Live Gig discussion

[The Curmudgeon]

After reading the last live gig thread I realised that there's quite a few of us here that could reply to this one. So, a quick few rapid fire questions about the gigs you've been to...

Best Gig:

Hmmm. I would have to say, as sad as it sounds - the first one ever. Others may have been wilder, but the Prince gig is unsurpassed in terms of sheer "wow" factor and genuine excitement. I was a big Prince fan at the time, but after THAT gig it all went a little obsessive...

Worst Gig:

For all the good gigs I've been to, there's been a fair number of dull ones. The biggest disaster had to be the first time I saw Marilyn Manson. He was still little known in the UK and so the gig was really quite tiny. He played for about twenty five minutes until someone threw a plastic cup at him. The music stopped. "Which of you pussys likes to throw shit at me?" He asked. Someone cheered. "Well you finish the set" he replied, throwing the mic down and stomping off. And that was that. Uh - bummer.

Most expensive gig:

I saw Bowie supported by The Dandy Warhols a few years ago, and that was about £35 a ticket. But shit - it's David BOWIE. Money is surely only bits of paper in comparrison.

Best support act:

It's always cool to go to a band who are supported by someone you know, as was the case with Foo Fighters (Redd Kross - awesome!) but its always better to end up a fan of a smaller band who blew you away from the get-go. So was the case with a little known Scandanavian band called Surfarosa, the support for Electric Six. Fronted by a mad banshee of a woman (still pretty sexy, all the same), we needed to get their album POST HASTE after the gig, spending a fortune on an import copy. It paid off though, 'cos a few months later we saw them at another smaller gig and she saw we (my wife and I) were the only ones who knew the words. So my, er, prize, was her coming up with a mouthful of water and spitting it into my mouth. Um, you had to be there.

Biggest disappointment:

There's been quite a few bands that have had the "meh" factor, but (to my shame) I actually went to see Bon Jovi (hey, not my idea). Now, I was expecting a fairly naff but enjoyable show full of thirty somethings wearing faded tight denims. Boy was I mistaken - naff yes, but the crowd were the BIGGEST bunch of scary, dangerous SCUM I've ever seen in my life. And as for Bon Jovi themselves, I don't think I've ever looked at my watch so much in my life. Flat, humdrum performance and a cut-and-paste crowd interaction. In a word - shit. In more than one word - £60 for two tickets shit.

Funniest/coolest moment:

I do enjoy shouting out shit to bands. Not heckling or anything (well, unless they deserve it), so I've had a fair bit of funny moments. Like, this cool support act we saw once (Dirty Sanchez), I shouted "play a Pixies song!" and the guy said "man, I would LOVE to play a Pixies song but we don't know any", and then the guitarist started playing "U-Mass" and they played the first couple of verses of that. But the coolest moments for me had to be the sight of my wife crowd surfing in a Slipknot gig (the wildest gig I've ever been to) or at an Andrew W.K (believe it or not, the second wildest gig I've ever been to) show, jumping off a balcony onto the crowd and being carried up to the front where she got a plectrum for her troubles. Ahhh.. I've taught her well.

It's hard trying to squeeze memories from this drink-damaged brain, so that's all that I've got for now.

How about...... YOU?

[trashcanman]

First off, let me just say that the Curmudgeon's wife must be a goddess among women. Also, Marilyn Manson is a little bitch is he thinks he's going to play a single gig to a metal crowd dressed like a girl playing bad 80's covers without getting anyting thrown at him. Getting pelted with random shit is just part of the show, real kickass rock bands make it into a running joke with the audience. No wonder he cancelled his last Fresno performance. That is a hardcore punk rock city and those motherfuckers will KILL you. I could tell stories about Fresno crowds for days. Sure he said he cancelled out of respect to the victims of the Columbine massacre, but nigga please. Manson's all about respect for public opinion, right?

