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Post by prende on Nov 13, 2012 17:29:17 GMT
I was just wondering what fans think of the choice of venues for this tour. I know it,s the Biggest Arena tour the band have done to date.
What do you prefer, smaller venues or these Big Arenas??
Personally, i don,t mind the BIG venues , but some people prefer smaller venues.. What do you think???
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simon
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Post by simon on Nov 13, 2012 18:29:46 GMT
I love gigs and a Madness audience has to be seen to be believed! It's an event in itself.
Saw them at Manchester MEN, huge venue great sound, Blackpool Empress ballroom, awesome build up, ace venue, shite sound. Manchester Central (g mex) was awesome, as was the Apollo. Saw em play Liverpool at an indoor arena on a racecourse, they were supported by The Bees, that was also ace but the beer was extortionate. I find beer to be a natural lubricant for both the vocal chords and the creaking joints, it also numbs the pain cos it gets lairy down the front. The MEN is a bit soulless but the year they were supported by the fantastico Aggrolites and Jerry a top man Dammers the place rocked. Madness gigs build up, gather pace and then you find yourself in the twilight zone! It is monster, you get drawn in by the whole fucking thing. They look proper dapper and cool, the lighting is always awesome, Suggs is so charismatic and the music, when on form, is actually so beautifully melodic and full sounding, they seem to improve with age. I love that introduction they sometimes use " the only band that made it, that really really made it was the one that achieved Madness". It's time to neck yer pint, strap up, big deep breaths, elbows at the ready, on yer toes cos Mr Smash is about to take centre stage......
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graham
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Post by graham on Nov 13, 2012 22:52:28 GMT
Personally prefer smaller venues - have seen them play at Arenas (Wembley, NEC and the O2 in London) and they can be hit and miss - worst gig for sound and crowd I ever went to was at the London O2 when they played in the centre of the crowd on a revolving platform - sound was awful that night and was also one of those unfortunate gigs where you get a bunch of pi**ed up idiots behind you intent on having their own personal mosh pit (which ended up with me getting thumped for trying to fend one of the bu**ers off)....and yet a year later I was back at the same venue when the stage set up was the traditional one and sound was great as were the crowd.
Was lucky enough to see them play the Light Bar for the Folgate launch party - that was something special - Brixton Academy was good. Dublin Castle for the Dangermen gigs was obviously very special.
Think a lot depends on both band and audience as to just how good a gig can be - when the band are at the top of their game and the audience likewise there's nothing better than a Madness gig - the first Madstock being an incredibly special case in point - the fourth one being a case of how the opposite can happen.
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simon
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Post by simon on Nov 13, 2012 22:55:38 GMT
What happened at the 4th Madstock? I went to the 2nd night of the first Madstock.
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graham
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Post by graham on Nov 13, 2012 23:10:11 GMT
Fourth Madstock was (for me anyway) at a stage in their post-comeback career when they just seemed to be going through the motions of playing the greatest hits (in exactly the same order and with exactly the same introduction from Suggs to each song) and not a lot more - it's available on DVD with Suggs in a pink suit and I can remember coming away not being overly impressed compared to other gigs I'd been to before and since. So a personal thing really - fortunately a year later they came out with Wonderful and there was new stuff in the set and normal service resumed  |
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Post by prende on Nov 14, 2012 13:07:03 GMT
Fourth Madstock was (for me anyway) at a stage in their post-comeback career when they just seemed to be going through the motions of playing the greatest hits (in exactly the same order and with exactly the same introduction from Suggs to each song) and not a lot more - it's available on DVD with Suggs in a pink suit and I can remember coming away not being overly impressed compared to other gigs I'd been to before and since. So a personal thing really - fortunately a year later they came out with Wonderful and there was new stuff in the set and normal service resumed I agree Graham, when i saw Madness twice in the space of six months (02 Dublin 09 & Marquee Cork 10 ) i thought the same thing.. same intro and set list. Don,t get me wrong, i still enjoyed both gigs, but just thought the band were going through the motions a bit. This is why i,m really looking forward to seeing them on this tour , as we will be hearing New Songs off the Album, aswell as all the Classics of course  Roll on The Charge Of The Mad Brigade Tour  |
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Post by scabbydug on Nov 14, 2012 16:52:23 GMT
Personally It's the wee gigs for me. The smallest venue I saw the band play was at The Dublin Castle for the Dangermen gigs and it was definitely one of the best live shows I've ever been at.......even though I was hit with a parking ticket, Smash dropped my phone in a pint of Newcastle Brown Ale, my car was impounded and then I had a few drams with the band...
The last two gigs in Glasgow have been at the reasonably small o2/Academy and they were smashing.......even Chrissy Boy commented that it was one of the best he'd ever seen. It was as near perfect as you could imagine the band playing. Energetic, happy, sound was terrific, the crowd the same, brilliant set list, etc, etc
In saying all that, I've never seen the band and not enjoyed it, but (as Mr Yates said above) there have been times that it felt like they were going thru the motions. There was a time I was getting slightly fed up with the same set list time after time and although I enjoyed Madstock 4 (due to the overall day, great support and my first chance at seeing Madness on their home turf) it did feel a wee bit samey.
Some people loved Madstock 5, but for me it seemed to lack something, but I'm not quite sure what.
I've witnessed them at several large gigs in Scotland, Newcastle, Blackpool, Manchester and London and they've all been good, but if I had the choice between the large or small venues, I would definitely take the small ones.
But, I'd go and see Madness play no matter what.......I'm just happy to hear live music.
