Music Concerts then and now

[Doon frae Troon]

Best live concerts I have been to were The Clancy Bros at the Usher Hall Edinburgh, Stefhen Grappelli and Diz Disley at Surbiton and Runrig at the Colston Hall Bristol.

Burns week concerts in the Scottish schools and my G'daughter is singing Loch Lomond.
I am trying to persuade her to persuade the Heedy to finish with a handclapping Runrig flourish.

 

[Wolf]

Up to a point I agree. I am friends with Fish who certainly in the Marillion years, and also beyond into his solo career could be described as a "big" stage presence and certainly knew how to play to a crowd. Even now in far smaller venues like Islington Assemble Rooms, Roadmender in Northampton etc he often has to pause to deal with hecklers or drunks causing a nuisance. Most fans want to be there for the gig but it seems more and more venues are struggling with people just turning up on the night to get smashed and who don't give a damn for the artist, the music of the majority of those there

That's nothing to do with the venue or the act though. That's more to do with modern societies reliance on alcohol for enjoyment. Big or small venue as you point out in your own post its happening in smaller locations, you will get idiots that just want to be on the lash and will not change.

 

[Grant85]

I was listening to Genisis Seconds Out this morning which is a live concert recording (1977).

What was noticeable to me was the audience may have shouted a little at the start of a song and a lot at the end of song but almost none in the middle.

People clearly went to listen to the music then.

On a more recent live recording of a Floyd concert there was whistling and calling all through the concert with virtually every change of guitar rift from Dave Gilmour.

I think this is just the experience. Back in 1977, a lot of people wouldn't be able to afford huge record collections or buy every album they were interested in. Music fans would listen to radio a lot and make considered purchases. If they were going to a gig, there's a fair chance, especially for a new band, they wouldn't have heard most of the songs and might only have heard the singles a few times on the radio.

Now you can basically listen to almost any and every song you want for free, or £10 a month.

The days of a band 'touring an album' are long gone, where a set list might be 10 tracks from their current album, plus a couple big songs from a previous record. Now people turn up and they expect a band to play their big hits and not bother too much with their new stuff, which people can find online easily enough. People want to enjoy a night out and simply don't give as much thought or consideration to the actual music.

 

[Russ_D]

Been to hundreds of gigs and festivals and have given up in everything except smaller venues. Everything else just seems so impersonal

Agree with the smaller venues. Been to see the likes of Sterophonics and Alter Bridge at O2 arena Leeds, and they were good but not a patch on The Amazons at the O2 academy Leeds. Smaller venue just seems to have better sound quality.

 

[GB72]

Agree with the smaller venues. Been to see the likes of Sterophonics and Alter Bridge at O2 arena Leeds, and they were good but not a patch on The Amazons at the O2 academy Leeds. Smaller venue just seems to have better sound quality.

Agree. I go to venues like Rock City, Leicester De Montford, the various O2 Academys around the country and my current favourite, the Brighton Dome. You feel it is much more personal, a far better connection and if they are not that popular so as to attract a big crowd I have even had a semi conversation with the support act during their set.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Agree. I go to venues like Rock City, Leicester De Montford, the various O2 Academys around the country and my current favourite, the Brighton Dome. You feel it is much more personal, a far better connection and if they are not that popular so as to attract a big crowd I have even had a semi conversation with the support act during their set.

If I recall correctly I think that the Gallaghers put Glasgow Barrowland (Ballroom) up there as one of their favourite venues - and it's not that big.