What was your last concert you went to ?

Well said James, we were at the end "front of stage" in the last row, so without the screens it would have been like looking at a lego concert.

We didn't know what to expect and weren't disappointed overall. I could have done without the feedback wank in the song before the thunder and lightning song, sorry I'm crap at remembering song titles.

Enjoyed the acoustic numbers too. Apart from the wall of noise aspect I thought the sound was pretty good we could hear Neil fine, vocals aren't always so good at these venues.

I'm still not a huge fan of the O2 aircraft hanger cross with a barn a big barn admittedly.

We gave it a 8+, I know another member thought that generous, but he did see The Boss on Saturday so maybe too soon after? Also another forumite only liked the acoustic set. 

Well that's another one ticked off, I'll probably never see him again.

Our other 2 "big" gigs this year The Wall and back to the O2 for Peter Gabriel.

I thought Neil Young was awesome last night.

Oddly enough the bit I could have done without was the acoustic set - to be honest I don't want to hear NY playing Dylan tunes, I want him to play NY tunes, and I much prefer it when he straps on Old Black and makes a noise.

I loved the feedback at the end of "Walk Like A Giant" - it really separated the men from the boys (in fan terms) and allowed us to get right to the front, despite the best efforts of the 02 jobsworths.

For me the highlights were "Hurricane", a super-grungy "Hey Hey" and the aforementioned "Giant". I thought Neil's voice was superb, and I loved the set (giant speaker cabs, the valve amps, big mic, all the boffins wandering around). Sound was very good, if not loud enough for my tastes.

Will go again in August if I can get a downstairs ticket.

Not loud enough ,you must already be deaf then!!!

Pardon?

You know what they say Howard, if it's too loud, you're too old!

It was about right for me, any louder and it overloads the room (and me), something most sound engineers can't comprehend. 

Doesn't the sound go over your head when you are that close?

Surprisingly, no Howard. You feel it more as well. Don't really know why that is - maybe you're hearing stuff from the monitors/backline as well...

Here's the NY setlist from last night for people to compare with previous gigs:

Intro - (A Day In The Life & God Save The Queen)
Love and Only Love
Powderfinger
Psychedelic Pill
Walk Like a Giant
Hole in the Sky (new song)
Red Sun
Comes a Time
Blowin' in the Wind (yep, the Dylan one)
Singer Without a Song (new song)
Ramada Inn
Cinnamon Girl
****in' Up
Mr. Soul (old Buffalo Springfield song)
My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) (In the style of Hey Hey, My My)

Encores:
Like a Hurricane
Roll Another Number (For the Road)
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

Neil Young @ The O2

Hey Hey, Why Why (did I go?) was my experience :-(

After the Todd Rundgren Touch Screen miming Disco on Saturday night, I had high hopes for Neil.

As Scott said in his 'Who' review, I didn't feel engaged with the event at all. In future I will always try and get a Standing ticket for 'Rock' concerts, as then I can feel involved. There was an 'Acoustic' respite and I did enjoy the new songs, but why play a Dylan's Blowin'? I guess I've been listening to so much Prog in funny time signatures that the 4/4 drum beat seemed incredibly dull to me and that sucked any enjoyment out of hearing the electric guitars and watching Neil on The BIG TV!!!

When I saw 'Tin Spirits' recently at The Borderline, their guitarists Daniel Steinhardt & the incredible Dave Gregory were really inventive and created wonderful sounds. Their new material sounds a real step up for the next album and their version of King Crimsons 'Red' will live long in the memory.

I'm afraid the Neil & Todd gigs will be added to the Sh*te Bucket very quickly.

Without doubt the O2 is the worst venue I've been to in over 40 years of gigging. I can't believe any group can sound good there. I hope Peter Gabriel is better in October than last night. The good news is - My expectations are LOW.

On a positive note, I have experienced a very high level of musicianship, performances and great venues over the last 3 years. So two poor gigs out of approximately,140, is a pretty good track record.

I have also been encouraged by the excellent young artists and bands I've seen, as well as the middle age / old farts as well :-)

Denis - Still Rockin' In The Real World

Pretty much agree with the venue. I knew it would be abysmal and it was. I had to go as I had never seen Neil with Crazy Horse. Fortunately I had a standing ticket and as a result of queuing from 5pm made it right to the front leaning on the barrier in front of the stage. All the seating looked so far away from the stage I couldn't imagine anyone seeing anything without looking at a screen!!

I was right at the front and still 20 to 25 feet away.

However I really enjoyed the gig especially the extended feedback mess at the end of Walk like a giant. The sound was fine but I also reckon it was not loud enough from where I was.

Sadly no Cortez but hey!!

Will not be visiting the O2 ever again unless......

