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BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
In no particular order:
Eric Clapton - excellent player but zero personality live. Could have stayed home and put on one of his records instead.
Queen - Not surprising given the vocal complexities of their songs. Freddie in particular struggled to reach many of the notes and Brian May's playing wasn't that inspiring.
Black Sabbath - First time they were great, second time they had major technical problems with the sound which could not be rectified on the night.
Gary Moore at St David's Hall - the balance of the sound was all wrong. The bass was far too loud, which meant that all GM's solo's were drowned out. Me and a mate even went to a different part of the auditorium to see if the sound was better. It wasn't.
Rainbow - Yet again Mr Blackmore was a great letdown live. Played for himself not his audience.
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
I'll select 5 for you.....
Public Image Ltd, Cardiff Top Rank (December 1983): I'd been really looking forward to this gig, but it was just punk rock panto. Lydon and his band of of session musicians were taking the piss. Very poor. I've seen PiL many times during the last ten or fifteen years and, although erratic, they've generally been pretty good. But they were crap in 1983.
Happy Mondays, Glastonbury (June 1990): this was a band I was excited about seeing, but they were just plain boring. Simple as that.
Oasis, Gloucester Leisure Centre (October 1995): I'd seen Oasis live several times before this gig and they'd been pretty good on each occasion, but this time they were very stale. I never bothered with them again after this show.
Stone Roses, Newport Centre (December 1995): this gig has developed its own legend due to crowd violence, but the headliners themselves were tedious. A real yawnfest.
Eels, Bristol O2 Academy (March 2013): I liked plenty of this band's studio material, but I just didn't 'get' them live. The venue was so packed it was really uncomfortable and, although they went down well with a crowd mainly comprised of devoted followers, Eels left me cold.
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Leo Sayer - booked at Stoke campus of North Staffs Poly just before his breskthrough single, aopeared on Top of the Pops, tried to get out of booking saying the stage was too small, booking switched to larger stage atStafford campus, he did a few songs, obviously thought he had suddenly become too good for colleges.
Southside Johnny and the Ashbury Dukes - springsteen-esque music, but were shit as a support act for Led Zep at Knebworth '79.
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Hootie and the Blowfish............................Too interested in playing to, and distracted by, a rowdy USA audience but awful anyway.
Hawkwind.......................................... ........Disappointing instrumentalists.
Status Quo............................................... ..Monotonous and repetitive 12 bar blues but got free entrance. Wouldn't pay to see them.
Stereophonics..................................... ...... Free entrance offset disappointment.
Elton John.............................................. ...Just couldn't get into it.
Helen Shapiro........................................... Poor acoustics at venue spoiled an otherwise talented performer.
The Buckinghams....................................... Disappointing despite Fleetwood Mac connections again spoiled by screaming old women at USA venue.
Just about everyone seen at the Motorpoint Arena as the acoustics were/are dreadful.
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Moodybluebird
In no particular order:
Eric Clapton - excellent player but zero personality live. Could have stayed home and put on one of his records instead.
Queen - Not surprising given the vocal complexities of their songs. Freddie in particular struggled to reach many of the notes and Brian May's playing wasn't that inspiring.
Black Sabbath - First time they were great, second time they had major technical problems with the sound which could not be rectified on the night.
Gary Moore at St David's Hall - the balance of the sound was all wrong. The bass was far too loud, which meant that all GM's solo's were drowned out. Me and a mate even went to a different part of the auditorium to see if the sound was better. It wasn't.
Rainbow - Yet again Mr Blackmore was a great letdown live. Played for himself not his audience.
Agree about Clapton.
Saw him at an outdoor concert in Dubai about 4-5 years ago.
Came on, started playing, went through his set and said goodnight at the end.
Did not say one word throughout the set and no song introductions.
His playing was great but the whole concert seemed dull and uninteresting
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DubaiDai
Agree about Clapton.
Saw him at an outdoor concert in Dubai about 4-5 years ago.
Came on, started playing, went through his set and said goodnight at the end.
Did not say one word throughout the set and no song introductions.
