NWB - Community Blog

Went to see Van Morrison and Ray Charles at MEN several years ago now( before Ray died anyway ) ;-)
Van was on first and spent most of set with his back to crowd and just played songs from his new cd in extended jams. Shouts and boos got louder and he trooped off after about an hour.

Ray Charles " orchestra" started up after interval with no sign of the man himself.... Four songs into set with backing singers coming forward to sing old standards I left .

Was really looking forward to both these artists but very pished off at this gig.

Best wishes

John

G3 with Robert Fripp, vai and Sach, loads of "songs from our new album" a freaky 3 neck guitar demo from vai cut short by a broken string, endless new numbers no one knew from Sach, then some "frippatronics" from someone (presumably Fripp) shrouded in shadows at the edge of the stage, then an endless "flying in a blue dream" jam complete with frippatronics, was so bad Vai had to post some stuff on his website along the lines of "Robert fripp has been an endless source of inspiration blah blah blah" it was peeing down with rain and loads of Fripps fans waited ages for him, when he turned up he just waved his hand "NO" ...at the saturated fans
Vai on the other hand signed everything that was put in front of him and showed a little kid how to play " for the love of god" sat on the steps of the tour bus .

Went to see Dylan a few years ago at Stirling Castle...was limited to 6000 tickets so sounded promising...in fact I persuaded a few of us to go up there...
Now from the pictures it looked idyllic...there was a massive lawn at the front of the castle which was the obvious place to play...but when we arrived we found out it was round the back in this bloody big car park. It was drizzling, the midges were everywhere and there were a load of drunken Glaswegians everywhere just shouting for 'Knockin on Heaven's door....not only that, it wasn't one of Bob's better performances and the PA was crap....got a right bollocking off the people I'd took up on the understanding it was gonna be great.
Totally agree about Van Morrison....don't know why anybody goes to see him these days...great shows with the Caledonian Orchestra...but now...good god...I walked out on him twice...never again

Sex Pistols at the MEN Nov 2007.
Sat in the top tier, near the back.....Johnny Rotton was more of a pantomime dame than the snarling angry punk of his youth....all too bloody nice.
Too big a venue for Punk Music, would have prefered to see them in a smaller club.
I can always say ''I saw the Sex Pistols'' but it wasn't the Sex Pistols I remember from my youth....I'd rather go and see LAST GANG IN TOWN....
Problem is, there were too many 'sheeple' there to see a band they all pretend to hate in normal society.....you know, the ones who would never admit to fancying the Ginger one in Girls Aloud cos their mates would laugh at them.....bbbaaaahhhhhhhh.

the Ginger one in Girls Aloud?? What's up wi' her??? I would!
Mind you I'd also do the Ginger one in the Spice Girls!!

I've walked out on a few bands over the years but no real biggies ... didn't mind paying a few quid to go and see some hopeful up and comings (The Christians spring to mind - RoyalCourt many moons ago) and didn't feel i'd lost out if i got fed up and walked.

Very disappointed with Sting at the Sheff Arena after having seen him at the Apollo and (I think) The Empire(?) ... sound was crap, atmosphere was non existant - didn't leave tho!

Willow

I reckon this will be biz:

www.starwarsinconcert.com/ At £35 for cheapest ( in upper tier ) ticket to watch a couple of big telly's and a 20pce cover band...

The only gig which left me 'limp' was the recent venture by Pearl Jam at the M.E.N. Just did not get a vibe at all, Yeah the amthemic tunes were good but the set list had songs from the unreleased album.. I'm not a massive fan but still buzz of the older albums. Expected raw energy but no did not get anything from it...

I saw RATT in about 1990. My mates were into 80s hair metal/MOR stuff and I tagged along with them. It was rubbish. I'm not sure if it was just the material, or material plus performance, but the band didn't connect with me in any way shape or form.
JON

Iron Maiden was my biggest disappointment.. I was in the gods at the MEN, basically I was much too far away from the action...

@willow... what about the ginger one from metalleeka??

My two biggest disappointments were:

1) Maiden at the MEN the other year, terrible sound and I was more than a little annoyed to pay £50 to hear "Matter of Life and Death" in track order, followed by just two encores. Pathetic.

2) Ultravox at the Apollo last year. These lot were terrible, not even fit to play Butlins and the worst covers band would've been ashamed. They were rusty, again dreadful sound and they butchered most of the set. I left liking the band far less than before the curtain went up.

Film One - absolutely agree 100% about the maiden gig. A rip off, not even a big screen. I had seats on the first tier on the side and couldn't see or hear a bloody thing. They were half way into 2 minutes to midnight (encore) before I was able to recognise a song that I knew.

As for Dylan, I've seen him three times and the first time was turgid at best. Glasgow SECC....maybe it's something to do with Scotland Alec?

Glad it wasn't just my ears! They were better at Download that year, even though Bruce Dickinson went mental because someone egged him!

When I recently saw The Fix - LOL

Only kidding, they entertained me and Anne all night !

Rick.

@Steelfield

"@willow... what about the ginger one from metalleeka?? "

JEEZUS!! i just spit me drink all over the place!!!

no offence intended Scott!

Willowfeelingsick!

Motorhead last year, still moanin about it. Load a shite, real let down.Saw Elv Costello a few years ago, he was cool but the crowd just sat and watched, no atmosphere at all, fekin hate the apollo

Mark

oh, and massive electric storm
just kiddin, missed ya in eccles, will catch ya next time

Mark

Bit late this comment...but, went to see U2 at Man.City, sound was like listening to a bee in a jam jar. Mainly watched the show on the big screen, U2 and Bono were pretty poor and went through the motions. Won't be going to a stadium gig in a hurry.