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I've told the story before elsewhere but I once saw a shit-ton of UCF students freaking out that Meek Mill was bailing on their Homecoming concert, where he was supposed to open for Tyga, because he referenced a show in Miami hew as doing later that day (that he was helicoptering to).
I told everybody they were being ridiculous and they ganged up on me.
Joke was on them - he did perform that night and he was terrible.
― Lover of Nixon (or LON for short) (Neanderthal), Friday, November 20, 2020 11:44 AM (forty minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
lol...he was supporting that album and the tracks he performed over didn't have vocals removed and he only rapped a third of each lyric before abandoning each song midway through.
― Lover of Nixon (or LON for short) (Neanderthal), Friday, November 20, 2020 11:50 AM (thirty-four minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
sounds like M.I.A.
― DJP, Friday, November 20, 2020 11:50 AM (thirty-four minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
"...the tracks he performed over didn't have vocals removed and he only rapped a third of each lyric..."
Sounds a LOT like a Gucci Mane show I saw a few years ago.. also his crew were casually wandering all over the stage, looking at their phones.
― Andy the Grasshopper, Friday, November 20, 2020 12:04 PM (twenty minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
S'GUCCI
― Lover of Nixon (or LON for short) (Neanderthal), Friday, November 20, 2020 12:06 PM (eighteen minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
bennifer save us
― Evan, Friday, November 20, 2020 12:06 PM (eighteen minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
then there was the MC hammer show, where he walked offstage after he each to ask the sound guy which song was next
― Lover of Nixon (or LON for short) (Neanderthal), Friday, November 20, 2020 12:07 PM (seventeen minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
Sounds like when Ghostface Killah did a show in Chicago years ago and was three hours later, then performed a 15-minute medley before leaving again.
― soaring skrrrtpeggios (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, November 20, 2020 12:09 PM (fifteen minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
"three hours late"
ppl who have figured out how to live tbqh
― is right unfortunately (silby), Friday, November 20, 2020 12:12 PM (twelve minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
I can't help but recall when Vanilla Ice showed up to a mall appearance in Dubuque a week and a half late and then did nothing but play with a Bop-It onstage for four minutes.
― You will notice a small sink where your sofa once was. (Old Lunch), Friday, November 20, 2020 12:15 PM (nine minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
My worst concert delay: peak period Outkast in a Miami Beach club two nights before NYE. Concert announced at 9 p.m. By 2 a.m. they still hadn't come onstage. When I left fifteen minutes later, they came onstage shortly before three and played lol a medley.
― Patriotic Goiter (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, November 20, 2020 12:17 PM (seven minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
dying lmao at old lunch
― is right unfortunately (silby), Friday, November 20, 2020 12:22 PM (two minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
2004 DNC Rock the Vote party, Lauryn Hill showed up 2.5 hours late while her band wandered around on stage riffing along to the tracks the in-house DJ was playing, hectored the audience for 10 minutes about how important it was to pay attention to her lyrics, then sang a meandering song about a philosopher on top of a hill while the rest of her band looked rueful.
IIRC, she performed zero (0) of her hits.
― DJP, Friday, November 20, 2020 12:23 PM (one minute ago) bookmarkflaglink
― howls of non-specificity (sleeve), Friday, 20 November 2020 20:28 (four years ago)
tbh this is why I prefer to see rappers at festivals, where the backstage fascists keep things moving.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Friday, 20 November 2020 20:30 (four years ago)
Although of course Kanye legendarily didn't take the Bonnaroo stage until 4 a.m. or something.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Friday, 20 November 2020 20:31 (four years ago)
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra),
Watching Ghostface at Pitchfork Festival a decade+ ago was one of my concert highlights.
― Patriotic Goiter (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 20 November 2020 20:35 (four years ago)
When I saw Ghostface he was on time, but unfortunately so were the 19 dudes he brought with him, each of whom had his own microphone.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Friday, 20 November 2020 20:43 (four years ago)
haha, yeah I saw him with Theodore unit in the 00s, was a too many cooks spoil the broth type thing
― Politically homely (jim in vancouver), Friday, 20 November 2020 20:45 (four years ago)
In the late '90s, I was out at a club with friends and got tired / went home... they stayed, and sometime in the wee hours, the "entire Wu-Tang Clan" showed up for a surprise performance; they also brought "the dad from My So-Called Life" on stage (I guess the actor was there). Talk about missing the boat.
