Group who (massively) disappointed live

[V8mate]

Royal Blood.

Really like their first two albums but have seen them live three times and being entirely unimpressed.
Mike Kerr has no stage presence or personality, trotting out the same few lines every night (assuming he says anything at all) and Ben Thatcher's choreographed run away from his kit to chuck a pair of sticks during a guitar solo is quickly tiresome.

[Adam.]

LeoSayer said:

. Well, the show must go on.

Me and 2 of my mates met you about 20 years ago in a pub in Putney, you were most impressed when we said hello and told you we were on a “Leo Sayer” ourselves (as you hadn’t heard the phrase before).

Back on topic

Public Enemy at Glastonbury 2013, cementing my view that all rap acts are st live, with the vocals way too loud in the mix obliterating the beat and any tune

[thetapeworm]

panholio said:

Bit obscure but I saw Haken in Manchester somewhere in 2019. Loved the album Affinity and some of their other stuff but it was just so boring live.

I've only ever seen Haken as a support act (Manchester both times) and their live performances got me into them, they were really tight, almost clinically so, which is obviously what their music is all about. Audience interaction was great despite it not really being their audience and the sound etc all great.

That said I'm a pretty emotionless person that goes to gigs alone so maybe they struck an 8 string chord with me.

My only really disappointment I've had from a from a gig was System of a Down at Manchester Arena, 2005 maybe. I didn't have the best seat in the house but it was "gig by numbers" with no audience interaction. Stark contrast to a lot of others I've enjoyed where the band spend time chatting to the crowd, introducing songs etc. Obviously I go for the music but I want some of the experience too otherwise I could stay home with the album and charge myself £8 for a glass of urine.

[irocfan]

thetapeworm said:

My only really disappointment I've had from a from a gig was System of a Down at Manchester Arena, 2005 maybe. I didn't have the best seat in the house but it was "gig by numbers" with no audience interaction. Stark contrast to a lot of others I've enjoyed where the band spend time chatting to the crowd, introducing songs etc. Obviously I go for the music but I want some of the experience too otherwise I could stay home with the album and charge myself £8 for a glass of urine.

One of the (many) things that Gene Simmons said about their act was that a live act should be about theatre/spectacle otherwise you may as well just listen to the album and save yourself $$$$ Definitely agree

Though, to be fair, I saw ELO a couple of years ago where there was virtually zero interaction (maybe 30 words spoken) but really enjoyed it

Edited by irocfan on Tuesday 30th March 10:02

[popeyewhite]

Alter Bridge. Indecipherable screamy vocals, monotonous guitar noise.

[Aces_High]

This is such a good thread. For me, one common theme is that bands who make sod all effort to interact with the audience, or who just want to duplicate the record, usually disappoint live.

My pet hate is zero audience communication. There’s little worse than a song ending, the lights going down....then silence...until the next song. I hate to say it, but I’ve found AC/DC live can be so sterile. Slayer were awful at audience participation.

Iron Maiden, by contrast, were absolute masters and a total joy, live. Because they made the bloody effort. Every. Single. Time. Massive respect for that.

In answer to the thread....I saw Portishead live and they were woeful as a live act. On record, I find them peerless. On record....less so.

In the spirit of balance....and despite having seen over 50 metal gigs....and I’m a metal head....one of the very very best live gigs I’ve ever seen was Bruno Mars. The sheer consummate professionalism of the guy and his band was spellbinding.