The One & Only Official Music Geeks' Thread

[Tom_]

In other words: it's not the building. Of course (as you say) some venues have good acoustics, whereas others have not. But with the speakers they have today (the ones that blast straight forward like a laser beam), a good report from the local crew on the acoustics (so that they know where to hang 'clusters' of speakers) and a team of professional sound engineers, you can 'beat the circumstances'. Always and everywhere. If your show sounded like sh*t, your sound people did something wrong.

Yeah, I'm sure that's right. Maybe it also has something to do with the actual "set up" the sound people at the venue are going for, e.g. the Palace is a run-of-the-mill nightclub most nights of the week, so their engineers might not be so good at setting it up for a rock concert.

And I also reckon it depends on whereabouts in the crowd you are. I've found right infront of the soundboard is much better than right infront of the stage. I don't actually know but I presume that the sound engineering is done from the soundboard, which could account for the sweet spot being there?

Probably talking bollocks again :D

Man, I hate that place (Palace). I have seen Ryan Adams & The White Stripes there and while the sound wasn't "too" bad, the venue itself is appauling. The stage is too low, there is nowhere decent to stand apart from the small 2nd tier which is overcrowded. Then if you stand at the back near the bar the idiots leave the TV's on advertising the very hall you are in, which is distracting in a dark room.

For me its one of the worst venues in the our great city. Whats funny though, is it was recently voted one of the "icons" of Melbourne so shows what I know.

Ah, at last someone else who hates that terrible ****hole as much as me. Have you noticed that the "pit" area is actually raised one or two feet from the rest of the floor, so if you're not standing in there you can't see anything at all? It's ridiculous!

What I want to know is why bands play there, I spose the internationals don't know how bad it is till they get there... but the locals?

[DanK]

What I want to know is why bands play there, I spose the internationals don't know how bad it is till they get there... but the locals?

I've actually made a (small) stand against the venue. I wont go there anymore. I f*&king hate the place. Not sure why they play there. Cheap maybe?

I dont mind a crowded venue and I understand that you get taller people in front of you and pushy people as well, but for some reason it really annoys me at the Palace. If you stand on the side you get people going back and foward to the bar, if you stand in the middle you can't see shit, if you stand at the back TVs are flashing everywhere.

Its a friggin dump. As I stated earlier give me The Palais (next door) or The Forum, these places have a real small venue feel. I remember Ryan Adam's mentioning (about the Forum) that the venue "f*cking rocks" and "it's f*cking beautiful" or something like that, which is nice because he's usually complaining. Totally agree with him on that though :D

[roche]

Totally loving the new Streets CD. It's not a concept album like the last one but there are some great songs on it.

It's not even close to my style of music but Mike Skinner is a lyrical genius.

I give it a definite :xyxthumbs:

[DanK]

If anyone is interested, my fav aussie band augie march played a 'live at the wireless' gig for australian radio station triple j

its available streaming on the below link
http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/live/wind ... march1.asx

Its only a few songs available but its pretty sweet.

[DanK]

Yet another Augie March post by me...

Managed to get into an Augie March concert last night. One of the best live gigs I have seen in a long, long time.

It was held at Ruby's bar in Belgrave (a small country town about 1 hour drive from Melbourne). It was probably the most intimate venue you can imagine. Holding possibly no more than 200 people. Its one of those venues where you can't get closer to the band if you tried, its also a very alternative bar where anyone fits in, but what made it really special was the act itself.

Augie were simply outstanding. Interacting with the small crowd, playing a great mixture of tunes (although mainly from their most recent cd) and showing why they are getting the reputation for one of the best bands in the country.

Glenn Richards vocal live is better than in the studio. Its one of those voices where you think "how can he do that note, or change b/w those notes" etc. Lost count of the time the goosebumps appeared.

In summary. Me liked a lot :headbang:

[Tom_]

Yep, saw them last night at the HiFi Bar and they were indeed very good. I only knew one of their songs (and they didn't play it) but I'm converted. Have to invest in some of their CDs now.

[Blind3]

Heading to Australia for Pearl Jam and Kings of Leon in Melbourne and Adelaide.And sight-seeing.A November to remember. I hear general sale is May 19th, but I purchased through the 10 Club already.

Just caught Pretty Girls Make Graves last night in Philly.AWESOME show! Recommend them highly.

[afckeeper95]

Heading to Australia for Pearl Jam and Kings of Leon in Melbourne and Adelaide.And sight-seeing.A November to remember. I hear general sale is May 19th, but I purchased through the 10 Club already.

Just caught Pretty Girls Make Graves last night in Philly.AWESOME show! Recommend them highly.

Go ahead, start turning up your expectations for Kings of Leon... great live act :yes:

[bluedaddy19]

is anyone going to see matisyahu at melkweg tomorrow night?

[DanK]

Heading to Australia for Pearl Jam and Kings of Leon in Melbourne and Adelaide.And sight-seeing.A November to remember...