― down like 6:30 (morrisp), Friday, 20 November 2020 20:50 (four years ago)
Kool Keith didn't show up to do a show in Champaign IL when I was in college. I'd be slightly pissed if it was announced ahead of time that he was canceling, but being at the venue and just standing around for hours before getting told at like midnight or whenever that the main act isn't gonna show up is some enraging BS.
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Friday, 20 November 2020 20:52 (four years ago)
The dad from my so called life? Did they clown on him for thinking Billie Holiday was a man?
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Friday, 20 November 2020 20:53 (four years ago)
Never watched the show - was that already a joke before "Clueless" used it(?)
― down like 6:30 (morrisp), Friday, 20 November 2020 20:55 (four years ago)
I guess it did predate Clueless's release date but maybe not the date of conception
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Friday, 20 November 2020 20:59 (four years ago)
Skid Row at the London Arena in, christ, 1992/3? They were late on, Sebastian Bach got his cock out and wiped his arse with a newspaper, missed the last train, spent most of the night trying to sleep in a ball pit at Gatwick Airport. The glamour.
― Vanishing Point (Chinaski), Friday, 20 November 2020 20:59 (four years ago)
Dead Can Dance at Drury Lane in 1996. Walking to the venue from the tube I was disconcerted to see loads of sullen-faced goths trudging back in the opposite direction. Got to the venue to find out that Lisa Gerrard was sick and the gig was off.
― joni mitchell jarre (anagram), Friday, 20 November 2020 21:05 (four years ago)
I was supposed to be watching Napalm Death right now, but gigs cancelled due to covid would be a long not v interesting list.
I think the only time I can think of when I've actually gone to a gig to find it was cancelled was Radio Birdman about 10 years ago, got to the venue to find out they'd been refused entry by immigration
― CP Radio Gorgeous (Colonel Poo), Friday, 20 November 2020 21:07 (four years ago)
xpost
I was(n't) at that one too! (DCD)
Napalm Death / Extreme Noise Terror / Intense Degree (Fulham Greyhound, 1988?). Napalm's van broke down on the way down from Stourbridge or wherever they were from. Since they were sharing a drummer with ENT (Mick Harris) this was a major problem. Intense Degree came and went. Everyone sat around. Then some poor soul got up onstage to announce that the van was being towed back home, and that was our lot for the night. As I recall, we got a £2.50 refund on the £4 entry fee. I think John Peel reviewed the evening in the Times, where he had a regular column for a while.
― fire up the curb your enthusiasm theme music (again) (Matt #2), Friday, 20 November 2020 21:08 (four years ago)
I've never been to a gig that got cancelled last minute or a gig were the band or act came on egregiously late now that I think of it. I haven't really been a huge gig-goer the last decade or so (only really go see small shows at local places, not big touring acts) mind you but went to lots from age 12 to 25 or so
― Politically homely (jim in vancouver), Friday, 20 November 2020 21:09 (four years ago)
I seem to remember a Godspeed You! Black Emperor gig at the Festival Hall where they came on late because they were coming over from Dublin on the ferry and it had got delayed.
― joni mitchell jarre (anagram), Friday, 20 November 2020 21:13 (four years ago)
For a sec I read this as that was what Sebastian Bach did throughout the evening.
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 20 November 2020 21:14 (four years ago)
So did I!
― soaring skrrrtpeggios (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 20 November 2020 21:14 (four years ago)
xxp Wait for the Next Ferry You! Black Emperor
― down like 6:30 (morrisp), Friday, 20 November 2020 21:16 (four years ago)
I'm truly not trying to be dismissive or flip but I learned a lesson young:
never waste your time going to see hip-hop acts live if you want to see them perform well, or perform certain songs.
Go to see hip-hop acts perform live to dress up and smoke tons of weed with your friends. That way, when they don't show up, show up late, or you leave before they come on, at least you were at the show and had a good time.
― healthy cocaine off perfect butts (the table is the table), Friday, 20 November 2020 21:16 (four years ago)
haha the only time I remember this happening to me is a KRS-One show, and he did eventually show up and let everyone hanging around outside get in for free
― howls of non-specificity (sleeve), Friday, 20 November 2020 21:21 (four years ago)
Always makes me wonder what these acts are doing when they turn up four hours late. Online gaming or something? Waiting for the coke dealer to turn up?
