The loudest concert ever!!

sigod wrote: Blacksword wrote: Hawkwind in 1986 - They were playing a small venue in a town near where I live. They decided to use, what looked like their usual 'big hall' PA system. To date it's the loudest noise of any kind I've ever heard. Some of the high frequencies were agonising, especially those generated by Harvey Bainbridge's farting osscilator machine.. Rush R30 Tour Wembley - The next loudest noise I have ever heard. I went both nights, and the first night we were overlooking the stage from the right. We were sat right in front of the PA cabinets hanging from the celing. It was far too loud, and at times Geddy Lees bass guitar sounded was un-recognisable as a musical instrument Wembly has a real reputation for crap acoustics. Even with satellite PA stacks dotted around the venue, bands playing there nearly always end up sounding like a canary giving birth to a road drill. Loudest gig for me is a toss up between The Michael Schenker Group in 1983 and Jeff Beck in '88 (both at the Hammersmith Odeon). My ears rang for days after both gigs. And to think there was I time where I thought that was a GOOD thing...

I know what you mean about Wembley, but oddly enough AC/DC and The Mission both managed quite good sound despite the awful acoustics. Perhaps they weren't playing on 11, unusual for AC/DC!!

The Hawkwind night was madeall the more terrifying by the fact that their firebreather managed `to set light to the crimbo decorations hanging from the celing!

Pretty much all in all, artists tend to overkill on the volume levels. The question is "Do we need to have their music shot in our ears that loud?"

These days with digital technology we can rupture our ears right in our own living rooms now. I'm pretty much to point of not even going to live shows anymore. Maybe I'm just getting old. What say you young'uns?

It's almost paradoxal that Rush, the perfectionists, present their loyal audience such an unbearable volume! I thought we were unlucky in Rotterdam but reading this topic, all over the world Rush played far too loud. And Rush are not the only band, the last years many progrock bands are playing far too loud. I even went a few times to the soundboard crew in order to ask them to lower the volume. Most of the times they look very arrogant, it seems that it is their way to feel powerful and superior  ?! I don't understand because progressive rock is music that needs a decent volume because of the variety and often wide range of instruments!

Blacksword wrote: sigod wrote: Blacksword wrote: Hawkwind in 1986 - They were playing a small venue in a town near where I live. They decided to use, what looked like their usual 'big hall' PA system. To date it's the loudest noise of any kind I've ever heard. Some of the high frequencies were agonising, especially those generated by Harvey Bainbridge's farting osscilator machine.. Rush R30 Tour Wembley - The next loudest noise I have ever heard. I went both nights, and the first night we were overlooking the stage from the right. We were sat right in front of the PA cabinets hanging from the celing. It was far too loud, and at times Geddy Lees bass guitar sounded was un-recognisable as a musical instrument Wembly has a real reputation for crap acoustics. Even with satellite PA stacks dotted around the venue, bands playing there nearly always end up sounding like a canary giving birth to a road drill. Loudest gig for me is a toss up between The Michael Schenker Group in 1983 and Jeff Beck in '88 (both at the Hammersmith Odeon). My ears rang for days after both gigs. And to think there was I time where I thought that was a GOOD thing... I know what you mean about Wembley, but oddly enough AC/DC and The Mission both managed quite good sound despite the awful acoustics. Perhaps they weren't playing on 11, unusual for AC/DC!! The Hawkwind night was madeall the more terrifying by the fact that their firebreather managed `to set light to the crimbo decorations hanging from the celing!

I was at the Rush R30 Wembley gig for the first night sitting a bit further towards the middle and  I thought the sound was great.
Funny I have been to a few gigs recently where, depending where you sit, the sound can be either awlful, OK or great.
I have been at Earls Court for Muse, Coldplay and the Foo Fighters the latter two of which I thought the sound sucked but other people thought the sound was great
Whereas I thought the sound for Muse was quite good others thought it was crap strange...
Perhaps it's subjective as well...?

I must say I think Earls Court is a very crap venue though

I saw Megadeth at Gigantour, wow talk about being REALLY REALLY LOUD.

Pink Floyd on the Division Bell tour. My ears were ringing for 2-3 days after that.

Nowadays, I almost always wear earplugs whenever I go to a concert (depends a bit on artist and venue of course).

Blacksword wrote: krusty wrote: Blacksword wrote: sigod wrote: Blacksword wrote: Hawkwind in 1986 - They were playing a small venue in a town near where I live. They decided to use, what looked like their usual 'big hall' PA system. To date it's the loudest noise of any kind I've ever heard. Some of the high frequencies were agonising, especially those generated by Harvey Bainbridge's farting osscilator machine.. Rush R30 Tour Wembley - The next loudest noise I have ever heard. I went both nights, and the first night we were overlooking the stage from the right. We were sat right in front of the PA cabinets hanging from the celing. It was far too loud, and at times Geddy Lees bass guitar sounded was un-recognisable as a musical instrument Wembly has a real reputation for crap acoustics. Even with satellite PA stacks dotted around the venue, bands playing there nearly always end up sounding like a canary giving birth to a road drill. Loudest gig for me is a toss up between The Michael Schenker Group in 1983 and Jeff Beck in '88 (both at the Hammersmith Odeon). My ears rang for days after both gigs. And to think there was I time where I thought that was a GOOD thing... I know what you mean about Wembley, but oddly enough AC/DC and The Mission both managed quite good sound despite the awful acoustics. Perhaps they weren't playing on 11, unusual for AC/DC!! The Hawkwind night was madeall the more terrifying by the fact that their firebreather managed `to set light to the crimbo decorations hanging from the celing! I was at the Rush R30 Wembley gig for the first night sitting a bit further towards the middle and  I thought the sound was great. Funny I have been to a few gigs recently where, depending where you sit, the sound can be either awlful, OK or great. I have been at Earls Court for Muse, Coldplay and the Foo Fighters the latter two of which I thought the sound sucked but other people thought the sound was great Whereas I thought the sound for Muse was quite good others thought it was crap strange... Perhaps it's subjective as well...? I must say I think Earls Court is a very crap venue though I've sat in just about every section of Wembley arena over the years, and it does make some difference where you sit. The second night of Rush sounded better. I was about half way back, and fairly central to the stage. I think the sound is always worse when you're off to one side. I hate Earls Court too. I generally hate big venues. I saw Floyd at EC, and I was right at the back. We actually had binnoculars to see the stage. It was awful. Thankfully they were not playing at obscene volume so it didn't sound too awful. Best venue in London for sound IMO, is Brixton Academy, but it's not really a 'prog' venue..

