Gig spy

Lohengrin - Royal Opera House Covent Garden 

bobmunro said:

Saw Fairport Convention in Nantwich last night. I've been a massive life-long fan and my wife sat through it for over two hours just to humour me (not her cup of tea) - bless her.

Just a small venue - maybe 200-250 and they were absolutely sensational. Musicianship really doesn't come much better than that. 

My wife's endured a few nights like that in the past. She's not really into live music or most of the acts I'm into. She came with me to see Roy Ayers at Ronnie Scotts a few years ago and we had a table at the front. I looked over at her halfway through the set and she had her head back, mouth open, fast asleep.

To be fair it was fairly warm in there and we'd had a few drinks.

Looking forward to seeing Queen at the o2 in a couple of weeks. My daughter's first proper concert (she's a big Queen fan), which was initially scheduled for 2020 then postponed twice.

Whitesnake, Foreigner and Europe

Europe with an entirely familiar lineup were brilliant, fine mix of material from all their career, everybody on decent form and noisy crowd enjoyment.

Foreigner, with Mick Jones only for the encore, some members who've worked for MJ for quite a long time, some very recent recruits but nobody who recorded any of their primary output.  Long serving vocalist Kelly Hansen is a fine performer who gives Lou Gramm's old hit songs a thoroughly respectful performance and the band of hired hands all recite their parts faultlessly, sky high production values, the whole 9 yards but the Foreigner set lacked that final 1%, the magic or je ne sais quoi.  Undoubtedly more than a tribute show but somehow not quite the full shilling.

Whitesnake.  Oh dear, oh deary deary dear.  I'd seen Coverdale and his hired minstrels trading as "Whitesnake" at a festival some years back and was disappointed to hear how little voice he had left, he did manage to sing around the more taxing material ably enough and while a shadow of his former prowess, he didn't disgrace himself.  This time it was humiliatingly bad, no power, no pitch and barely the fitness to get around the stage.  We gave it 4 songs, to see if it might be a monitor issue but when song 5 brought more atonal utterings, we bailed.  He should be paying the whole crew fortunes, cos they must know it's awful, it's Coverdale's show and by a distance  he's the least able to perform anything.  Sad.  
I'm doubly grateful we picked up the tickets gratis from a mate who couldn't make it.  You dodged a bullet Scot.

I'm seeing The Killers on Friday after being postponed twice. I've moved to Southampton since buying the tickets in 2019 so having to travel up to London when could have seen them tonight locally and walked home afterwards! 

Gravesend_Addick said:

Saw Thunder at Wembley on Saturday.  I've lost count of the amount of times I've seen them.  I say this every time, but in my opinion, they are the most under rated live band in the world.  I think they should've been huge 

Thunder would be an excellent band if only they would cut out all that “lets see you hands in the air” etc. FFS just get on with your music!

Solidgone said:

Gravesend_Addick said:

Saw Thunder at Wembley on Saturday.  I've lost count of the amount of times I've seen them.  I say this every time, but in my opinion, they are the most under rated live band in the world.  I think they should've been huge 

Thunder would be an excellent band if only they would cut out all that “lets see you hands in the air” etc. FFS just get on with your music!

All about opinions I guess.  I prefer bands that interact with the crowd at a live show & Thunder are the best at it

Covered End said:

falconwood_1 said:

Am going Killers on Saturday. Apparently the seating is all unreserved which I didn't expect.

My ticket says standing and Lower Unreserved Seating.

This is what I have. There was reserved seating but it was too expensive for me and I like to be able to jump about! 

Wilma said:

Amazing night last night at The Killers show, if you're going tonight you'll have a great time. They got a young guy out the crowd to play drums on one song and he was brilliant. He'll be buzzing about it for days I should think.

Sam Fender as support was good. 

As is usual at these things expect massive queues for a drink, limited choice and very expensive. There were some drink stations pitchside which weren't advertised and were quicker to get served at. Getting on the tube after was a nightmare too. 

I went last night, did the bloke who they picked have glasses 🤓?

guinnessaddick said:

Wilma said:

Amazing night last night at The Killers show, if you're going tonight you'll have a great time. They got a young guy out the crowd to play drums on one song and he was brilliant. He'll be buzzing about it for days I should think.

Sam Fender as support was good. 

As is usual at these things expect massive queues for a drink, limited choice and very expensive. There were some drink stations pitchside which weren't advertised and were quicker to get served at. Getting on the tube after was a nightmare too. 

I went last night, did the bloke who they picked have glasses 🤓?

No 

Just seen The National in Cork. I need to sober up to decide whether they get into my lifetime top five gigs but they have a very good chance.

The Killers and Sam Fender were both brilliant. Emirates is a great venue to watch a gig. Beer access was far too easy and paid for it on Sunday...

Queen at the o2 tonight, my daughter's first proper concert. Rescheduled from 2020 so have been waiting a while for this.