Live Concert or At Home?

[Jack in Wilmington]

As I'm a little behind on my reading, I sat down this morning and had my initial spin of the new Ian Anderson album "Homo Erraticus" and picked up my copy of January's Stereophile. I read the "As We See It" article by Steve Guttenberg with much interest as I feel the same way he does about going to a live show versus listening to recorded music in your own listening room. Just wanted to hear some other posters views on this subject.

[Feanor]

A couple of hours at a live concert is much more fun than a couple of hours at home listening to stereo.

OTOH, concerts, especially by prominent artists, have become very expensive. Most often I can buy 3-6 CDs for the price of a pair of tickets; over the years I may well get more enjoyment out them than from the concert.

[Jack in Wilmington]

A couple of hours at a live concert is much more fun than a couple of hours at home listening to stereo.

OTOH, concerts, especially by prominent artists, have become very expensive. Most often I can buy 3-6 CDs for the price of a pair of tickets; over the years I may well get more enjoyment out them than from the concert.

If you read Steve's article you'll realize all the problems and distractions at a live performance. When I was younger, those kind of things didn't bother me as much as they do now. In my younger days with the Sansui receiver, Elac Miracord turntable and Advent speakers, my stereo system couldn't compare to a live performance.

[Finch Platte]

Small venue, relatively unknown band, sane cost, sure!

Rush-type concert hall, Koch-priced tickets, fukc that anymore.

I'm old enough that I have to think about bathroom access these days. :D

[ForeverAutumn]

I still love a live show. Small venue and unknown band or large venue and popular band, I love them both. For me, I just love the energy of a live show, the excitement that leads up to the show, and the high I have for a few days after a really good show. And I don't mean a chemically induced high...I don't do that anymore...I mean the afterglow of a great band entertaining me for a few hours, reliving the great moments, and singing the tunes in my head for a couple of days. It's just such a thrill!

Yeah, some shows are expensive. And I've been known to tell people to shut up or put their damn phones down. People can be inconsiderate *******s. But I still get a thrill from seeing a band live that I can't get from a CD.

[bfalls]

My wife and I have friends related to John Mellencamp. Several times they invited us to go to concerts including back-stage passes. Most were great fun and very enjoyable especially one at the Alladin in Las Vegas. It was probably the best concert I had ever attended. However going to a live concert is never a guarantee of a good times. Several weeks after the Alladin concert we went to another on the IU campus in Bloomington IN. The sound was so off and bass so loud it was making us sick. We had to leave. Our host offered earplugs, but it still didn't relieve the thumping on our bodies. There was nothing wrong with artists or performance, just the environment. Only proving you may not always have a good concert experience, but your home experience is more controllable. On the upside we were able to meet John, wife, family and band members. He was also nice enough to autograph all my CDs including several CDVs I have.

[JohnMichael]

If there is live music and I am in attendance it is either a classical concert or a musical. Otherwise I would also be home listening to music. In the past I have enjoyed some good music with some good stage shows. Now I am mainly interested in the music and not the show.

I think of live music vs recorded music as I do the difference between a photograph of a scene as opposed to being at the scene. I enjoy looking at my pictures of Paris but I also enjoyed being in Paris. They satisfy different emotions and needs. It is also easier to listen to a record than to wait for the artist to perform in your area much like it is easier and cheaper to look at pictures than to pack up and travel.

[Jack in Wilmington]

If there is live music and I am in attendance it is either a classical concert or a musical. Otherwise I would also be home listening to music. In the past I have enjoyed some good music with some good stage shows. Now I am mainly interested in the music and not the show.

I think of live music vs recorded music as I do the difference between a photograph of a scene as opposed to being at the scene. I enjoy looking at my pictures of Paris but I also enjoyed being in Paris. They satisfy different emotions and needs. It is also easier to listen to a record than to wait for the artist to perform in your area much like it is easier and cheaper to look at pictures than to pack up and travel.

Great analogy the way you brought the photo vs live scenery into the mix.

[Finch Platte]

Went to a concert in Sacramento over the weekend. Small club (The Boardwalk, maybe 200 peeps capacity?).

The soundman was the house guy, and he had it up soo freaking loud, everything was all mushed together. We left after the 2nd band it was so painful. Couldn't understand a single lyric, and solos were just mush on top of mush.

I brought earplugs for our group, and volume was still a problem.

Would NOT go back there. And clubs wonder why people don't show up.

[Jack in Wilmington]

Went to a concert in Sacramento over the weekend. Small club (The Boardwalk, maybe 200 peeps capacity?).

The soundman was the house guy, and he had it up soo freaking loud, everything was all mushed together. We left after the 2nd band it was so painful. Couldn't understand a single lyric, and solos were just mush on top of mush.

I brought earplugs for our group, and volume was still a problem.

Would NOT go back there. And clubs wonder why people don't show up.

I'd send them an email and tell them about it. If you get a response, then maybe they care. If you don't, F...um.

[JohnMichael]

Went to a concert in Sacramento over the weekend. Small club (The Boardwalk, maybe 200 peeps capacity?).

The soundman was the house guy, and he had it up soo freaking loud, everything was all mushed together. We left after the 2nd band it was so painful. Couldn't understand a single lyric, and solos were just mush on top of mush.

I brought earplugs for our group, and volume was still a problem.

Would NOT go back there. And clubs wonder why people don't show up.



It would be interesting to test the soundman's hearing. I find people with hearing loss set the volume too high and often eq in strange ways. I have a friend who I will not ride in his vehicle due to volume and how he has set the eq.

[Hyfi]

It would be interesting to test the soundman's hearing. I find people with hearing loss set the volume to high and often eq in strange ways. I have a friend who I will not ride in his vehicle due to volume and how he has set the eq.

I have seen Buddy Guy about 5 times over the years. Hearing Protection was always needed and the one time I forgot my cotton, my ears rang for 3 or 4 days.

I have not been to many Electric Concerts with sound quality I would want reproduced on my home system.

[Finch Platte]

I'd send them an email and tell them about it. If you get a response, then maybe they care. If you don't, F...um.

Yeah, I was actually thinking about getting in touch with them and letting them know. Thanks for the prompting.

[Swish]

Just went to see Jason Isbell at The Keswick in Glenside, PA. It's basically a big old movie theater and the sound was excellent (as usual). It was a fantastic show and nothing beats a good live performance. I've seen well over 100, and that's with about two decades with very few while raising two kids. I will probably see at least a dozen this year. Oh, check out the ticket prices from 1973 at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columus, MD.

9803

[Hyfi]

I live near the Keswick and have been there too many times to count. If the sound is done up properly, it's a great venue. If the sound techs or performers are half deaf, it can be horrid. I have been to both types, including 2 Buddy Guy shows. For most shows there, the last row in the house gives the best sound but at a loss of being close to the show. Many times I sat up front for half a show and then moved to the back row to enjoy the sound.