Hi Scott, congratulations on one of the best concert reviews I've read here.

FYI - the drummer Scott Devours, deputised for an injured Zak Starkey.

http://www.mojo4music.com/blog...e_new_life_into.html 

Denis

Hey Hey Premmyboy,

We didn't meet up at last year at the Staves, Village Underground gig. Perhaps if you comment in 'your next concert thread' we will try again if the concerts clash

Denis

Actually i thought the sound was astonishingly good! Yes it was an aircraft hanger but the voice was clear and even the 'noise' was solid rather than distorted! Except when it was supposed to be of course! That damned microphone prop and it's silly scarf where always in the way visually and Mr Young did spend a lot of time trading licks, as I think the young people say, in close quarters with the others.

Oh and it was quite loud enough from where I was sitting.

Ah well I enjoyed the gig.

Went to see Paloma Faith in Sherwood Forest on Saturday

Just about the most 'civilised' gig I have been to in my life.

She was excellent btw. A great set of lungs on her.

Thanks Lloydy and Denis - appreciate the link to the review as well. For what its worth, although we we didnt have the best of views we both thought that the sound was pretty good considering. We live in Buckingham and decided to drive to Stanmore and get the tube to central London where we had booked a room for the night before heading on to the O2. Good plan but not researched well enough - i had completely overlooked the fact that a certain Mr Springsteen was playing at Wembley Stadium and so the underground car park was full at just after mid-day. We ended up parking in a local guys driveway for a few quid so it turned out OK in the end. But getting all the way across London by tube is pretty exhausting especially when they have so many weekend works which means you have to keep changing your plans. If we ever do go back to the O2 I will be driving around the M25 and parking at the venue.

Scott

Hi Denis, I've seen Roger Waters, Led Zep and Radiohead there, and they all managed to fill the place with sound, and I imagine Gabriel will do a pretty good job as well, so hopefully that will work out for you.

Having said, that, both Earth Wind & Fire and Dylan were completely lost in there.

Elvis Costello, last night in Basingstoke.

What a showman, what a performer, a unique vaudevillian polemicist. To my surprise I felt very moved by I want you, Shipbuilding, Tramp the Dirt Down and the final song, Nick Lowe's Peace, Love and Understanding because they're not necessarily my favourites. Indoor Fireworks stood out for a kind of understated tingle. Chelsea's caustic venom was as apparent as ever, perhaps more so given the passage of time. But age has not wearied these songs. In his hands, they shall not grow old. Nor will Oliver's Army I hope.

I had a sense of a man more at ease with himself than ever. Certainly this middle aged audience member was.

Chris

Steve Winwood at Shepherds Bush (Thu 20-Jun)

I have seen Steve many a time and he always has a tight band with a good mixing desk producing a great sound. Thursday night was no exception and the sound quality where I was sat, showing my age and not standing!, at the front row of the Circle – Level 1, was excellent.

Now I have been a fan since the mid 60’s with The Spencer Davis Group and he played a mixture of songs from his back catalogue and I was very pleased that there were quite a few from his Traffic era including Rainmaker (opening song…and nicely done!), Low Sparks Of High Heeled Boys and a really great and rousing Light Up Or Leave Me Alone. As part of the encore he played, Dear Mr Fantasy and Steve really excelled himself on guitar a great take and some of his best guitar playing I have seen and heard!

From Blind Faith days he played Can’t Fine My Way Home and an excellent Had To Cry Today for, what he called, his “vintage audience” as he scanned the crowd.

Of course there were a few Spencer Davis songs: I’m A Man in a jazzy flavour (great), Keep On Runnin’ and also in the encore Gimmie Some Lovin’ – and excellent it was, a real crowd pleaser.

So once again I had a great time.

He is on a UK and Euro tour so if you get the chance it is worth seeing him. He is also playing Glastonbury for those who have tickets.

Richard

p.s. Not so keen on his new sideburns!

Well Mr Cohen (at the O2 tonight),was indid a more civilised affair. Well over two and a half hours playtime with a 20min interval! Not bad for a 79 yr old! May I be as nimble at his age. It was a great concert and he was enjoying himself. Sound excellent even though like young Mr Scott we had to rope up to get to the gods. I will find a set list in the morning. 

James

Thursday 20th June will remain a special date for those that went to Coventry Ricoh to see Mr Springsteen & The E Street band.

Nothing else needs to be said.

There are simply not enough superlatives.

The Killers at Wembley Stadium, most probably the best sound in that environment I have heard, stunning earth shaking base and clear as a bell....an absolutely fab night....

I think Dylan has completely lost it and would be lost anywhere!

Was that the show with the big spinny wheel? We saw that in Vancouver. Sound wasn't great (but I think our seats were in a particularly bad spot) but a good concert nonetheless.