NationStates Jolt Archive

Ooh, I see that band threads are the new in-thing :)

Well, today I went to a festival type thing...and I saw what I think are the best and worst live acts out currently.

Slipknot absolutely suck balls. Their show was unbelievably shithouse- you couldn't hear the singer, the drums were too loud, the guitars distorted into unrecognisable mess. It sounded something like if I held a magnet to my computer speakers while screaming into a bucket and slamming a crowbar against a filing cabinet. Really weird, I think, for a band that relies on the whole showmanship thing (IE. those stupid masks and pentagrams and such) to suck so much. Though it was funny seeing all of the younger fans limping out of the moshpit holding their guts and supporting their injured friends. That gets a sadistic minor thumbs up, because Slipknot fans are supposed to be really tough and hate everyone. Another thing that really pissed me off was the constant filler dialogue from the singer. I want music, not talking, unless you're being witty and keeping me amused (maybe they were having equipment problems and he had no choice. It would explain the shitty sound...but none of the other bands had the same problem...or needed 40 or so people to set up their gear) I think that even the fans were somewhat disappointed, the throwaway $5 Slipknot shirts being sold on the night a clue to that. It's okay though, cause earlier in the day i'd seen...

...the Hives! This was a real surprise, because i'd been a bit "meh" about the whole rock-revival genre before and hadn't really listened to much of their stuff. I was originally going to go and see Rise Against who were on at the same time but I thought i'd stay in my spot, because I was only a couple of metres away from the stage anyway and it would be a waste of good positioning. Anyway nearly everyone was bored after a shitty Australian band. He then goes "I promise you, you are going to enjoy yourselves!" And it was good. Even those weird slipknot fans were getting right into it. And then the singer dedicated a song to "All those closed minded people who came here to enjoy one band", hehe. And introducing another song with "We dedicate this song to ourselves, the Hives, because we're rich assholes and can do that. And what's really funny is that you guys are paying our way. How does that make you feel?" Hehehe, no other band on the day was funny like that or rocked as hard, and considering that they were up against some really big names, they did *really* well. Truly awesome. My new favourite band, yay!

System of a Down were also really good and deserve a mention, but the Hives were just the best.

So anyway...what do you think the best and worst live bands currently are?

Slip Knot were great at BDO Auckland - best of the day IMHO.

Probably too damm hot in Aussie with the masks and leather and all.

Slip Knot were great at BDO Auckland - best of the day IMHO.

Probably too damm hot in Aussie with the masks and leather and all.

Hey, everyone else did a good job with it (The Hives were wearing suits.), and Slipknot weren't even on in the warmest part of the day. I dont think heat has anything to do with the sound quality either...i mean, you couldn't hear the singer, the guitars sounded crap (they seriously sounded like indistinguishable noise), and the drumming drowned everything else out. It wasn't good. They bounced around like madmen (but then, so did most of the bands), but that's it.

Dream Theater. Incredible live. See them in a small venue, if you can.


I'll have to think about the worst...

you couldn't hear the singer, the guitars sounded crap (they seriously sounded like indistinguishable noise), and the drumming drowned everything else out. It wasn't good.

Isn't that what Slipknot are like all the time?

I don't like the Hive's CDs much, although their old one was decent, but they're good live. Well, I've never been to a concert of theirs, but I saw them on some television show, and they did really good. They've got a lot of raw energy, and it doesn't come out so well on CD, I think. Their singer was wild, he was stomping around the stage and doing an odd little dance during the instrumental bits, and he was probably the loudest guy I've ever heard. YOu could hear his voice twice in a short timespan, once from the speakers and once a fraction of a second later from his actual voice reaching the recording mic. He was that loud. And yet he still managed to be on key and totally rock.

Yay the Hives!

Isn't that what Slipknot are like all the time?

No, I have actually listened to their albums and you can actually hear the singer, and the drums aren't that loud. :p

(they have mixer effects too, and they were almost inaudible.)

Heh, I think they have a handful of okay songs even if it's not my thing. But they really sucked live.

