Best Gig Aesthetics

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You know, you go to see a band and they really make an effort with how they are presented. For example, tonight at LADYTRON show I was jumping up and down because the band came on to a backdrop of one of my favourite film sequences EVER, the 'Carousel' bit of Logan's Run. And the show carried on in a totally visually clued-up vein. It just enhanced my enjoyment.

So what do you consider worthy of special mention for art direction?

― suzy, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i have to say, uh, ::coughcough::whitezombie::coughcough:: had a really great sub-KISS/dirt-mall aesthetic goin on when i saw em many, many moons ago. (the melvins were opening...and THAT was one of the best *performances* I'd ever seen.) cheap ultra-violent anime/horror film vid screen collage, fake corpses, crosses which dropped from the ceiling for the encore. choice.

― jess, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

pfffff....GWAR

― Norman Phay, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The Volcano Suns get a posthumous award for set design. The sheer cubic volume of lurid gimcrack and assorted tchotchkes they brought up on stage probably required a second minivan to schlep around. For some time after they broke up, I'd go to a party at someone strange apartment and see a plaster statuette of a jaguar, or a painted towel, and know that whoever lived there had looted the stage after the final Volcano Suns show.

― Benjamin, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

On a small scale level, Mean Red Spiders go all out when ever they play in southern Ontario area. Three projectors aimed at the backdrop, often one or two to the sides, and usually all sorts of crazy rotating patterns, makes you dizzy sometimes.

Haven't seen too many on a large scale level that were impressive, Mercury Rev/Sparklehorse maybe.

― Mr Noodles, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Jason Aldritch's customised freebie jacket at the strange girls gig worked for me :)

um, I don't think I have seen enough stage shows anyway.

― Menelaus Darcy, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

the Flaming lips have put on quite a show the two times I've seen them. Also Broadcast at the Scala last year were a bit special, maybe it's something about the Scala (lovely venue) that brings out the visually creative in bands.

― chris, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Fridge do a wonderful thing with several cine projectors and loops of film, mixing and matching swirling patterns. The IMP fest a couple of years ago had an overhead projector with serveral sheets with paterns which they overlaid and moved around to creat crazy moire effects and a tray of water with coloured bits of plastic and blobs of oil in it which they swirled around to create crazy organic patterns on the back wall.

Coldcut are obvious masters at the visiuals thing their act being the combination of visual and audio samples. Hexstatic and the light surgeons are masters of visuals, best example seen at the forum and big chill three years ago.

I think visuals are a very important part of the musical experience, most electronica/post rock/laptop wielders realy need the backup of big visuals. I personally like to see something with my music and two guys with laptops can quickly become boring.

― Ed, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Most of the gigs I've been to which have tried to incorporate visuals whether with props or films haven't worked terribly well. I saw David Devant with their collection of zany props and it was ghastly, it just reminded me of a student revue. And films are great in theory but if you've only got a ten-minute loop to sight-track an hour-long performance then it becomes very annoying very quickly. (Anyone who went to Orb shows in the early 90s will know what I mean). That said the animation lektrogirl used as backdrop at the micro-machines festival at the Spitz earlier this year was really cool and deserved at least one repeat (unfortunately it got four). My conclusion? If ou haven't got the budget, keep it simple.

― Tom, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

anyone playing in the Union Chapel when the sun is going down, and the light blazes in through the stained glass windows... i saw LaBradford, Aerial M and Pole while this was happening and it was great!

― katie, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oh god yes. That was beautiful.

― RickyT, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

My actual answer, prompted by mention of Union Chapel above, was Charlemagne Palestine in a church near Victoria station. Sacral atmosphere + organ drones and singing + multicoloured robes + soft toys = awesome aesthetics.

― Tom, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i don't like Union Chapel as a venue at all. saw Godspeed there, summer99. it didn't help that they went on far far too long, and that they don't really have the material to justify.

i don't like this type of venue, reminded me too much of belle & sebastian at Manchester Town Hall. what a stupid venue, what a mediocre band

― gareth, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The Flaming Lips, fuck yes. Backing tapes and visuals and everything all synched up together. Even their soundcheck tape is a work of art.

Also, kudos to Broadcast for having those Canadian Film Board clips in the background which used to traumatise and mystify us as children, to see them synched up to cold, clinical beautiful music was amazing.

And this is totally out of character for me, but every time I've seen Orbital, their projections have blown me away. I suppose "dance" acts must know this, that watching two bald blokes wearing lighted headgear and twiddling knobs is not the most interesting thing in the world to watch, so they make sure that there is eye candy going on above them.

― Ugly Wife, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Yeah, Orbital at Glastonbury 95, news was filtering through about Major "resigning" and lots of people were getting excited, they played Satan and up came pitures of Major and Thatcher with big crosses over their faces, that moment was just fucking brilliant. Then we got home and realised it was all a sham, ah well.

― chris, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Man or Astro-man? Coz they wear space suits, have space images projected in the background, lots of pipes and stuff...and one time they made a stage invader crouch down by the drum kit! haha! Oh and CoCo sometimes wears a computer monitor (hollowed out) on his head, and sometimes sets it on fire and runs through the crowd. And they have modified computer keyboards that are theremins. And then at the end there is the tesla coil. Oh and they had the Evviac computers. And old TV's on stage. I've seen them 4 times so, this post is a mixture of all their shows!

