A good question. I've seen a lot of bands live, some of the highlights have been Rammstein, Within Temptation, NIN, David Bowie, Terrorvision (back in the day!) and Queen (with Paul Rogers).
While all of these bands, with the possible exception of Terrorvision, are huge successes with legendary live shows and the kinds of artists you expect great things of, there is something about big venues and fancy light shows that makes you forget about what's really important... the music, and the chemistry between musicians and audience.
Terrorvision is in that list for the very reason that back when I followed them around Yorkshire playing pubs and small clubs they gave me my first taste of live music. They were accessible and created an amazing atmosphere in limited space with limited shiny resources.
The screaming, the palpitations and me being star-struck at any of those huge gigs you care to refer back to is not to be sniffed at. Gigs of that scale (David Bowie drew a crowd of over 100,000 at Glastonbury 2000) can be awe-inspiring and incredibly atmospheric (NIN). You can get up close too, within mere feet of your idols, the lead singer can make eye contact with you and make you feel like she's singing just to you (Sharon del Adel, WT). They can fill you with the trembles from the power and shock of the performance (Rammstein). They can send you home singing at the top of your lungs and desperate for more (Queen). These gigs and many more were each amazing for these very reasons and more besides.
But sometimes, like Terrorvision at the Harrogate Arms before they got big, a gig in the back room of a pub, with no more than 50 people in attendance can blow your mind. Just sometimes, the chemistry is just right between the band and the crowd. Sometimes, despite mistakes and having to restart the opening track due to amp-error, a band you've seen a couple of dozen times before can give you chills again. Sometimes a band you see for the first time can remind you what live music is really all about. It's not about the lights or the pyrotechnics. It's not about 100,000 people screaming and singing along. It's not about fainting from the crush and heat of the mosh pit or the charisma of the lead singer!
It's all about the music and the atmosphere. And you don't need tricks to create the atmosphere. You just need really, really good music, played with energy.
And that is what happened last night. The venue: The Croft. The music: The Sky is Blue, The New Root & Seagull Strange.
The fist band, The Sky is Blue had some good material but their frequent need to retune and a slight lack of stage presence let them down. The New Root started their set in the manner that those of us who have seen them play a lot have become accustomed to, taking to the stage one by one as their intro track plays and that kick ass whammy riff from Dave leads them into their opening track, My Truth. It's always a good start, high energy, quality rock. Last night, however, there was a problem with Trish's amp and she had to stop the band, something that has never happened before. They handled it professionally and started up again quickly, taking the track from the top and playing it at a fantastic pace to get in their full set with now limited time. Sped up the song rocked even harder than ever!
The bulk of their set is made up of fairly new material, each song a new twist and emotional turn. I spotted my other half wiping away a tear at the end of "30 Years of Our Marriage" and "So Alive" always gives me chills. They finished the set with the re-vamped version of Tell Me, which I absolutely love to pieces and left the stage to massive applause and me literally bouncing off the walls. Despite the hiccup at the start, or maybe because of it, the set was exciting, entertaining and rocking. "That's the best they've played in a long time!" Was Andy's first comment, but he says that every time, testament to The New Root's constant improvement.
The friend we had with us, for whom this was only his second TNR experience was grinning like a loon and bouncing almost as much as me. Another happy fan. I didn't think the night could get any better. How good would a band have to be to follow that performance by TNR?! I have always liked Seagull Strange, but hadn't seen them live before. But as Trish said before the gig, "Live is better". And she was spot on.
It's easy to see why they are signed to a label. They have charisma oozing from every pore, their songs rock and they know how to interact with the crowd. After a couple of songs, the lead singer, Dan told us that due to there being a "fire hazard" at the back of the room, we all needed to move forwards. Obediently we did so, filling the few feet gap right in front of the stage and I think it was only once the crowd had moved that anyone twigged the ruse! From that moment on the front section of the audience loosened up, there was much dancing and jumping about, especially during "La La La Ley"! Andy dived from our spot at the side right into the middle to mosh with a fellow regular-Rooter and I got to jump about like a crazy person right at the front too.
Rapturous applause had them perform an encore and more dancing ensued. We left the gig hyper and feeling that something special had happened in that little room at the back of the Croft. We kept bursting into song all the way home and when we got back played songs from the gig at top volume, singing along and dancing around the house, probably to the deep annoyance of our neighbours! But that is the price you pay for great rock.
Jack Black stated that "One great rock show can change the world!" Well I don't think it did that this time, but this show reminded me about the point of live music and made me feel once again, as I did when I saw Terrorvision that first time, that everyone in the world has to hear these guys. If they don't, if people miss out on this, they will never know what live music is.
