A question for all you rockers

[Punker_bob2004]

if you are watching or listening to a band what gets you into it the most, stage presence? quality? etc. just curious

[zenbooty]

Sheer power output. The louder they can go without losing clarity, the more pumped up I get. There's nothing like feeling the low bass blasts punching your chest while the guitar shreds your mind. But if the sound system blows, and everything ends up going all muddy and you get that blaring "wall of sound" effect, then I lose it quick.

Mosh pits are great, as well.


Best shows I've been to, as far as getting pumped up, and their respective venues:

Trans Am, at the Great American Music Hall, SF (great venue!)

High on Fire, at both the Bottom of the Hill, SF, and at the Bowery Ballroom, NYC

The Melvins, at the Bottom of the Hill (The loudest venue I've been too. Excellent sound system, too!)

Fu****susha at the Bottom of the Hill

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum at the Bottom of the Hill (seeing a pattern here?)

Rush at UNO Lakefront Arena, New Orleans

Mighty Mighty Bosstones at Tipitina's, New Orleans.

Melt Banana at the Tip Top Inn, SF


Disappointing shows I've been to where the venue was to blame

MIRV at Transmission Theatre, SF. Simply a crappy system better suited for amateur night type events

Hellacopters at the Justice League, SF. A classic example of a hard rocking band playing a venue with a decrepit sound system that could not support them. Everything came out as one wall of sound.

Galactic at the Fillmore, SF. The Fillmore has too wide a stage and floor for the size of the venue and sound equipment, making the acoustics terrible.

John Spencer Blues Explosion at Irving Plaza, NYC. Venue is too large, and the balcony way too far removed from the action on stage.

[appleseed]

i agree. loud is only good if clear. but i like stage presence too. my brother's band just got an offer, and their stage presence is really powerful. i mean, they're a great band musically, but looking good and having presence and "swagger" i suppose, doesn't hurt.

[Dirty Sanchez]

311 at any small venue kicks major arse!

[Merlin]

You should give off the image that you love to play more than anything. Aside from that try and find some Burce Springsteen concert footage. There has never been a better live performer than the Boss. Look there for tips.

[Punker_bob2004]

Originally posted by Yossarian
i vouch for my bro here (punker is my bitch, seriously) and hes a drummer in a band, hence, why he asks.

i think you have it switched around... bitch :D :rolleyes:

[Airencracken]

It really is just a combination of the band's style and execution. If one thing sucks, then it all goes south. However, there isn't one difinitve great thing. Except when I play. :D

[Punker_bob2004]

well, if we ever get a demo done ill post some mp3's up from our site thanks for the info

[whitak24]

i rank musical skill right up there, although pure musical skill doesn't always translate into live musical skill. i love it when a band, through their musical skill, can transform an entire venue into a cult hanging on to their every move. consequently, my best shows ever:

1.) pearl jam (duh! of course. i'm biased)

2.) AC/DC, Toronto, ON - having 500,000+ people going ****ing nuts as the band just went crazy up there was great

3.) eh, i dont' feel like listing more.

[Nija]

Make me want to mosh. everything that makes that feeling is what you need. :D

[Showtime]

I'm not a rocker but I really like when a band can actually play and is able to set various tones.

Especially band that can set that quiet before the storm mood. Metallica used to do it well and Disturbed has a few songs that goes quiet and than hits you pretty good......

Timing is everything... knowing when to slow it down and speed it up makes for a better concert experience than just playing loud IMO.

-jel:halo:

[Freelance Superhero]

well, i've always felt that the authenticity of a band's total crazy awesomeness depended upon its ability to play a live show; there are so many studio bands that sound great comin out the stereo, but sound like ass live.

having said that, i've seen a lot of bands that seem to try to make up for their lack of live ability by being loud, and that's just annoying. i think i'm most impressed first by a band's actual talent, then by its stage presence. if they sound great in person, and they can put on a good show, then i'm a happy man.

and, since no one's mentioned it, i think this also goes for hip hop acts. since there's seldom any band to speak of, a lot of a hip hop show's appeal lies in the ability of the performer to put on a good show. the best times i had were when i saw J5 (now THOSE guys know how to rock a crowd) and when i saw Black Star (mos and kweli get hyped, it's crazy).