― fire up the curb your enthusiasm theme music (again) (Matt #2), Friday, 20 November 2020 21:27 (four years ago)
i was very excited as a 15-year-old to have gotten permission to attend the x96 big-ass show at the utah state fairground in salt lake city, especially since it was mormon general conference that weekend and as always i assumed i had to stay home and watch it on tv.
i don't have great memories of the line-up but i do remember being excited to see ben folds five, and also standing around the back of the crowd when cake started playing. they abruptly stopped and walked off stage, never to return. i heard later that someone threw something at the trumpet player.
― fleet doxes (map), Friday, 20 November 2020 21:38 (four years ago)
I went to see Unwound and when I got to the venue it was closed. Forever. To be turned into a Hooters.
(The show had been moved to a venue across town at the last minute so I did get to see them.)
― emil.y, Friday, 20 November 2020 21:38 (four years ago)
leeds university.late 86.killing joke/red lorry yellow lorry were booked to perform in the refectory where the who recorded their live album.
the lorries came on and did their excellent thing and were insanely brilliant with a drum machine and a single strobe.then we waited.and waited.eventually, some poor soul came onto the stage to announce that KJ had got lost on the motorway system round leeds, and would be late.after the intense boos, we waited.and waited.eventually, KJ came on stage.to say the band rushed through their set at PA blasting volumes, would be an understatement.i guess it was to beat the licence curfew and to avoid fees etc.the worst gig by a big name band ever.
thankfully i discovered the lorries and cared not.
― mark e, Friday, 20 November 2020 21:38 (four years ago)
lmao
― fleet doxes (map), Friday, 20 November 2020 21:39 (four years ago)
never waste your time going to see hip-hop acts live if you want to see them perform well
I skipped a Wu Tang gig in 1994 (their first ever live show outside the US I think) because I had a few of those experiences.
― Siegbran, Friday, 20 November 2020 21:40 (four years ago)
Two exceptions to this:
1) I saw Public Enemy twice, in 1988 and 1990, and both times they delivered a tight, professional set;
2) I saw Ice-T in 1991, post-Lollapalooza (saw him there, too), and he did a tight 45 minutes solo, then 45 minutes more with Body Count.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Friday, 20 November 2020 21:42 (four years ago)
Mobb Deep were awful about this. the last time I saw them, the show was billed at 9, and naturally there were opening acts first, but there was something of a 2 hour gap between the last opener and Mobb, who came on the stage at 1 am. and then some of their tracks still had vocals on them. I left a half hour in and went to Mons Venus
― Lover of Nixon (or LON for short) (Neanderthal), Friday, 20 November 2020 21:44 (four years ago)
The Legendary Pink Dots never made it to their show in Toronto in 1990. Apparently they had trouble getting through customs. They have been back 13 times since then but I have never seen them.
Arthur Lee was scheduled to play here but the show was cancelled well before the date. They knew ahead of time that he was not going to be let into Canada, so it may not count.
― Halfway there but for you, Friday, 20 November 2020 21:44 (four years ago)
I once saw Lupe Fiasco go on at 2am at a festival, when he was scheduled for 11, and every other stage finished before 12.
― huge rant (sic), Friday, 20 November 2020 21:46 (four years ago)
the first time I saw Nocturnus AD, it was at some bullshit bar and grill (outdoors, special stage), and the shitty opening act overplayed their set so they didn't get off the stage until about 1 am, and Nocturnus AD weren't ready to go until 1:30, giving them only 30 minutes to perform. given that I"d driven an hour, I wasn't happy, but I did see them at least 5 or 6 more times at much longer sets.
― Lover of Nixon (or LON for short) (Neanderthal), Friday, 20 November 2020 21:46 (four years ago)
I saw Skinny Puppy in 1991 or 1992 (can't remember which now) and Godflesh were supposed to open but their US entry visas were denied. I've still never seen Godflesh.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Friday, 20 November 2020 21:47 (four years ago)
I left a half hour in and went to Mons Venus
Within five minutes of Mons Venus, I knew I was gay.