Best Gig:

This is a hard, hard choice, but I'm going to go with my gut and say Black Sabbath on their reunion tour. My seats were way up and behind the stage, but Ozzy was on fire and I was absolutely electrified by the fact that I was seeing one of my all-time favorite bands reunited and in top form. It was an amazing feeling to see a band you never, ever expected to see live kicking ass right before your eyes. Also, Pantera opened the show in amazing fashion in what would prove to be their next-to-last tour. RIP, Dimebag. Okay, technically Incubus opened the show, but there were only about 20 people (a generous estimate) in the entire arena watching and they were all sitting politely except for one guy up front that was going apeshit like he was watching Slayer or something. Funny as hell.

Worst Gig:

Bush/Moby. Dear God. I am not a fan of Bush; I feel they are second rate and Gavin Rossdale's voice is grating at best, but they aren't terrible live. The problem with this gig was the opening act. Moby ws just embarassing. He basically pressed play on a CD player and then stood at the front of the stage with his hands behind his back nodding his head while the music played. Then he humped his keyboard. Then he junped in the air once or twice. Then he walked over and pushed another button. Then he sat a spell. Then he humped his keyboard again. Then he talked some lame stage banter and got a guitar and played and sang along to a backing track -complete with prerecorded vocals, mind you- of his hit "Body Rock". Then he pushed another button and nodded his head some more. This went on for about an hour. He had a live drummer that could barely be heard over the electronic beats, a hot chick with a bass that she barely even pretended to play (picking hand flat against strings) who just rocked out. That was it. That was the show. I booed, heckled and flipped the bird, but my wife -ever the shy one- made me stop so I couldn't even enjoy that. Worst gig ever.

Most expensive gig:

Idunno, probably the last Aerosmith show I went to. $70+ for shitty seats. It turned out to be a half-assed performance by both 'Smith and opener Lenny Kravitz. I've got to get back to the punk and indie scene.

Best support act:

The Vandals. They opened for The Offspring the first punk show I ever attended and kicked my ass. Since that night I've gotten everything they've ever put out and I'd go see them every night if I could. Just a loud, spontaneous, insane, obnoxious, and extremely funny band. Check out their "Sweatin' to the Oldies" CD (or better yet, DVD) if you don't believe me. Honorable mention goes to Guttermouth; pretty much the same things I just said about the Vandals apply, but they also invite audience members onstage for endless ridicule. ;D

Biggest disappointment:

Probably the aformentioned Aerosmith/Kravitz show. After paying such a price for such shitty seats, I expected better. Aerosmith played mostly covers and "Livin' on the Edge" was a train wreck. The sound system was pretty fucked as well. They did manage an old obscure favorite of mine, "No More, No More" though so I left fairly happy.

Funniest/Coolest moment:

I could go on for days. I'll say the Summer Sanitarium tour at 3-Com Park in Frisco was a trip. They were selling these cups of lemonade that each had half a lemon in them. The show started late and it was hot as hell with nothing to do for hours. Suddenly, as if on cue, the entire stadium filled with people splits into two porions and starts throwing lemons at each other. There's this huge gap and lemons just flying like bullets both ways. The crowd up in the stands lets out this huge roar and it's on. The lemon war lasted for a good 20-minutes until we started hitting people in the stands and we ran out of lemons. Or so some thought. One guy runs out into the divide where the lemons had piled up to grab more ammo and BLAMBLAMBLAMBLAM!!! He's pelted with lemons from both sides, slips and falls on his ass and then gets pelted some more. Dumbass. That was fun as hell; I got my money's worth before the first band ever played! ;D
Close second: Alien Ant Farm getting pelted with frozen wieners from a tipped-over hot dog cart at the Warped Tour.

[The Curmudgeon]

Me and a friend actually skipped college one day to get Aerosmith tickets, only for our tutor to drive past us on the way to get them. Instead of making up some lie, when he asked us where we were the next day, in a dry, cynical "got to hear this" voice, I just shrugged and said "Aerosmith tickets went on sale. We had to get them." He sort of ummed and erred, and then said "Oh.... uh.. you like Aerosmith, do you?" And that was that. I think he appreciated the honesty!

As for Moby, in a major twist - he was one of THE very best live acts I've ever seen. It was, however, before his crappy, soul-less dance crap and before he got super-famous. He used to play an ear-bleeding fusion of techno and hard rock, and the crowd were absolutley fucking WILD. Honestly, Trashy - if you ever get a chance to hear Moby's "Come On Baby" or "Someone To Love" then do so - they really were years ahead of their time. It was just a shame that it didn't sell and Moby tried something else that sold by the quadbillion.

