LIVE Entertainment Thread 2022

[Constanza]

Oh yes. The thought of 4000 Smiths fans wandering round Killarney in early Autumn is where memories are made.

[LeighO]

Going to see Toyah at the Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Friday - I've still got my teenage crush on her.

What did you think Nessy?
I was underwhelmed myself.

[Dunners]

ABBA Voyage

Okay, just to clear something up before I start. Sanitised pop music isn’t really my thing. My youth was spent either in sweaty mosh pits or raving all night in a warehouse fuelled by nothing more than a bottle of water. But I do like a bit of ABBA. I just wasn’t sure what to expect from a ‘concert’ featuring holograms of ABBA.

Firstly, the custom-built arena is not messing around. The entrance foyer is mainly Scandinavian pine, and features plenty of mingling space along with bars, food and merchandise outlets. And the arena itself is smartly designed so that there isn’t a bad seat in the house. The central dancefloor and surround seating is shaped so that it narrows further away from the stage.

The temperature is carefully controlled so it remains pleasant throughout. The seats are comfy. Very comfy. The views are great. The sound system was crystal clear and loud, and the lighting effects were designed into the arena and were spectacular.

The live band were all great too, and it was nice that they were allowed to take centre stage for one of the songs so got a bit of appreciation and recognition. The holograms (or ABBAtars) were… weird. It was all very cleverly done, but I just couldn’t escape the reality that the crowd were cheering on a cluster of light particles and not a real person.

The music – Obviously a set of ABBA bangers is not going to disappoint. But they left out a few (no Super Trooper or Take a Chance on Me) and included some obscure album tracks instead. However, these were conveniently timed in the set list to coincide with the need to empty bladders.

I had a good time. And, as an entertainment event (I just cannot bring myself to describe it as a concert), that is what really matters.

This seems like an experience that is designed to infiltrate the grey pound, providing comfort and entertainment whilst capitalising on nostalgia. It will never beat watching a band play live, but it’s certainly an experience I can see being applied to other ‘heritage’ acts for whom that is not a possibility. People would definitely pay to see the likes of Elvis or the Beatles.

[EliotNes]

Going to see Toyah at the Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Friday - I've still got my teenage crush on her.

What did you think Nessy?
I was underwhelmed myself.

So was I, if the truth be known. Surprisingly, Mrs NES enjoyed it, though she'd been neutral about it when I told her I'd got the tickets.

Then again, the ladies had a combined age of nearly 191, so perhaps my expectations were too high. But I've still got a crush on Toyah.

[Constanza]

Just back from France where I witnessed some choral chanting in a Le Courbosier church which was awesome. Architecture and Morality personified.

[Dunners]

Went to see Tony! - The Blair Rock Opera, yesterday.

It's written by Harry Hill, and on at the Park Theatre in Finsbury Park. We all know how the plot goes, but hearing musical numbers by the likes of Osama and Sadam was a treat. Good entertaining fun.

[Constanza]

Went with my daughter to Great Van Fleet, nice to see the youth raving about Led Zep and Spinal Tap tribute bands like they are the big new thing.
***was fantastic***

[aylesburyos]

Was working at Hyde Park yesterday. Not a fan of Adele but like her ballads but she was fantastic. So powerful. Great banter with the crowds. You can tell she is a North London girl

[oxo]

ABBA Voyage

Firstly, the custom-built arena is not messing around.

Saw this from the train — I had no idea that ABBA was that popular that their holograms could sell thousands of tickets a night, every night of the week (currently at 9 shows a week I think) for five years!

I’m hoping to go to one or more of the All Points East outdoor all-dayers in Hackney at the end of the month. I’ve been to some O’s games and a few indoor gigs since social distancing ended, but I think it’s going to be quite weird being part of such a huge crowd for the first time in a few years.

[LeighO]

Saw Adam Ant yesterday for the 3rd time this year.

[The Mindsweep]

Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club

A marvelous achievement, throughly entertaining, immersive, powerful but above all frightening. More relevant that its ever been and I can't stop thinking about how freedoms can be erased so quickly.