No, I have actually listened to their albums and you can actually hear the singer, and the drums aren't that loud. :p
let me help you out. on a cd, unless it says "live" its recorded. that means everything is set up and fixed so it sounds good and right, when tehy are "live" there is no control over how everything exactly sounds

nice try though

I don't like the Hive's CDs much, although their old one was decent, but they're good live. Well, I've never been to a concert of theirs, but I saw them on some television show, and they did really good. They've got a lot of raw energy, and it doesn't come out so well on CD, I think. Their singer was wild, he was stomping around the stage and doing an odd little dance during the instrumental bits, and he was probably the loudest guy I've ever heard. YOu could hear his voice twice in a short timespan, once from the speakers and once a fraction of a second later from his actual voice reaching the recording mic. He was that loud. And yet he still managed to be on key and totally rock.

Yay the Hives!

Yes, that's exactly what they were like, and I agree. :D

*waits for them to release a DVD*

*waits for them to release a DVD*
Ooh, I'd buy it it if they did!

I happen to like a couple of the Hives songs. Those guys are a little odd but good nonetheless. Linkin Park seems to always click with their fans at live concerts. Avril Lavigne gets booed off stage though.

let me help you out. on a cd, unless it says "live" its recorded. that means everything is set up and fixed so it sounds good and right, when tehy are "live" there is no control over how everything exactly sounds


Duh, I know, I'm not an idiot. But if they can't replicate the sound to an acceptable level live, why wear the masks and go for all the silly showmanship? That's my point. (it was also a joke, notice I left out indistinguishable guitar sounds?)

I happen to like a couple of the Hives songs. Those guys are a little odd but good nonetheless. Linkin Park seems to always click with their fans at live concerts. Avril Lavigne gets booed off stage though.

Heh, not a fan of either of those two.

...though then again, I wasn't a fan of the Hives either :D

Hey, everyone else did a good job with it (The Hives were wearing suits.), and Slipknot weren't even on in the warmest part of the day. I dont think heat has anything to do with the sound quality either...i mean, you couldn't hear the singer, the guitars sounded crap (they seriously sounded like indistinguishable noise), and the drumming drowned everything else out. It wasn't good. They bounced around like madmen (but then, so did most of the bands), but that's it.

I don't expect good sound quality at a concert, if I wanted that I would buy the music and play it in a surround sound home system. At a concert I just go for the energy of the crowd, jumping waving arms, volume, bit of moshing, sing along (badly) to the lyrics. In this respect Slip Knot got most into it and got most back from the crowd.

I also liked The Streets and Chemical Bros.




Did not get to see Hives, so they may have been better.

Duh, I know, I'm not an idiot. But if they can't replicate the sound to an acceptable level live, why wear the masks and go for all the silly showmanship? That's my point. (it was also a joke, notice I left out indistinguishable guitar sounds?)
because thats the whole point, the showmanship, they dont make telligible music so they put on some asinine show

Linkin Park seems to always click with their fans at live concerts.
I don't usually like them, but I saw them live on TV once and they were good. Same way that I like the Hives, good on-stage energy and such. I picked up their DVD, and I'm a bit mad that it seems they did some studio overdubs over the finished footage and cleaned up the sound. It's a shame really, since it was a good set, but they made it a bit too slick and studio-ey. Oh well, maybe the next one will get a different producer who won't mess with the vibe.

I don't expect good sound quality at a concert, if I wanted that I would buy the music and play it in a surround sound home system. At a concert I just go for the energy of the crowd, jumping waving arms, volume, bit of moshing, sing along (badly) to the lyrics. In this respect Slip Knot got most into it and got most back from the crowd.

I also liked The Streets and Chemical Bros.

Yeah, of course. I don't expect perfect- but Slipknot's act was less than acceptable. There were a lot of people enthused, but mainly hardcore fans of the band...everyone else didn't seem too interested and I noticed a lot of people leaving not long after they started.