His playing was great but the whole concert seemed dull and uninteresting
That's exactly as I saw it DubaiDai.
Saw him at one of his much vaunted concerts at the Albert Hall. Left me totally cold. An excellent guitarist but no front man.
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Stone Roses - MSG, New York- June 2026 - Great in parts, but by no means a classic. John Squire stole the show. Ian Brown seemed subdued at times.
Gun Club - Electric Ballroom, London - 1983? - Jefrrey Lee Pierce was wasted.
MBV - France - 2008 - Had an off night.
Brian Jonestown Massacre - Multiple times pre 2008 - Anton was wasted/ranting/fighting
The Creation - 2001 - Manitoba's, New York - Just awful. Very sad.
Cocteau Twins - 1982-86 - Several times - Technical/Vocal promlems
Bands that have never disappointed -Siouxsie and the Banshees, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Damned, SFA.
Has anyone seen the Sex Pistols in the last 30 years? I imagine it would have been pretty great to see them with proper monitors/sound mixing etc. When they came to NYC they played an outside venue near the beach. **** that noise.
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Quote:
Originally Posted by
NYCBlue
Stone Roses - MSG, New York- June 2026 - Great in parts, but by no means a classic.
The Stone Roses - still boring in 2026!
:hehe:
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
red hot chilli peppers after they started cashing in ..californication.
faith no more ...fecking dreadful in copenhagen
black grape...all the band were off their tits
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The Lone Gunman
The Stone Roses - still boring in 2026!
:hehe:
2016. The night before the Wales v Belgium in the Euros. But you are probably right about 2026.
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
I saw the Cocteau Twins at the students union in Cardiff about 1993 or 1994. They were good buy, as said above, suffered from poor sound. I would imagine it would be difficult to replicate their studio sound.
Stereophonics - first time I saw them they were great, it was free at the Cardiff Weekend in Bute Park. After that boring, and an egotistical front man (And a Leeds fan!).
Roxy Music at the Capitol Cardiff sometime in the 1970s , ok, but when Ferry left the stage and they did some instrumental number they were great, then Ferry cam back on and it was all about him. I saw them loads of times but that was the one time I didn't;nt enjoy it.
Van Morrison- miserable git.
Bootleg Beatles, last December in St David's Hall. The crowd were all on their feet at the end, but I thought they were just OK, could have listened to the records. Same with any tributes act.
Donny Osmond about 10-15 years ago. I was made to go by my wife. He came on stage , all the women stood up screaming, I looked along the rows of seats and there were two other blokes just sat there drinking beer. Two hours is along time when you're bored.
Elton John at CCS last summer. Football grounds do not make good concert venues. It's all about the money though. He was very lacklustre compared to the 7 or 8 times I've seen hime before (my wife made me go to these too!).
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Simple Minds - Birmigham NEC was a lame affair
Went to the bar half way through the set and stayed there !
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MOZZER2
Simple Minds - Birmigham NEC was a lame affair
Went to the bar half way through the set and stayed there !
How long ago was this? I saw them about 5 years ago and I was surprised at how good they were.
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
I forgot, I saw the Psychedelic Furs about 15 years ago. LAME! I saw them again a couple of years ago and they were good. Richard Butler does ham it up a bit mind.
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Another vote for Stereophonics
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Quote:
Originally Posted by
NYCBlue
How long ago was this? I saw them about 5 years ago and I was surprised at how good they were.
must have been late 80's early 90's . At that time they very big and sold millions of records .Liked Promised you a miracle and the new gold dream album was half decent
saw the bunnymen around the same time at the NEC and they were great live
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Moodybluebird
In no particular order:
Eric Clapton - excellent player but zero personality live. Could have stayed home and put on one of his records instead.
Queen - Not surprising given the vocal complexities of their songs. Freddie in particular struggled to reach many of the notes and Brian May's playing wasn't that inspiring.
Black Sabbath - First time they were great, second time they had major technical problems with the sound which could not be rectified on the night.
Gary Moore at St David's Hall - the balance of the sound was all wrong. The bass was far too loud, which meant that all GM's solo's were drowned out. Me and a mate even went to a different part of the auditorium to see if the sound was better. It wasn't.
