seat at the table.  In addition of course to his versatility to help the band in so many aspects on tour.

Ha ha!  Perhaps Josh IS the berry being added to the existing Captain Crunch, thus presenting a more robust and complex flavor!

jimjam1982

While his solo stuff isn't my cup of tea, I am super glad he is part of the touring band now and able to even record with them.  The guy is amazingly talented and as mentioned above he single handedly prevented show cancellations multiple times.  Honestly, if they can find ways to incorporate him more and it keeps the shows steady at the 2.25 to 2.5h clip with his support then what a great add.  He is incredibly talented on all levels. 

Tim Simmons

Yeah, I love having him in the band. Hopefully they include him in more studio stuff. 

BF25394

MikeDigs said:

It just feels like, for example, having a gourmet dinner prepared for you, with all of the best foods.  But then asking, is the lobster and steak necessary?  When we have already have the pulled pork and BBQ chicken.  I think yes, also enjoy the lobster and steak!

As a vegetarian, this dinner just gets worse and worse, but Josh is a welcome addition to the band, and I'm not just saying that he bought me pie (which, needless to say, was not a meat pie).

PJ_Soul

Spiritual_Chaos said:

lastexitlondon said:

The band see's the benefits so who is anyone to question it. 

Wouldn't this be the case with 200 dollar nosebleed tickets also then? 🤔😝

I think they can add touring musicians anyway they like. Add a children's choir and Tori Amos on a grand piano. Change it up. Mix it up.

My only red line is - don't become an E-Street band rolling music theatre but keep as close as possible to the rock and roll path of Neil Young.

I would be more worried about constructed lamps for Eddie to swing around on at every show during a specific portion of Porch, than them having a cool extra musical flair. 

HA!!!!

thomascbullock

JT167846 said:

Think Wreckage will definitely need Josh's vocals, not to mention those of a few more band members. I haven't seen them since the last pre-Covid show at Fenway so don't know if he's taken over some of the vocal legwork from Matt but assume that could be the case. Anyone able to confirm that?

I thought it was super interesting that Josh rather than Matt did the backing vox on Take The Long Way, even though Matt wrote the damn thing.