Concerts - general discussion and experiences

[Hawklord]

Got tickets this morning to see Squeeze at the Kelvingrove Bandstand in August. My partner is a huge fan and for years I've regretted turning her down when she asked me to go on a date to see them (we didn't actually get together for another few years). Hopefully, 30 years later this will make it up to her

 

Also looking forward to the venue. It's an open air amphitheatre within Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow. Hope it doesn't fucking rain lol

 

 

It sat derelict for years but was recently refurbished and now hosts a Summer Nights festival every July & August with around 12 gigs over those few weeks (Siouxsie Sioux is the opener this year)

[Corranga]

37 minutes ago, Hawklord said:

Got tickets this morning to see Squeeze at the Kelvingrove Bandstand in August. My partner is a huge fan and for years I've regretted turning her down when she asked me to go on a date to see them (we didn't actually get together for another few years). Hopefully, 30 years later this will make it up to her

 

Also looking forward to the venue. It's an open air amphitheatre within Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow. Hope it doesn't fucking rain lol

 

 

It sat derelict for years but was recently refurbished and now hosts a Summer Nights festival every July & August with around 12 gigs over those few weeks (Siouxsie Sioux is the opener this year)

 

I saw Bloc Party perform Silent Alarm there back in 2019 (which was post refurb), it's a lovely venue. It rained, but not too heavy, and I don't think I even remember being wet

 

[Hawklord]

8 minutes ago, Corranga said:

 

I saw Bloc Party perform Silent Alarm there back in 2019 (which was post refurb), it's a lovely venue. It rained, but not too heavy, and I don't think I even remember being wet

 

Nice one. Last gig I went to there was in 1985! It was (I think) called The Kelvingrove Rock Festival, hosted by Tom Russell and I'm pretty sure a pre-fame Bon Jovi made an appearance lol

[Corranga]

Paramore - Hydro, Glasgow.

Not my favourite venue but as far as soulless arenas go I suppose it’s not the worst. The stage layout / screen somehow made it feel a little more intimate than I expected, Hayley might be at the top of her game right now, opening the stage and keeping the crowd engaged, great gig.

 

As a bonus, Bloc Party opening for them, 2 of my favourite bands in 1 night.

 

Some of my favourite photos from the night…

 

Phones ahoy!

 

 

Zac clearly didn’t like that snare 

 

 

 

This one almost has a music video vibe for me

 

 

 

Crazy amount of confetti at the end

 

 

Venue staff / security were almost human, water gets handed out in cartons and was chilled nowadays it seems, no more plastic cups and bins of water at the front.

 

A surprising number of people fainting causing the band to stop while they were sorted out, not sure what that was all about.

[deerokus]

I was also at the Hydro the very next night seeing Sabaton, who put on a really spectacular show full of pyro and prop(ellor plane)s and actors and fake snow and flamethrowers and also fun, very loud epic power metal songs.

 

Babymetal were surprisingly awesome as the support. Cracking group. The strange blend of the really-crisp and precise dance choreography with the chugging heavy metal works really well live in a way that can never come across in a music video, their 40 minutes just flew in.

 

I like the Hydro fwiw, sometimes the acoustics can be a bit weird in certain spots but it's just the perfect size for bands like this and it's really well designed for getting in and out and around the building quickly.

[Azrael]

Just over a month until Slam Dunk 2023. Think I've got a rough idea of who to see assuming no cancellations etc; 

 

Spoiler

 

 

Starred ones for definite, red most likely, orange was a maybe/my brother's idea. However there's quite a few there I'm unaware of so some further research will be required before the day. 

[Mike1812]

11 hours ago, Azrael said:

Just over a month until Slam Dunk 2023. Think I've got a rough idea of who to see assuming no cancellations etc; 

 

  Hide contents

 

 

Starred ones for definite, red most likely, orange was a maybe/my brother's idea. However there's quite a few there I'm unaware of so some further research will be required before the day. 

I recommend seeing as much of Flogging Molly as you can in between bands. 

[Plissken]

Ten years of fandom, three years of Covid delays and Eisbrecher finally took to a UK stage.  Without Noel Pix, who was ill.

 

Still a cracking show.  Always interesting to see a band used to playing bigger stages adapt to a smaller venue.  Alex Wesselsky is a born frontman, using all the tricks to keep the crowd going, generally hilarious in his banter - "I know it has been so long, we would like to zank you... THANK you.... I'm German, pronouncing TH is a FUCKER!" - and controlling the entire thing.  It was much more packed than I thought, as did most people so the point of people from all over the country gathering and going "Hang on, I'm not the only one who has been waiting for this?!" made for an excellent vibe.

 

Even as an (almost) 50 year old man, when they did "Verruckt" followed by "Was ist hier los?" I Lost. My. Shit.

 

I hope they come back to the UK.

[Adrock]

Louis Cole in Troxy London (Limehouse) for me last night. Absolutely brilliant fun, the musicians were all excellent and I can't help moving when the three sax, trumpet, trombone and flute get going.

 

Every artist got to do their solo during the gig, it was an excellent night of jazz/funk/electro music.

 

Reckons he was a bit overwhelmed by the size of the crowd, biggest gig of his own he has played.