Rainbow - Yet again Mr Blackmore was a great letdown live. Played for himself not his audience.
I enjoyed seeing Clapton live but agree about the lack of personality.
Rainbow were disappointing because they only played about half an hour
Pink Floyd were zero personality, barely acknowledged that the audience was present and played everything exactly as it is on the album.
Van Morrison was a grumpy old git singing out of tune.
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bobh
Leo Sayer - booked at Stoke campus of North Staffs Poly just before his breskthrough single, aopeared on Top of the Pops, tried to get out of booking saying the stage was too small, booking switched to larger stage atStafford campus, he did a few songs, obviously thought he had suddenly become too good for colleges.
Southside Johnny and the Ashbury Dukes - springsteen-esque music, but were shit as a support act for Led Zep at Knebworth '79.
I was there, don't remember South Side Johnny though
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
UB40 at the NEC many years ago were a let down, bad sound quality.
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Paul Weller in Motorpoint 2019
Seen him around 10 times and always been decent live but he just went through the motions last visit to Cardiff. Father Time has caught up with him. His energy had disappeared. He also seems hellbent on playing new material which has got shitter and shitter over the years and no one in the audience is feeling it. After 40+ years in the business it’s no shame to be out of material just play the fans what they want ffs.
Oasis around 95/96ish in Cardiff - Liam ****ed off stage about 30 minutes into the gig saying he was unwell then he was a window in Jury’s hotel and playing up to the crowd were singing up to him. I’m like hang on a ****ing a minute I thought you was ill? I was pissed off cos I had to pay 4 time’s face value for a ticket.
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Moodybluebird
In no particular order:
Eric Clapton - excellent player but zero personality live. Could have stayed home and put on one of his records instead.
Queen - Not surprising given the vocal complexities of their songs. Freddie in particular struggled to reach many of the notes and Brian May's playing wasn't that inspiring.
Black Sabbath - First time they were great, second time they had major technical problems with the sound which could not be rectified on the night.
Gary Moore at St David's Hall - the balance of the sound was all wrong. The bass was far too loud, which meant that all GM's solo's were drowned out. Me and a mate even went to a different part of the auditorium to see if the sound was better. It wasn't.
Rainbow - Yet again Mr Blackmore was a great letdown live. Played for himself not his audience.
Prefab Sprout, Cardiff University, November 1985 - beautiful songs, but weirdly anaemic when I saw them. There is even a bootleg online that you can listen to....
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
I'd agree with Cardiff 55 about the Strereophonics and Van Morrison, but I wasn't expecting a great deal from either because I've never really "got" the former and, although that doesn't apply to the latter, his reputation went before him. However, I travelled to Ashton Gate to watch the Rolling Stones in 1982 and the National Stadium in 1987 to watch the Pretenders with very high expectations which only made the miserable and boring stuff they both provided as they went through the motions even more of a let down.
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Quote:
Originally Posted by
NYCBlue
Stone Roses - MSG, New York- June 2026 - Great in parts, but by no means a classic. John Squire stole the show. Ian Brown seemed subdued at times.
Gun Club - Electric Ballroom, London - 1983? - Jefrrey Lee Pierce was wasted.
MBV - France - 2008 - Had an off night.
Brian Jonestown Massacre - Multiple times pre 2008 - Anton was wasted/ranting/fighting
The Creation - 2001 - Manitoba's, New York - Just awful. Very sad.
Cocteau Twins - 1982-86 - Several times - Technical/Vocal promlems
Bands that have never disappointed -Siouxsie and the Banshees, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Damned, SFA.
Has anyone seen the Sex Pistols in the last 30 years? I imagine it would have been pretty great to see them with proper monitors/sound mixing etc. When they came to NYC they played an outside venue near the beach. **** that noise.
I seen Echo & the Bunnymen at the mercury lounge a little club down on east-houston back in 97 the after party was mental.
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Whisperer
I seen Echo & the Bunnymen at the mercury lounge a little club down on east-houston back in 97 the after party was mental.