Missed the Streets and the Chemical Bros. Not really a fan of the Chemical Brothers, but I would have liked to have seen the Streets, but they clashed with System of a Down :(

I don't usually like them, but I saw them live on TV once and they were good. Same way that I like the Hives, good on-stage energy and such. I picked up their DVD, and I'm a bit mad that it seems they did some studio overdubs over the finished footage and cleaned up the sound. It's a shame really, since it was a good set, but they made it a bit too slick and studio-ey. Oh well, maybe the next one will get a different producer who won't mess with the vibe.

I recently bought Collision Course. I love it. A mix of both my favorite genres of music.

Not really modern, and I've only attended one by 'em...

Metallica.

Went down to Dublin 2 years ago to hear them play (along with Linkin Park and The Darkness).

They r0XXor3d my s0XXors off.

because thats the whole point, the showmanship, they dont make telligible music so they put on some asinine show

Yeah, which is why they suck, because other bands were putting on a better show in addition to good music.

Greenday put on a good show....so do Ash....especially when theyre playing in a small hall with 150 people in it

Not really modern, and I've only attended one by 'em...

Metallica.

Went down to Dublin 2 years ago to hear them play (along with Linkin Park and The Darkness).

They r0XXor3d my s0XXors off.

Missed them last year when they played here. Ah well.

I'd really like to have seen some of the original hardcore bands live, like the Dead Kennedys, Minor Threat, Black Flag, or the one and only Rastafarian hardcore band, Bad Brains. "Pay to Cum" is an awesome song. Hooray for Rasta-core.

^_^

Good fun it was.

I had to stand on the train for 2 hours each way, then proceeded to shout/scream/sing my lungs out, then our overnight arrangements caved and we had to stay in a tiny hostel :D

I saw Dave Matthews live once; He's not too bad, but he tends to dance around the stage live a crack rabbit. Other than that, the music and singing is pretty great.

The White Stripes were pretty bad live the one time I saw them. I thought Meg White was way too loud on the drums, and the vocals were a little too soft.

I'd really like to have seen some of the original hardcore bands live, like the Dead Kennedys, Minor Threat, Black Flag, or the one and only Rastafarian hardcore band, Bad Brains. "Pay to Cum" is an awesome song. Hooray for Rasta-core.

:eek:

Do you like all music, or just the good stuff? :D

I would have loved to see all of those...ah, if only I had been born 20 years earlier.

^_^

Good fun it was.

I had to stand on the train for 2 hours each way, then proceeded to shout/scream/sing my lungs out, then our overnight arrangements caved and we had to stay in a tiny hostel :D

Heheh, that sucks! No such problem for me, it was only a bit over an hour each way.

The White Stripes were pretty bad live the one time I saw them. I thought Meg White was way too loud on the drums, and the vocals were a little too soft.

Actually, i've heard that too, so it can't be just your experience.

:eek:

Do you like all music, or just the good stuff? :D
Some of my friends describe me as what you'd get if you took a goth, slipped MDMA in her food, played Elliot Smith and the Flaming Lips at her, and then gave her a guitar to flail violently away at. All while at a punk show.

Basically, I like punk, goth-rock, industrial, metal, indie, some electronica(but mostly ambient), and almost whatever else is thrown at me that's good.

Some of my friends describe me as what you'd get if you took a goth, slipped MDMA in her food, played Elliot Smith and the Flaming Lips at her, and then gave her a guitar to flail violently away at. All while at a punk show.

Basically, I like punk, goth-rock, industrial, metal, indie, some electronica(but mostly ambient), and almost whatever else is thrown at me that's good.

Ah..it just seems that you like absolutely everything I do. :)

Dream Theater. Incredible live. See them in a small venue, if you can.


You lucky lucky person *goes green with envy* I love Dream Theater, one of my fave Prog bands. I have their live albulms which I shall have to make do with for now... :(

Ween puts on a heck of a live show. For a guy my age I love their music. I've seen them nearly 50 times.

George Staiduhar and the Harry Faint Review, and Del Sinchak put on a heck of a polka concert!


