You're from Portsmouth way aren't you DezB, I used to go to a lot of psychobilly gigs at Grannies/Basins on the Tricorn.
Wow, really? Same place as me then! We probably elbowed each other in the face at one time! Played a couple of gigs there too... and met my (now former!) wife there. RIP Tricorn 😀
For me it's the things you can't do at home listening to music, jumping around, singing badly, dancing with strangers & a shared experience.
Personally only try & go to gigs by people that are loud & energetic or fun, & actually want to entertain, seen too many people who seem to think they just need to turn up & you'll worship them.
And the magic of seeing bands you've never seen before, and if your lucky getting to see [b]and meet[/b] one of your fave bands live in a small venue.
This is what I love. Like meeting Torq Cambell of Stars, and when he signed my CD, he wrote 'That's my missus' on the cover photo. Or meeting Maria McKee for the first time, who's always been pretty scary and grumpy on stage, but was as sweet and lovely as you could possibly want.
Seeing Killing Joke in Bristol, standing outside steaming in the cold air, with my leather bike jacket soaked right through, and my mate looking at me, saying, "you know, you're a really unhealthy shade of purple!"
Or standing in front of Dark Star in The Fleece, Bristol, while Dave Francolini, the drummer, set about his kit with maraccas for drumsticks; the concussion against your chest made you feel your heart was going into arrhythmia!
In connection to another thread, their guitarist, Christian Hayes, was formerly with The Cardiacs.
Astonishing band, I miss them very much, still love their albums.
Or being invited up on stage by Cerys Matthews to add percussion to a song at a gig in Bath. I [i]love[/i] Cerys, she's such a lovely person live, and was terrific with Catatonia.
Or seeing Lauren Laverne with Kenickie in The Fleece, one of the most fun, entertaining bands I've seen.
Of course there have been disappointments: an extremely pissed John Martyn who was virtually incoherent; Mark Lanegan with Isobel Cambell, where he just walked straight off stage without a word after each song, leaving a clearly stunned, and rather embarrassed Isobel to carry the show; Asobi Seksu in Oxford, where their headline gig was changed to supporting 65Daysofstatic, which saw me walk out on a headline act for the first time in my life. They were so bloody tedious, a bunch of blokes with a charisma-bypass churning out monotonous dance-rock with no vocals and no tunes.
So many great experiences; Joan Baez walking on stage to sing five songs with The Indigo Girls, St Vincent and David Byrne at the Roundhouse, just one of the most amazing, mesmerising live shows I've ever seen, extraordinary choreography and musicianship on stage, that I was totally unprepared for, and which utterly transformed the music.
So many great performances over the last forty-four (nearly) years, so many great memories of many of the world's greatest bands and musicians, a few of whom I had the very great pleasure in meeting; it's often said you should never meet your heroes, but I can honestly say every artist I've met over the years who've signed things for me have been gracious and chatty, and you can't ask more than that.
OP, it's a shame, really, that you've never gained as much genuine enjoyment from live music as I have; I rather pity you in that, it's really rather sad.
Oh, I nearly forgot possibly the greatest live music experience in my life, seeing Kate Bush stood just a few feet in front of me, something I never ever expected to happen, and will stay with me forever.
The vast majority of rock, pop and indie gigs are gonna be dross, so I don't go to them.. But every once in a while, summink special comes along, where the band are real performers, or have some integrity..
Dance music is always more likely to provide a satisfying experience imo
Has no one mentioned drink or drugs? If you're seeing a band you like, and they are have decent live, and you're intoxicated how can you not have a good time ? 😆
No but seriously. I know people who live for gigs but I can take or leave it Apart from the few bands I love, which were incredible experiences I am generally underwhelmed.
As I like "[b]METAL" [/b] what I loved about the gigs I did enjoy was the incredible atmosphere, amazing skill and showmanship of the band, the variations on songs, stage show visuals and crushing, gut punching volume.
The Wedding Present live is one of the few real pleasures i get in life, drink, jump around, sing along to words with meaning, get pulled up off the floor by strangers...
...when its all over it's going to be a sad day.
pure joy...
they're in Camden tonight,..fill yer boots!
😯 🙄yunki - Member
The vast majority of rock, pop and indie gigs are gonna be dross, so I don't go to them.. But every once in a while, summink special comes along, where the band are real performers, or have some integrity..Dance music is always more likely to provide a satisfying experience imo
How satisfying can something with no real emotional involvement be, when it's efectively just a bunch of samplers and drum machines being poked and prodded by some anonymous shadows?