Hehehe... Yeah I saw floyd there as well doing the Wall, I was in the middle somewhere and it wasn't too bad from what I remember (going back some time now) but totally agree about needing binoculars when your near the back at that place or any large venue
My Mrs is a big Coldplay fan and the only tickets I could get was towards the back somewhere she was well gutted, they looked like ants running around from our position

As you say I much prefer venues like Brixton Academy or the Astoria or even better the 100 club where I have seen Roy Harper the past few years he has appeared there. I can even see the chords he's playing

krusty wrote: Blacksword wrote: krusty wrote: Blacksword wrote: sigod wrote: Blacksword wrote: Hawkwind in 1986 - They were playing a small venue in a town near where I live. They decided to use, what looked like their usual 'big hall' PA system. To date it's the loudest noise of any kind I've ever heard. Some of the high frequencies were agonising, especially those generated by Harvey Bainbridge's farting osscilator machine.. Rush R30 Tour Wembley - The next loudest noise I have ever heard. I went both nights, and the first night we were overlooking the stage from the right. We were sat right in front of the PA cabinets hanging from the celing. It was far too loud, and at times Geddy Lees bass guitar sounded was un-recognisable as a musical instrument Wembly has a real reputation for crap acoustics. Even with satellite PA stacks dotted around the venue, bands playing there nearly always end up sounding like a canary giving birth to a road drill. Loudest gig for me is a toss up between The Michael Schenker Group in 1983 and Jeff Beck in '88 (both at the Hammersmith Odeon). My ears rang for days after both gigs. And to think there was I time where I thought that was a GOOD thing... I know what you mean about Wembley, but oddly enough AC/DC and The Mission both managed quite good sound despite the awful acoustics. Perhaps they weren't playing on 11, unusual for AC/DC!! The Hawkwind night was madeall the more terrifying by the fact that their firebreather managed `to set light to the crimbo decorations hanging from the celing! I was at the Rush R30 Wembley gig for the first night sitting a bit further towards the middle and  I thought the sound was great. Funny I have been to a few gigs recently where, depending where you sit, the sound can be either awlful, OK or great. I have been at Earls Court for Muse, Coldplay and the Foo Fighters the latter two of which I thought the sound sucked but other people thought the sound was great Whereas I thought the sound for Muse was quite good others thought it was crap strange... Perhaps it's subjective as well...? I must say I think Earls Court is a very crap venue though I've sat in just about every section of Wembley arena over the years, and it does make some difference where you sit. The second night of Rush sounded better. I was about half way back, and fairly central to the stage. I think the sound is always worse when you're off to one side. I hate Earls Court too. I generally hate big venues. I saw Floyd at EC, and I was right at the back. We actually had binnoculars to see the stage. It was awful. Thankfully they were not playing at obscene volume so it didn't sound too awful. Best venue in London for sound IMO, is Brixton Academy, but it's not really a 'prog' venue.. Hehehe... Yeah I saw floyd there as well doing the Wall, I was in the middle somewhere and it wasn't too bad from what I remember (going back some time now) but totally agree about needing binoculars when your near the back at that place or any large venue My Mrs is a big Coldplay fan and the only tickets I could get was towards the back somewhere she was well gutted, they looked like ants running around from our position As you say I much prefer venues like Brixton Academy or the Astoria or even better the 100 club where I have seen Roy Harper the past few years he has appeared there. I can even see the chords he's playing

I saw REM at Hyde Park last year. If it were not for the huge video screens I would not have been able to see the band at all! At Hyde Park they allocate the immediate area at the front of the stage for the 'beautiful people' who pay through the nose to see the band. The rest of the plebs are not allowed past the barrier. I always find the sound is better out doors. One consolation...

I'm sure open air concerts never used to be organised like that!

Big artists like Coldplay & REM should play more nights at small venues, rather than one big corporate event in front of 150,000 people. Rush and Genesis done this on the 'Moving Pictures' tour ( I think) and the Duke tour respectivley, knowing that the sound is better in small venues, and the fans prefer it. REM, in particular are anxious to water down their corporate stadium rock image, and get back to being the college favourites they were in the early 80's. Choosing smaller venues would get them back in touch with their fans.

I remember my brother going to see BLACK SABBATH at the Gaumont in Kilburn in 1975 and telling me that it was so loud that plaster started falling from the ceiling!

The loudest for me was probably QUEEN, Dec. 1975 at the Hammersmith Odeon, or VdGG at the Roundhouse in 1976.

 

Fitzcarraldo wrote: I remember my brother going to see BLACK SABBATH at the Gaumont in Kilburn in 1975 and telling me that it was so loud that plaster started falling from the ceiling! The loudest for me was probably QUEEN, Dec. 1975 at the Hammersmith Odeon, or VdGG at the Roundhouse in 1976.

I never thought of VDGG as the kind of band to play loud concerts.