Who Likes To Watch Concerts?

[AngusThermopyle]

Personally I love watching concerts, I'm also a HiFI/HT junkie so it fits well together. When I was younger my friends and I would go to a lot of concerts, saw some great performances. Now that I'm older I find that I prefer to just buy them on DVD/BD and enjoy them from the comfort of my own home. Thats where a good system enters the picture,in order to really enjoy them one has to spend a considerable amount of time setting up the sound, however once its done the sonic payoff is well worth the effort.

Between two of my friends and myself we have just over a hundred of them, so lots to choose from. We tend to mostly buy them at the 400 flea market. Theres a woman who runs a booth there who specializes in vinyl and concerts, if she doesn't have it just name it and she'll order it in for you. Some I've enjoyed recently are:

The Doobie Brothers - Live At Wolf Trap

ZZ Top - Live In Texas

Elton John - Live Greatest hits - One Night Only

G3 - Special Guest Ingwye Malmsteen

The Eagles - Live In Madrid

George Thorogood - 30th Anniversary Tour

Paul McCartney - Good Evening New York City

ELO - Live At Wembly

Styx - Live At The Paradise

Those are just a few I've watched recently, the collection is obviously much more extensive. We're still hunting for older Supertramp, something pre Breakfast In America, a good Stones concert (theres so many to choose from). Last weekend I ordered The Who Live At Leeds Deluxe Edition, it should be in this weekend. One problem we've found is with older bands. Many of their performances were fantastic but the tech at the time wasn't. It can be difficult to find copies with great sound/picture because of this. Of course the three of us have invested considerable time and money into our systems so sound/picture is of paramount importance.

Anyway, do any of you also enjoy watching concerts? Or am I alone in this respect?

[RB]

Anyway, do any of you also enjoy watching concerts? Or am I alone in this respect?

I can confess I am not a fanatic. I am usually outside the concert halls and too many of times waiting for our young kid. It is strange she picks upcoming groups that she is musically attracted to and call raw talent and memorable. For example I was outside of Panic at the Disco, Metric, Matt Dusk and a host of unknowns cost $15 who eventually made big. I don't think she attended a notable, well except for Usher, because of the lip synchronizing and electronic voice. For example a talented singer such as Christina Aguilera or Brittany Spears do not need an electronic voice.

I am mostly into theatre and try to get to the shows where ever I am in the world.

[Moonlight Graham]

If i can get good tickets, or i like a band enough to wait in line before the concert to get a front-row floor spot, i love live concerts for big acts. Love live music for smaller club acts too.

But i also love watching live filmed concerts on TV/DVD. The worst thing about going to a big concert is the sound, its usually a muffled mess. Sound on DVD concerts are fantastic, and of course you always have a front-row seat!

I'm constantly watching live performance footage of different acts on Youtube. But i own a bunch of live DVD's, like the Led Zeppelin self-titled DVD with classic footage of them, Neil Young's "Rust Never Sleeps", Metallica's "Cunning Stunts" and "Binge & Purge" boxset, among others.

I find since youtube came on the scene and torrents, i don't buy many anymore.

Recently been watching classic live Stevie Ray Vaughan stuff on YouTube. I'm not sure i've ever seen a better live guitar performance that his 1983 "Texas Flood" below. The entire song is like a 9-minute solo!

[AngusThermopyle]

Recently been watching classic live Stevie Ray Vaughan stuff on YouTube.

Funny you should mention that, my friend just gave me a copy of Stevie Ray live yesterday. I haven't watched it yet so I can't tell you where the performance is, I'll grab a few beers and watch it tonight. The G3 concerts are fantastic if you like guitar work. It's always Joe Satriani and Steve Via with a special guest guitarist. I have the one with Yngwie but I'm going to get the other two as well.

You're right, the front row/perfect seat aspect of concerts on DVD is great, same for the sound. In some cases we have concerts where the sound is too perfect, an obvious studio job, thats not so great. Yes the sound is pristine but it also lacks a certain amount of "rawness" that one expects and enjoys in a live performance.

I'm also looking for a good Talking Heads performance to add to our collection. I also have to pick up Neil Young, Prairie Wind.

Edited April 15, 2011 by AngusThermopyle

[GostHacked]

I enjoy going to concerts myself.

The thing I like about them is that the band will not be what you hear on the studio cut. A little more raw, and a little unpolished to give it a human feel to it all. However I do love it when the band can do exactly what they did on the album and duplicate it perfectly. I like to see the band interact with each other and the crowd. I enjoy it when they are enjoying it. If the band is having fun on stage, then you will too. Angus, since you seem more into a home theater movie watching set up for a concert. I do suggest anything by Peter Gabriel. His concerts are visually and technically stunning. A true stage show. And the sound mastering on the DVDs are top notch.

But some of the best concerts I've seen personally.