They played at the Mercury Lounge? That must have been amazing. Was it a secret show or something?
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Last year I went to see Nick Mason’s Saucer full of Secrets at the Roundhouse.
Arguably, the worst few hours of watching entertainment I have experienced ,along with Les Miserables, but at least there is a warning in the name of that show!
In fairness, I was never into Pink Floyd and those that were throughly enjoyed the whole thing.
Bizarrely, one of the guitarists was the fella from Spandau Ballet and they were fantastic when I saw them years ago.
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Simple Minds Milton Keynes Bowl 1986 - it was a wonder Kerr could sing he was so far up his own backside (I am biased I don't like them and only went cos of a girl)
Another for the Stereophonics
The Fall at St Davids Hall 199 something - wrong venue for that sort of thing
Gene Loves Jezebel Cardiff Students Union 1986 ish - Gash
and finally and I've seen him a few times and everytime it was brilliant but....
David Bowie The Glass Spider tour 1987 cardiff arms Park - I just don't have fond memories of it
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Quote:
Originally Posted by
NYCBlue
They played at the Mercury Lounge? That must have been amazing. Was it a secret show or something?
I remember it was invite only think it might have been a end of tour party or something, I was running around with a guy called Adam Peters at the time who arranged a lot of the Bunnymens music over the years, I see he won an Oscar a few years back for some film theme. I also remember Will Sargent being really cool but Ian McCulloch being really special and different type.
Oh NYC before they turned it into Disneyland.
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
I forgot the Fall. I've seen them a few times. Very hit and miss. The last time I saw them was about 2007 and it was a complete mess. The first time I saw them was at Brixton Fridge in 1983 and they were ****ing amazing. That should be on my great gigs list.
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
U2 at Cardiff Arms Park on the Zooropa Tour.
It was as if they’d played too many gigs and were just bored of it all and besides - it was only Cardiff.
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bobby Dandruff
Prefab Sprout, Cardiff University, November 1985 - beautiful songs, but weirdly anaemic when I saw them. There is even a bootleg online that you can listen to....
I saw them at St Davids hall in 89 or 90, brilliant song writer is Paddy mcaloon and beautiful songs, they just don't seem to make that crossover to medium-large venues.
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Quote:
Originally Posted by
binman
Simple Minds Milton Keynes Bowl 1986 - it was a wonder Kerr could sing he was so far up his own backside (I am biased I don't like them and only went cos of a girl)
Another for the Stereophonics
The Fall at St Davids Hall 199 something - wrong venue for that sort of thing
Gene Loves Jezebel Cardiff Students Union 1986 ish - Gash
and finally and I've seen him a few times and everytime it was brilliant but....
David Bowie The Glass Spider tour 1987 cardiff arms Park - I just don't have fond memories of it
Most of the gigs in the ols arms park-Mill stad are a bit shit, it's like dancing about to loud music emanating from a builders scaffolding three houses down. I've always felt like a bit of a prick at stadium concerts.
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Majorblue
Last year I went to see Nick Mason’s Saucer full of Secrets at the Roundhouse.
Arguably, the worst few hours of watching entertainment I have experienced ,along with Les Miserables, but at least there is a warning in the name of that show!
In fairness, I was never into Pink Floyd and those that were throughly enjoyed the whole thing.
Bizarrely, one of the guitarists was the fella from Spandau Ballet and they were fantastic when I saw them years ago.
I saw him in St David's Hall last May and thought he/they was/were superb. Mind you, you have to be in to the very early Pink Floyd stuff to appreciate it. I was due to go again this week, but put off until October. This band has been a bit of a cult event and tickets this year were £50 , up from last year's £35. They sell out everywhere.
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Quote:
Originally Posted by
cardiff55
I saw him in St David's Hall last May and thought he/they was/were superb. Mind you, you have to be in to the very early Pink Floyd stuff to appreciate it. I was due to go again this week, but put off until October. This band has been a bit of a cult event and tickets this year were £50 , up from last year's £35. They sell out everywhere.