And if you don't go to rock, pop and indy gigs, how the hell can you possibly know they're going to be dross?
I have to admit I generally prefer playing them to going to them, though!
unki - Member
The vast majority of rock, pop and indie gigs are gonna be dross, so I don't go to them.. But every once in a while, summink special comes along, where the band are real performers, or have some integrity..Dance music is always more likely to provide a satisfying experience imo
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Easy to go to a disappointing gig - been to more bad ones than good and as I get older the logistics behind attendance puts me off more and more .. Having said that when they've been great the experience has been long lasting and rewarding .. One needs to go to good one at least once in their lives ..
I'm not really a gig person either but I still go to a few a year as every once in a while you get to be part of something amazing. Three gigs that stand out as markers in my life:
System Of A Down at Brixton Academy - blown away by the whole thing. Never heard of them before then, got dragged along by my sister as I was visiting her that weekend!
The Eels at Bristol O2 - a brilliant, friendly vibe.
Jools Holland at Brecon Jazz - if you didn't start dancing along and enjoying yourself you had no soul.
Plenty of others that were good but nothing special, loads of random stuff.
On the other side you have the Radiohead Kid A gig at Tredegar House, what a complete and utter disappointment.
[i]And if you don't go to rock, pop and indy gigs, how the hell can you possibly know they're going to be dross?[/i]
And if you don't go to dance music gigs, how can you possibly know anything about them?
Personally, i don't choose gigs by genre.
I love seeing and hearing people play, but 'gigs'.. I dunno if my ears are more sensitive or what, but it's extremely uncomfortable. Too loud.
Wedding present - that clip - they are even shitter live than recorded, if that's possible.
I don't gig anymore but there was always that worry that '"it won't happen."
You get there have a few beers ,the lights go down, there's the hiss of the dry ice machine then the first notes of the song comes over the P.A. Then bam YES ''it's happening" , next you're down the front grinning like a mad thing, dripping in sweat and there is nowhere on earth you would want to be.
God I miss it.
Rammstein. Even if you don't like shouty Germans, the show is awesome. Also Pink puts on a ruddy good show.
What is their appeal?
Cos when someone's chatting about music, you can be that person that pipes up "yeah, I've seen them live" zzzzzzzzz
yunki - Member
The vast majority of rock, pop and indie gigs are gonna be dross, so I don't go to them.. But every once in a while, summink special comes along, where the band are real performers, or have some integrity..Dance music is always more likely to provide a satisfying experience imo
Yeh, there's alot of bands that don't really work well live. The slow boring ones like Radiohead? You just end up with a crowd of people, most of them seem to be dull professional couples, just stood there. Some might be swaying about, some will be videoing the whole thing on their cameras. Very dull.
The best gigs for me were always the punk/hardcore ones.
And you don't go and watch a DJ, everyone is there to have a good time. No standing around videoing the guy on your phone.
If I'd been asked to write up my feelings on gigs and live music I would have written the OP verbatim.
Weirdly, I've played lots of live gigs in many, many bands for over 30 odd years. The 'detached' feeling I experienced when going to see my favourite bands translated into, at first anyway, a lack of confidence in the audience returning for another show or indeed, turning up at all*. Of course, over the years you glimpse the same old faces in the crowd sometimes, very encouragingly I might add, singing lyrics I penned.
I don't do much these days and I admit to never 'getting' it. I get the music - I've been a part of performances that have been utter shit as well as complete blinders where everyone present feels it. Aside from one gig at Wembley by Rush on the Hold Your Fire tour, I've never felt it from an audience standpoint, though...
*Edit - I'm referring to music performed by myself and others, not other folks gigs.
Because, metal. There is b comparable experience to hearing the feedback of a guitar Jack being plugged in at 11 before the wall of sound. Your brain can't figure out the sound so just gives up and fills you with joy and adrenaline.
Contrary to popular belief, metal gigs can be more euphoric than a rave. Thusly:
That would bore me senseless.
ricardo666 - listen out for Monster Truck supporting Slash (I think). Good band.
