Guided by Voices
The Electrifying Conclusion
2005, Plexifilm
No one cares today that December 31, 2004 at The Metro in Chicago was not the end of Guided by Voices.
When the 90s lineup reunited for a tour in 2010, it was good news. Nobody called foul in any way that mattered. People loved it. I loved it.
Guided by Voices has had several endings after all and each one has its own story.
The story of this one is that Robert Pollard wanted to retire the band on a high note, go out while everyone still got along and middle-aged bones and vocal chords could still deliver the three-hour beer blast that crowds expected when GUIDED BY VOICES was on the marquee. A big part of it was also that Pollard had an unreleased new solo double album that felt to him like the next frontier. Closing out GBV at the time was a personal decision and an artistic decision and the big fans understood.
The Electrifying Conclusion tour was light compared to the band’s last five years of punishing road work. It began in August and ended in December with only a few dozen stops in between, all in the US, with multi-night stands in New York City, Portland, and Chicago.
Bottom line: This was a tour from a leader who was done with this, but needed to at least say goodbye to the crazy crowds, to the lovefest that erupted whenever this band got together and plugged in. Past GBV lineups went down in drama and this was a rare chance to have a happy break-up, one that closes with a blowout celebration with guests galore (everyone from Tobin Sprout to Jim Greer to Jon Wurster turning up for a song or two).
For a band who always made every show a party, this was the only way to go out.
Continue reading “Robert Pollard-Mania! #100: THE ELECTRIFYING CONCLUSION”