Alien Ant Farm getting pelted by anything sounds like solid gold viewing to me!

[CW]

Testing...

[CW]

Hey Curmudgeon, thought I'd pop by and support your wee endeavour (especially since I hope ye shall join us at The Sounds gig in Edinburgh). Plus my presence also gives you a chance to have GOOD music spoken about on the forum instead of, urgh, Marilyn Manson and Bon Jovi. Not cool, mate, not cool.

Best Gig:

The Cribs at QMU, Glasgow. December 2005. Utterly, utterly mega. Just fantastic in every way. Close second was Suede's farewell gig in Edinburgh and Morrissey at the Corn Exchange when he opened with How Soon is Now.


Worst Gig:

Gomez at T in the Park. Worst. Band. Ever. Uncharasmatic, boring dullards with dreadful music and no stage presence at all. Painful to endure.


Most expensive gig:

I spent a lot of cash to buy myself and a friend (who doesn't like music) two tickets to MUSE at the LA Forum. It was worth it though and if I'd gone myself the price of a taxi would have been sky high so kinda evened itself out I guess. I had a blast.


Best support act:

The Hot Puppies. Supported The Bluetones earlier in the year. Thought it would be a night of bringing back university memories and I instead ended up hooked on an amazing support band. Check out the you tube video for "The Girl Who Was Too Beautiful" to see one of the best bands around.



Biggest disappointment:

Ian Brown at T in the PArk 2002. He did a very short set and was in pretty bad voice. Also Babyshambles at the Barrowlands. Ned city (to the point of violence) and Pete didn't get onstage until after 11pm for a short 45 minute set.


Funniest/coolest moment:

Razorlight supporting Suede in 2003 before they had taken off. Johnny Borrell is giving it his all on stage to a silent Glasgow crowd and then as he awaits applause someone shouts out "shite" and the crowd erupts into laughter. I felt really sorry for him actually but considering what a twunt he turned into I now look back on it with much hilarity.

Also a drugged up Bobby Gillespie at T in the Park 2002 thinking that he had the crowd in his palm when everyone was bored rigid and really just counting down to Oasis.

[The Curmudgeon]

Welcome to the site, Calum - and hey, I never SAID Bon Jovi was good. I never even wanted to go, it was my wife and her stupid girly mates (I'll give the missus her dues - that was her first ever lame gig choice).

I've always had a soft spot for Manson, man. There are rock BANDS and there are rock STARS. He is the latter - and a fucking awesome one at that.

And really, you were surprised that a Babyshambles crowd was full of thugs?

[CW]

I was surprised a Babyshambles gig was full of thugs (having seen The Libertines twice in Glasgow, also at Barrowlands, although second time was a bit neddy but no more so than your usual weegie crowd. Part and parcel of that city I do not like to think about...).

I mean Pete's lyrics are very poetic and there was the whole homoeroticism with he and Carl during their Libertines days. Not really neddy things to be embracing IMO...

[The Curmudgeon]

They just know he's into heroin so they think he's their spiritual leader.

[CW]

Maybe, but then I never saw any neds at Suede gigs.

Another worst concert (probably worse than Gomez) was some schmuck called Jessie Mallans. May have spelt that wrong. I got a free ticket to see him at King Tuts and was roped along by a mate. I should have known better as my friend has the worst music taste ever (Ryan Adams, Bon Jovi, U2, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chillis, Guns N Roses, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden). What resulted was some dire MOR songs sung with a gravelly US accent and the announcement "This song is about patching England and the US together. I hope you guys understand" in GLASGOW SCOTLAND. Idiot. Then came a cover of Bob Dylan song (can't remember which one. I walked) where he said "I don't believe in God man but I see Blair and Bush and wonder if we should all just pray."

So he doesn't believe in God but wants us to pray?

He then asked everyone to get on their knees so he could cover this Dylan number.

I looked at my friend and said "I thought your music taste was bad man but this is taking the piss ever by your shitty standards."

