would you rather people pretended to talk about music they don;t know, or don't like?

I myself am deadly bored by DJ music. I can dance to it at a club and I can enjoy it for that, but I am nearly instantly bored by it the moment I put it on at home or in my car. I find it tedious. I have listened to and own kid koala, kid 606, mouse on mars, RJD2, etc, and it is simply boring after a few listens.

I like peope playing instruments. Cornelius' music can soujd like DJ pastiche but he actually plays and records every instrument himself for the most part. it is actual instrumentation. he then teaches it to his friends and they go on tour.

paying 20 bucks to watch a dude on a turntable and a mixer and a computer is my idea of braindeath.

But then paying 20 bucks to watch a bloke with all that equipment when he could have done the same exact thing with much less stuff around him is just as criminal.Also,compared to a lot of musicians Cornelius really isn't all that, methinks.

Depends on the artist. I saw DJ Shadow a few years ago, and I walked out because I was so very bored. There are loads of people who make up for the lack of a stage show with exciting visuals or other things. Basement Jazz, for instance, put on a blinding live show. Orbital used to. Christian Marclay and Alvo Noto do wonderful things. Someone like Francesco Lopez would've been amazing to see*, I imagine. And with someone like Merzbow it doesn't matter about the visuals, the music's amazing.

Personally, I don't get excited by seeing 'live' instruments. For every guitar bands who do very little onstage but are still good (Mogwai, for instance) there are a million say-nothing do-nothing bores.

*or not see, as he performed in a pitch black tent in a darkened room.

Agreed (with Glice that is). I've seen visually dull electronic artists live (Squarepusher) and fantastic ones (Jamie Lidell). I don't see why four men with guitars/drums automatically makes them more interesting.

A good show depends on more than the instruments being played.

Interesting. Might I suggest taking copious quantities of drugs next time you see Squarepusher?

I have seen a few all-electronic shows that were very good, but most of them have been a bore. It has to feel "live" to work in a live setting. I have seen a damn lot of super-boring guitar rock shows too, and it wasn't for lack of attempting to "rock."
It's definitely about the music, and whether or not things seem inspired.

I really do fucking hate seeing one guy sitting at a table in a hoodie in front of a fucking laptop though. Call me a Luddite if you like; in this case I am immune to your taunting.

He was actually fantastic, but visually it was nothing to write home about.

Incidentally, I really love what I've heard of his new album.

Luddite.

I am immune!

i saw fatboy slim live and he was fantastic.

It's not about being a luddite. It is boring. Equally as boring as your ten-a-penny stand there do-nothing indie band. I only object to the singling out of electronic artists. I heartily agree with any sentiment to the effect that the majority of live music is dull.

Too many boring live shows is indeed a rampant problem.

I think the sound is different between a live band and a DJ. there is more variation. For example, When I saw the Roots on their last tour, the music pulses, and the beats and the melodies are crisp and loud and jumpin'. It is a very different sound-feel from a rapper/DJ combo. Whether it was Ice Cube, De La Soul, Digable Planets, Master P, whoever, the music behind the rapper just lacks some OOMPH. Many times it is hard to discern the music's melodies.

Mouse on Mars puts on an entertaining show, I cannot fault him for that, but after the 3rd or 4th song it all starts to bleed in my ear. Give me a real life drummer anyday.