Live bands - lost my mojo
Discussion
Bit of a grumpy old man here too, saw the Wildhearts at the Forum in Kentish Town last year and enjoyed it apart from being pushed and pulled around. Decided to give it another try a couple of weeks ago at the Academy in Manchester; we got there early and were right at the front. This made an enormous difference - uninterrupted view and something solid and non-organic to hold on to when it got bouncy.
First support band were Baby Godzilla, not necessarily my type of music (too noisy and seemingly random) but their act was a real performance - loads of energy and they got the show off to a fantastic start.
Second Support act were Eureka Machines well worth the £22.50 admission fee on their own, they played a set of what can only be described as 'Headliner' quality; I strongly suspect I'll be going to the Borderline and the Scream Lounge to see them in May.
The Wildhearts were amazingly good, played their 20 year old debut album in its entirety and then got the audience to choose the next six songs to round the evening off.
Enjoyed it so much that I've booked tickets for the Bournemouth and London shows in June.
On a much more chilled level, I'll be going to see Wille and the Bandits at the Half Moon in Putney on Thursday, very different but also very good.
First support band were Baby Godzilla, not necessarily my type of music (too noisy and seemingly random) but their act was a real performance - loads of energy and they got the show off to a fantastic start.
Second Support act were Eureka Machines well worth the £22.50 admission fee on their own, they played a set of what can only be described as 'Headliner' quality; I strongly suspect I'll be going to the Borderline and the Scream Lounge to see them in May.
The Wildhearts were amazingly good, played their 20 year old debut album in its entirety and then got the audience to choose the next six songs to round the evening off.
Enjoyed it so much that I've booked tickets for the Bournemouth and London shows in June.
On a much more chilled level, I'll be going to see Wille and the Bandits at the Half Moon in Putney on Thursday, very different but also very good.
NuisanceFactor said:
Bit of a grumpy old man here too, saw the Wildhearts at the Forum in Kentish Town last year and enjoyed it apart from being pushed and pulled around. Decided to give it another try a couple of weeks ago at the Academy in Manchester; we got there early and were right at the front. This made an enormous difference - uninterrupted view and something solid and non-organic to hold on to when it got bouncy.
First support band were Baby Godzilla, not necessarily my type of music (too noisy and seemingly random) but their act was a real performance - loads of energy and they got the show off to a fantastic start.
Second Support act were Eureka Machines well worth the £22.50 admission fee on their own, they played a set of what can only be described as 'Headliner' quality; I strongly suspect I'll be going to the Borderline and the Scream Lounge to see them in May.
The Wildhearts were amazingly good, played their 20 year old debut album in its entirety and then got the audience to choose the next six songs to round the evening off.
Enjoyed it so much that I've booked tickets for the Bournemouth and London shows in June.
On a much more chilled level, I'll be going to see Wille and the Bandits at the Half Moon in Putney on Thursday, very different but also very good.
Yep I was at that manchester gig...9th time I'd seen the wildhearts and 15th time for eureka machines....definitely not lost my mojo :-) going to leeds as well, and to see eureka machines at santas grotto...err..I mean satans hollow.First support band were Baby Godzilla, not necessarily my type of music (too noisy and seemingly random) but their act was a real performance - loads of energy and they got the show off to a fantastic start.
Second Support act were Eureka Machines well worth the £22.50 admission fee on their own, they played a set of what can only be described as 'Headliner' quality; I strongly suspect I'll be going to the Borderline and the Scream Lounge to see them in May.
The Wildhearts were amazingly good, played their 20 year old debut album in its entirety and then got the audience to choose the next six songs to round the evening off.
Enjoyed it so much that I've booked tickets for the Bournemouth and London shows in June.
On a much more chilled level, I'll be going to see Wille and the Bandits at the Half Moon in Putney on Thursday, very different but also very good.
Smaller venues are best in general, (though the academy 1 is the biggest place I've seen either the wildhearts or eureka machines)
and cheaper...
Last years Rob Zombie gig was the best arena size show I've been to in aeons....
I was wanting to see Sabbath this year but the prices of the tickets for stadium gigs is just ridiculous nowadays. It's become a license to print money. Luckily a lot of music I like isn't that popular and the bands still play smaller venues and working mens clubs 
I'd agree with the comments recently about people filming gigs on phones. You get more people that go to gigs to stand and chat these days too which is just as annoying. If you're not there to watch/listen then feck off somewhere else and have a drink....it would be cheaper.
