Train at the O2, 24/3/15

Posted by: Judge on 25 March 2015

My wife and I really like Train's music, so I was excited to get tickets for last night's concert at the O2.  

 

I was was a bit taken aback by the sound quality of the support act, but then they were the support act...

 

At 21:02 Train took to the stage.  Errr, what's happening, the sound quality was just as bad.  The bass drum, drums in general and the bass guitar were SO loud, you couldn't make out what Pat was singing.  When you could here him, it was an indistinct screech.  When he spoke, things weren't much better, and as if to prove the analysis, when he sang without drums and bass, you could here him.  

 

I was was so disappointed.  Much of the audience seemed to enjoy being in the same room as their favourite band, but they couldn't have been listening!

 

The sound was mixed so loud, vocals were lost, echo seemed excessive, and the PA seemed to find resonant frequencies that made some of the guitar work unbearable.  I wear attenuating ear plugs,  was at the other end to the stage but still experienced pain had ringing ears when I got home!

 

My wife agreed, so it wasn't just my ears, but heaven knows what the sound engineer was hearing, or why the band thought that mix was any where near acceptable.  

 

Is there a problem with the O2?  I've heard better at Twickenham and other stadiums, which are bigger.  We have tickets for Mark Knopfler there in the summer; I hope his engineer is better...

 

What are other people's experiences of that venue? Was anyone else there last night?

 

Posted on: 25 March 2015 by dayjay

Probably weren't using naca5

Posted on: 25 March 2015 by Premmyboy

The O2 is probably the worst indoor venue I have ever been to. I had never seen Neil Young with Crazy Horse so I went along. I was standing right at the front which means 30 feet from the stage. The sound was ok but God knows what it would have been like in the seats about half a mile away!!

 

never again.

Posted on: 26 March 2015 by Bart

Last summer, Monty Python at the O2 were quite enjoyable.  We were 17 rows from the stage on the floor, and the sound seemed OK. 

Posted on: 27 March 2015 by PG

I have only been once, but thought the sound was the best arena sound I had heard. I guess a lot rests on where you are in the venue and who is doing the sound. As an aside, I have seen people wearing ear plugs at gigs, but don't they impact on what is heard. Or are they special ear plugs that don't impact on the gig experience/quality level.

Posted on: 28 March 2015 by BevC

my husband and I have been to the O2 twice - once for Paul McCartney and once for The Eagles. On both occasions the sound was excellent. We've always found the O2 to be a good venue - far better than the NEC or NIA.  I'm sure it must be to do with who is at the mixing desk and their perception of what an artist should sound like.  Some appear to be of the opinion that making the audience's ears bleed is a good thing!

Posted on: 28 March 2015 by Nick Lees

Been twice. 

 

Saw Rammstein from the very back, the sound was pretty awesome (not too much subtlety required), and could feel the radiated heat from the pyrotechnics even at that distance.

 

Also did the Neil Young & Crazy Horse gig sitting in the middle tier, and thought the sound was very good. Especially for an arena that size.