― Patriotic Goiter (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 20 November 2020 21:47 (four years ago)
A lot of this is venue-specific too. I mentioned festivals up above, but theaters and auditoriums are the same, they have strict load-out times and everything. Clubs otoh have every incentive to keep people there and drinking as late as they can.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Friday, 20 November 2020 21:50 (four years ago)
Waiting to see Das Racist at the 2012 Virgin Freefest with my friend. Pretty decent crowd but after 30 minutes, they're still not on the stage. some guy near us starts loudly telling people "Das Racist broke up!" We take it with a grain of salt but soon there is an announcement saying that the group has cancelled. They never did another performance and announced their breakup soon after. Not sure if that guy knew or just got lucky
― Vinnie, Friday, 20 November 2020 22:08 (four years ago)
Tool did a no-show in Glasgow around 1992-ish? Instead, we got a large helping of support band 'Paw', who were shite and the singer kept ragging on Maynard who was apparently ill.
Saw Levitation break up on stage at the Tufnell Park Dome, had tickets to see them a day or two later at another venue.
― Maresn3st, Friday, 20 November 2020 22:29 (four years ago)
not so much a concert but an Orlando Fringe festival show that had music/dancing in it. At the Orlando Fringe, Shows start on time to the minute, and latecomers aren't admitted, because of the rather militaristic nature of the schedule. As a performer, you only get into the space 30 minutes before your show starts, which gives you twenty minutes to set up your stage/do whatever warmups, and the house is opened ten minutes prior to show. so these shows tend to be minimalist set-wise, with small casts (with some exceptions).
the local paper had already written a rather awkward review of the show, saying it was very strange, didn't make a lot of sense, seemed troubled, and started late. so my friend went to see it out of morbid curiosity and told me about it later. stated that nobody was at the door to let anybody in, and that eventually somehow showed up to tell those waiting in line that they needed more time to get ready. It's five minutes to show time, five minutes after they were supposed to open house. A few minutes later, they got tired of waiting and just opened the door, walked in and sat down (after all, they'd paid for a ticket).
It was pretty clear something was wrong, as nothing was set up on stage, people were ambling around aimlessly on the production team, and one person could be heard on the phone in the background calling one of the cast members to see where they were. Turns out later, we found out the majority of the cast was so pissed off at the lack of professionalism of the production, that they quit after opening night, so they were trying to keep the show going with scraps. and much like the Cuban national football team, there would be new departures each night. So apparently, yet another person had disappeared.
Someone came out to address the crowd and said they were waiting for one of their cast members to arrive, and they apologized profusely, and said they'd do most of the show for them (as they were already ten minutes past start time in a one hour time slot, and nothing had happened). No house music either, just dead silence.
Eventually, music started, and someone came out on stage and half-assedly danced to it. Then dead silence for another five to ten minutes, presumably as they tried to figure what portions of the show they could still do with the remaining cast. Another number happens, and at this point, only polite applause is being given. Dead silence again, as they scramble to find a third routine. They do a group number, which pretty clearly is missing several people, as you can see gaps in placement on the stage where it was clear warm bodies used to be.
Another awkward silence, some audience members have left by now, and one of the producers comes out and says they're missing one of their leads, but asks if they want to see the big finale anyway. the audience half-assedly says "sure", and the group performs a final number which is clearly and obviously missing a main performer, with gaps in the singing and placement on stage.
it appeared to have been some kind of a revue show at one point that was now in pieces because of the mass defections. so my friend leaves the show, bemused, and sits down with the assistant festival director, who asks him what he just saw. My friend tells him, laughing, what production he saw, and the state of the production he was in.
Assistant director says "excuse me one moment", and gets up, and gets on his cell phone and walks several feet away, has a conversation with...someone, my friend can't tell who. Assistant director comes back and says "I just cancelled the rest of their festival - they will not be performing anymore". There were at least 3 performances left.
My friend was mortified cos he wasn't trying to get them in trouble, just telling a funny story of a troubled production.
― Lover of Nixon (or LON for short) (Neanderthal), Friday, 20 November 2020 22:38 (four years ago)
Janes Addiction at Warfield in 2002 (before the reunion when Flea was filling in on bass) Stood for at least 3 or 4 hours after doors opened listening to a DJ play house music. They didn’t come on stage til well after midnight, they were a total mess and would have sworn me off them for life had Mr Veg not convonced me to see them years later for the Eric Avery reunion. NIGHT AND DAY my god.
― terminators of endearment (VegemiteGrrl), Friday, 20 November 2020 22:50 (four years ago)
Mercy killing from the sound of it
― fire up the curb your enthusiasm theme music (again) (Matt #2), Friday, 20 November 2020 22:58 (four years ago)
Unperson, I don't know about Flav, but I'm pretty sure Ice-T and Chuck D don't do drugs.
