Gigs, Concerts, Festivals, etc.

[Robert]

I'm off out to see Mercury Rev tonight so thought I'd start a thread. A band I've seen live about a dozen times but not since lockdown. Their gigs are usually top notch so I'm looking forward to reacquainting myself with them.

Anyway, any of you been to any decent concerts recently, or due to go to any soon? Or even old gig stories. I go to a lot of gigs, although not as many as I used to but still at least one a month. I'll try to add to the thread a brief (probably very brief) review of some going forward.

 

[redrumloa]

I've seen very few in the last ~10 years. Last show I saw was Goatwhore with Caveman Cult and a couple others in support at a small-ish venue in Miami 2 years back. Goatwhore were back at the same place last month, but I missed them because of the hurricane a couple days prior.

I don't see many shows any longer. My kids are all grown up and moved out. My wife isn't interested any longer. My own local metalhead friend went with me 2 years ago, but overall he doesn't go out as much. He's 5 years older than me and I'm no spring chicken. I also rarely broke my $30 rule for tickets. About 11 years back I paid ~$120 each for 2 tickets to go see AC/DC with the old lady. That's the most I've ever paid and probably won't do it again. My current rule is <$40 each ticket. I don't care who it is, I'm not paying multi hundred or thousands per ticket. I like music, but i don't deify musicians.

 

[redrumloa]

Last show I saw was Goatwhore

Speaking of Goatwhore, the founding member and guitarist of that band is Sammy Duet. Sammy's band prior to Goatwhore was Acid Bath. It was just announced that Acid Bath is reunited after 27 years. Originally it was just a one off show, but a 2nd has been since announced. I'm hoping for a proper tour. I'd go out of my way to see them. I'd travel a bit and pay a bit more than my rule. They are much different than Goatwhore.

 

[Robert]

I also rarely broke my $30 rule for tickets. About 11 years back I paid ~$120 each for 2 tickets to go see AC/DC with the old lady. That's the most I've ever paid and probably won't do it again.

I've never been a huge fan of them but would like to see one of their shows. Was it worth the money?

My current rule is <$40 each ticket. I don't care who it is, I'm not paying multi hundred or thousands per ticket. I like music, but i don't deify musicians.

Decent rule of thumb I suppose but I break that limit most months. The most I have paid for a one-off gig is around $200 to see Roger Waters last year. I'd already seen him live about ten times but I knew it would be the last time. I certainly don't deify him, though. On the contrary, I think he's one of the biggest arseholes ever to grace the music industry. However, I absolutely love his gigs and, in hindsight, it was worth every penny. That said, even if he visits Glasgow again, I won't be paying those prices.

 

[redrumloa]

I've never been a huge fan of them but would like to see one of their shows. Was it worth the money?

This was around the Black Ice album tour so maybe more like 15 years ago. It was a fun show, but IIRC it was near the end of the tour (maybe last show?). I recall thinking Brian Johnson really looked tired out there, he was in his 60s by then. Otherwise, a lot of fun. It's hard to quantify worth the money. I guess so since it was a good night out with the old lady. They had a solid stage setup with big props. I'd actually only seen them once before in 90 or 91 on the Razor's Edge tour. That one was obviously better since they were decades younger. If you want to see them, I'd suggest seeing them next time they come through. I could imagine this may be their last time touring. Malcon died in 2017 of age related issues. Brian Johnson is closing in on 80. Cliff Williams no longer tours due to age.

Speaking of which, I only saw Motorhead once. That was the very last US show they ever played. Lemmy died less than a year later. It was a great show, despite seeing how frail Lemmy was.

Overall I've seen relatively few shows in my life. Until I was late 17 I was not allowed to go to shows, because my dad was a cop, and "your father knows what goes on at these shows". For most of my 20s I worked 2 jobs or the equivalent of it to provide for my kids. Strangely, I saw the most shows in my mid 30s to mid 40s when my kids were getting to the age. It was cool being able to go to shows with them and enjoying the same music.

My rule isn't hard and fast. I've paid slightly more for a few festivals I've attended. Not a ton more mind you. I've just seen so many banger of shows over the decades for $30 or less, it's impossible to justify paying ~10 times that. Sorry Metallica, ain't seeing you! I respect Iron Maiden. They've rejected dynamic pricing recently and have always fought back at the industry's price gouging overall. I've seen them 3 times. The most I've seen a major band was Slayer at 7 times. All before Jeff Hanneman died and 4 of them with 100% original lineup.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

Never been big on going out for bands. I've only been to a few over the last few years. Went to only a few more when I was younger.

Saw Bowie in '83 with opening acts, the Tubes and Peter Gabriel. Peter Gabriel in '92. Those were standouts. Leonard Cohen the last time he toured. Now that I think about it I'm remembering more than I expected but mostly a longtime ago.

Recently? Jean Michel Jarre in 2018 BC (before covid) then more in the last few years, Alicia Keys (comp'ed coz my wife was singing BGs), Lake St Dive, ELO (with my brothers - because the kids bought us tickets for our birthdays!), my wife's band a bunch of times, and a local band called "Circus in Flames". Mind you, I don't have time to go out much to such things. I work 7 days a week at the shop (because I like it, I guess) and I am an member of 4 lodges, and also the District Deputy Grand Master with 3 lodges that need my care and attention, as well as being Grand Parliamentarian (though my duties have been light except in the next week or so I have to review the by-laws of two lodges that have submitted changes! Oh, and I have to arrange 2 degrees for members in my jurisdiction that need them so that they can hold office so they can be installed next year into offices. Ah, the crazy world of secret societies. I do love it.

 

[Robert]

Just hame from Mercury Rev. One word review for now - excellent.

 

[redrumloa]

Just hame from Mercury Rev. One word review for now - excellent.

I'm not familiar with them. Had to Google it. Sounds a bit softer than I usually lean towards, but not bad. I have a very wide range of music tastes these days, though on average I still lean more towards the crazy heavy stuff. I do like a lot of blues, some funk, classic rock, a bit of the golden oldies. The only things I pretty much steer clear of is modern straight mainstream pop and almost any rap. I'm certainly not going to a show to listen to someone miming to the album version.

For the softer side of rock, I am a fan of Devin Townsend. A lot of his stuff (outside of the band SYL) can be pretty melodic, especially in more recent years. His solo stuff and other projects (outside SYL) and be a bit varied, but mostly fairly tame with a few exceptions. I dig it and have a good number of his albums. Here's an early example from 98. It's far from his softest stuff, but I found it catchy.

Another one on the softer side from recent years for me is Gary Clark Jr. He's harder to categorize as he blends elements of rock, blues, R&B and even small flavors or rap and metal. I actually got to see him in concert about 7 or so years back. One hell of a show! He's pretty mainstream big so you may of heard of him.