Festivals, Bars, Arenas: Oh My!

[NSL]

If you've ever been to a concert, you've noticed how much the setting can change the feel of the show, and completely morph the crowd. At a festival, you can see upwards of 20 bands playing in the open air with thousands of people going crazy, or you can go to a bar (or cramped hall), and have 800 people sardined into a pit. Of course there's the arenas, where 20,000 plus can pile in and get a big stage show, and the list goes on, and on, and on...

What's your favorite?

I prefer the smaller places that hold 600-1000 people, and get hot and have people hanging off the rafters. With the intimate setting, the band is close the crowd, and they feed off the energy a bit more, and give you a better show. You also get the feel of the music, being dropped into a crowd of people all moving to the music. You just don't get that at larger places. You get a band playing to a bunch of people playing in seats, and there's no "togetherness" of the crowd.

I'm a big fan of festivals, but only if they're set up right. Warped Tour was fun, but there was so much walking, it killed the adernaline rush sometimes. MayhemFest gets 2 stages facing each other, and you get all the music, as well as getting the "intimate-setting" feel.

 

[Nitafrong]

I don't tend to have an overall favourite when it comes to the setting of a music gig. It all depends on the style of the artist and the gig itself and what exactly you want to get from the gig.

When I go to a festival I like to be able to dance along sometimes- so the extra space isn't so bad. You can also get a really great energy from a large crowd- looking beyond the eye can see (I am not hugely tall anyway) and just seeing people and knowing that this army of people have all congregated together for the one reason of seeing this band. I remember seeing Muse at Oxegen (the biggest of the Irish festivals) and the energy was literally electric. I was so high leaving that at the end of the night I didn't care that I had to walk back to my tent in the pitch dark through 5 feet of mud in my trainers surrounded by a heady mass of drunken strangers- it was just amazing. Of course the next night wasn't as good and I remember standing amungst a dull lifeless crowd and it just sucking the energy out of the band. Festivals or large arenas are great for loud bombastic bands who grab you by the scruff of your neck and force you to have fun

These bands can be ok in small arenas as well but the squash tends to be incredible. I actually blacked out during an Opeth gig a couple of years ago. I stayed conscious but my vision was totally gone. It took about a song or two before I could see them again- fairly scary at the time. Pubs and small areas tend to be better for more relaxed style or interesting or complicated music that requires a lot of concentration. Though in fairness I have never sat down during a gig and I don't plan to do so for a while yet. I can't see how you could gain atmosphere seated.

Generally anyway the actual arena tends to mean little to me before I book a gig- bar the fact if its big I shall have to arrive early to get close. I will go to a gig in most places

 

[TheFreshPrints]

I tend to favor smaller clubs/bars, mainly because of the intimate feel (as you stated). It seems like something always goes wrong at big events. I've been to some Jazz clubs, some local hot spots, etc.. The crowds a bit smaller, but the atmosphere is nice. The only festival I've ever been to was Rock The Bells. It was a great experience, but you have to deal with occasional dumb, loud, obnoxious motherfuckers; the ones who like to ruin shit for the people nearest them. But it was still a great experience. Haha.

I'll tell you one thing, though, if anyone gets a chance to see The Roots live...DO IT. They put on great live shows.

 

[scorpioking1026]

What makes a concert great is the combination of venue and artist. Some people like the intimate small setting joint but that doesn't work for certain genres of music. For example I saw Drowning Pool at a Hardware Bar in Wilkes-Barre Pa, trust me, when "Let the Bodies Hit the Floor" came on I wished the place was bigger. Same was true when I saw Disturbed at the Scranton Cultural Center, too small for the crowd. Then of course there is the horrific Crocodile Rock in Allentown. I saw Rusted Root there numerous times and the security there are just complete asses. Here are my favorite concerts and why.

1) Gathering of the Vibes 2003- 4 days of music over 4th of July weekend. Location was the Indian Lookout Country Club in NY. Thousands upon thousands of people, music all day and night playing, not just by the performers but also the attendees. All in all it was the best use of a golf course EVER!!!!!

2) Van Halen in 2008- Always was a big fan of Van Halen however I was just wee-bit kid during the 80s so I never got to see them live. 20 or so long years of bitterness between Dave and Eddie finally put on hold. Location was the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, perfect setting since it was right next to a casino so I fot loaded on the free drinks b4 the show.

3) Keller Williams in 2004- If you don't know this one man band i highly recommend that you check out his music. Although his cds don't come close to doing him justice, you need to see him life to fully appreciate. The location was the Staircase (now closed) in Pittston, Pa. The Staircase was just the best place for concerts, it was sort of like the Electric Factory in Philly but much more chill. The combination was terrific.

4) Various concerts such as Tom Petty and the Heartbreaks, Velvet Revolver, Dave Matthews Band, the Dead, Rusted Root, Allman Brothers band at Montage Mountain over the years - Sure the food and drinks are way overpriced at this venue but being on the lawn when great music is playing is unforgetable.

Like i said, its a combination of the venue and artist that makes a concert great. Some genres can be fantastic in a small intimate setting(such as Keller Williams and various forms of the Dead or even George Lynch of Dokken fame) and some just need to be in bigger venues ex Van Halen, Drowning Pool and Disturbed.

 

[Mr. TM]

Smaller the venue, the funner it is to be live at. I've been to arena concerts, outdoor concerts, hall concerts, bar shows, and everything inbetween, but a hall is incredible. The atmospere, as you are right in front of the band, at a similar level is incredible. Its totally dark besides the lighting and its a true visual and audio mastershow.