Which answers the other question of what are so many of these artists doing backstage. It's drugs.
― healthy cocaine off perfect butts (the table is the table), Friday, 20 November 2020 23:11 (four years ago)
If I was tired from touring and had a room full of food, booze, and drugs, not to mention potential sexual partners, I wouldn't want to go out on stage either, tbh
― healthy cocaine off perfect butts (the table is the table), Friday, 20 November 2020 23:12 (four years ago)
So did I
Hahaha. Sebastian Bach's dangling participle.
― Vanishing Point (Chinaski), Friday, 20 November 2020 23:14 (four years ago)
xp OTOH surely these artists would be cognizant of the fact that they'd got this room full of food, booze, drugs, and potential sexual partners from performing live and therefore not do anything to jeopardise that by getting a reputation for being a rubbish live act?
― Being cheap is expensive (snoball), Friday, 20 November 2020 23:20 (four years ago)
Had tickets to see PJ Harvey in Manchester in 1998. Got to the venue and learned she'd canceled because she had laryngitis. I've always wondered what that gig would've been like.
― jaymc, Friday, 20 November 2020 23:27 (four years ago)
Bubba Sparxxx delayed a show to take a mid-set dookie
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/bubba-sparxxx-astoria-london-9271783.html
― Lover of Nixon (or LON for short) (Neanderthal), Friday, 20 November 2020 23:27 (four years ago)
PJ Harvey in Toronto in 1998 was great! The band all played in a line across the stage (including drums) instead of the typical line-up.
― Halfway there but for you, Friday, 20 November 2020 23:31 (four years ago)
OTOH surely these artists would be cognizant of the fact that they'd got this room full of food, booze, drugs, and potential sexual partners from performing live and therefore not do anything to jeopardise that by getting a reputation for being a rubbish live act?
I am aware of someone who was in a lineup of the L3m0nheads at a time when they were at a level to get booked on a big touring festival, but playing in mid-afternoon, not at headline times. After a few dates this person suggested to Ev4n D4ndo that since this was a 14-and-up event, and many of the audience were teenagers who were spending saved pocket money on the only live music experience they would have all year, that if he waited until after they played to get fucked up, Ev4n would still have 12 hours to do drugs backstage with international rock star pals AND could give the paying kids a good experience for their first concert ever.
The next day, a note was slid under the musician's hotel room door informing them their services were no longer required in the band.
― huge rant (sic), Friday, 20 November 2020 23:42 (four years ago)
(NB that they had not proposed moderation or sobriety during previous touring at night in licensed venues, it was specifically because of the audience / daytime slot.)
― huge rant (sic), Friday, 20 November 2020 23:45 (four years ago)
Some good ones I remember. I saw the Beta Band at ... the peak of whenever anyone cared about the Beta Band. Right before they went on some local construction caused the venue's power to go out and, when it became apparent it was not coming back, they lit a bunch of candles and the band came out to do an acoustic set.
There was a fire alarm when I saw Suicide, and everyone had to evacuate the venue midset. After the all clear we all went back in and the band picked up right where it left off.
I saw Garbage open for U2, and in the middle of the set an amp blew up and while it was getting changed out the band (well, Shirley), led the crowd in Beatles sing-a-longs.
Similarly, I saw the Killers open for Morrissey in a tiny venue, and some time during their set an amp literally burst into flames and stopped the show for a bit.
Del the Funkee Homosapien I saw go on once at 2am, for not that long, which is bullshit. Similar bullshit was Kool Keith, who when I saw him played maybe 20 minutes or so before leaving, leading to angry booing until he came out to play a couple of more songs.
I saw Nine Inch Nails once and clearly the onstage monitors were working but the house PA was not. So for about a whole song or so Trent and crew were doing their intense thing, but to us in the crowd it almost looked like pantomime. Once he learned what was going on he looked super pissed. The band left for a while, and when they came back I could have sworn at least one of them had a bloody nose, and they launched right into "Wish."
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 21 November 2020 04:43 (four years ago)
lol at pantomime NiN
― Lover of Nixon (or LON for short) (Neanderthal), Saturday, 21 November 2020 04:46 (four years ago)
xp Interesting catalog of technical difficulties. When I saw Shania Twain at the Staples Center, there was an explosion down the street mid-show that knocked out power at the venue. Emergency house lights came up quickly, but not the sound system; Shania had to mark time for a while.