 

Steel Panther tonight 

[lankysanchez]

I saw Four Tet last night at Alexandra Palace with the Squidsoup light show. I didn’t realise I was going to be IN the light show. 
 

Awesome gig - great music as you would expect, but the lights really elevated it into something that managed to be intimate and epic simultaneously. The PA was surround and he played with directional light and sound stuff. One of those gigs that would have been amazing anywhere in the room but I just had to be in with those lights. 
 

And I didn’t realise it was an in the round show as well, I assumed my customary spot near what I though was the sound desk, only to realise when Kieran appeared that it was the stage 

 

Downside was a group of Concert Wankers who pitched up right next to me and proceeded to chat loudly and smoke the whole way through 

 

 

 

 

[velma]

That looks amazing @lankysanchez! 

 

Had the pleasure of seeing two relatively new acts that I really like so far, for the bargain price of a fiver - Chalk (angry post punk Belfast group) and Ethan P Flynn (Americana sound, reminds me a bit of modest mouse - very timid guy who should be a lot more confident in his skills)

 

Just bought tickets to see Thus Love in August who I can't get enough of at the moment. Really rich guitar sound and 80s style vocal. Tempted to buy tickets to see Desperate Journalist who I saw supporting Suede earlier this year, and have tickets to Psych fest for Heartworms and Atmos Bloom amongst others. 

 

Just seen an announcement that Pulp have added a date at Castlefield bowl, but while I love them there's a distinct lack of new music and I'm not a big fan of large gigs at the best of times. 

[Azrael]

Just back from Slam Dunk festival in Leeds. Great day saw the following;

 

Spanish Love Songs - Amazing, reason I went really, also met them at the meet and greet thing and they're all lovely

 

The Offspring

Billy Talent

The Menzingers

Girlfriends

Bowling for Soup 

Millencolin

Less Than Jake 

Destroy Boys 

Sincere Engineer

 

Everything aches now 

[MagicalDrop]

Went to see Sparks at the Royal Albert Hall. What a show! First saw them in 1975 with my parents and here we are nearly 50 years on. Russell (74) still jumps around the stage like a 30 year old. Utterly brilliant. 

[Darren]

I go to loads of gigs but they’re almost all bands or artists hardly anyone’s heard of in tiny venues (my favourite has a declared capacity of 220).

 

But last night was a rare exception - Roger Waters at Birmingham Arena with my Dad and boys. A truly spectacular experience. I didn’t take many photos because I was too busy just being spellbound.

 

[Fierce Poodle]

11 minutes ago, Darren said:

I go to loads of gigs but they’re almost all bands or artists hardly anyone’s heard of in tiny venues (my favourite has a declared capacity of 220).

 

But last night was a rare exception - Roger Waters at Birmingham Arena with my Dad and boys. A truly spectacular experience. I didn’t take many photos because I was too busy just being spellbound.

 

I was there too! What an amazing concert. Roger was in fine form - can’t believe how angry he still is at 80!

 

 

[Hawklord]

I'm still tempted to go and see him either tomorrow or Saturday in Glasgow. I missed getting tickets when they went on sale due to too much stuff going on in life but they want £146 per ticket for re-sale tickets with shit views and £200+ for nearer the stage! Seen him 5 times already (including front row at The O2 for The Wall but the night before Gilmour joined him on stage!) so I know it's always a good show but at the same time I can't really be arsed with his politics these days

 

 

 

 

[Fierce Poodle]

1 minute ago, Hawklord said:

I'm still tempted to go and see him either tomorrow or Saturday in Glasgow. I missed getting tickets when they went on sale due to too much stuff going on in life but they want £146 per ticket for re-sale tickets with shit views and £200+ for nearer the stage! Seen him 5 times already (including front row at The O2 for The Wall but the night before Gilmour joined him on stage!) so I know it's always a good show but at the same time I can't really be arsed with his politics these days

 

 

 

 

Lol, there was a message on the screen just before the show saying anyone who is here because they love Pink Floyd but haven’t got time for Roger’s politics should consider fucking off to the bar 

 

He went on a massive rant last night against the press, some Tory-turned-Labour MP who has been criticising him, slagging off Keir Starmer in favour of Jeremy Corbin, among other subjects. I’ve never seen Roger live before and personally I found it hilarious. He’s still got incredible energy.

[Hawklord]

13 minutes ago, Fierce Poodle said:

Lol, there was a message on the screen just before the show saying anyone who is here because they love Pink Floyd but haven’t got time for Roger’s politics should consider fucking off to the bar 

 

He went on a massive rant last night against the press, some Tory-turned-Labour MP who has been criticising him, slagging off Keir Starmer in favour of Jeremy Corbin, among other subjects. I’ve never seen Roger live before and personally I found it hilarious. He’s still got incredible energy.

Oh aye, I can imagine it lololol. Last couple of tours have been getting more and more political.

 

And I'm now on Ticketmaster

 

Edit: Found official non-resale tickets and now £250 lighter lol

 

Spoiler

Sitting here 

 

 

[BlackHoodedCrow]

43 minutes ago, Hawklord said:

...they want £146 per ticket for re-sale tickets with shit views and £200+ for nearer the stage!

