| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms 20:01 - Jun 6 with 7955 views | RamseyR |
My facebook feed seems full of friends seeing ACDC, Springsteen & (dare I say it) Coldplay in vast stadiums. They've paid £100 odd quid a ticket, for a really poor view and a poor sound.
Personally I lose interest when a band gets big and generally prefer emerging first/second album bands before thy hit it big, playing in dark, sweaty rooms with a slippery floor from all the beer spilt, for no more than £30
Each to their own I suppose...but anyone else with me? |  | | |  |
| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 12:29 - Jun 7 with 2010 views | johann28 |
Hate the large venues. Unless you're standing near the front you just watch the screens and it all becomes a show rather than a gig, if you get me. They may have some sort of atmosphere but it's certainly not the same sort of atmosphere you get in a crowded small venue and I often find people going there for the event and occasion rather than the actual music just so they can say they have seen so and so. Brixton Academy, Kentish Town Forum, Shepherds Bush Empire, Roundhouse are as big as it gets for me. You'd think that if they can get 20,000 in the 02 they would at least be able to reduce the ticket prices whereas in fact they often seem to be more expensive than the same band at Brixton Academy - confused. Great small/medium sized venues, Koko, Hammersmith Palais, ULU, ICA, Dingwalls, Underworld, Electric Ballroom, Borderline, Academy Islington, Lexington to name but a few - last time at the Lex the band were great and hung around for a chat in the bar afterwards. Now that's a gig.
Don't mind some festivals but they do seem to be more commercialised these days and again seem to be part of a summer social scene rather than places to go and see bands. Loved Glastonbury in the 70-80s's but don't think I would want to go back again now.
My other pet hate is people at any venue or festival who insist on talking all the way through the set. Loved the Luminere as they actually had notices up asking people not to talk.
Most important of all is to go to your small local venues to support new bands and live music and stay away from x Factor. [Post edited 7 Jun 2016 12:33]
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| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 13:11 - Jun 7 with 1976 views | Monahoop |
| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 09:42 - Jun 7 by derbyhoop |
I prefer the latter but, unless you are a stickler for finding upcoming bands, you don't find out about the smaller gigs until the bands have outgrown them.
In recent years, I did manage to see British Sea Power and Everything, Everything at the Academy in Dublin and War On Drugs at Manchester's Albert Hall. All excellent. |
The Academy in Dublin is my favourite venue in Ireland or at least Dublin. Not too large to make you feel like a pea in a drum or too small to be uncomfortable. Just right actually. Lots of new stuff and established or fossilised artists perform there. Something for everyone. Check it out if you like music and are visiting Dublin. |  |
| There aint half been some clever bastards. |
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| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 13:42 - Jun 7 with 1960 views | NW10Hoop |
| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 10:59 - Jun 7 by Metallica_Hoop |
I loved the Astoria.
Megadeth in 2007 is one of my favourite gigs ever.
Drunk as a lord, sweating like a whore in church and battered to fook but what a great gig. |
The Astoria was my favourite venue too, saw so many great shows there, and polished off hundreds of Red Stripes. |  | | |
| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 15:27 - Jun 7 with 1936 views | WrightUp5hit___ |
I suppose the other lost circuit is the Universities and Colleges.
I suppose living in West London I was spoilt with Imperial College, PCL, Goldsmiths and I seem to remember the London College of Printing (!) all of which had great bands on what seemed like a weekly basis, arranged by entrepreneurial social secretaries. |  | | |
| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 15:45 - Jun 7 with 1935 views | RamseyR |
My formative years were spent in the likes of ...100 Club, Marquee, Clarendon, Moonlight. I only went to one large gig which was Bowie at Milton Keynes bowl, and we had to kip in the car until about 4am before getting out.
The largest venues I've been to have been Lyceum, Rainbow, Hammersmith Odeon, The Palais. Electric Ballroom, The Forum all of which I have very fond memories of.