Being able to stand a few feet away from somebody that has sold millions of records, played to tens of thousands at Glastonbury etc, with a couple of hundred people at King Tuts in Glasgow is an amazing experience. For me I'm more likely to be disappointed if I go to a gig and it sounds just like listening to the CD, record etc. Rolling Stones and Guns N Roses were a bit like that. Venue can make a difference but I think a good gig is the sum of it's parts. If the band isn't up for it or they're touring a crap album, that can all spoil it. I've just got back from watching the footie in the pub so this may have made more sense in my head.
I can only assume you've gone to bad gigs or to see bands you're not that bothered about. Great live music moves you like nothing else... but not all live music is great.
Live music IS music. Mankind has been playing music to itself for centuries and centuries. Recorded music has been around for mass consumption for about 50-60 years only...
You can't crowd surf or mosh in the lounge either. Tends to hurt 🙂
I can only assume you've gone to bad gigs or to see bands you're not that bothered about. Great live music moves you like nothing else... but not all live music is great.
Live music IS music. Mankind has been playing music to itself for centuries and centuries. Recorded music has been around for mass consumption for about 50-60 years only...
You can't crowd surf or mosh in the lounge either. Tends to hurt 🙂
Wedding present - that clip - they are even shitter live than recorded, if that's possible.
they're the best band in the world ya puddin! 8)
Had a 10-odd year break from going to gigs when my kids were small. Started taking my elder daughter (just turned 15) to gigs, mainly old punk bands. Last couple were the UK Subs and last week Cockney Rejects. Neither are bands I was ever really into, but I consider it part of her musical education.
Neither gig would quantify as a musical masterpiece, but it's all about the energy, attitude, and volume.
More importantly it's sharing things I love with my kids, which cannot be beaten.
Why go out and splash in puddles when you can see the rain from your window?
Or maybe you just went to see damp performances by drizzley bands 😉 ?
horses for courses i suppose wouldnt go to a football match if it was free cant beat live gigs saw springsteen five times on his last tour master of his craft ,
from the stage; the best gigs are when the crowd are rocking, even if it's not jumping then at least watch and take an interest and clap, shout at the end of the tunes 🙂
best from the audience; where the band know that the right mix of energy and skill make for a great show
it's the ones you don't bank on or don't come too hyped up for tend to be the really amazing ones, I remember seeing squeeze early on the lineup at V and they were on fire. Mark Ronson at the academy at Manchester before the album took off was good too, the really awful ones I can't recall (maybe I have a talent for forgetting about bad gigs!)
St Vincent and David Byrne
One of the best gigs I've ever been to! Just amazing!
I like a noisy gig, but not so noisy that it obliterates all quality. I want to be able to hear the guitar jangling in the right places,and to hear the lyrics. Sometimes a bit of noise is called for, in the right place too. But for me definitely when it comes to pure volume, sometimes less is more.
I guess that's another reason why in general I'd prefer a proper small venue than a massive football stadium. At the same time recognising that sometimes the quality of the gig isn't necessarily about the quality of the sound but the experience itself. Pulp headlining at Glastonbury, still makes me sad now that I will never experience that exact particular feeling again (some forms of stimulants may also have been involved, it was the 90s)
Well, there are just some people that cannot be properly contained within a record.
I've seen people like Gil Scott Heron and Elvin Jones. The recorded output is definitely 'two dimensional' in comparison to live.
One of my all time favourite gigs was Dinosaur Jr in Edinburgh in the late 80's. I'd blagged a guest list place and agreed to help sell t-shirts through their record company so was there to see the sound check and J blowing his third Marshall of the tour.... A replacement was duly red starred up and only arrived in the nick of time so he had to finish the sound check on stage to a packed Venue. They played a lot of covers including Smoke on The Water, Minor Threat, Barmy Army (well it was Edinburgh and they were desperate for Wattie to turn up!) and had their album cover artists sister came on to do Sweet Child of Mine. And Lou had some great patter about getting ripped off going to the castle, how shit the food was and, while banging out the Gigantic bass line, teasing the crowd about how they'd much prefer they were the Pixies. That cost me nothing but time and it was incomparable to the recorded version of Dinosaur, they were really ****ing loud (mind you I was about 5 feet away from the right hand speaker stack....). I think I was about the only person drinking their rider too for some reason. I was buzzing for days. Seriously, one of the most memorable nights of my life.