Rush - Time Machine (2010)

Dires Straights - On Every Street Tour (early 90s)

Dream Theater - (2004)

Infected Mushroom (2007 and 2009)

The Pursuit of Happiness (1992)

If Prince tours again, I really hope to go see him perform.

--

I've been loving electronic music for about 20 years now and when I see these DJs or live producers do their thing it gives me that sense as well. But in terms of that, I demand a little more perfection when a DJ does a mix, gotta keep pace and keep the flow and rythm. When it falls apart, the crowd gets lost a little. I've experienced that first hand myself. Dj'd one small event, and a couple mixed I did were just shit. When you got people in the crowd sitting down, then you know you failed!!! And yeah I failed a couple times. It's not easy!.

Some of the best DJ performances I've seen.

Sander Van Doorn

Markus Shultz

Benny Benassi

Armin Van Burin

Sander Klienenburg

The people I need to see, would be Carl Cox, Gabrien & Dresden, Deadmau5.

[AngusThermopyle]

I do suggest anything by Peter Gabriel.

You're right, I have the Secret World Live and Growing Up Live concerts, they're both very good. For great sound and performance I'd also recomend Paul Simon Graceland, it's great and was also a landmark concert.

Yep. I do love my system. The Klipsch Reference series mains sound fantastic and recently I just picked up some JBL Pro Studio monitors for the rear channels. They're good but not on the same level as the Klipsch. They'll do for now but I do want to replace them in the future, maybe with a set of KEF's or B&W's. Next on the upgrade list though is my receiver. I'm running a 120 w per channel Denon right now and it is a very nice piece of gear but I want to replace it with either a Harmon Kardon or Rotel unit. I'm quite happy with my turntable though, it's a Rega Planar and not bad at all even though its no Linn. I used to own a Linn, the table cost $1300, tone arm was $1600 and cartridge was $350 so I wont be buying another like that for some time. Even though the Rega was relatively cheap ($750) complete it still produces very nice sound for now. Beats the hell out of anything digital.

[GostHacked]

Yep. I do love my system. The Klipsch Reference series mains sound fantastic and recently I just picked up some JBL Pro Studio monitors for the rear channels. They're good but not on the same level as the Klipsch. They'll do for now but I do want to replace them in the future, maybe with a set of KEF's or B&W's.

I've not really been impressed with home audio for JBL, their professional gear is amazing though.

Next on the upgrade list though is my receiver. I'm running a 120 w per channel Denon right now and it is a very nice piece of gear but I want to replace it with either a Harmon Kardon or Rotel unit. I'm quite happy with my turntable though, it's a Rega Planar and not bad at all even though its no Linn. I used to own a Linn, the table cost $1300, tone arm was $1600 and cartridge was $350 so I wont be buying another like that for some time. Even though the Rega was relatively cheap ($750) complete it still produces very nice sound for now. Beats the hell out of anything digital.

I've had experience with Rotel before and was impressed. And I've heard of the Linn units but never had the pleasure of listening to one. The amp is going to be just an amp? You have a processing unit aside from the amp? If I get a table it's going to be a Technics SL-1200 for listening and mixing purposes.

I Don't have a home theater, but my home studio includes (mah e-penis) :

KRK Rockit 8's (studio reference monitors)

Mackie 1202e 10 channel mixer.

M-audio 2420 Audiophile sound card for the PC

M-audio Keyrig 49

M-audio midi mixer UC-33e

M-audio Trigger Finger

Korg Kaos Pad (KP3)

Sure SM58

And my new fave toy - my Denon DN MC 6000 (mp3 mixing deck)

[August1991]

I just bought a DVD of Puccini's Turandot. It's 5.1 sound.

[Moonlight Graham]

Funny you should mention that, my friend just gave me a copy of Stevie Ray live yesterday. I haven't watched it yet so I can't tell you where the performance is, I'll grab a few beers and watch it tonight. The G3 concerts are fantastic if you like guitar work. It's always Joe Satriani and Steve Via with a special guest guitarist. I have the one with Yngwie but I'm going to get the other two as well.

I've seen some of the G3 stuff on Youtube. I love most things rock and metal, and love guitarists & play myself, but i just can't get much into those 3 guitar "virtuosos". I greatly admire/respect the technical skills of Satch/Vai/Yngwie, but watching them play is like watching a massive musical masturbation orge.

I think they're the worst of the progressive-rock genre, they can master every electric guitar trick in the book and play scales up & down the guitar neck at 500mph, but when i try to listen to their songs most of them just suck. They have the skill, but often lack the soul, and seem more focused on showing off how good their technical skills are than making good music. I saw one clip of Vai playing a triple-neck guitar & just wanted to vomit. I dislike Ygnwie the most, i think he's a musical fraud who can play scales at lightning speed but not much else (except worrying about his luscious flowing hair and makeup). I'm actually surprised these 3 guys can tour together without their egos ripping each other apart.