 

35 minutes ago, Hawklord said:

Found official non-resale tickets and now £250 lighter lol

£250 notes? You'll get a nice close-up view of this sign then. 



After getting done over by seeing Harry Styles at a big venue, I'm sceptical of seeing any band at any large venue anymore.

We paid for HS tickets; standing area. Then they moved the show to a bigger venue and split the standing area into 4 sections. Everyone who had tickets at the original standing area was put in the back half of the arena, and they wanted more money from you to upgrade your ticket to one of the front four sections.

What a fucking con.

[Hawklord]

4 minutes ago, BlackHoodedCrow said:

 

£250 notes? You'll get a nice close-up view of this sign then. 



After getting done over by seeing Harry Styles at a big venue, I'm sceptical of seeing any band at any large venue anymore.

We paid for HS tickets; standing area. Then they moved the show to a bigger venue and split the standing area into 4 sections. Everyone who had tickets at the original standing area was put in the back half of the arena, and they wanted more money from you to upgrade your ticket to one of the front four sections.

What a fucking con.

I saw The Wall tour where the entire stage was erm, a wall that the band played behind  

 

Also looks similar to his last tour, that's the screens above the band

 

 

[BlackHoodedCrow]

14 minutes ago, Hawklord said:

Also looks similar to his last tour, that's the screens above the band

I was thinking more the words on the screen; resist capitalism.

Something about taking £200+ a ticket to show messages like resist capitalism and a pig which says "fuck the poor" doesn't quite sit right.

 

No beef against anyone who is going to see this, or chose to cough up for a ticket. I just can't imagine being an artist wanting to convey a political message like this and then taking so much money from people.

 

One of my favourite bands is Los Campesinos! and I know the scale is very different, but they make a point that every tour they do, they have Full Price tickets and also Reduced Price tickets - for people that don't feel like they can pay full price. And, surprisingly, people wanting to go to the concert will pay full price if they can afford to. Quite often, Reduced Price tickets are sold on an honest policy and are often the ones remaining after the full price have sold out.

[Fierce Poodle]

In defence of Roger Waters, he does have a 150 strong crew to pay and an absolute fuck ton of equipment to cart around the world. I have no idea how much profit he takes home himself.

[Darren]

15 minutes ago, Fierce Poodle said:

In defence of Roger Waters, he does have a 150 strong crew to pay and an absolute fuck ton of equipment to cart around the world. I have no idea how much profit he takes home himself.

We were saying this on the way home last night. At his age (79!) he could get away with turning up with a small band and playing a straight greatest hits set at one end of the arena/stadium with a live video feed projected onto a big screen for the folks at the back. People would still pay £80 a pop for that. Instead he takes a 9-piece (I think) band and a 150-person crew and builds this incredible custom stage in a new place for every show, and then performs this meticulously arranged music, light and video production. It’s even been thought out so that everyone gets a good view, there were no “bad” seats last night.

 

I think rich people are still allowed to criticise capitalism. It’s like that old Russell Brand quote, “When I was poor and complained about inequality they said I was bitter; now that I'm rich and I complain about inequality they say I'm a hypocrite. I'm beginning to think they just don't want to talk about inequality.”

 

Oh and the £80 tickets magically turning into £200 tickets thanks to the invisible hand of the market (assisted by Ticketmaster et al)? That’s definitely the sort of capitalism we should all be resisting, and of course Rog and his small army won’t ever see a penny of that mark-up.

[Hawklord]

Yeah I would say that he probably has no control over the ticket prices. Cost of production + labour means it may even make only a minimal profit per show

 

Prices for Glasgow ranged from £75 to £250 per ticket but the more expensive ones were VIP seats and/or closer to the stage

 

For reference

 

[Hawklord]

@Darren @Fierce Poodle do you have a rough idea of the start/finish times?

[Darren]

7 minutes ago, Hawklord said:

@Darren @Fierce Poodle do you have a rough idea of the start/finish times?

It was advertised as starting at 8 and finishing about 10:30, it actually started at 8:15 and finished about 11.

[Hawklord]

9 minutes ago, Darren said:

It was advertised as starting at 8 and finishing about 10:30, it actually started at 8:15 and finished about 11.

Cheers, just need to make sure we make the last train

 

Ooft 2312, might have to miss the end if it runs to 11

[Darren]

2 minutes ago, Hawklord said:

Cheers, just need to make sure we make the last train

 

Ooft 2312, might have to miss the end if it runs to 11

Bear in mind it then took us about 20 minutes to actually get out of the arena! Although if you leave before the end you won’t get caught up in the scrum.

[Darren]

I was just looking through my photos and was struck by this contrast between the last two gigs I went to.

 

Sunday: Dot to Dot festival in Nottingham, the last act I saw was Kynsy in the Red Room:

 

 

Wednesday: Rog in Brum:

 

 

Bit of a difference!

[Fierce Poodle]

10 minutes ago, Hawklord said:

Cheers, just need to make sure we make the last train

 

Ooft 2312, might have to miss the end if it runs to 11

Very much depends on if Rog goes on a rant!