And watching someone like Gillian Welch, just two people on stage with two acoustic instruments. The interaction, no fancy equipment. The mates I went with complained about people talking round about (seated venue, Hammersmith O2?) but I was transported and transfixed and didn't notice. [i]thats[/i] why I go to a gig.
And completely different at the start of the year I went to Bill Callahan and stayed with my mate and family who I hadn't seen in a couple years. Gig was great (well maybe not the support!) I caught up with my mate, his wife and kids. Got me out and about for a change. All good.
Jimjam - yah, that looks suspiciously like pop to me 🙂
Actually, here's another reason: Touring actually makes money.
http://noisey.vice.com/en_uk/blog/our-favourite-bands-and-their-day-jobs
Also - Rolo Tomassi are great and Eva is cute.
Hmm interesting one....I play lots of gigs, and I'll be honest I'd much rather play than watch a gig.
I spent most of my late teens going to gigs watching bands at The Sugarmill in Stoke....be it local unsigned bands or small touring bands. King Prawn at The Sugarmill circa 2003 is the best gig I've ever been to. They had the right combination of being good technically and proper entertainers.
I've also been to countless bigger gigs and festivals etc. Aside from festivals which I still like, I really CBA with bigger gigs nowadays. I just don't feel that connection with the performers. I'd much rather go to a small blues or jazz club to see proper honest musicians.
Gil Scott Heron
I can only imagine how good that must have been.
I love smaller venues. But must admit Prince on his most recent tour was amazing in big venues.
Head still reeling from 9BZ and Feelgood last night.
Small venues only for me.
And it's all about the bass.
Levellers tonight!
Much prefer smaller gigs, bigger isn't always better. Having said that, loved the couple of Donnington MOR I went to in '94 & '95. Such a buzz, getting sweaty in the mosh pit.
In my experience the less mainstream e acts, the better the experience as the crowd tend to be more passionate.
Think my best weekend of gigs ever was in '95 or '96, can't really remember which, probably due to e chemicals consumed. orbital in Sheffield Octagon one night and then got a call from a mate who had tickets to Rage Againt The Machine the next night in Manchester. Rather rough feeling coach journey and another great night.
Gary Glitter - live in Dundee '84. Needed to be live 😉
At the other end of the scale, watching an orchestra is completely different. Someone took me to see Elgars Enigma Variations recently and I was a bit reluctant as they are almost too familiar now. But live, nimrod takes on a different sensory experience.
There is a well-proven cure for GAS (Gig Avoidance Syndrome): Go and see Killing Joke perform. Get in amongst the melee and wonder why you never did before. GAS will be a thing of the past.
I agree somewhat with the op. Whats the point of the huge effort and cost to go and see a band when the music is badly mixed and the band don't move a muscle. eg Ryan Adams, better to stay at home....on the other hand when the band are really entertaining, sound high quality, small venues then it can be magical...stranglers, levellers,lucinda williams, black rebel motorcycle club....
gigs turned crap since the invention of smart phones!
The best gig I have been to is watching Mogwai perform right at the start of their career (touring just when Ten Rapid was released). They were touring with Arab Strap who decided to join them all for the last song of the night....each of them beating a drum to the yet to be released "Mogwai Fear Satan", which climaxed in a ten minute wall of sound.
The venue looked sparse with around only fifty people present but they played as if it there last ever show.
Maybe the OP just hasn't yet been to an inspiring gig. Only advice I could offer is to persevere.
THM live classical music can literally move me to tears. A truly fabulous experience.
I regret that I haven't the funds to see more of it. As mentioned above both Jules Holland and Bruce Springsteen are terrific live. Seeing Bruce and the E Street band do a gig based on audience requests at the Emirates was fabulous.
Red Hot Chilli Peppers were a sterile disappointment, music good but no real audience engagement.
waihiboy - Member
gigs turned crap since the invention of smart phones!
Nah, the audiences are a bit more irritating and inconsiderate, but gigs are still great.
[i]Red Hot Chilli Peppers were a sterile disappointment[/i]
RHCP were brilliant when I saw them. But it was in 1987.
Not at Rock City in '87 they weren't. Chuffin' amazing that show was.just like listening to the CD, record etc. Rolling Stones and [b]Guns N Roses[/b] were a bit like that.
Even better when you can say "I've worked with them live" 😀Cos when someone's chatting about music, you can be that person that pipes up "yeah, I've seen them live" zzzzzzzzz