Blind3 in Melbourne??? Welcome to Dan's (and Chuggers for that matter) town. I think I have come across 1 or 2 pubs in this city you might be interested in mate :D

[aveslacker]

Heading to Australia for Pearl Jam and Kings of Leon in Melbourne and Adelaide.And sight-seeing.A November to remember. I hear general sale is May 19th, but I purchased through the 10 Club already.

Just caught Pretty Girls Make Graves last night in Philly.AWESOME show! Recommend them highly.

You lucky bastard. Oz kicks serious ass.

[Per]

Going to see Emmylou Harris in two weeks (together with Mark Knopfler which kind off bums me out a bit).

I am soooo psyched to see her for the first time, I've been listening to her music for a couple of years and fora while I was completely lost in Wrecking ball and the two subsewuent albums coming from the fantastic woman.

I'll keep you posted on the outcome.

WHile on the music subject, I know I'm months after everyone else: Arctic Monkeys rocks seriously!!!

I also like the Knife's new album and I've recently been kinda hooked on Dylan (again).

There you have it. Land of eclectica in my brain.

[Kowalczyk]

I'm having a very serious Mudhoney period at the moment.

They released a new album in April (Under A Billion Suns) which is really good. I went to see them in Nottingham last week, finally got to interview them and published the story this weekend.

They rocked harder than ever. What a fantastic show. Better than they ever were. Played loads of early singles and stuff from Superfuzz Bigmuff: Touch Me I'm Sick, Sweet Young Thing, Hate The Police, You Got It... absolutely great.

Their records have been on the whole day today. And yesterday. And tomorrow. These guys are heroes. Changed my life around 1990.

K.

[bluedaddy19]

is anyone going to see matisyahu at melkweg tomorrow night?

anyone?

bueller?

i may just have to go by myself, and hope i can avoid finding out the CL final result until i get a chance to watch the replay

[Marijn]

So have you seen Matisyahu, Bluedaddy? Kinda curious to hear how he's doing live..

[Kowalczyk]

So have you seen Matisyahu, Bluedaddy? Kinda curious to hear how he's doing live..

I wasn't there, but some people I know were there and thought it was absolute crap. Reggae played by a band that is very obviously as white as the legs of the average Scotsman in January.

Atmopshere was nice, though. Nothing political; just very nice.

This is what two people told me.

K.

[Blind3]

1. Leave to me to be minister of disinformation. I'm actually going to be in Melbourne and Brisbane,not Melbourne and Adelaide. Will be in Australia in time for Sydney on 7/11 and 8/11, but will have to scrounge for tix for those.Mike McCready playing a twin-neck guitar on "Inside Job" is almost reason enough to go.What a Jimmy Page-esque visual.

2. Caught Matisyahu in the 96 degree heat( but it's a DRY HEAT) of Indio ,California, Coachella '06 in April. I thoroughly enjoyed his performance. Great beat and very energetic. To see him talk a lyric, while at the same time creating a backbeat, and add sampling...all accapella...was really impressive.

3. Agree with Ko about Mudhoney. Under A Billion Suns has been on my heavy rotation list since I saw Mudhoney at the Crocodile Cafe in Seattle on 17 March.It was a cd release party.They played the whole new album in order. I may have got pummeled by the pit while at the front of the stage, but it was worth it. Mark Arm and Steve Turner were on fire. STRONG RECOMMENDATION for UABS and catching them live. Oh, they also played the aforementioned,by Ko, Touch Me I'm Sick, Sweet Young Thing, and 7 other older tunes.

The next day, I was attending a benefit show(Crohns-Collitis) and I had the pleasure of chatting with Mike McCready for 15 minutes. It wasn't Pearl Jam we chatted on. Well, not for more than 3 minutes. It was how much he loved Under a Billion Suns.Particularly "On The Move" and "Hard-On for War".He raved about his fellow guitarist Steve Turner and how much he loved Steve's work on the album.I figured, not faint praise considering the source.

[Kowalczyk]

3. Agree with Ko about Mudhoney. Under A Billion Suns has been on my heavy rotation list since I saw Mudhoney at the Crocodile Cafe in Seattle on 17 March.It was a cd release party.They played the whole new album in order. I may have got pummeled by the pit while at the front of the stage, but it was worth it. Mark Arm and Steve Turner were on fire. STRONG RECOMMENDATION for UABS and catching them live. Oh, they also played the aforementioned,by Ko, Touch Me I'm Sick, Sweet Young Thing, and 7 other older tunes.

Check this website:
http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~ptn/mudhon ... /2006.html

Absolutely perfect Mudhoney tour archive. Here's the set the played at the Croc Café on 17 March:

Where is the Future?
It is Us
I Saw the Light
Endless Yesterday
Empty Shells
Hard on for War
A Brief Celebration...
Let's Drop in
On the Move
In Search of
Blindspots
----------------------
Sweet Young Thing
Touch Me I'm Sick
Inside Job
The Straight Life
Who You Drivin' Now?
You Got it
Suck You Dry
In 'N' Out of Grace
Hate the Police

Awesome set. My God. The set in Nottingham was great, but it didn't top this one. Who You Drivin' Now? has always been one of my live favourites. They didn't play that in Nottingham. And no Suck You Dry either. The finale of In 'N' Out Of Grace and Hate The Police was the same, though - and it was the dog's f*cking bollocks.

