Post Show Banter >>>>

Space wrote:

bearman🐻 wrote:
Really enjoyed the Charlatans/Ride gig last night. The Charlatans had more energy than they've had in a while, and thought that they made a surprisingly strong "opener" that was actually a little tough to follow. Ride sounded great. Saw them in September in Chicago, and though I loved hearing the "Nowhere" songs live, the Chicago show had a better vibe. I guess also because it was more intimate. But both bands were great.

Question for bearman or anyone…

Admittedly, my britpop knowledge is pretty weak. But I feel like the Charlatans are more of a household name than Ride. What makes them the opener and Ride the headliner?

Great question. And it actually goes back to 1992 when they did a tour in England where they flipped each night. They brought it Stateside last winter playing the Midwest and some East Coast dates, and decided to add more dates this year. Also of note…the House of Love and Catherine Wheel did a tour like that in 1992 as well.

Sorry, I feel like such a great question deserved a more exciting answer.  Sure you answered the question, but it had no pizzazz, no je ne sais quoi. 

bearman🐻 wrote:

Space wrote:

bearman🐻 wrote:
Really enjoyed the Charlatans/Ride gig last night. The Charlatans had more energy than they've had in a while, and thought that they made a surprisingly strong "opener" that was actually a little tough to follow. Ride sounded great. Saw them in September in Chicago, and though I loved hearing the "Nowhere" songs live, the Chicago show had a better vibe. I guess also because it was more intimate. But both bands were great.

Question for bearman or anyone…

Admittedly, my britpop knowledge is pretty weak. But I feel like the Charlatans are more of a household name than Ride. What makes them the opener and Ride the headliner?

Great question. And it actually goes back to 1992 when they did a tour in England where they flipped each night. They brought it Stateside last winter playing the Midwest and some East Coast dates, and decided to add more dates this year. Also of note…the House of Love and Catherine Wheel did a tour like that in 1992 as well.

Cock wrote:
Sorry, I feel like such a great question deserved a more exciting answer.  Sure you answered the question, but it had no pizzazz, no je ne sais quoi. 

bearman🐻 wrote:

Space wrote:

bearman🐻 wrote:
Really enjoyed the Charlatans/Ride gig last night. The Charlatans had more energy than they've had in a while, and thought that they made a surprisingly strong "opener" that was actually a little tough to follow. Ride sounded great. Saw them in September in Chicago, and though I loved hearing the "Nowhere" songs live, the Chicago show had a better vibe. I guess also because it was more intimate. But both bands were great.

Question for bearman or anyone…

Admittedly, my britpop knowledge is pretty weak. But I feel like the Charlatans are more of a household name than Ride. What makes them the opener and Ride the headliner?

Great question. And it actually goes back to 1992 when they did a tour in England where they flipped each night. They brought it Stateside last winter playing the Midwest and some East Coast dates, and decided to add more dates this year. Also of note…the House of Love and Catherine Wheel did a tour like that in 1992 as well.

Consider the intended audience, that is, the person who asked the question. More than enough pizzazz. Thank you Bearman for the education.

U2 at the Sphere.  Was at the Feb 2nd show (Friday) and agree with others that said it was spectacular.  The feel of the show for me was that U2 was the supporting act (or at most-equal partners) for the visuals of the venue.  It was really 2 shows combined, each supporting what the other was providing.  The visuals were really breathtaking to take in.  Having seen U2 many times, to me they seemed to dial it back a notch as far as their stage presence, almost as if they know that they are not getting the full attention of the crowd as most are looking at the visuals.  But maybe that was just my perspective.

We were on the floor (GA's) which I thought was great.  We just stayed toward the side back where there was plenty of room and no usual GA nonsense going on that you find up close.  There was plenty of room on the floor to get fairly close to the stage if you wanted, and plenty of room where we ended up standing towards the back-side (five o'clock looking at the stage).  For the Sphere, with the GA's, you are close enough to the band for those that like proximity to the action.  As far as visuals for the GA's, I didn't have any sense of not getting the full visual sense of what was offered.  Sure you had to look up at times but the visuals were amazing from any perspective and to be honest everyone from any seat would have to look up to get the full picture.  I feel if I was seated, especially up high, the band would've seemed a million miles away, and I would've lost that close proximity perspective of the show.  GA's were a great mix of seeing a live band up close, and being able to see the full spectacle of the Sphere.  Sound was great as would be expected.  Anyway if you get a chance to experience it whether it's U2 or another band, I highly recommend it.

Cock wrote:
U2 at the Sphere.  Was at the Feb 2nd show (Friday) and agree with others that said it was spectacular.  The feel of the show for me was that U2 was the supporting act (or at most-equal partners) for the visuals of the venue.  It was really 2 shows combined, each supporting what the other was providing.  The visuals were really breathtaking to take in.  Having seen U2 many times, to me they seemed to dial it back a notch as far as their stage presence, almost as if they know that they are not getting the full attention of the crowd as most are looking at the visuals.  But maybe that was just my perspective.

