I don't like watching gigs

[Dave Vader]

Brought on by the rush of excitement at the delectable Kate Bush doing some live shows, I sat this morning with my fan's early release pass code to buy tickets, and then didn't use it.



I know, in a sudden moment of clarity, I remembered that nearly every gig I have been to (big acts that is, not the down and dirty new bands in clubs and pubs, love those still) I have mostly been waiting for them to stop so I can go home and tell people I saw it. Usually I prefer the support bands, I don't think i can take listening to more than 45 minutes of any one artists music, or even the same genre.



I also remembered that while I utterly adore about 35% of Kate Bush's stuff, the rest is a bit tepid, especially to stand up and listen to after driving all the way to London and paying for a hotel. But that's by the by.

So I didn't buy a ticket, don't want to stand in a room where doubtlessly drinks are not allowed, wait years at the bar if they are, surrounded by people I neither know nor like, to squint for a decent view of kate, and not hear it properly due to some weird acoustic bouncing round my deaf ear, and being blinded by smartphone screens from all sides.

No doubt I may regret it, but I for one am looking forward to hearing the final mixed version, while watching it on my TV with a bottle next to me, and my feet up.

Middle age is fast approaching, and rock and roll is dead.

[stinson]

You are not alone brother

[discreet]

[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=4]L'enfer, c'est les autres.[/size][/font]

[waynepunkdude]

Me too.

[Bassman Sam]

Me too. I just can't be bothered going to big gigs like this. I much prefer small venues where I can see the band. I don't like having to watch large screens to catch a glimpse of them. Most of the time the sound is crap as well.
Welcome to old age.

[simes]

Gig rot set in with me many moons ago, Eric Clapton at the Sheffield Arena could have left after 20mins. We were sat at the back and security goons ensured you couldn't stand. Most disappointing gig of my life. Enjoyed Metallica a few years ago at Newcastle because the stage was in the middle of the arena so good views alround.

Much prefer a good open mic now, we played at one last Friday night organised by a friend of ours. We had soul, funk, solo performers even a uke band doing Rolling Stones numbers.

Sat a few feet away with a drink in good company, it's the life for me.

[flyfisher]

But the Hammersmith Apollo is not really a big venue is it? Unless it has changed since I was last there to see Suzanne Vega.

But yes, stadiums no longer hold any appeal for me and festivals are a complete nightmare. But getting old isn't all bad as many of my teenage heroes are now playing tiny venues. Seeing Focus in St Albans arena was pretty good but not as good as Hertford Corn Exchange, where I've played many times, and Wishbone Ash, Bill Wyman, Strawbs, Rick Wakeman et al (you get the time frame ) have all been much better in small provincial theatres than places like Wembly Arena.

These days, I've ventured down to 'the smoke' for the Royal Albert Hall, but nothing bigger.

[LiamPodmore]

I mostly try to stick with Manchester Academy, Apollo and The Ritz, which are all sub 4000 capacity venues i believe. I do occasionally stray to the MEN (Or Phones 4 You arena as it's now called) but still try to stay with a standing ticket, as i hate sitting down all night at gigs.

Liam

Edited March 26, 2014 by LiamPodmore

[toneknob]

I got my Kate Bush tickets this morning, and am really looking forward to it. I go to big gigs small gigs some as big as yer 'ead.

On the contrary side to your complaints - not arguing, just providing an alternative point of view - I got tickets to see Rush at the O2 Enormodome for Time Machine. I got lucky and was second row in front of Geddy, unbeleiveably good. Another time I saw Tom Tom Club at the Jazz Cafe, and excited to see an early "without whom" bassist I got there early and was front and centre, and spent the whole gig looking at 60-year old woman's knees. Win some, lose some.

Edited March 26, 2014 by toneknob

[JTUK]

I think Hammersmith is as large as I would like to go...
I recently say Peter Gabriel at 02 and they were filming it
for a DVD but from where I was... near the back...
it will be interesting to see how they compile it
to make it work,...as it didn't really work for me.

I don't think this is PG's fault so much as the logistics
of acts playing to a large hall ( and bigger ).
I think I'd far rather watch the DVD for a vast majority
of gigs and certainly outdoor gigs.

[Number6]

Quite a few of the gigs i've seen recently have been at the Shepherds Bush Empire.....or the O2 or whatever it's called this week.....

But as a smaller venue i think it's ideal

[mcarp555]

I think tied into this is that once you've seen all the touring acts from whatever your generation, what's left? I grew up in the 70's in Orlando, Florida. They used to put on "Rock Superbowls" in the largest stadium in the area (around 80,000+) with package deals from multiple acts. So one year you might see UFO with AC/DC, Boston and Blue Oyster Cult all in one bill. Another year it would be the Outlaws with Heart, Cheap Trick, Joan Jett and the B-52s. I've seen McCartney, the Who, the Stones, Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, etc. The last show was the only gig I've been to in the UK - the Concert for George at the Royal Albert. So Paul, Ringo, Clapton, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, etc. The only person I haven't seen that's still gigging is Dylan, and I don't have any burning desire to schlep somewhere to do so.

[RhysP]

[quote name='toneknob' timestamp='1395842265' post='2406970']
....I got there early and was front and centre, and spent the whole gig looking at 60-year old woman's knees.
[/quote]

There are plenty of specialist websites for that sort of thing, no need to piss about going to the Jazz Cafe.