While all of these bands, with the possible exception of Terrorvision, are huge successes with legendary live shows and the kinds of artists you expect great things of, there is something about big venues and fancy light shows that makes you forget about what's really important... the music, and the chemistry between musicians and audience.
Terrorvision is in that list for the very reason that back when I followed them around Yorkshire playing pubs and small clubs they gave me my first taste of live music. They were accessible and created an amazing atmosphere in limited space with limited shiny resources.
The screaming, the palpitations and me being star-struck at any of those huge gigs you care to refer back to is not to be sniffed at. Gigs of that scale (David Bowie drew a crowd of over 100,000 at Glastonbury 2000) can be awe-inspiring and incredibly atmospheric (NIN). You can get up close too, within mere feet of your idols, the lead singer can make eye contact with you and make you feel like she's singing just to you (Sharon del Adel, WT). They can fill you with the trembles from the power and shock of the performance (Rammstein). They can send you home singing at the top of your lungs and desperate for more (Queen). These gigs and many more were each amazing for these very reasons and more besides.
But sometimes, like Terrorvision at the Harrogate Arms before they got big, a gig in the back room of a pub, with no more than 50 people in attendance can blow your mind. Just sometimes, the chemistry is just right between the band and the crowd. Sometimes, despite mistakes and having to restart the opening track due to amp-error, a band you've seen a couple of dozen times before can give you chills again. Sometimes a band you see for the first time can remind you what live music is really all about. It's not about the lights or the pyrotechnics. It's not about 100,000 people screaming and singing along. It's not about fainting from the crush and heat of the mosh pit or the charisma of the lead singer!
It's all about the music and the atmosphere. And you don't need tricks to create the atmosphere. You just need really, really good music, played with energy.
And that is what happened last night. The venue: The Croft. The music: The Sky is Blue, The New Root & Seagull Strange.
The fist band, The Sky is Blue had some good material but their frequent need to retune and a slight lack of stage presence let them down. The New Root started their set in the manner that those of us who have seen them play a lot have become accustomed to, taking to the stage one by one as their intro track plays and that kick ass whammy riff from Dave leads them into their opening track, My Truth. It's always a good start, high energy, quality rock. Last night, however, there was a problem with Trish's amp and she had to stop the band, something that has never happened before. They handled it professionally and started up again quickly, taking the track from the top and playing it at a fantastic pace to get in their full set with now limited time. Sped up the song rocked even harder than ever!
The bulk of their set is made up of fairly new material, each song a new twist and emotional turn. I spotted my other half wiping away a tear at the end of "30 Years of Our Marriage" and "So Alive" always gives me chills. They finished the set with the re-vamped version of Tell Me, which I absolutely love to pieces and left the stage to massive applause and me literally bouncing off the walls. Despite the hiccup at the start, or maybe because of it, the set was exciting, entertaining and rocking. "That's the best they've played in a long time!" Was Andy's first comment, but he says that every time, testament to The New Root's constant improvement.
The friend we had with us, for whom this was only his second TNR experience was grinning like a loon and bouncing almost as much as me. Another happy fan. I didn't think the night could get any better. How good would a band have to be to follow that performance by TNR?! I have always liked Seagull Strange, but hadn't seen them live before. But as Trish said before the gig, "Live is better". And she was spot on.
It's easy to see why they are signed to a label. They have charisma oozing from every pore, their songs rock and they know how to interact with the crowd. After a couple of songs, the lead singer, Dan told us that due to there being a "fire hazard" at the back of the room, we all needed to move forwards. Obediently we did so, filling the few feet gap right in front of the stage and I think it was only once the crowd had moved that anyone twigged the ruse! From that moment on the front section of the audience loosened up, there was much dancing and jumping about, especially during "La La La Ley"! Andy dived from our spot at the side right into the middle to mosh with a fellow regular-Rooter and I got to jump about like a crazy person right at the front too.
Rapturous applause had them perform an encore and more dancing ensued. We left the gig hyper and feeling that something special had happened in that little room at the back of the Croft. We kept bursting into song all the way home and when we got back played songs from the gig at top volume, singing along and dancing around the house, probably to the deep annoyance of our neighbours! But that is the price you pay for great rock.
Jack Black stated that "One great rock show can change the world!" Well I don't think it did that this time, but this show reminded me about the point of live music and made me feel once again, as I did when I saw Terrorvision that first time, that everyone in the world has to hear these guys. If they don't, if people miss out on this, they will never know what live music is.
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