We were on the floor (GA's) which I thought was great.  We just stayed toward the side back where there was plenty of room and no usual GA nonsense going on that you find up close.  There was plenty of room on the floor to get fairly close to the stage if you wanted, and plenty of room where we ended up standing towards the back-side (five o'clock looking at the stage).  For the Sphere, with the GA's, you are close enough to the band for those that like proximity to the action.  As far as visuals for the GA's, I didn't have any sense of not getting the full visual sense of what was offered.  Sure you had to look up at times but the visuals were amazing from any perspective and to be honest everyone from any seat would have to look up to get the full picture.  I feel if I was seated, especially up high, the band would've seemed a million miles away, and I would've lost that close proximity perspective of the show.  GA's were a great mix of seeing a live band up close, and being able to see the full spectacle of the Sphere.  Sound was great as would be expected.  Anyway if you get a chance to experience it whether it's U2 or another band, I highly recommend it.

Looking forward to The Phish soon!

I like comedy shows, where the openers are better than, the main act.

Don't eat the food, at the Kennedy Center.

Birchmere, even agrees.

Cock wrote:
U2 at the Sphere.  Was at the Feb 2nd show (Friday) and agree with others that said it was spectacular.  The feel of the show for me was that U2 was the supporting act (or at most-equal partners) for the visuals of the venue.  It was really 2 shows combined, each supporting what the other was providing.  The visuals were really breathtaking to take in.  Having seen U2 many times, to me they seemed to dial it back a notch as far as their stage presence, almost as if they know that they are not getting the full attention of the crowd as most are looking at the visuals.  But maybe that was just my perspective.

We were on the floor (GA's) which I thought was great.  We just stayed toward the side back where there was plenty of room and no usual GA nonsense going on that you find up close.  There was plenty of room on the floor to get fairly close to the stage if you wanted, and plenty of room where we ended up standing towards the back-side (five o'clock looking at the stage).  For the Sphere, with the GA's, you are close enough to the band for those that like proximity to the action.  As far as visuals for the GA's, I didn't have any sense of not getting the full visual sense of what was offered.  Sure you had to look up at times but the visuals were amazing from any perspective and to be honest everyone from any seat would have to look up to get the full picture.  I feel if I was seated, especially up high, the band would've seemed a million miles away, and I would've lost that close proximity perspective of the show.  GA's were a great mix of seeing a live band up close, and being able to see the full spectacle of the Sphere.  Sound was great as would be expected.  Anyway if you get a chance to experience it whether it's U2 or another band, I highly recommend it.

nice write-up.  i was going to say "glad the venue delivered", but c'mon, there's no way you walk outta that place without being awed. 

u2@sphere> is it loud? do you need earplugs? could you lay on your back and get the full visual experience without craning your neck?

notme wrote:
u2@sphere> is it loud? do you need earplugs?

earplugs not needed.  not only is it not overly loud, the sound is so effing clean.  it was my impression that because there are no harsh distortions, they don't need to crank it up to a gzillion decibels to get the full effect.  the sound is just as impressive as the visuals, IMO.

notme wrote:
could you lay on your back and get the full visual experience without craning your neck?

no, because there isn't anywhere in GA where you'd have enough room to get a full view of the ceiling/screen/dome.  imagine being in a medium-packed GA - you might find somewhere to lie down, but you'll have people standing all around you, inches away, like a wall blocking your peripheral view.  maybe if you hired a phalanx of bouncers, somehow obtained GA tickets for all of them, and got them to set up a wide perimeter so you have amount of space…

agree with all this.  But I wore earplugs due to my tinnitus.  I thought it was loud enough where it was needed.  Sound was great. 

sweetcell wrote:

notme wrote:
u2@sphere> is it loud? do you need earplugs?

earplugs not needed.  not only is it not overly loud, the sound is so effing clean.  it was my impression that because there are no harsh distortions, they don't need to crank it up to a gzillion decibels to get the full effect.  the sound is just as impressive as the visuals, IMO.

notme wrote:
could you lay on your back and get the full visual experience without craning your neck?

no, because there isn't anywhere in GA where you'd have enough room to get a full view of the ceiling/screen/dome.  imagine being in a medium-packed GA - you might find somewhere to lie down, but you'll have people standing all around you, inches away, like a wall blocking your peripheral view.  maybe if you hired a phalanx of bouncers, somehow obtained GA tickets for all of them, and got them to set up a wide perimeter so you have amount of space…

Seriously… meant to come back to this. I can't imagine not wearing ear plugs at basically any show at this point in my life.

How much have you all been paying to see bono(r).