Here's exhibit A: G3 playing Hendrix' classic "Voodoo Child (slight return)". Below it is a video of Stevie Ray Vaughan covering the same song, & the man plays it so ridiculously amazing with so much soul & making it his own (more bluesy, doesn't have the same screechy gain sound of Hendrix), the only guy i've seen worthy of doing Henrix' opus justice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_borQkUgZM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GSpbuFSr2o&NR=1

[GostHacked]

Moonlight Graham

I agree with your views on those 3 guitarists. They all have amazing technical skills, but very little soul. I listen to the tracks and don't get any emotion out of them. I prefer listening to someone like Prince who has the skills and the soul. A rare combonation for sure.

[AngusThermopyle]

Moonlight Graham

I agree with your views on those 3 guitarists. They all have amazing technical skills, but very little soul. I listen to the tracks and don't get any emotion out of them. I prefer listening to someone like Prince who has the skills and the soul. A rare combonation for sure.

Actually I agree with you so far as JBL is concerned, they're not high on my list of audio gear, but when you get a $750.00 set of speakers and a center to sweeten the deal for $300.00 you can overlook those short commings for a time. I have had to play with the highs, they sounded too bright compared to the Klipsch which have a nice clear but very smooth sound to them. This weekend I'll be bi-wiring all of them, then I'll see what effect that has.

As for G3, I like them, whoever they have as a guest guitarist, but then I like most good guitarists. I'm not that fond of the artist with no name. Not that he's a bad guitarist, his music just doesn't do anything for me. Actually he's released some real pablum type stinkers. can anyone say Little Red Corvette or Raspberry Beret?

One I was very pleasently surprised by was George Thorogood. He just wrings out that guitar when he gets going. Some really good slide blues when you see him live. Oh well, to each his own I suppose.

[GostHacked]

Actually I agree with you so far as JBL is concerned, they're not high on my list of audio gear, but when you get a $750.00 set of speakers and a center to sweeten the deal for $300.00 you can overlook those short commings for a time. I have had to play with the highs, they sounded too bright compared to the Klipsch which have a nice clear but very smooth sound to them. This weekend I'll be bi-wiring all of them, then I'll see what effect that has.

The KRKs I have for music production sound very very nice to me. They sound better than other speakers I've listened to for twice the price. What convinced me was that I was playing a song I know very well on them, but never heard the guitar track in the song. The guitar is subtely behind everything else and I never heard it on other speakers. These brought it right out and the song sounded full and complete. So, I bought them right there and then.

I did have a 5.1 system some time ago, the speakers were Missions except the sub, Polk Audio. The subs from Mission sounded like crap at that time. Who knows they may have gotten better.

As for G3, I like them, whoever they have as a guest guitarist, but then I like most good guitarists. I'm not that fond of the artist with no name. Not that he's a bad guitarist, his music just doesn't do anything for me. Actually he's released some real pablum type stinkers. can anyone say Little Red Corvette or Raspberry Beret?

See that is the Prince era I grew up with and loved. Personally the album 1999 is his best work overall (with the little red corevett) but the production on it was lacking, there was definately distortion througout. Sign O The Times is his second best, also better production.

One I was very pleasently surprised by was George Thorogood. He just wrings out that guitar when he gets going. Some really good slide blues when you see him live. Oh well, to each his own I suppose.

I think the concerts by Sting on dvd would be good.

[AngusThermopyle]

Never tried a Mission sub myself, in fact I've never even heard one. My sub right now is a Velodyne and I'm quite happy with it for now. I would like to replace it eventually, I've been checking out one by Mirage and its a really nice sub, it'll have to wait though as my better half wants me to build a small deck for her new gazebo and the cost of the new sub is about the same as the deck. I did own a set of Mission two way bookshelf speakers once and they were quite good. They were a loss leader, you know, a good set of speakers for a very low price. A lot of companies do that in order to build brand loyalty with their customers. Mission has been bought out by Klipsch so I'll be watching to see how it affects their products. JBL has also been bought out, they're owned by Harmon Kardon now, that may explain why these studio monitors of mine sound beter than any other JBL's I've heard before. In fact I've never seen JBL's that are bi-wire/bi-amp capable before.

Given my way, and lots of money I'd be running Bryston or McIntosh for electronics, its a money thing though. I really cant afford 3 to 4 thousand for an amp and another 27 hundred or so for a pre amp. Oh well, one day.

I think the concerts by Sting on dvd would be good.

My two friends and I were just talking about that the other day. We're going to look for The Police Live and Sting Live, That way we'll cover the whole spectrum of Police/Sting. The girlfriend has different taste from mine so I also look for concerts for her. Actually some of the ones she likes are really good Johny Cash live at Montreaux and the Elvis 68 Comeback concerts come to mind. I've never been an Elvis fan but that 68 concert is very good, he really had a way of connecting with his audience, and of course back in 68 he was mostly still doing his old rock/blues/gospel stuff. She also wants some Rod Stewart (yuck) I'll get her one, you have to be fair after all.

[jigady01]

yess OK Thank For You! :D