I will never, ever go to a stadium to see anyone. Last gig I went to was at the Portland Arms in Cambridge to see Kirk Brandon...circa 120 people. Next gig PIL at he Roadmender in Northampton. | | | |
| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 20:46 - Jun 7 with 1898 views | NW5Hoop |
Of course, small gigs are better. What stadium shows can offer, at their very best - as with Springsteen - is an incredible sense of communion with others. I was at two Springsteen shows this weekend, and they were emotionally overhwleming. |  | | |
| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 21:39 - Jun 7 with 1881 views | Boston |
I haven't read this thread yet, there is no need, go straight to answer. Anyone and I mean anyone, who thinks these stadium gigs are better than the back room bar or Johnny's garage, should be horsewhipped, YOU are the reason nobody can play a fckin instrument anymore. | |
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| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 22:31 - Jun 7 with 1863 views | Harbour |
| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 12:29 - Jun 7 by johann28 |
Hate the large venues. Unless you're standing near the front you just watch the screens and it all becomes a show rather than a gig, if you get me. They may have some sort of atmosphere but it's certainly not the same sort of atmosphere you get in a crowded small venue and I often find people going there for the event and occasion rather than the actual music just so they can say they have seen so and so. Brixton Academy, Kentish Town Forum, Shepherds Bush Empire, Roundhouse are as big as it gets for me. You'd think that if they can get 20,000 in the 02 they would at least be able to reduce the ticket prices whereas in fact they often seem to be more expensive than the same band at Brixton Academy - confused. Great small/medium sized venues, Koko, Hammersmith Palais, ULU, ICA, Dingwalls, Underworld, Electric Ballroom, Borderline, Academy Islington, Lexington to name but a few - last time at the Lex the band were great and hung around for a chat in the bar afterwards. Now that's a gig.
Don't mind some festivals but they do seem to be more commercialised these days and again seem to be part of a summer social scene rather than places to go and see bands. Loved Glastonbury in the 70-80s's but don't think I would want to go back again now.
My other pet hate is people at any venue or festival who insist on talking all the way through the set. Loved the Luminere as they actually had notices up asking people not to talk.
Most important of all is to go to your small local venues to support new bands and live music and stay away from x Factor. [Post edited 7 Jun 2016 12:33]
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Anyone go to the Kilburn National was a cracking venue plus the empire Shepherd's Bush and the jazz cafe beat the arenas every day | | | |
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| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 00:45 - Jun 8 with 1851 views | Boston |
Did any of you ever hand me(back in the 70's),50p or a quid to get into the Windsor Castle on the Harrow Rd? | |
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| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 09:48 - Jun 8 with 1826 views | londonscottish |
| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 22:31 - Jun 7 by Harbour |
Anyone go to the Kilburn National was a cracking venue plus the empire Shepherd's Bush and the jazz cafe beat the arenas every day |
The Kilburn National; yes Nirvana in 91. By far the best gig of my life at the time and still easily top 5.
Shepherd Bush in 2014 to see Incognito.
Jazz Cafe - Carleen Anderson last year, JTQ and Jocelyn Brown this year.
All cracking venues. Now the kids are getting a bit older me and the Mrs have started rediscovering a lot of placed we went to in the late 80's and 90's. Shame we've lost the Astoria and National but London is still an amazing place for live music.
Next stop is the Union Chapel on Thursday for an acoustic set by Jonathan Wilson. |  |
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| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 14:24 - Jun 8 with 1799 views | NW5Hoop |
Favourite London venues:
The Lexington
Sebright Arms
Underworld
The problem is that you can't actually see big bands in small rooms. And I have to say, the right performer can make an enormodome seem relatively intimate. I've seen Springsteen from miles away and it's still been great. On the other hand, I've seen indie bands failing to project to the back of the room above a pub. | | | |
| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 19:06 - Jun 8 with 1785 views | Drewster |
Took my 16yr old son to see EAT at The Borderline in April.
250 people max were there, what a gig and it was his first in a small venue and he loved it.
Easily one of the best gigs I have been to as well. |  | | |
| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 20:55 - Jun 8 with 1761 views | WrightUp5hit___ |
| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 00:45 - Jun 8 by Boston |
Did any of you ever hand me(back in the 70's),50p or a quid to get into the Windsor Castle on the Harrow Rd? |
Your surname isn't Johnson is it? | | | |
| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 21:35 - Jun 8 with 1756 views | BlackCrowe |
4 of my top 10 gigs of all time were in smaller/medium venues.