K.

[SE6Ajacied]

A pleasant surprise!

Whilst in Brighton for my union's conference last week I had a chance to go into one of my favourite record shops down there and got "Search for Paradise" a recent singles compilation from one of my favourite bands from the '80s/early '90s, The Wedding Present. I didn't even know this lot were still together/recording but they are, on "Scopitones" records, a Brighton based label.

Anyway, some really great stuff one here and it came complete witha bonus DVD which proved what excellent taste they have, one of their video's being filmed in Amsterdam!

I'd totally recommend this to anyone who is/was a fan, never seen it anywhere else other than that shop though.

[DanK]

Well its been awhile since I posted in this one and given that its mid year, thought I would list my fav CDs so far...then I realised the first half of the year has been pretty dull for new releases. For me only a few stand out.

Ryan Adams - 29
Thom Yorke - The Eraser (just released and growing on me - a lot)

But by far the best release so far has to be Augie March's 'Moo, You Bloody Choir'. Wouldn't be surprised if this stays on top at the end of the year.

There have been others that were OK, but just haven't done anything for me as an entire album, such as; Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere, Ben Harper - Both Sides of the Gun to name a few. Then there were the ones I just couldn't get into such as the Arctic Monkeys.

Last year was a strong year, still listening to Sigur Ros, Beck, Ryan Adams, Gorillaz etc, so this will tide me over for a bit, but if this keeps up I will struggle to get a Top 10 by years end thats for sure.

Can someone please tell me if I am missing something I should be listening too???

[Per]

I like the new Tool album, alot.

Gnarls Barkley, as mentioned, is a good one.

Bought Depeche's playing the nagel, which isn't new, but wuite good. Saw them live ast friday. They were good.

Otherwise, I'm listening alot to old stuff by Van Morrisson. Had no relation to him before. But since I really like the Band (which I think he's rather similar too), he's really grown on me now.

BR

/ Per

[Blind3]

I'm predictable as always. Just got back from L.A. Two nights of Pearl Jam and Sonic Youth at the LA Forum.Loved SY as always."Incinerates" , "Turquoise Boy" , "Schizophrenia" just some of their highlights.

As for PJ, I've no words. Shows 2.20 to 2.40 in length over the 15 shows I've seen.11 to go...THANK GOD! They've never sounded better. "Leash" is back in the set for the first time in a dozen years. The old joke used to be "Play Leash You P*****S". Now it's : Stop Playing Leash You P*****S" . Fans never quite satisfied.They've even played "Rats" a few times. Also, Yield's "I'm Open".
Hell, Ed even played "Walking the Cow" accoustically. X's " Must Not Think Bad Thoughts" and Phil Och's " Here's To The People of Mississippi" have been played. Just a wide open set. Plus all the most widely known tunes. "Crazy Mary" soars. Boom Gaspar's B3 takes that tune to a whole different level.Plus his swapping licks with Mike McCready is ear-candy.

The bad news for me.Sleater-Kinney is breaking up. I'll see one of their last few shows,in Philly 31.7.

Good news: Mission of Burma are touring small clubs. Like wise Joe Lally(see Fugazi), who i always thought kicked a**.Last ,SY and Flaming Lips are co-headlining a few shows.

And Neil Young is bringing Farm Aid here in late September. Always great to see the man Eddie Vedder calls "Uncle Neil".

[SE6Ajacied]

I've just bought The Concretes album "The Concretes In Colour". A great album this, band are from Sweden.

What surprises me is that before I heard them on the radio today I'd never actually heard of them at all....are they just not that famous or have I missed something?

Anyway, thanks to Virgin Radio Extreme for playing them when I was on the bus today. I'm enjoying the CD right now :xyxthumbs: .

[Kowalczyk]

I've just bought The Concretes album "The Concretes In Colour". A great album this, band are from Sweden.

Yeah - they're great. Nice arrangements. Very sweet, sometimes a bit like Belle & Sebastian. Love 'em.

What surprises me is that before I heard them on the radio today I'd never actually heard of them at all....are they just not that famous or have I missed something?

I wouldn't really say you missed something, because they're not that famous, but their previous, self-titled album got some pretty great reviews in Rolling Stone ("A splendid, peppermint pop-octet"), NME ("Stunning gossamer pop from Sweden") and a few English newspapers including The Observer.

That's how I discovered them. I bought the album while I was London and recently ordered the new one via Amazon. Nothing has happened for them in Holland, so far. I don't even think they were released here...

K.

[SE6Ajacied]

I've added to my small collection of CD's by Dutch bands whilst in Amsterdam last week:

"Feel the Need" by The Sheer, http://www.thesheer.com/

I really like this and I really don't know why it's not been released in the UK so far. Anyway, great CD this one.