― down like 6:30 (morrisp), Saturday, 21 November 2020 05:01 (four years ago)
when I saw Terrorizer play at the Brass Mug, the set was temporarily disrupted for a half hour because none other than internet celebrity Balloon Boy and his brothers were at the show, and Balloon Boy got so excited during their set that he took a flying leap and dislodged the huge, expensive PA speaker and knocked it over onto the stage, which send cords a flying and some things broke. took a while for them to get it remounted and set back up.
― Lover of Nixon (or LON for short) (Neanderthal), Saturday, 21 November 2020 05:10 (four years ago)
was to see the Karl Hendricks Trio at galaxy hut in arlington, virginia, but their van broke down and somehow i never managed to see them again before karl died
― mookieproof, Saturday, 21 November 2020 05:10 (four years ago)
I don’t know if it was a typo or mockery but years ago I saw the phrase “evan lando of demonheads” and I can’t think of him any other way
― joygoat, Saturday, 21 November 2020 05:11 (four years ago)
massive lols at NiN
― visiting, Saturday, 21 November 2020 05:29 (four years ago)
I'm sad that the visual in my head is probably funnier than what actually transpired
― Lover of Nixon (or LON for short) (Neanderthal), Saturday, 21 November 2020 05:29 (four years ago)
Showed up to see Roger waters doing the wall a few hours early to the sounds of announcements over the PA saying “the Roger waters show starts promptly at 8...” it started at like 10
― EvanP, Saturday, 21 November 2020 05:58 (four years ago)
I've never seen a hip-hop act come out on time or give a good show. And I've tried upwards of a dozen times. Truly wasn't trying to be a racist ass, just my experience.
― healthy cocaine off perfect butts (the table is the table), Saturday, 21 November 2020 13:00 (four years ago)
I saw Iron Maiden at Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC in 2003 - instead of doing their usual massive arena tour, they were doing just a few small theater gigs in the US, including a scheduled four nights at Hammerstein. On the second night, the show I went to, some asshole threw a full cup of beer off the balcony...which landed on/in the soundboard. Good night, New York! (Supposedly the first and third nights went OK, but the fourth was cancelled because it had been double booked by mistake.)
― but also fuck you (unperson), Saturday, 21 November 2020 13:07 (four years ago)
I should say: I'm really glad other people haven't had my bad luck!
― healthy cocaine off perfect butts (the table is the table), Saturday, 21 November 2020 13:11 (four years ago)
The Lemonheads were my first ever concert in 1992 and they were great!
― epistantophus, Saturday, 21 November 2020 13:48 (four years ago)
The rockist in me wants to agree about live hip-hop, or at least hip-hop performed by anything other than a full band, a la the Roots or even Black Eyed Peas (who were honestly awesome the one time I saw them live), but thinking back I've seen far too many incredible hip-hop shows over the years, as recently as the final Tribe Called Quest show. Granted, I've seen more than my share of hoarse screaming over shitty backing tracks, too, and perhaps more of that with rap than with whatever the rock equivalent might be, but I wonder if that's just inexperience or technical ineptitude at work. I have a friend who did sound for Cappadonna once, and Cap kept stopping the show, pointing at his mic, and yelling "yo, turn that shit up!" Eventually my friend pointed to the board and gave him a thumbs up, he does a couple of "check, check"s, and then, satisfied, shouts "that's what I'm talking about!" Of course, nothing had really changed, but it made him happy.
Pro-tip: whenever a singer, especially an experienced one, starts blaming the mic, it's almost always the singer's fault. I once saw Motley Crue, and Vince Neil kept pointing to the mic and shaking his head, and I thought to myself, no, dude, it's you. *You* sound like shit. My friend recalls a time he saw Janet Jackson perform on the Grammy's or some big TV gig, and as she starts singing she does the "point to the mic" thing. As my friend points out, there is no way she had less than the best audio and tech and sound guys money can buy for one of these big award shows. No one else was having a problem. She probably just missed or skipped the sound check or something, because better or at least more confident singers can better deal with shit on the fly. I've seen far too many people seamlessly swap out a mic or correct a problem without ever bringing real attention to it.