[PaulWarning]

I went to see Black Sabbath at the NEC a few years, hated it I I've avoided large venues ever since, Rock City in Nottingham is about as large as I'll go think it holds about 2000, and I hate sitting down completely ruins it for me.
I'd rather go and see a good tribute in my local pub then watch the real thing in an aircraft hanger.
Another thing how come the bigger the venue the higher the price, shouldn't it be the other way on?

[Happy Jack]

[quote name='Number6' timestamp='1395842514' post='2406980']
Quite a few of the gigs i've seen recently have been at the Shepherds Bush Empire.....or the O2 or whatever it's called this week.....

But as a smaller venue i think it's ideal
[/quote]

Apart from the utterly atrocious acoustics, especially in the balcony.

[toneknob]

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1395844198' post='2407010']
There are plenty of specialist websites for that sort of thing, no need to piss about going to the Jazz Cafe.
[/quote]

Aha, thanks for the expert tip. How many of them are influential new wave bass players though?

[toneknob]

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1395844679' post='2407027']
Apart from the utterly atrocious acoustics, especially in the balcony.
[/quote]

Au contraire! At the recent Crimson Projekct gig we enjoyed great acoustics on the first floor balcony, while those sitting (yes sitting) downstairs complained of "overpowering bass frequencies for me, couldn't really hear anything other than bass and drums, and the pounding of the bass drum was physically unpleasant"

It's going to vary from one gig to another intit, and one soundman to another, and one seating set to another. And probably whether levels 2 and 3 are open or not.

[Happy Jack]

Venues which are converted cinemas, theatres and music halls tend to be fine.

Decent sightlines, usually decent acoustics, and crowds measured in hundreds, maybe thousands.

In the last year, I've been to gigs at Koko, The Forum, Shepherds Bush Empire, Hammersmith Odeon (I know, I know) ... all absolutely fine.

The moment you go supersize and industrial (Earl's Court, O2, NEC) and the crowd is measured in tens of thousands, the whole dynamic changes for the worse.

I wouldn't want to give up going to gigs, even at my age.

Happy as I am to blast out Piledriver on my stereo at high volume, it's not the same as singing along to [i][b]Don't Waste My Time[/b][/i] with 3500 other Quo fans at the Odeon.

[Dave Vader]

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1395841699' post='2406951']
But the Hammersmith Apollo is not really a big venue is it? Unless it has changed since I was last there to see Suzanne Vega.
[/quote]

It's not about the venue size, it's the length of the sets, I rarely even listen to side 2 of a record i've put on these days. It reminds me of something else i like, and I put that on instead. And the adoring "this act can do no wrong" fans who would probably slice me up into little pieces if I were to say "oh i hate this song, it's a bit pony" who keep on cheering til the 6th encore, by which point, I want to make for the doors, but am worried that the 7th encore might be that weird b-side that never gets played ever, and that I love more than anything.

I like festivals, because you can go to the back, and there is space, and a bit of sky. Plus, if you get bored after 15 minutes, there are at least 5 other stages with stuff you've never heard before playing. I prefer to hear things I have never heard before in a live context. Not some old duffer churning out the same old stuff I've heard a million times before.

No sets over 45 minutes please. Ever.

[Paul S]

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1395845067' post='2407038']
I wouldn't want to give up going to gigs, even at my age.
[/quote]

I suspect I may be older, but seeing live music at any size venue is, for me, one of Life's great pleasures. Well, I don't so standing in a field, but sitting down I don't care how big the place is. Been to the o2 a couple of times recently and really enjoyed it. Been to the Riga Bar in Westcliff and enjoyed it. Anywhere in between. To be honest it is the thought of not being able to see the sort of live music that I want to that keeps me living in this country. If I didn't go to gigs, I'd move to a Canary island to make a proper garden and never get cold again

[Happy Jack]

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1395845456' post='2407046']
If I didn't go to gigs, I'd move to a Canary island to make a proper garden and never get cold again
[/quote]

Hmmmm ... you're right, aren't you? Not a lot of choice in them there Canaries.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/canary-islands/entertainment-nightlife?filters%5Bsubcategory%5D%5Blive-music%5D=true

[Phil Adams]

As a long time Steely Dan fan I couldn't believe my luck when I was able to buy tickets for the "Empire Pool Wembley" gig in the 90's when Becker and Fagen started getting back together. I thought they were awful, the attention to detail was replaced by a "loose jam" sort of attitude. Fair enough, it was their gig, but I had to walk out when they murdered Ricki, and I spent the rest of the night in the bar (which was nice). By contrast, around the same time I saw the Eagles twice in Wembley Satdium, and of course their attention to detail was faultless.
I must admit I would prefer to remember Kate as she was.

[Happy Jack]

I had a similar experience with Little Feat about six years ago. What they did to Dixie Chicken would have embarrassed a pub band ...

[icastle]

I absolutely loathe going to gigs as an audience member.

By the time the third song starts I generally just want to go home.

[uncle psychosis]

The answer is not to bother going to see bands who are past-it playing in venues that are far too big.

Expecting excitement and energy from artists that haven't produced anything relevant or exciting in decades and who are still living off past glories is never going to go well. Go and see some young, up and coming bands instead, or at the very least artists who are still producing [i]new[/i] material which is worth listening to!