Writer Thinker

Friday, 9 March 2012

Mark Lanegan, Manchester Academy 2, 05/03/2012

Well, my continuing theme of 'let's write about gigs long after they occurred' is about to get worse as I'm on holiday next week, and have two gigs before I leave, and no time to post. Ah well.

So, Mark Lanegan. I've been listening to him since I heard 'Hit the City' on Kerrang...seven years ago, and he had got me though some of the roughest times of my life. But never seen him in concert, as no only didn't he tour, but when he did tour with SoulSavers (whom also also like, hell, 90% of the songs were covers of his material!), I bought a ticket to go, and it snowed. A lot. Masses. And as it was to a place I had never been to, a long distance from home, well, basically I decided to not go.

So when I heard he was touring (after seeing an ad on the walls on the Academy!) I had to go. Which made a change, as for once my boyfriend didn't know Mr. Lanegan's work, so I introduced him to it. (He loves it by the way).

So we get there, fashionably late as usual, and the place is packed. Not just slightly busy, packed to the rafters. I had no idea what to expect, the stage was simple, with no set, just a microphone and instruments.

He came on stage, last, but there was little fanfare. He didn't introduce himself, just started to sing with that amazing voice. And that was it, just song after song, with a brief intro of the band (which my boyfriend said was incomprehensible) and when he returned from the false encore, a quick, faintly sarcastic 'thanks'.

But it didn't matter. The music was amazing, and although the sound quality occasionally let them down, the majority was crystal clear. It was all very emotional, and I loved it.

They also didn't change the lighting, so no flashing lights etc, but also no decent photos or film. But at least I finally got to see him!

Forget about visuals, I couldn't see myself! There are a couple of clips of him where I put my hand above the crowd, but I just won't do that for long periods as other's can't see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpEkzLIpOsg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiJqkpW0ulg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsThVgQ9JS8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7NaLYt-RPI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p04pifNWLo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyOI47cZ9Ig

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQJuV5Uhfik

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZUciEjSiDk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLEu75GnIVQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7KG1OiF6J8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm5eOyOLNBQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ykj_bcreb0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIL0LAuBln0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6EqUEUqgkM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuuS3KM181k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQiiOWvDqQk

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Tuesday, 6 March 2012

Rammstein, Manchester Evening News Arena (MEN), 1/3/2012

Nothing like a good, industrial metal gig to get you set up for the year ahead... and Rammstein delivered in spades! In fact, there was so much going on in this gig...I'm not sure I'll remember it all!

To start with, we could see there was a stage in the middle of the arena. Mark told me that apparently they played a couple of songs there, but I couldn't see how they got accross. Then I noticed they were making a channel through the seated and standing fans with a wall of security. Then the lights went down, and they were walking down the steep seating into the center of the arena! The crowd naturally went wild, and being opposite we had quite a good view.

They didn't stop, however, as a large gantry was lowered down for them to walk from the mini stage across to the main stage. It was amazing, and as they got to the main stage, 'Sonne' started.

Although the quality of the video isn't very clear, we could hear every note. I noticed that Till Lindemann was stood very still, when suddenly flames came around him! Which is pretty typical for Rammstein, pyrotechnics the lot of them I think...

The gig certainly wasn't for the faint-hearted as there were plenty of very loud bangs as they continued to entertain us with hit after hit. The set was magnificent, very stark and industrial, but I loved the back-cloth that had a cellular look to it, in fact a lot of the set was very Giger-like. I loved the bunkers either side of the stage...I think they were needed for the support staff.

Other features included Till showering in sparks (which must have looked amazing from the floor) and roasting Christian Lorenz (in a fetching silver gimp suit) in a vat.

About half-way though there was a 'break' and Christian went crow-surfing in a very unsteady inflatable boat (I think the crowd wanted to give him a thrill), and then one of the crew went to the small stage. The rest of Rammstein were then led over the bridge that came down to the small stage, where they played a few songs, during which Till performed a sex act on Till, then rewarded the crowd by getting his Johnson out and, um, 'spraying' the crowd.

After they returned to the main stage, they played 'Engel', and Till came on stage as an angel, shooting flames from his wings.

Their last song, 'Pussy' was about as subtle as the song suggests, but notable as Till rode across the front of the stage on a giant penis, spewing foam (wink, wink) on the first few rows of the crowd.

All in all, they were magnificent, and if you can see them, it's worth the ticket piece. Just expect for there to be some no-very-suggestive suggestive bits.

For a metal band Rammstein can have some really tender songs, and are certainly worth a go. Just wear flame-retardant undies, and don't stand in the spunk zone...

Germans. Subtle to the end!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t74UARbPuhY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ODVIXYO6Zw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcJ9Glw2W6U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP6FPsx-m0k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD8Tl1QquNw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPCsi4okteo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNhaaObDB-E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXl8H6Due2U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve8nzJnDuRs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxYJetzyU-k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVlOpLjEu6I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tHd0Omltds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aon5nHsYxz8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcUGoZNIaD4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XdvXnD5yas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7R5O-DFE_Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf81lm_lTJY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2QJ6b5NO6U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TB-CFDE520

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oij6f-Z-T6g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i82CW5uOo-0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvZpA7FYm0w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rM3TOuNP9A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7uituSQIfs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odbJClIRJvk

Monday, 27 February 2012

Dream Theater, Manchester 02 Apollo, 9/2/2012

Between being ill and work, this gig was now quite a long time ago...

The band was great, and I loved the set, there were three 'cube' screens hanging over them showing little clips etc, although to be honest the size and shaped often interfered with the images so you couldn't tell what they were...

The crowd were completely mad, apart from sitting in front of the toilet entrance which meant we got to see everyone who needed a piss passing in front of us, they were also very happy to see the band. Each time the lead singer came onto the stage there was a lot of cheering, roaring and fist waving.

Dreamweaver themselves were very good, the sound was excellent, even if the lead vocalist faded a few times and was lost in the music...not his fault I suspect, just poor levels. Still, it was far better quality than Mastodon!

Overall it was a great evening, and very kindly they ended the gig at 10:30, brilliant for a mid-week gig!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDXlUoYYOkE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxE5-vzz-Zs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpNVotB4bAU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Uy3Zpt4nsk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNzlK3MEFSY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQJK1eBMuKk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW-3hAiAheg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNzlK3MEFSY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQJK1eBMuKk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGZIU4mc_NE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl3dj_JwNC4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlWA7CmSuL0

Tuesday, 14 February 2012

Mastodon, Manchester Academy, 06/02/2012

I love Mastodon, and have been to see them before, but just as I was getting to know their music, so I was really looking forward to this gig.

Unfortunately, I was to be disappointed. Now let me get this straight, it wasn't Mastodon's fault. From what I could hear, the music was well played, with enthusiasm and with lots of detail...we just couldn't hear it. There was way too much emphasis on being 'heavy', which resulted in the music getting lost.

Now Mastodon is a heavy group, I agree (in facial hair terms if nothing else!) but they also have a lot of intricacies in their music that I really enjoy. Some pieces were so badly rendered it took until the chorus for me to work out what the song was...

Plus it was sold out, with the inevitable crowds. Eventually we backed off to outside the merchandise stand so I could put my hand over my head to get a view..ish.

So as I say, not Mastodon's fault, but frustrating as I love the band. They need to try the Club Academy, much better quality. Or move up to MEN!