17/05/16 London Royal Albert Hall

[hummingbird]

for me the gig sounded better on tuesday when i was further away from the speakers.. it does make a difference sometimes. Didn't know about the sprung floor !

[markreed]

Was weird and a bit... wrong... seeing them doing EMG in full in order. Wish they'd move beyond the anniversary shows now. Great to see some warhorses retired for a little while... and Nicky singing "Sound & Vision" at the end of RITH.

http://www.thefinalword.co.uk/content/view/1363/35/ review

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mark-r...57668242563822 some pics.

[LIPSTICK TЯACES]

^^ I guess it's hard to get it sounding great everywhere when it has so many levels, but it's a major venue so I was disappointed. I stayed by the mixing desk at the end (got my bag early) to listen to the last couple of songs but didn't enjoy that position massively either as some twat was disturbing me filming me on his camera.

It was better than the supposedly semi sprung floorboards at a hall I used to goto for dance parties. Then again there were not usually groups of men bouncing about there. Hehe it was funny and I thought it would be good for my old knees if I had felt energetic enough to join in.

[solitude]

Hi! I had a wonderful time down the front between James and Nicky both nights. The Tuesday just slightly has the edge for me for a couple of reasons (one being the Monday night jackass shoving and bellowing "LEICESTER CITY" directly behind me all night and making some awful comments).

I only filmed a couple of moments but here's the last minute of Tolerate on Tuesday.

Thanks to everyone I met over Monday and Tuesday. It was my first time to queue for this band and I'm here alone but it was just fine!

[Abstract Unknown Girl]

Bit late to the party, but my two cents...the second night was much better than the first for me, not only because I wasn't surrounded by complete dicks like the first night (and also we were second row on the left, but I had short people in front of me so could see everything perfectly), but they actually varied the second half, hurrah! Loved the acoustic section in particular; This Sullen Welsh Heart is always a treat and Raindrops with the live trumpet was gorgeous and seemed quite fitting for the venue for some reason. Also lovely to see the return of You're Tender and You're Tired (I had heard it previously in Eindhoven, but the band were in god awful moods at that gig, so it was nice to see them play it again when they seemed a lot happier). I enjoyed Show Me The Wonder a lot too and it's nice to see they haven't forgotten about RTF. I really, really wish they would drop Feels Like Heaven though; god it's dull and I would much rather hear something else. But, can't complain too much given the first half (I may have heard EMG a few times live now, but I'm still really enjoying the rather funked up version of The Girl Who Wanted To Be God and also Removeables and NSAF always goes down really well with the crowd).

Oh and most importantly...James' trouser splitting incident, of course. Not sure if that was more shocking than this tour's revelations that a) he has an iPhone and b) he can drive though!

A few photos:

[UEF]

I liked the trumpet guy. Much better than the saxophone solos.

[Steve Block]

Originally Posted by LIPSTICK TЯACES

We were in the arena. I did wonder if we were too far forwards actually but it wasn't like it was poor the whole time.

The arena is cool if you wanted to jump about tho, nice sprung floor! I felt like I was about to lift off when the people next to me started jumping.

I saw the Cranberries there a long long time ago from the floor, towards the middle of the floor stage left and the sound was muddy then, so I wonder if it may be the acoustics? It's odd that it's a purpose built music hall though and it gives such a variance in sound. I was curious about the bafflers hanging from the dome though, wonder what they do to the sound. Didn't know the floor was sprung. It looked really fun being on the floor from where I was. We couldn't get up and dance until the end when everyone did because it felt like we'd be blocking the view of the people behind us.

Were you anywhere near where that person got lifted over the barrier?

[markreed]

Originally Posted by Steve Block

I saw the Cranberries there a long long time ago from the floor, towards the middle of the floor stage left and the sound was muddy then, so I wonder if it may be the acoustics? It's odd that it's a purpose built music hall though and it gives such a variance in sound. I was curious about the bafflers hanging from the dome though, wonder what they do to the sound. Didn't know the floor was sprung. It looked really fun being on the floor from where I was. We couldn't get up and dance until the end when everyone did because it felt like we'd be blocking the view of the people behind us.

Were you anywhere near where that person got lifted over the barrier?

The Albert Hall was built around 150 years ago and long before rawk'n'roll was invented. The baffles are there to absorb the sound and ensure electric guitars etc sound reasonable. The Hall without baffles probably sounded amazing for orchestral and classical concerts.

[LIPSTICK TЯACES]

Originally Posted by Steve Block

I saw the Cranberries there a long long time ago from the floor, towards the middle of the floor stage left and the sound was muddy then, so I wonder if it may be the acoustics? It's odd that it's a purpose built music hall though and it gives such a variance in sound. I was curious about the bafflers hanging from the dome though, wonder what they do to the sound. Didn't know the floor was sprung. It looked really fun being on the floor from where I was. We couldn't get up and dance until the end when everyone did because it felt like we'd be blocking the view of the people behind us.

Were you anywhere near where that person got lifted over the barrier?

I can't find a video of exact position but this is closest to it. Directly in line with Nicky, but few more rows back. You have to put headphones on to hear properly I think.

This is actually not that bad an example though! Imo it was worse at times. But I don't think this example sounds that great either....boom thud boom thud. I felt it at times it really drowned out the guitar. :/ Would be ok with different guitar. Heavy metal haha! But for example Further Away was really bad imo.

I think you are right it must be acoustics because others in different positions are saying it was amazing and the best sound they heard. I have heard so much better in other venues. Actually seeing the Manics at festivals sounded better for me than this.

Maybe it's my hearing or i'm expecting something different, idk! All I can say is that it got worse than this video shows, but also much better!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LveF8mg5sJY

[UEF]

Forgot to say, Simon Price was sat in front of me, with his tufts.