My friend likes to tell me about an infamous Offspring show he saw here on some bill. Someone threw a bottle or shoe or something onto the stage, and the idiot singer goaded the crowd on with an "is that the best you can do!?!" And the crowd proceeded to belt the Offspring with everything and anything that wasn't nailed down: bottles, grass clumps, etc., until the band had to leave the stage early.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 21 November 2020 13:53 (four years ago)
He coulda done what Cobain did with hurled shoes
http://www.alternativenation.net/dave-grohl-reveals-kurt-cobain-peed-little-girl-shoe/
― Lover of Nixon (or LON for short) (Neanderthal), Saturday, 21 November 2020 13:59 (four years ago)
At my first ever concert in 1982 the B-52's - opening for The Who - got pelted with beer cups and left the stage after about 20 min. The tour was sponsored by Schlitz so that must have been the beer the B-52's wound up stinking of. I've seen two aborted RHCP shows, one in '86 when about 30 min in the show was halted by the venue, apparently due to the frenzied-ness of the crowd; the second an outdoor show in '87 which was terminated about halfway through because of noise regulations.
Saw a (very good) local NYC band break up onstage after a squabble.
― Josefa, Saturday, 21 November 2020 14:12 (four years ago)
I read a review of a live Nine Inch Nails show circa Downward Spiral and the critic described it as “what your grandparents think a rock show looks like” so I’m enjoying the image conjured by that, and silent to boot.
― Ape Hole Road (Boring, Maryland), Saturday, 21 November 2020 15:59 (four years ago)
I once saw Motley Crue, and Vince Neil kept pointing to the mic and shaking his head, and I thought to myself, no, dude, it's you. *You* sound like shit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vofNwO1u0mw
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Saturday, 21 November 2020 16:23 (four years ago)
that's the best motley crue song i've ever heard.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Sunday, 22 November 2020 00:22 (four years ago)
Big Mac.$1.03
― Lover of Nixon (or LON for short) (Neanderthal), Sunday, 22 November 2020 00:23 (four years ago)
Atari Teenage Riot missed their flight, so we wandered around reciting Black Flag lyrics
― Master of Treacle, Sunday, 22 November 2020 06:21 (four years ago)
(To clarify, ATR missed their flight as Carl Crack was arrested for trying to open a fire exit door during take off and attacking a stewardess)
― Master of Treacle, Sunday, 22 November 2020 07:11 (four years ago)
I saw the Janes Addiction show at the ICA in the late 80s. They used so much dry ice they set off all the fire alarms in the venue. People had to go out into the snowy Mall for a while until they could be switched off properly. I think they did play the rest of the show though.
― Stevolende, Sunday, 22 November 2020 08:09 (four years ago)
lol that sounds very themmr veg said he heard from friends working Warfield show that the reason they went on so late is that Perry wouldnt go on stage because it was the jewish sabbath (bc of his whole obsession w Kabbalah)
― terminators of endearment (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, 22 November 2020 08:18 (four years ago)
Another for the Power Went Out edition: Stereolab/Broadcast in Kilburn, 1996, the power went out during Broadcast's set and they were frozen on stage for a short time. A real deer-in-the-headlights moment for them, they looked really lost up there. Fortunately the power wasn't outfor long.
― Position Position, Sunday, 22 November 2020 15:01 (four years ago)
Someone told me once they saw the same thing happen to Bon Jovi (when they were still in smaller venues). Jon Bon whipped an acoustic out and led the crowd in a singalong of Hey Jude or something to salvage the show. Easier to do that kind of thing when you're playing cheese-mongering stadium slop I suppose.
― fire up the curb your enthusiasm theme music (again) (Matt #2), Sunday, 22 November 2020 15:11 (four years ago)
The same friend that did sound for Cappadonna also told me about an Atari Teenage Riot show blowing a fuse or something, and plunging the amped up crowd into total darkness for several minutes.
I once had tickets to some show on the night of a blizzard. The venue (same as above, come to think of it) was not answering the phone so I figured, well, I'll give it a shot. I walked 20 minutes there in the blizzard only to find the lights off and so much snow piled up against the loading bay that no band was getting in. I guess that's why they didn't answer their phone.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 22 November 2020 15:16 (four years ago)
Have heard the story of the near miss Neubauten show where one of them was drilling into a wall in a venue not realising the power supply source was right behind it but luckily stopped in time.
― Stevolende, Sunday, 22 November 2020 15:59 (four years ago)
My wife’s grandmother had tickets to go see Hank Williams at the Canton Palace Theater, but he died on the way to the concert.