― james, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I have all Man or Astro-man's albums, and loads of singles...jel=fanboy.

― james, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Godspeed at the Union Chapel in 1999 did go on forever. Very boring indeed with the same short film loop being played over and over again. I left after about an hour to give out flyers, got chatting to a couple of people for half an hour or so, went back in and they were still bloody playing.

― RickyT, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

james is on the money with Man...Or Astro-man? i have only seen them once, but it was as you say.

― gareth, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

two lovely Union Chapel shows: Belle & Sebastion and Kathryn Williams.

― chris, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

A Silver Mount Zion were pretty good at the Union Chapel. Godspeed... are dull though - they only play one type of track which goes from quiet to loud *every* time.

visuals don't have to be amazing - just nice lighting (years of doing stage lighting make lighting really noticeable for me), and slides is fine. Broadcast have used nice slides and film projection. and Tortoise and Boards of Canada had good visuals at ATP

― m jemmeson, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Saw Electrelane at the electric cinema when they re-released 'film music', they played to a specially made film. Really worked well, flipping between cities all over the world. Probably a bit of a cliche, I don't know.

― Bill, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Pet Shop Boys - giant computerised versions of Neil and Chris' heads spinning round infront of GREEN FIRE

ps: some of the Devant props were crap but some were ace - Vessel with back to the audience singing into a giant mirror held up by ICEman

― jamesmichaelward, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I was at the Ladytron gig last night, and it was certainly something special. It's been a while since a band have given me such a buzz, they sounded great, they looked great, even the audience looked great. Everything about it was just perfect. I love bands that create their own world, and right now I want to live in Ladytron's.

The Flaming Lips' glitter and extravagance is a must-see spectacle too. I get tired of all the thirty-something cynics who grumble that they've been putting on the same show for years. I don't care. It's a great show.

― Trevor, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Th' Faith Healers. Shambolic, smiley, unpredictable, interactive. Best fun band evah!

― Mark C, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

beta band gig i was transfixed on what could have been a video to go with the bonnie-tyler-ing song. it was a fantastic epic story about placing some magical guitar on a deserted planet sort of sword-in-the- stone style. various characters came along to remove the guitar (monkey, strange UFOs, vid game space-invaders, david hasselhof) but all failed. finally the beta band arrived and took the guitar HURRAH.

It might not have been david hasselhoff.

― Alan Trewartha, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Th'Faith Healers were always entertaining live. Something to with Roxanne's hair, I reckon.

― RickyT, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I loved that Tour de France/Clockwork Orange/sado-masochism tip that Campag Velocet were on. Their artwork was in a league of its own. I think it can be counter-productive when the music doesn't live up to the aesthetic though. They were a great "ideas" band but never quite delivered.

― Trevor, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'm usually not too impressed by visuals, but the Terrastock 2 setup was pretty nice. Most of the acts had some nice films and lighting going on.

― Nicole, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

THE FAITH HEALERS! Aaaaaaawwwghh!!!!!! (Oh dear, I just made the noise that KEL from Kenan and Kel makes at the start of each show! Here it goes)! HMPH I sense for referencing the WEEEEEVILNESS of Kenan and Kel to be ostracised from polite society. Tis all I deserve.

― Sarah, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

prince, 92 diamonds and pearls tour...let me hear you hoooooowl like dogs.

― Geoff, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Sonic Youth had some nice films shot on the streets of NYC for their last tour. The Boxhead Ensemble actually perform soundtracks to short experimental films - they put on a great gig at the Horse Hospital in Bloomsbury a couple of months ago, spoilt (only a little) by the constant sound of beer bottles tumbling over on the tiled floors. Spiritualized at the RAH had the best light show I have ever seen - and they released balloons down onto the audience at the end, a nice touch. And yeah, Charlemagne Palestine's stuffed toys are the best support act evah!

― Andrew L, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Spiritualized at RAH was possibly the most boring gig I've ever been to, we were up near the top and were sooo jealous of the people standing up. No booze, no smoking, no dancing = no fun.

― chris, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Nebula has got a flaming gong!! Genuinely frightening in a small room. They're playing CB's tomorrow. I'm bringing the gas mask I've got lying around.

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I was at the Ladytron gig last night, and it was certainly something special. It's been a while since a band have given me such a buzz, they sounded great, they looked great, even the audience looked great

Why, thank you

― jamesmichaelward, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

After seven pints, even I looked great!

― Trevor, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Trevor, seven pints, at the Scala? Are you MADE of cash?

― suzy, Thursday, 15 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I thought £3.20 a pint was pretty much par for the course these days. Of course, if I was still a student or unemployed I'd think those prices were pretty obscene.

― Trevor, Friday, 16 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Hank once played a gig with his hand wrapped up in duct tape (he had a gaping wound and didn't want it to open.) I found that pretty cool.

One of his bands also runs old monster films behind them while playing. Sometimes upside down or backwards which is more amusing.

― Samantha, Friday, 16 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

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