Ken Tucky wrote: » Yeah it was too low. When you are not too far from stage and can say something to the person beside you without raising your voice....that's too low. Was with a mate who doesn't know the Music and was telling him Matt is one angry man but age has mellowed his voice and anger...he didn't get what we all know the Music and lyrics to be Box ticked , glad I was there but wouldn't bother again.
Mrs Shuttleworth wrote: » His voice has held up well. But what possessed him to reconfigure his big tracks into that James Bay/Blake/Bl(C)unt contemporary style is a deflating mystery.
delbertgrady wrote: » I was on the barrier, so had no issues with sound, but a few other things were a bit of a letdown, and shunted it into four star, rather than five star territory. I thought Xordox were appalling. Anything I'd heard of them prior to the show seemed fine, but having to watch them was another matter entirely; there was something very incongruous about all the gurning that was going on while they pressed some buttons. I don't know what the response was further back, but polite applause is about all they got up the front. The The were far too late in coming on. It was after ten past nine by the time they started, which is very late for the Iveagh Gardens and had me concerned that they'd have to drop a few songs. Unfortunately, rather than ditching some of the songs that would have predictably got a "lesser" reaction, they pulled tour show closer Lonely Planet, which would have been a much more fitting end to the night. I find it ridiculous that this had to happen at all. Surely Aiken would have explained when the curfew was and The The would have started early enough to deliver a full set. As it was, Matt had to quickly tell the band not too leave the stage for the encore break, in order to at least get Uncertain Smile done promptly. The only "rearrangement" that disappointed me was Sweet Bird of Truth, which lacked the punch of the original, but I don't really expect Matt to deliver with the same venom he did in the eighties. He explained that the tour would feature tweaked arrangements, so in relative terms, most songs were fairly true to their original version. I'm not sure if the outdoor venue was to blame, in that there was just a mismatch in having this "intense" music played out under a sunny July sky, but it never seemed to have that intimacy, or indeed a sense of a collective experience, compared to, say, Belle and Sebastian in the same venue last year, which is very different musically, but no less introspective in its own way. A great touring band, though. And despite my criticisms, I'm delighted I went.
NIMAN wrote: » Glad I didn't head down to that gig now. I hate outdoor concerts in daylight, but had seen them in Belfast on Friday and was tempted to do the Dublin gig too. They are my favourite band, and I was delighted to see them in Belfast. It wasn't a big crowd to see them, but they put on a very good show. Really enjoyed it.
Big Game wrote: » I was a bit disappointed to be honest. Was really looking forward to it as they've been a favourite band of mine since the 80's and I'd not seen them before. But, as others mentioned the sound was very low and some of the songs lacked the punch and aggression they have on record. Think he needed a bigger band or at least another synth if not two. Still enjoyed it and glad I got to see them / him. I know he hasn't played Giant live for nearly 30 years but I can't for the life of me work out why, it would be the perfect show closer surely?
Etc wrote: » Really disappointed with the gig, it was very flat, never got going and agree with the statements on sound, arrangements and late arrival on stage. Was really looking forward to them finishing with lonely planet. I just felt he was going through the motions, his heart didn't seem in it.
Big Game wrote: » I was a bit disappointed to be honest. Was really looking forward to it as they've been a favourite band of mine since the 80's and I'd not seen them before. But, as others mentioned the sound was very low and some of the songs lacked the punch and aggression they have on record. Think he needed a bigger band or at least another synth if not two.
fourmations wrote: » My thoughts exactly, the hooks of the songs were not there, take dogs of lust as an easy example, the most memorable part of the whole song, the raucous harmonica, was not there, the song died on its arse! Many others suffered the same fate imo
thegreengoblin wrote: » First time to see The The and I really enjoyed it. Given that Matt Johnson's father died last month and he was ready to cancel the rest of the tour but couldn't due to the financial cost, I say fair play to the man for performing like he did. A great artist who gave it his all on the night with the rest of his band.
Lotus Flower wrote: » I agree, he gave it his all. Stunned by folk saying he went through the motions and his heart wasn't in it
henryporter wrote: » Lotus Flower wrote: » I agree, he gave it his all. Stunned by folk saying he went through the motions and his heart wasn't in it Totally agree - it's so easy to sit back and criticise. I'm still on a high after the gig. The only spoiler was the constant chatter.
Kurt.Godel wrote: » I had been looking forward to this gig for months- my favourite band in the 80's- but was a little unsure on how the "stripped down" 5-piece would work. I really enjoyed the evening (would agree with general opinion though about low sound). Now that a week has past, I've spent the last 7 days listening to The The tracks, and would go back 7 days and do it again in a heartbeat! What was with the truncated 10, 9, 8... countdown? From memory its off an old EP or something, might be staring me in the face though.