Sunnyside,
The Dug
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graham
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Post by graham on Nov 14, 2012 20:06:53 GMT
Some people loved Madstock 5, but for me it seemed to lack something, but I'm not quite sure what. Know what you mean on that one - not sure if it was the venue, the whole Golden Circle debacle, the pickpockets or even if it was just the fact it had been anticipated for so long but there was definitely something missing that day.... ....contrast that to the Light Bar gig just a few weeks before where a shortened version of the Madstock set list was played...and that gig was nothing short of wonderous all ways round (well except the bit where I shouted "..and the Limehouse Gollum" too early that is!! ) |
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Post by scabbydug on Nov 14, 2012 22:06:29 GMT
Ha, ha, ha.......I'm sure you can shout out Limehouse Gollum anytime, anyplace, anywhere.......it just fits in to any sort of social scenario ;D Aye, Madstock 5 was just a strange atmosphere in my opinion. It just didn't seem right or something...just can't put my finger on it  I would love to see the band play any sort of setlist in a small venue again some day.......even the dreaded 'Sorry' and 'Driving in my Car' back to back MIGHT sound better in a wee venue Sunnyside, The Dug |
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Post by tone1976 on Nov 15, 2012 12:39:03 GMT
For me Madstock 4 was my first Madness gig and I loved it. I agree with graham when watching back the gig and comparing it with Madstock 92 which looked an absolute belter I only wish I had been to Madstock 92.
I`ve also seen Madness at Wembley Arena, the o2, Cliffs Pavilion and the Brighton Centre and the Royal Festival Hall with the last 3 being my favourites for various reasons.
Cliffs Pavilion as its not far from me the atmosphere was mindblowing. Brighton Centre is an awesome venue and the Festival Hall for the reason that I got to hear some of the new tracks which although didnt make the album I love them anyway
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graham
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Post by graham on Nov 15, 2012 13:25:06 GMT
Know it's veering off topic a little but think I'll find it hard to beat Madstock 92 as a gig - as mentioned elsewhere there are plenty that are memorable for one reason or another but Madstock 92 was special for so many reasons, that just made that day as a whole one of the best ever.
From the sheer anticipation of seeing a band (and not just any band, your favourite band!) perform, that you never thought you'd see happen again when they split up six years previously, to the atmosphere both inside and outside the park with fans joyous at the prospect of seeing the seven of them on the same stage again, to the support acts (and yes I'm including the whole Morrissey thing in that....if nothing else it was memorable)....but let's not forget a blinding set from Uncle Ian Dury and his Blockheads....to the earthquake that really did erupt (and not in Orange Street!!).....to the fact that they played ten tracks from One Step Beyond and four or five from Absolutely PLUS the greatest hits from other albums.....and the moment to cap all moments......you know the one if you were there.....
......the seven of them walk onto the stage and just stand there transfixed along with 36,000 other of us.....the atmosphere positively electric.....it seemed to go on forever until Mr Smash finally stepped forward and delivered that well known line "Hey you....." and 36,007 were immediately sent into raptures and one of the best gigs ever!! (I'm tingling just thinking about it now...and it was 20 years ago!!)
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dicka
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Post by dicka on Nov 15, 2012 16:49:22 GMT
I have a fond spot for seeing Madness at the Arena in Newcastle as this was the venue when I first saw them in 95 during The Maddogs Tour, I much prefer the smaller venues Im not a fan of arena gigs but saying that I have loved everyone of my Madness gigs at the arena in Newcastle. As for the last Madstock the less said about that the better lol.
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Post by scabbydug on Nov 15, 2012 17:08:59 GMT
I have a fond spot for seeing Madness at the Arena in Newcastle as this was the venue when I first saw them in 95 during The Maddogs Tour, I much prefer the smaller venues Im not a fan of arena gigs but saying that I have loved everyone of my Madness gigs at the arena in Newcastle. As for the last Madstock the less said about that the better lol. Aha Dicka, this was the first gig that I seen the band live too. Bedders wasn't on bass, Suggs slipped on the stage and Lee had a yard of ale drinking competition with some punter from the crowd.......Lee won (although there was a wee bit of cheating involved!) Twas a great gig if my memory serves me correct....... Sunnyside, The Dug |
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dicka
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Post by dicka on Nov 15, 2012 17:15:38 GMT
I have a fond spot for seeing Madness at the Arena in Newcastle as this was the venue when I first saw them in 95 during The Maddogs Tour, I much prefer the smaller venues Im not a fan of arena gigs but saying that I have loved everyone of my Madness gigs at the arena in Newcastle. As for the last Madstock the less said about that the better lol. Aha Dicka, this was the first gig that I seen the band live too. Bedders wasn't on bass, Suggs slipped on the stage and Lee had a yard of ale drinking competition with some punter from the crowd.......Lee won (although there was a wee bit of cheating involved!) Twas a great gig if my memory serves me correct....... Sunnyside, The Dug I can't rember Suggs slipping but I rember the rest, I think it was only the second gig I'd ever been to the first being Michael Jackson. Norman Watt-Roy from The Blockheads was Bedders stand in that night. :-) |
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Post by scabbydug on Nov 15, 2012 18:10:45 GMT
I can't rember Suggs slipping but I rember the rest, I think it was only the second gig I'd ever been to the first being Michael Jackson. Norman Watt-Roy from The Blockheads was Bedders stand in that night. :-) It was a quick slip and yes you're right it was Norman on bass. I'd bought tickets to that gig and also won two from a competition in The Star newspaper. I can clearly recall haggling with the touts outside the gig trying to get the best price.......and won! Sunnyside, The Dug |
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