Here is a Ween song to wet your whistle:

Mister Richard Smoker
mister richard smoker
you're a poopey poker
chardonnay & cocaine in the spa
cigarettes and coffee breath
little boys on crystal meth
tonight we'll tango in the street
you eat
dark meat

mister richard smoker
you're a chicken choker
tonight you're gonna
let it all hang out
pantihose and aqua net
smokin' menthol cigarettes
tonight we'll tango in the street
you eat
dark meat

smoke!

(solos)

you eat
dark meat

mister richard smoker
you're an Ono Yoker
cognac and black coffee
with the boys
dancin' in your buster browns
whirlin' to the techno sounds
your hands are wet
your hair is slick
you smoke
big dick

mister richard smoker
you're a velvet coker
Bruce and Geoff will
pick you up at ten
goin' out
dancin' in the city
friday night
gotta look pretty
tonight we'll tango in the street
you eat
dark meat

Greenday put on a good show....so do Ash....especially when theyre playing in a small hall with 150 people in it

Despite living in the Province, I've never seen Ash, they just aren't really my cup of tea - I go for the heavier end of the punk & hardcore spectrum. Here's something ironic though - I was working as stagecrew at the BBC Music Live thing at the City Hall last summer, where Ash were playing with a string section from the Ulster Orchestra: despite it being part of a season of BBC Music Live, the string section were just miming to a backing track...

I saw Greenday the first time they played in Belfast, circa '93. Good show, even if they were still very much wearing their early Who and Operation Ivy influences a bit too much on their sleeves. That was in a place called Richardsons down by the Albert Clock in fron of about 200 people.

You lucky lucky person *goes green with envy* I love Dream Theater, one of my fave Prog bands. I have their live albulms which I shall have to make do with for now... :(

Not to worry. I'm sure they'll be in your area soon :)

Ween puts on a heck of a live show. For a guy my age I love their music. I've seen them nearly 50 times.

George Staiduhar and the Harry Faint Review, and Del Sinchak put on a heck of a polka concert!


Here is a Ween song to wet your whistle:
-snip-
Ween is so wierd and out there that they're almost normal.
:D
I haven't heard much of their stuff, only some songs that got airplay on college radio. They were pretty good, although one was a bit long and drawn-out.

I saw Greenday the first time they played in Belfast, circa '93. Good show, even if they were still very much wearing their early Who and Operation Ivy influences a bit too much on their sleeves. That was in a place called Richardsons down by the Albert Clock in fron of about 200 people.
Has anybody heard of Pinhead Gunpowder, one of BJ Armstrong's other projects?
They're not bad. They have a track up on epitonic.com somewhere.

Has anybody heard of Pinhead Gunpowder, one of BJ Armstrong's other projects?
They're not bad. They have a track up on epitonic.com somewhere.

I know the name, but haven't heard anything by them: I assume that they're in the melodic somewhat pop-punk in vein?

I would list some of the best bands I have seen live here, but it would (a) seem like I was trying to be willfull obscure and (b) for some of those bands I was just so excited at finally seeing them that my objectivity no doubt flew out the window in the heat of the moment.

I know the name, but haven't heard anything by them: I assume that they're in the melodic somewhat pop-punk in vein?
They are, but in my opinion, they lean a bit more towards hardcore, and are more experimental than Green Day.

Despite living in the Province, I've never seen Ash, they just aren't really my cup of tea - I go for the heavier end of the punk & hardcore spectrum. Here's something ironic though - I was working as stagecrew at the BBC Music Live thing at the City Hall last summer, where Ash were playing with a string section from the Ulster Orchestra: despite it being part of a season of BBC Music Live, the string section were just miming to a backing track...

I saw Greenday the first time they played in Belfast, circa '93. Good show, even if they were still very much wearing their early Who and Operation Ivy influences a bit too much on their sleeves. That was in a place called Richardsons down by the Albert Clock in fron of about 200 people.

surely the Ulster Orchestra are good enough to play live without needing to mime?

the only bands i saw as part of music live were Funeral For a Friend and Therapy? in the Mandella

dont suppose you were at the tsunami gig in the limelight last sunday?

dont suppose you were at the tsunami gig in the limelight last sunday?