Then I left and ended up defending Americans to the door man on the way out who said "All Americans ask you to pray man." Yeah well most of my friends are Americans and I'd trust them over any Glasweigen I know. And you're wrong. Please don't book this guy again. He's an idiot, needs a geography lesson and his songs are awful.

[The Curmudgeon]

Oh man, you don't like Ryan Adams either???

What are you man, my new nemesis?

[CW]

Just someone with good music taste.

By the way, my login doesn't work and nor does the code sent to me to get my username to work. In other words: your forum is duff. The old one was better.

[The Curmudgeon]

CW said:

Just someone with good music taste.

As someone who went to see the tuneless, talentless Babyshambles I find that rather cute.

Anyway, I've deleted your original CWo1 account, so you can set up a new one. I don't see how it could have gone wrong ("duff" site or not), so try again. Man, it's surely better than just logging in as a stranger everytime. Don't you want to work your way up the post counts, from stranger to Net Troll to.... well, no-one's got there yet.

'Course you do.

[CW]

Ah don't worry man. You will MATURE into the Babyshambles (and Pete Doherty's masterful, witty lyrics) after you've gone through your goth stage and matured a bit. You can't be into Marilyn Manson and slipknot after puberty you know...

[Ben]

Best Gig:

Dragonforce, Chimaira, He is Legend, and Killswitch Engage (even though I didn't see the last one, that will come up later). I wasn't overly familiar with any of these bands except Killswitch until I saw them at this concert, but GOD were they all AWESOME. The stage presence and guitar work was just UNBELIEVABLE. I'm usually not into the whole wing of metal these guys fit into, but I'll never stand for anyone badmouthing any of these bands around me again. They were all phenomenal.


Worst Gig:

Pearl Jam and Tom Petty. Outdoors, over 100 degrees out, half assed by both artists, the sound system was malfunctioning every 5 minutes. The whole thing was a wreck. I lost a lot of respect for Pearl Jam at that one. I never really liked Tom Petty anyway.


Most expensive:

Machine Head, Megadeth, and Black Sabbath. I can't say it wasn't worth it, because all three bands were pretty damn awesome, but it was over $120 for two tickets that weren't as close to the stage as I would have liked them to be.


Best Support Act:

Psychostick. They're basically a joke band (most song titles are like "I Hate Doing Laundry" and "Beer is Good") but they're hilarious. Their stage antics mixed with their rediculous music was enough to make my night.


Biggest Disappointment:

Army of Anyone. I expected at least a little fire from them, considering half the band is ex-STP guys, but they were like carboard statues. No crowd interaction at all, other than when the lead singer spit water on some chicks at the front. And other than the lead singer no one moved around at all. To top it all off, everything they played was a cover until their closing song. Thank God they weren't headlining.


Funniest/Coolest Moment:

I've got two. I've had a billion awesome concert moments (crowd surfing over the barrier onto the stage during Aiden, countless mosh fights, hooking up with drunk girls at Stone Sour just to name a few), but the two best ones would have to be 1) Getting a hug from Christina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil after the show, and 2) getting kicked out of Chimaira, He is Legend, Dragonforce, and Killswitch Engage.

Now getting kicked out in itself wasn't fun at all, the bouncers were rough and not at all kind about it (not like I should have expected them to be or anything), but the reason I got kicked out was completely worth it. I had just gotten done crowd surfing and was heading back to the standing room only/mosh pit area and accidentally bumped into this really really big guy. It wasn't much, his beer didn't even slosh out his cup, but he got pissed and just leveled me. He took a cheap shot and went low.

After I caught my breath (and got done rolling on the floor in agony) I got up and we went at it. This time he did spill his beer (and in the whole bustle of us knocking each other around so did a lot of other people) and pretty soon we had a miniature riot going. Somehow only me and one other guy got kicked out, well, dragged and carried out, by the bouncers, but it was still pretty sweet. It's the only time I've ever seen anything resembling a mosh by the bar at a venue.

[trashcanman]

Sounds like my kinda show, Ben. I am ridiculously jealous that you've touched the ethereal Miss Scabbia AND seen Dragonforce live. Too bad you missed Killswitch, though, they rule.

Also, welcome CW. You're a madman, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.