Great Gigs

[PeckhamRose]

So envious you saw Muse at O2 last night.

I LOVE Muse but can't afford the sorts of prices venues charge these days and I don't/won't have a credit card to book over the phone and pay the sorts of booking fees which were the prices I was paying to see whole gigs at Hammersmith Odeon in the 80s and 90s!!

So what rules are there?

No smoking or taking photos obviously, but do they take your mobiles away from you at the door?

Are you allowed to drink?

Are you allowed to take your inhaler in with you?

Are you allowed to enjoy yourself?

[Keef]

Alas no smoking anywhere (have to give a big up to Brixton, as they have made an effort and have a smoking area outside once the gig starts). You can drink if you're rich, you can take your inhaler, although I forgot mine last night. You can take photos, and you can have fun in theory, although the staff try to discourage it.

Was very expensive at ?45, but that was the only ticket I could get. Wouldn't do it again if sat in a box. I think ?30 is enough to pay for a gig.

Just back from a weekend in New York where I was lucky enough to attend two of the best concerts Madison Square Gardens has ever seen. Bruce Springsteen performed the whole of 'The Wild The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle' on Saturday night and the whole of 'The River' on Sunday night. In over 30 years of concert going not seen anything to match the energy & intensity of those two nights.

Yeah, much better known as a sporting venue I guess.

[giggirl]

The staff at O2 (and at indigo2) can be quite unnecessarily nasty with the punters. I've been in the standing area quite a few times and I've seen some incidents that just shouldn't have happened. Someone should have a word and tell them that the punters are paying a lot of money to have a good night out so don't be so heavy handed.

It's very expensive to go to gigs these days and booking fees are way OTT.

Drinks at the O2 are very expensive. The food is expensive too but I don't eat fast food (unless I'm very drunk) so that doesn't bother me.

They don't let you take your own food or drink in and take it off you at the entrance. Try telling them that your diabetic - I do this all the time and they just wave you in.

The sound isn't brilliant and there's no atmosphere. I've never been up on level 4 but I do feel sorry for the people that end up there - they look like they wish they had stayed home.

Artists are greedy too - Paul McCartney charging ?125 for some level 4 seats - they are really crappy seats and you'd think with all his money that he would give his fans a break. He can stick the frog's chorus where the sun don't shine as far as I'm concerned.

The best that can be said about the O2 is that it's a piece of cake to get to from ED.

Jah's right - the Roundhouse is the best in London.

[Keef]

Not surprising about Paul McCartney though is it. W@nker!

[giggirl]

Absolutely Keef. Complete W@nker. Mind you, I wouldn't pay ?125 to see the Beatles. I liked George though.

[Keef]

Word.

[titch juicy]

I thought the atmosphere and sound for Prince were both surprisingly very good considering the size of the venue (20,000). Although it may have helped that the stage was in the middle of the floor, rather than at one end. The atmosphere was a little worse for Stevie Wonder.

I guess there's no venue of comparable size in London- Earls Court, Ally Pally and Wembley Arena are all around 10 - 12,000 i believe- and the sound at the o2 wipes the floor with each of them (especially Ally Pally).

My mate was up in the top tier for Prince though and said the sound was poor, we were lower tier.

For me, the roundhouse is a very good venue, but if you stand in the wrong place the sound can be poor- however move a few yards either side and the sound can be very good.

[mockney piers]

Here, just for keef, the whole of the Mariner's Revenge (aka the whale song) that he missed but could have seen at the Coronet the other night.

great great gig. Every bit as good as the pixies, perhaps for me better. I will now live out my days in fear of Brendan!!!

[Atila Reincarnate]

For acoustics, view, setting etc, Albert Hall is far and away best venue ever for gigs. Worst is Wembley or Earls Court

[Fear 'n boozin]

mockney piers Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Here, just for keef, the whole of the Mariner's

> Revenge (aka the whale song) that he missed but

> could have seen at the Coronet the other night.

>

>

>

> great great gig. Every bit as good as the pixies,

> perhaps for me better. I will now live out my days

> in fear of Brendan!!!

You don't know what you missed man, they let you out to smoke and everything!

You comming to modest mouse, or should I start touting?

[giggirl]

Is the whole forum going to Modest Mouse? I was going to go to the Electric Ballroom on the 15th but I've had a better offer.

Anyway, here's a link for a pre-sale for Pearl Jam in Hyde Park in case anyone is interested.

http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/22004382A635CA24?artistid=961401&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=1&did=uklno2ps&&camefrom=CFC_UK_BUYAT_penguingigs

[david_carnell]

Went to the 100 Club to see Eli 'Paperboy' Reed & The Trueloves last night.

Fantastic.

1960s Stax soul given a modern re-working. Eli Reed sings with the disembodied voice of an old black man from Memphis in the body of a young white man from Boston (who has perhaps had a few too many clam chowders for the suit he was wearing). A super-tight backing band in the shape of the Trueloves provide exemplary support with the horn section proving the highlight. Bass sax has never sounded so sexy.

Traditional themes (love, adultery, broken hearts) are the topics for fast-paced and short-lived songs that never outstay their welcome and for a wet, cold Weds night in London there can surely be no one better at putting a smile on your face and a tap in your foot. The encore of 'Explosion' could not be more appropriately titled.

The only sour note was perhaps the venue itself. Whilst the 100 Club is rightly of iconic status, and the tickets themselves were good value, at every other turn they seem to try and drain money from you. Extortionate drinks prices and ?2 per item cloakroom charge (it's winter - we all have coats and bags - don't be ?$%^&s) left a slightly foul taste in the mouth.

[giggirl]

Can I just share with you that there is absolutely shag all in my diary right now. Not a sausage. How boring is that? Is there anyone out there in ED with anything exciting lined up? Please share so that I can live vicariously through someone.

I?m not even going to the BRITS (Robbie Williams and Coldplay ? not worth a new frock and taxi fare).

I?m toying with Hole and Biffy Clyro but not decided. There?s a sniff of Soundgarden ? maybe.

Anybody? Anything?

[SeanMacGabhann]

Rich hawley this Saturday at the rfh

[KidKruger]

100 Club. Fri 26 Mar: THE GROUNDHOGS

[mightyroar]

Nick Drake tribute on Friday

Also Vampire weekend are playing brixton next month

[kpc]

Low Anthem next month and Mariachi El Bronx even further off.

[titch juicy]

low anthem- where?

saw them in cologne and notting hill last year and would love to see them again (hopefully at EOTR festie too)

seeing Wild Beasts at Koko in March, Grizzly Bear at the Roundhouse in March, BRMC at the Forum in April and Pavement at Brixton in May.

[giggirl]

I'm going to Pavement too. I'd forgotten. Yeah - there IS something in my diary after all!

Px

[titch juicy]

which night giggirl?

[giggirl]

12th May - how 'bout you?

[Brendan]

Cor I did not knew Pavement had reformed.

[giggirl]

What are you doing on the 12th then Brendan?

[SeanMacGabhann]

Brendan, who hasn't reformed is the better question

To which my sad reply is Fatima Mansions....

[Brendan]

Ag no, busy that Friday unfortunately.