ooh - I know what you mean about losing the vivaciousness of live vs the recorded sound. Our cd is ten years old this year and by the end - I didn't even recognize our old sound in what we did. We had really kind of moved into an even better arena of sound.
It was our personalities that broke us up - if I could have kept playing with them and NOT talked to them at all - I would have felt just fine staying in. But there was that pesky talking that just kept making me get madder and madder. And cancelling gigs and showing up later and/or unprepared didn't make me feel any better about continuing the band. How is it that they became LESS professional after fifteen years and not more professional?
I am still, sadly, a bit grumbly about it. Someday I will let that go. For now - I am playing with lots of new folkes which is a different kind of challenge. It's fun and interesting and makes me realize I need to practice more!
I am actually spiritually devoted to the theory that making music helps the world. The vibrations go out, spread a little bit of cheer and calm things down. There's nothing better than looking up at a gig and realizing that someone in the room is transported by what we are doing. I am sure you have found the same thing a time or two.
My goodness I ramble in your LJ don't I? This just makes me realize we wasted alot of good chatting opps at bitchinparty! Darn it!