When is the best time to go see a band live?

Xavi6

So I was asking myself this question earlier while I was listening to Interpol. I saw them in February on the back of their third album and on the balance of things it was the perfect time to go. Here's why -

- The older songs from album one that you first fell in love with are still played (PDA, Obstacle 1, The New etc)

- The songs from that 'difficult' second album which wasn't in fact that difficult sound excellent and are played with confidence given their success (Evil, Slow Hand, Narc, C'mere etc)

- The new third album is also played with confidence as the majority of the crowd are going to be fans and not just casual observers as would be the case if it was a first album tour. The new songs are fresh and exciting (Pioneer to the Falls, Mammoth, The Heinrich Maneuver etc)


To put my theory further into perspective I thought of Muse, a band I've seen 6 times lives at various points in their career. First time round was excellent. By the fourth time it was third album territory and I was blown away. Sixth time was still fantastic, but something was missing - those first album songs had been replaced by the newer stuff. Classics like Muscle Museum and Sunburn reduced to nothing more than odd fillers with other live favourites Bliss and Dead Star made pretty much redundant. The set now plays like a greatest hits now that Muse have become, and I hate the word, 'mainstream'.


So what I wanna know is when for you is the perfect time to see a band live?

Is it during the hype of the stunning debut album so you can say you were there from the start?

Is it after the release of that difficult second album where you keep the faith despite the knockers?

Is it after the third album when the band has sufficient material to comfortably hold the crowds attention for two hours?

Is it during the greatest hits type tour where only the singles we all know get played?

Obviously it can vary depending on the band but in general what do you think?

mental07

Interesting post! For me it would be any time other than just before or after the release of an album (be it 'difficult 2nd album' or whatever). It just makes for a better buzz when the crowd knows the material being played, rather than having everyone just standing there...

dr.bollocko

Cool thought.
I guess it depends on the arc of the band doesnt it?
I mean I dont know too many people who would be as interested in seeing the Kilers live in comparison with the furore about their first album.
Then take someone like the Kings of Leon and it seems they are just building up more material to improve a live show. Of course all these judgements are personal ones. Often I have found myself really looking forward to a gig and being sorely let down by the band on the night.

hussey

Greatest hits/singles tour ftw!

I voted 4/5/6th album

After seeing a few bands just after their 2nd album, I find they pretty much play the two albums minus one or two fillers.


after a few albums, they tend to drop the fillers

but saying that, if at teh first gig, you do get teh bragging rights!
I would have loved to see Oasis around the Definitely maybe stage!

Pighead

Ooooh nice question. For Pighead it would have to be during the hype of the first album. You've got your tickets, the venue with a capacity of 200 people has long since sold out and tickets are selling for a couple of hundred quid a pop outside. The band are still in the pre tour exhaustion phase and all this gigging is still exciting and fresh for them. You're up the very front and you can almost smell the lead singers urine dribbles in his underpants. That's what it's all about.

Bands playing at large venues can be very hit and miss in Pigheads experience. Small sweaty clubs is hwere its at. Although sometimes with fan club gigs etc you can get the best of both worlds and see your favourite band in a samll venue 3 or 4 albums down the road.

Earthhorse

I find the best time to see a live band is during the hours advertised on the ticket. Arrive either side of that and they won't be there. Even if you manage to catch up with them they'll probably just be doing something really normal like sleeping or eating which would be a huge letdown.

Failing that...

dr.bollocko wrote: »

I guess it depends on the arc of the band doesnt it?

I went to see REM around the time of that godawfully bland Daysleeper song they had and it was the wrong time. I wanted to hear Automatic and Green and Out of Time material and instead I got landed with a bunch of pretty straightforward, by the numbers bits.

So it depends on the band's arc and it depends on yours.

dave.omeara

4/5/6 albums into their career

I would agree with a 3rd album concert. If you're at the gig, then chances are you're a fan of the band, so they're not going to be playing song you've not heard before. It gives them a chance to play the old fan favorites, new material, and then personal favorites. Plus touring with 3 albums also means the setlist can be changed from gig to gig. Not dramatically but by maybe 2 or 3 songs per show, which adds that bit of anticipation as to what exactly will they play.
Also, you should be guaranteed a nice long gig. The last 2 bands I went to see who were touring on the back of a 3rd album release lasted for around the 2 hour mark.

Debut album bands are great as they have the enthusiasm, and the hype to put on a phenomenal performance. But they still only have one albums worth of material. So they're limited to what they can perform.

If its a 5th or 6th album band, then the back catalogue is huge and the chances of hearing anything other then the singles is slim, because you can be sure they're going to play alot of the new album stuff. They are touring that album afterall.