http://www.residentadvisor.net/feature.aspx?2329
I am personally very interested in live acts in electronic music: not only the technical side of it but also the human relationship side of it (musician-people, people-people, etc.).
So I looked at you tube videos of most of these 20 acts (boiler room stuff, etc.) ... and I'd say more than half had a laptop on stage, in front of them...
for example:
jon hopkins:
gaiser:
matador:
etc.etc.
I know I am exposing myself to criticism or worse

So to look at RA top 20 live acts, this is not about dissing individuals or not respecting the musical artistry of these guys, in fact in some cases I really dig their music, but somehow in my book, the usage of a computer during a proclaimed "live" act is almost akin to lip syncing or using backing tracks: it is like saying: "our stuff would sound not-so-great truly live, or we decided to leave half our gear in the studio, so.... here you go".
Do people really need to pay $50 to hear pre-recorded stuff even on a great PA system ?
Also I understand that samplers and modern synths do contain microprocessors and memory, etc. so are more and more related to computers. And I certainly have no problem with ITB recorded music. I myself do occasionally ITB stuff. But to me live music is special, is about immediacy, spontaneity, serendipity, and really some risk-taking. With a hard drive containing possibly 100s of files and tracks and hours of prerecorded sound, and processors with 100s of pre-selected parameters, what remains of the notion of "live", of risk ?? The audience is stuck as a lab animal fed some wholly unknown stuff (in origin).
So call me weird, snob, bigoted or juvenile ... , next time I step into a so-called electronic "live" performance and notice a laptop on stage, I'll be walking out right away (and try to get a refund).
</rant>