Yeah, got down in time to catch Torgas Valley Reds, La Faro and Corrigan. A good night out. I was shocked to see how fat and middle-aged the boys from Therapy? looked during their DJ set.

Yeah, got down in time to catch Torgas Valley Reds, La Faro and Corrigan. A good night out. I was shocked to see how fat and middle-aged the boys from Therapy? looked during their DJ set.
Corrigan were pretty good, and the Therapy? werent bad...also saw the Betes Noires who im developing quite a liking for...and the Debonaires as well were pretty good

ive seen La Faro before and wasnt too impressed

all in all a good day out

Corrigan were pretty good, and the Therapy? werent bad...also saw the Betes Noires who im developing quite a liking for...and the Debonaires as well were pretty good

ive seen La Faro before and wasnt too impressed

Betes Noires don't do a great deal for me, and the only time I saw The Debonnaires was a couple of years ago when my critical facilities had been suspended due to alcohol. It certainly wasn't La Faro's best gig. I didn't actually go and see Therapy?'s set when they were playing - I lost interest in them some time after the second demo and before their first single. I take it that you noticed that Corrigan were intentionally singing the line "We want your water!" much louder than normal as part of the last tune at a Tsunami benefit. I was glad to see that they embraced the irony rather than shying away from it.

Betes Noires don't do a great deal for me, and the only time I saw The Debonnaires was a couple of years ago when my critical facilities had been suspended due to alcohol. It certainly wasn't La Faro's best gig. I didn't actually go and see Therapy?'s set when they were playing - I lost interest in them some time after the second demo and before their first single. I take it that you noticed that Corrigan were intentionally singing the line "We want your water!" much louder than normal as part of the last tune at a Tsunami benefit. I was glad to see that they embraced the irony rather than shying away from it.
the Betes have a couple of new songs on a new CD, and one of them is quality - "What We Lost In The Process", pretty good song. A few more of those and theyll be doing well

Therapy? were pretty good, interesting to see their songs stripped down to just acoustic. Im not a big fan, but id seen them once or twice before that, so it was something different

the Betes have a couple of new songs on a new CD, and one of them is quality - "What We Lost In The Process", pretty good song. A few more of those and theyll be doing well

So, what local bands do you go for?

Contraband, the Debonaires, The Betes Noires...and then theres La Faro and Corrigan as well. And then if you want to go more famous, Snow Patrol and Ash as well

how about yourself?

Contraband

Nice. If you like them then you will want to give Coda a listen as they are trying to do much the same thing.

how about yourself?

Killing Spree, The Dagda, La Faro, Running Riot, Pocket Billiards, Scald, The Naut/Slomatics, Torgas, Corrigan, EWF, Prostitutes In Paris, Sabrejets, Decoy 47, Yakuza, Bad Boat - seem to be the current pick of the crop, but I'm sure I've skipped a few there that are certainly worth looking at.

Further afield: your Irish bands - Serpents, Easpa Measa, Betamax Format, Estelle, Puget Sound... once again I'm sure many others temporarily elude me.

As you can see, its the the punk/hardcore kind of bands that get me going.

You guys are gonna laugh at me but.....

The best concert that I've ever been to was a "Weird Al" Yankovic concert, His live show kicks total fucking ass!

*you may now commence mockery*


Oh and the Tea Party are pretty good too.

Nice. If you like them then you will want to give Coda a listen as they are trying to do much the same thing.

ill have to look into them


Killing Spree, The Dagda, La Faro, Running Riot, Pocket Billiards, Scald, The Naut/Slomatics, Torgas, Corrigan, EWF, Prostitutes In Paris, Sabrejets, Decoy 47, Yakuza, Bad Boat - seem to be the current pick of the crop, but I'm sure I've skipped a few there that are certainly worth looking at.

Further afield: your Irish bands - Serpents, Easpa Measa, Betamax Format, Estelle, Puget Sound... once again I'm sure many others temporarily elude me.