― Mr. Snrub, Sunday, 22 November 2020 16:15 (four years ago)
Still no excuse for not performing
― Lover of Nixon (or LON for short) (Neanderthal), Sunday, 22 November 2020 16:51 (four years ago)
I believe Hank had his hologram perform in his stead.
― Halfway there but for you, Sunday, 22 November 2020 17:07 (four years ago)
If we're including shows that went on despite technical difficulties, Parliament-Funkadelic in 2015 kept the show going stage-right while stage-left a group of roadies were fixing a troublesome bass amp.
In 2013, Carl Newman of New Pornographers had some trouble with his guitar and was left dancing awkwardly and doing background vocals for a couple of songs. He compared himself to Bez of the Happy Mondays.
― Halfway there but for you, Sunday, 22 November 2020 17:27 (four years ago)
He compared himself to Bez of the Happy Mondays.
HERESY
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Sunday, 22 November 2020 17:49 (four years ago)
I went to see Mr. Bungle in Orlando in 1999 and doors were delayed as we all stood outside until they got the sound right. After they opened doors it was too late for the opener to go on, so it was just Bungle. I don't remember caring at the time, but that band who didn't perform? Calculating Infinity era Dillinger Escape Plan
― Whiney G. Weingarten, Sunday, 22 November 2020 18:32 (four years ago)
i saw metallica a few years ago at mile high stadium in denver and the show was interrupted for like an hour because of lightning. they kind of had no choice but play part of 'ride the lightning' when they came back out.
everyone on the field had to move into the covered part of the stadium and it was fucking terrifying being in a massive swarm of pissed off people moving quickly due to the very strong 'the who in cincinnatti' vibes i was having
― joygoat, Sunday, 22 November 2020 18:37 (four years ago)
xpost, correction, it was St. Pete, Florida
― Whiney G. Weingarten, Sunday, 22 November 2020 18:41 (four years ago)
i had tickets to see james brown a few days after he died
― flopson, Sunday, 22 November 2020 19:15 (four years ago)
dave berman too :(
O man. 1999 DEP put on an insane show. They're still good but that incarnation was insane. Caught them in Tallahassee
― Lover of Nixon (or LON for short) (Neanderthal), Sunday, 22 November 2020 19:27 (four years ago)
XP That reminds me, I was <this> close to buying a ticket for Soundgarden, which ended up being one of the first dates after Cornell died.
― "what are you DOING to fleetwood mac??" (C. Grisso/McCain), Sunday, 22 November 2020 19:42 (four years ago)
Calculating Infinity era Dillinger Escape Plan
Man, that would have been a good one.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 22 November 2020 20:00 (four years ago)
I saw Chris 2 weeks before he died
― Lover of Nixon (or LON for short) (Neanderthal), Sunday, 22 November 2020 21:41 (four years ago)
I was in the crowd when this happened:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XERf28QoJRo
― Vernon Locke, Sunday, 22 November 2020 21:53 (four years ago)
XP Your rave about that show was what made me want to go!
― "what are you DOING to fleetwood mac??" (C. Grisso/McCain), Sunday, 22 November 2020 21:55 (four years ago)
Oh really? Damn!
It was really good
― Lover of Nixon (or LON for short) (Neanderthal), Sunday, 22 November 2020 21:59 (four years ago)
A band I was in was lucky enough to play a couple of shows with Dillinger Escape Plan in 2002. So, sadly not with Dimitri or Adam but it was pretty incredible to witness them close up, they played Grateful Dead, Cure and Radiohead riffs in soundcheck.
― Maresn3st, Monday, 23 November 2020 02:12 (four years ago)
Dimitri was the one who sold me my DEP shirt. Which doesn't fit cis I'm fat now
― Lover of Nixon (or LON for short) (Neanderthal), Monday, 23 November 2020 03:56 (four years ago)
Yeah, however I *did* see the first Dillinger show with Greg, which was at CMJ 2001 and it was bananas.
― Whiney G. Weingarten, Monday, 23 November 2020 04:49 (four years ago)
Like this HULKING meathead-looking dude comes out and the vibe felt like “what is this shit” and iirc as soon as they started he picked up a monitor and threw it into the crowd and it was game on
― Whiney G. Weingarten, Monday, 23 November 2020 04:51 (four years ago)
Puciato is a gym membership personified
― Lover of Nixon (or LON for short) (Neanderthal), Monday, 23 November 2020 05:25 (four years ago)