COBBLERS
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
The Bootsy/George Clinton/Mothership/Funkadelic things. Birmingham Odean. 1980ish. A friend described it as like listening to 4 hours of hoovering, which was about right.
Paul Weller. Zurich 1983. He had the hump I think because he found himself in a very small venue with a very small crowd. Came across as a real arrogant prick. Have disliked him since.
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Quote:
Originally Posted by
binman
Simple Minds Milton Keynes Bowl 1986 - it was a wonder Kerr could sing he was so far up his own backside (I am biased I don't like them and only went cos of a girl)
Another for the Stereophonics
The Fall at St Davids Hall 199 something - wrong venue for that sort of thing
Gene Loves Jezebel Cardiff Students Union 1986 ish - Gash
and finally and I've seen him a few times and everytime it was brilliant but....
David Bowie The Glass Spider tour 1987 cardiff arms Park - I just don't have fond memories of it
The Fall at St Davids Hall was an odd experience. Not a massive crowd, some of whom gathered in front of the stage to try to generate some sort of atmosphere. I couldn't even join them as I was in crutches at the time so just sat further back.
Also saw them at The Globe a couple of years - Mark E Smith performed the encore sat in the doorway to the dressing rooms at the back of the stage.
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
I've seen many a great gig in my time, but some real turkeys too.
Off the top of my head:
THE CLASH - CARDIFF UNIVERSITY, NOV '77. The band were totally out of tune, couldn't play their instruments and none of them could sing a note between them. Strummer totally murdered the reggae classic, Junior Murvin's 'Police & Thieves, by barking his way through the song. Just awful, really awful
2/IGGY POP - CARDIFF UNIVERSITY - MAY '79. I'm a huge, huge Iggy fan, but this gig was the pits. Iggy seemed somewhat off his face, and spent the entire concert with his hands down his pants playing with himself. The set was mercifully short thank goodness.
3/ANVIL - ST DAVID'S HALL '83 (as support Motorhead). Lips of Anvil produced a dildo to play a guitar solo. Cue loads of teenbopper haedbangers down the front going nuts. For me the most cringe inducing moment I have ever witnessed at a gig.
4/VIRUS/CREATOR/CELTIC FROST - RITZY'S CARDIFF - OCT '87 - Three reasons why i can't stand thrash metal. None of the feckers possessed an actual vocalist who could sing. All three bands possessed guitarists who might well be great guitarists, but all three widdly widdly wank wanked up and down their respective fretboards all night. Just plain boring
5/THE ORB - CARDIFF UNIVERSITY '93. Might as well as stayed at home and listened to their first two LPs, it was as boring as feck.
6/IN FLAMES - CARDIFF UNIVERSITY '07 (AS SUPPORT TO MOTORHEAD) I'm pretty sure they played the same long turgid song for their entire 40 minute set.
There are probably a few others lurking at the back of my mind, I'll have to try and have a think....
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Tubeway Army, Cambridge Corn Exchange 1978. I think they were the support act for someone. I can't remember who the someone was, but I remember that I thought Tubeway Army were awful
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Quote:
Originally Posted by
RichardM
Tubeway Army, Cambridge Corn Exchange 1978. I think they were the support act for someone. I can't remember who the someone was, but I remember that I thought Tubeway Army were awful
If it was 1978 it would have been at least six months before they had their first hit, so I guess you weren't too disappointed.
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Re: BANDS OR ACTS DISAPPOINTING LIVE
Where do I start :hehe:
A common theme will become clear from the below, but I wouldn't attribute it purely to the venue...
Oasis - Noise & Confusion 2005. They were just crap... Foo Fighters supporting, and whilst not a huge fan, acknowledged they were good.
Stereophonics - A Day at the Races. Due to foot and mouth it was moved into the stadium, it was around the time JEEP came out and they were dull, not worth getting covered in piss for. Support however again much better, The Crocketts and Ash. Nobody knew who Black Crowes were!
The Police - Jeez, middle of the winter, freezing cold, all seated. I was in the middle tier and made my way over to some restricted view corner seats after two songs and just got wrecked to salvage a night of it.