I'd agree with the comments recently about people filming gigs on phones. You get more people that go to gigs to stand and chat these days too which is just as annoying. If you're not there to watch/listen then feck off somewhere else and have a drink....it would be cheaper.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I think that's a major factor. Bands who just replicate (or try to replicate) their studio output exactly are for me poor value as a live show no matter what size the venue is. Bands that entertain, vary their songs, involve the audience and improvise are a much better proposition. They don't even need to dance in my opinion, just put on a "show" of some form or other rather than run through a track list. Two live acts guaranteed to always put on a great live show are Doctor Feelgood (especially for their guitarist), and Gary Numan. Although different music styles both are accomplished showmen.Worth a punt if you have an eclectic taste and want a great show try either of those.
Both are pretty tribal in terms of a faithful fan base, have honed their act through years of experience, and they play smaller venues which i find i prefer now in any case. Atmosphere i always find is better than a large arena act.
Both are pretty tribal in terms of a faithful fan base, have honed their act through years of experience, and they play smaller venues which i find i prefer now in any case. Atmosphere i always find is better than a large arena act.
Edited by killingjoker on Wednesday 17th April 12:59
Edited by killingjoker on Wednesday 17th April 13:00
Champhill said:
I couldn't agree more re. the comments regarding Gary Numan. Absolutely fantastc live. Even my wife likes his concerts even though she is no fan of his studio output.
Funny enough... took the wife to see him from the Jagged tour era. She knew 'Cars' (that was about it) but was totally into his new stuff. My cd's kept disappearing into her car after that. I've even got her into NIN as a result but Killing Joke was a step too far. We're looking forward to Splinter Oct 14th (yes, a release date at last). Already booked tickets for his Roundhouse gig. Can't wait.
Funnily enough I am in a similar position - I have seen the vast majority of bands I want to see and the buzz is gone.
In particular I really can't be arsed with the travelling, waiting around and cost any more.
A few years ago it would have been a non issue for me to travel 2 hours, queue up for hours for a gig. Nowadays I wouldn't consider it.
It doesn't help that most of my fave bands are well past their peak.
I am mainly into rock bands so I am going look into different types of music - maybe classical or something.
In particular I really can't be arsed with the travelling, waiting around and cost any more.
A few years ago it would have been a non issue for me to travel 2 hours, queue up for hours for a gig. Nowadays I wouldn't consider it.
It doesn't help that most of my fave bands are well past their peak.
I am mainly into rock bands so I am going look into different types of music - maybe classical or something.
killingjoker said:
Funny enough... took the wife to see him from the Jagged tour era. She knew 'Cars' (that was about it) but was totally into his new stuff. My cd's kept disappearing into her car after that. I've even got her into NIN as a result but Killing Joke was a step too far.
We're looking forward to Splinter Oct 14th (yes, a release date at last). Already booked tickets for his Roundhouse gig. Can't wait.
Both Killing Joke and NIN would be waay too far for Mrs CHWe're looking forward to Splinter Oct 14th (yes, a release date at last). Already booked tickets for his Roundhouse gig. Can't wait.
Keeping your ear to the ground is the way forward. I saw KT Tunstall for two quid the week after she broke through on Jools Holland, Vintage Trouble for a fiver, The Strypes for four quid & so on all in 200 people capacity or so venues. There's a website called Songkick - you put in your location & bands you'd like to see & it emails you when they're playing nearby.
Much prefer sweaty little rooms to vast caverns where the only way to see the band is to stare at what Humphrey Littleton would call the laser display screen.
Much prefer sweaty little rooms to vast caverns where the only way to see the band is to stare at what Humphrey Littleton would call the laser display screen.
Love small venues Hate areans.
The bands I like certainly do entertainment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt4Sj1vmFiA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_qMKXUoUQQ
Hate areans.The bands I like certainly do entertainment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt4Sj1vmFiA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_qMKXUoUQQ
Some gigs are better than others, the really big concerts are generally less enjoyable than the smaller ones.
I saw Pink Floyd, Genesis, The Police & Rush which were mega, Floyd and Police in particular were incredible, difficult to foresee anything topping those, hopefully Roger Waters at Wembley Stadium this summer will do it.
However the likes of Bjork, Jean-Michel Jarre and many others fell a bit flat.
On small venues where you're much closer but freer to move about it's much more likely to be great.
Can't ever see me falling out of love with live music, I'd really think something was wrong if I did
I saw Pink Floyd, Genesis, The Police & Rush which were mega, Floyd and Police in particular were incredible, difficult to foresee anything topping those, hopefully Roger Waters at Wembley Stadium this summer will do it.
However the likes of Bjork, Jean-Michel Jarre and many others fell a bit flat.
On small venues where you're much closer but freer to move about it's much more likely to be great.
Can't ever see me falling out of love with live music, I'd really think something was wrong if I did
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