Yada wrote:
I can't imagine not wearing ear plugs at basically any show at this point in my life.

generally in the same boat, but the sphere is on the exception list.  i had plugs with me, listened with and without, and decided they weren't needed.  ears did not ring upon leaving the show.

Yada wrote:
How much have you all been paying to see bono(r).

Floors were ~$260 all-in.  on stubhub, floors for this weekend's show (night before super bowl!) are going for $270, further out they're going for $600+.  just saw an article about how the prices of secondary-market tickets are falling, sounds like the band may have reached saturation.  looks like they go the timing right on when to end the run.

then ya gotta tack on airfare, hotel, requisite steak dinner, etc… it was an early bday present to myself.

sweetcell wrote:

Yada wrote:
I can't imagine not wearing ear plugs at basically any show at this point in my life.

generally in the same boat, but the sphere is on the exception list.  i had plugs with me, listened with and without, and decided they weren't needed.  ears did not ring upon leaving the show.

Yada wrote:
How much have you all been paying to see bono(r).

Floors were ~$260 all-in.  on stubhub, floors for this weekend's show (night before super bowl!) are going for $270, further out they're going for $600+.  just saw an article about how the prices of secondary-market tickets are falling, sounds like the band may have reached saturation.  looks like they go the timing right on when to end the run.

then ya gotta tack on airfare, hotel, requisite steak dinner, etc… it was an early bday present to myself.

Not bad at all… I assumed much more.

We paid face value when they went on sale. Airfare and hotel we used points so it was fairly cheap. Although food and drink in Vegas is really expensive.

Yada wrote:

sweetcell wrote:

Yada wrote:
I can't imagine not wearing ear plugs at basically any show at this point in my life.

generally in the same boat, but the sphere is on the exception list.  i had plugs with me, listened with and without, and decided they weren't needed.  ears did not ring upon leaving the show.

Yada wrote:
How much have you all been paying to see bono(r).

Floors were ~$260 all-in.  on stubhub, floors for this weekend's show (night before super bowl!) are going for $270, further out they're going for $600+.  just saw an article about how the prices of secondary-market tickets are falling, sounds like the band may have reached saturation.  looks like they go the timing right on when to end the run.

then ya gotta tack on airfare, hotel, requisite steak dinner, etc… it was an early bday present to myself.

Not bad at all… I assumed much more.

Cock wrote:
We paid face value when they went on sale.

me too. we miraculously got in on the presale.

Cock wrote:
Airfare and hotel we used points so it was fairly cheap.

airfare from SEA to LAS was (and still is) ridiculously cheap*.  i was originally only going for one show, so i got a flight for something like $140.  someone on the team managed to get tickets to a second night, so i got myself a one-way back a day later… for around $100, IIRC.  hotel wasn't cheap because we stayed at a decent joint on the strip.  glad that we did.

*TAN: at my previous gig, a certain group of my workmates would go to vegas for the weekend quite regularly - like once a month.  lunch-room chat was all about hotel deals, what shows they saw, their favorite casino, etc.  they talked about vegas like going to the lake house - just a normal thing to do.  i thought it really strange at the time - who goes to vegas every few weeks??  turns out that for seattleites, keeping your eye out for resort deals + cheap airfare = rather affordable weekend getaway.  personally i'm fine going there once a year or less, but different strokes…

Cock wrote:
Although food and drink in Vegas is really expensive.

can confirm.  there are deals to be had, but you need to hunt them down, wander off the strips, etc… ain't nobody got time for dat.

Went to the Snail Mail show last night at DC9. Birthday Girl is gonna be one of the great DC bands. Just sayin'. They're young but in a very short amount of time, their songs are taking shape and really becoming amazing. Snail Mail was also really good. And Flowers for the Dead were solid as well. A lot of local talent. Very glad I got to go to this.

bearman🐻 wrote:
Birthday Girl is gonna be one of the great DC bands. Just sayin'.

Singer/Songwriter: Mabel Canty
Bassist: Isabella MacKaye
Drummer: Tess Kontarinis

Produced and Recorded by Brendan Canty
Ibuprofen recorded by Mary Timony

With genes and help like this…  ;D

Will check out.

Justin wrote:

bearman🐻 wrote:
Birthday Girl is gonna be one of the great DC bands. Just sayin'.

Singer/Songwriter: Mabel Canty
Bassist: Isabella MacKaye
Drummer: Tess Kontarinis

Produced and Recorded by Brendan Canty
Ibuprofen recorded by Mary Timony

With genes and help like this…  ;D

Will check out.

Mabel is actually a great songwriter. At 16 years old. Crazy. And she's got an incredible voice too.

bearman🐻 wrote:
Birthday Girl

They will be at the Otto bar on the 28th opening for Mary timony

I like their Bandcamp stuff, thanks for the tip