Working back:
Prince - Roundhouse 2014
B.Crowes - Fillmore SF 2010
Stones - Astoria c.2003
Ramones - Lyceum c.'85
Been a lucky boy.
The only thing missing is that i go and see a lot of live music in small venues but I've never really seen anyone on their way up to the big time unfortunately. |  |
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| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 23:00 - Jun 8 with 1737 views | ted_hendrix |
I'd safely say being at Bracknell sports centre and witnessing one of Gods own Les Paul playing maestro's Paul Kossoff had to be seen to believe it.
They played the opening bars to 'The Hunter' and the place went wild.
Reading Uni was a great venue too where we saw the brilliant Ten Years After fronted by another guitar legend.
Reading top rank has long gone but me and the missus got smashed there one night by the magnificent Hawkwind.
Reading town hall is a magnificent little venue where we saw the masterful Robert Cray, this guy is as smooth as fck, good little venue.
I've also seen a few shit bands at Readings Hexagon.
Corn Exchange in Newbury is a smashing little venue for live music that's been restored, don't laugh but I saw the stupidly named Hamsters there; Lord Jimi played there a few Months before he passed on to that big Marshall stack in the sky.
Hey Joe. |  |
| My Father had a profound influence on me, he was a lunatic. |
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| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 00:17 - Jun 9 with 1664 views | PunteR |
Never really an expert on gigs but the Half Moon in Putney has been decent .
Brixton Academy is a great venue.
Sub 89 in Reading is good.
SW1 club and 9 elms lane Coliseum, Camden Palace,were my favourite venues back in the day. |  |
| Occasional providers of half decent House music. |
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| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 09:12 - Jun 9 with 1627 views | SomersetHoops |
I'm a fan of both if they are good. I saw Muse and Green Day at the Emirates, which IMHO is a great stadium venue and matched by really good performances by both bands. I have seen various less recognised bands at small venues like the O2 in Bristol Weston Pier, a club in Reading and The Square and Compass Pub in Ashill. These were also good with closer contact with the performers. In my earlier years it was possible to have the benefits of both at places like the Ricky--tick and Thames Hotel in Windsor where I saw the Stones, Hendrix, Cream, Geno Washington and others.
Although I didn't rate them that highly I saw The Swinging Blue Jeans at the Ex Services Club in Windsor the year they had their top charting song Hippy Hippy Shake - that probably wouldn't happen now.
The last Festival I went to was Reading when the Arctic Monkeys were headlining and although its great to have all the stages covering top bands down to those developing their talent, I was suffering with a really bad hip joint (now successfully replaced) and found the walking from the car park to the boat that took you to within about half a mile from the stages and all the miles of walking between stages to see the bands you were interested in a bit too much. Although it would be much less painful for me now I think the large festivals are really more suitable for the young, however if I could get a ticket, Glastonbury might still be one I would like to go to. |  |
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| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 09:48 - Jun 9 with 1616 views | loftboy |
| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 23:00 - Jun 8 by ted_hendrix |
I'd safely say being at Bracknell sports centre and witnessing one of Gods own Les Paul playing maestro's Paul Kossoff had to be seen to believe it.
They played the opening bars to 'The Hunter' and the place went wild.
Reading Uni was a great venue too where we saw the brilliant Ten Years After fronted by another guitar legend.
Reading top rank has long gone but me and the missus got smashed there one night by the magnificent Hawkwind.
Reading town hall is a magnificent little venue where we saw the masterful Robert Cray, this guy is as smooth as fck, good little venue.
I've also seen a few shit bands at Readings Hexagon.
Corn Exchange in Newbury is a smashing little venue for live music that's been restored, don't laugh but I saw the stupidly named Hamsters there; Lord Jimi played there a few Months before he passed on to that big Marshall stack in the sky.
Hey Joe. |
Gigs at Bracknell sports centre got banned after the specials played there,loads of skins came from slough for a ruck with Bracknell skins, thousands of pounds of damage was done and that was the end of that. |  |
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| Stadium rock v Small dark sweaty rooms on 09:50 - Jun 9 with 1614 views | loftboy |
Hate to say it but under the bridge is a great venue, seen spear of destiny and the blockheads there recently. | |
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