As you can see, its the the punk/hardcore kind of bands that get me going.
yea...some decent bands there

I think the best live band is Monster Magnet.

Their CD's bore me to death, but live they just blow me away. The first time I saw them live they were opening for someone else and I expected that I would hate them live just as much as recorded, the second time was to check to see if the impressiveness of the first show I saw was a fluke... it wasn't. Now I go see them everytime they are in town. Still won't listen to them recorded.

The worst live shows ever have to be Ozzy's.

Not really modern, and I've only attended one by 'em...

Metallica.

Went down to Dublin 2 years ago to hear them play (along with Linkin Park and The Darkness).

They r0XXor3d my s0XXors off.

Best bands I've seen:

Metallica (2x)- AMAZING.

Linkin Park (2x)- Surprisingly good, they did in fact click with their fans. The type of music you could get into at a concert.

Korn- All right, I hate Korn, but they were one of the best I've ever seen in concert. They played a hard-ass show and I loved it.

Green Day- Not amazing, but good, the music sounded perfect and they had good 'stage presence.

Red Hot Chili Peppers- Good stuff, nothing special though. I loved it though because I'm a huge fan.

Other bands I've seen: Sugarcult, New Found Glory, The Used, Godsmack, Limp Bizkit, Snoop Dogg (2x..he tours with rock bands a lot), Saosin, Last of the Famous, some others I'm sure..can't remember.

System of a Down were also really good and deserve a mention, but the Hives were just the best.

So anyway...what do you think the best and worst live bands currently are?

I saw the Hives at Leeds 2004 and they were fantastic!


However, the best live band I've seen were.....hmm, difficult choice. Muse were great live. Bon Jovi were great too, but I'm hugely biased as I'm the biggest Bon Jovi fan in the world:D Oh and Green Day at Leeds...:D

The worst... there's plenty of bad support acts I've seen (Cathedral were so bad that they were good :s and Cave In...didn't like them much either). The worst band I've ever seen live though were HIM. I've seen them twice - the first time I had a good night, but the second time, I walked out about half an hour in because I couldn't take any more rubbish music and screaming kids. It was horrible.

Oh and Razorlight...they nearly bored me to death.

I think the best live band is Monster Magnet.

Their CD's bore me to death, but live they just blow me away. The first time I saw them live they were opening for someone else and I expected that I would hate them live just as much as recorded, the second time was to check to see if the impressiveness of the first show I saw was a fluke... it wasn't. Now I go see them everytime they are in town. Still won't listen to them recorded.

The worst live shows ever have to be Ozzy's.

Hm, I also thought of them as a bit crap, even though i'm a genre fan...guess I actually will have to see them live if they ever play here :)

Best group I've seen live would be Mars Viola. Worst would probably be Guns n Roses, boy could those fellows sure not be bothered...

Velvet Revolver was great, as were The Hives and Floggin' Molly

The White Stripes sucked

Best: Toby Keith
Worst: Green Day (They're just a piece of shit. I hate it, its a bunch of crap thrown together and they call it "punk".)

Slipknot sucks no matter where you see it.

Best: Toby Keith
Worst: Green Day (They're just a piece of shit. I hate it, its a bunch of crap thrown together and they call it "punk".)

I'm told it's not true but I'm positive that all of Green Day's music sounds alike. Linkin Park is better anyway along with the Offspring.

Green Day (They're just a piece of shit. I hate it, its a bunch of crap thrown together and they call it "punk".)

Ah, someone with some sense.

I'm told it's not true but I'm positive that all of Green Day's music sounds alike. Linkin Park is better anyway along with the Offspring.
Meh, Mayhem would kill them all and eat their brains.
:D
Knowing Mayhem, quite literally. At least, if Dead and Euronymous were still alive.

YeahYeahYeahs are UNBELIEVABLE live! Go go Karen O! :p

Slipknot do indeed suck jammy toes. :D

Right, so, Rush is the greatest live band in the history of mankind. This is undeniable.

The Presidents of the United States of America are amazing live.

So are The Flaming Lips.

And G. Love and Special Sauce.

I'll post more as I think of them.