I found it hard to join the applause of Tomorrow Belongs to Me, especially the reprise, gave me goosebumps.

If you get a chance, go see, highly recommended on so many levels.

[Dunners]

^ Managed to see Cabaret before Christmas. Absolutely brilliant, although we paid through the nose for table seats.

And speaking of paying sh*t loads for tickets, I've finally seen Hamilton. I'd describe it more as a modern opera than musical, but it definitely lived up to the hype. Fantastic in just about every way. What could be better that a rap about the creation of fiscal institutions?

[EH16]

I once reviewed a Housemartins gig at the Barrowlands for the Youni magazine and as a member of the press pack I got in for free.

Glad to hear you didn't have to pay to watch that pile of dogturd. Hope yio gave them a well merited slagging.

[Orient Punxx]

Saw Mark Thomas early December. He asked if there were any football fans in. Wife shouts out Leyton Orient and he comes up with an impromptu joke about the Wimbledon stewards all being sacked after the Os match and being replaced by some proper hard ones! Then did 10 mins of life as a Wimbledon fan. Great show especially if you hate the Tories.

[Rich Tea Wellin]

Didn’t get to much this year but Glasto in June was quality.
Stand outs being wolf Alice and Gabriel’s. Then got a last min ticket to the Taylor Hawkins gig at Wembley which was better than expected l.

[BIGRON]

Went to a sixties weekend at Pakefield in June , acts included Showaddywaddy , the Fortunes and Amen corner , yeh I know I'm a sad b*stard

[Max B Gold]

I once reviewed a Housemartins gig at the Barrowlands for the Youni magazine and as a member of the press pack I got in for free.

Glad to hear you didn't have to pay to watch that pile of dogturd. Hope yio gave them a well merited slagging.

I'm afraid not I quite liked them and the review was very positive. Come to think of it I even bought the London 0 Hull 4 album but in cassette form.

[Dunners]

I know that musical taste is subjective, but not sure how the Housemartins can ever be described as a pile of dogturd.

[Dunners]

Newsies.

A song and dance spectacular. Set at the turn of the 20th century, it tells the story of newspaper sellers forming a union to stand up to Pulitzer, the New York tycoon. It's deservedly going to be a big hit.

[Dunners]

ABBA Voyage

Okay, just to clear something up before I start. Sanitised pop music isn’t really my thing. My youth was spent either in sweaty mosh pits or raving all night in a warehouse fuelled by nothing more than a bottle of water. But I do like a bit of ABBA. I just wasn’t sure what to expect from a ‘concert’ featuring holograms of ABBA.

Firstly, the custom-built arena is not messing around. The entrance foyer is mainly Scandinavian pine, and features plenty of mingling space along with bars, food and merchandise outlets. And the arena itself is smartly designed so that there isn’t a bad seat in the house. The central dancefloor and surround seating is shaped so that it narrows further away from the stage.

The temperature is carefully controlled so it remains pleasant throughout. The seats are comfy. Very comfy. The views are great. The sound system was crystal clear and loud, and the lighting effects were designed into the arena and were spectacular.

The live band were all great too, and it was nice that they were allowed to take centre stage for one of the songs so got a bit of appreciation and recognition. The holograms (or ABBAtars) were… weird. It was all very cleverly done, but I just couldn’t escape the reality that the crowd were cheering on a cluster of light particles and not a real person.

The music – Obviously a set of ABBA bangers is not going to disappoint. But they left out a few (no Super Trooper or Take a Chance on Me) and included some obscure album tracks instead. However, these were conveniently timed in the set list to coincide with the need to empty bladders.

I had a good time. And, as an entertainment event (I just cannot bring myself to describe it as a concert), that is what really matters.

This seems like an experience that is designed to infiltrate the grey pound, providing comfort and entertainment whilst capitalising on nostalgia. It will never beat watching a band play live, but it’s certainly an experience I can see being applied to other ‘heritage’ acts for whom that is not a possibility. People would definitely pay to see the likes of Elvis or the Beatles.

Confirmed - there's going to be an Elvis version.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/ ... n-premiere