Why don't Waterford people enjoy live music?

mrgardener · 11-03-2012 2:25pm #1

Just before xmas last year, I was at O'Emperor and ASIWYFA at the Forum. Both weren't even half full.

At the big session with Madrigal, Kodakid etc at the Forum, the crowd were very small. I was at Ham Sandwich last weekend and there was maybe 50/60 people at it! Surely they warrant a near capacity crowd?

King Kong Company nearly filled the place, but was that because it was a one-off?

I understand people not paying in to see local bands that they can watch for free in the pubs, but surely some of the bands mentioned above should be able to get big crowds?

The Freezer sessions last summer was a free gig and had The Minutes, Royseven (i think) and Solar Taxi and yet hardly anyone was there. For a free gig!

Are Waterford people just not interested in live music?

Boooourns · 11-03-2012 2:28pm

The town has an awful reputation when it comes to gigs. I've lost count of gigs i've been too where there's a really poor turnout, ended up getting sick of it myself as the atmosphere can be poor.

jayboi · 11-03-2012 2:29pm

mrgardener wrote: »

Just before xmas last year, I was at O'Emperor and ASIWYFA at the Forum. Both weren't even half full.

At the big session with Madrigal, Kodakid etc at the Forum, the crowd were very small. I was at Ham Sandwich last weekend and there was maybe 50/60 people at it! Surely they warrant a near capacity crowd?

King Kong Company nearly filled the place, but was that because it was a one-off?

I understand people not paying in to see local bands that they can watch for free in the pubs, but surely some of the bands mentioned above should be able to get big crowds?

The Freezer sessions last summer was a free gig and had The Minutes, Royseven (i think) and Solar Taxi and yet hardly anyone was there. For a free gig!

Are Waterford people just not interested in live music?

Cos it's too loud god dam it!

cycocycle · 11-03-2012 2:53pm

At the risk of getting off track I blame dance "music" in the mid to late 90s for killing off live music in General and in Waterford particularly. When I was 18 in 1992 I went to see good bands play in the likes of Breens and the Metroland every weekend. Also caught a few great bands in places like the Back of the Mansion. Waterford was known all over the country as a place for good live music. Then it started to change with the coming of the dance and "E" scene. The Metroland went to 5hit and people stopped going to gigs. A few of my friends who regularly went to gigs got caught up in the new scene and stopped listening to live bands. This was embraced by venue owners who only had to pay a DJ rather than a whole band. They also were selling bottles of water for the price of a pint!
Waterford hasnt got a big enough population to sustain a lot of different "scenes" so the most popular one will choke out the rest. There are other reasons that Im sure the pub and club owners could give you. I just noticed the interest in live music dying off in the mid to late nineties and it has struggled to recover.
The only live bands that do well here are covers bands who play non threatening chart hits and classics for drunks to dance and sing along with.More power to them though it would be nice to see more varied acts passing through and a variety of venues in which to see them.
/Rant.

ziedth · 11-03-2012 4:16pm

For me I can't bring myself to go to a band where I wouldn't know the songs. The band could be the next Queen and unless I can sing along IE they play cover songs I'm not interested and I'm not into music enough to listen to new bands and learn their new stuff.

Basically I personify all that is wrong with music fans cause I only really listen to mainstream stuff that is popular. That and 80's/90's music, I love cheesy music.

I think I'm not alone in this because smash hits always seem to pull in a crowd and they charge on the door.

Creamsoda · 11-03-2012 4:42pm

mrgardener wrote: »

The Freezer sessions last summer was a free gig and had The Minutes, Royseven (i think) and Solar Taxi and yet hardly anyone was there. For a free gig!

Are Waterford people just not interested in live music?

That's funny I was at that gig and there was a load of people there. It was quite until about 11 or 11.30 but after that it was packed.

mike65 · 11-03-2012 4:44pm

Music Moves, remember them?

http://www.waterford-news.ie/news/cwsnidgbsn/

Finneen · 11-03-2012 6:01pm

Ever wonder why Waterford's very own Gilbert O'Sullivan won't perform live in his city?

Max Powers · 11-03-2012 6:13pm

mrgardener wrote: »

Just before xmas last year, I was at O'Emperor and ASIWYFA at the Forum. Both weren't even half full.

At the big session with Madrigal, Kodakid etc at the Forum, the crowd were very small. I was at Ham Sandwich last weekend and there was maybe 50/60 people at it! Surely they warrant a near capacity crowd?

King Kong Company nearly filled the place, but was that because it was a one-off?

I understand people not paying in to see local bands that they can watch for free in the pubs, but surely some of the bands mentioned above should be able to get big crowds?

The Freezer sessions last summer was a free gig and had The Minutes, Royseven (i think) and Solar Taxi and yet hardly anyone was there. For a free gig!

Are Waterford people just not interested in live music?

I think people will complain about f-all on in the city yet 99% of people who say that havent been into theatre royal, garter lane in years and rarely leave their locals for places like the forum. Im all for supporting local gigs and bands. hard to believe a free gig wasnt packed, especially if it was at weekend. I do believe, if the band is good and the price is right, people will go. People talked about that smash hits (covers band) band a few years ago and they played to packed houses numerous times here, i didnt see them but i heard people rave about them.

I dont think Waterford has anything but a good reputation when it comes to gigs, we are smaller and less financially well off the most other parts of Ireland, yet some of the best gigs i have been at were local. Waterford had a good reputation going back decades where old style show-band band used to say, if it goes down well here, it will be success everywhere.

It does annoy me where gigs are meant to start at say 10, dont start till 11, Irish people also love to leave it as late as possible which perpetuates this resulting in very late build up of atmosphere at gigs

Professey Chin · 11-03-2012 7:40pm

Finneen wrote: »

Ever wonder why Waterford's very own Gilbert O'Sullivan won't perform live in his city?

Cause he's an overrrated knob who expected everyone to bow at his feet?

zeppe · 11-03-2012 8:26pm

The Great Chinholio wrote: »

Cause he's an overrrated knob who expected everyone to bow at his feet?

Not overrated.

From wikipedia," Gilbert O'Sullivan enjoyed nearly five years of success with MAM, a run that included seven UK Top 10 singles and four UK Top 10 albums; three U.S. Top 10 singles and one top 10 album; five Dutch Top 10 singles and three Top 10 albums; five New Zealand Top 10 singles; three Canadian Top 10 singles; and seven Japan Top 10 singles."

Maybe playing to a half empty theatre in your home town would
make you slightly bitter too.

abouttobebanned · 11-03-2012 8:32pm

I went to see Gilbert in dublin last year and he disgraced himself. First off he wouldn't allow anybody to drink at the show. This is a problem cause u only enjoy his music when I'm drunk. Then he kept complaining about the sound and finally marched off in a huff for a half hour. He constantly complained and it became embarrassing after a while.

Back on topic, I've been saying for ages that Waterford is one if the worse counties in ireland for supporting live music.

Look at a band like the jam tarts. Great and all as they are, they've had the same set for years and they still play 2-3 times a month in the Kazbar. That carry on wouldn't be accepted somewhere else.

Professey Chin · 11-03-2012 8:32pm

zeppe wrote: »

Not overrated.

From wikipedia," Gilbert O'Sullivan enjoyed nearly five years of success with MAM, a run that included seven UK Top 10 singles and four UK Top 10 albums; three U.S. Top 10 singles and one top 10 album; five Dutch Top 10 singles and three Top 10 albums; five New Zealand Top 10 singles; three Canadian Top 10 singles; and seven Japan Top 10 singles."

Maybe playing to a half empty theatre in your home town would
make you slightly bitter too.

That 5 years was 40 years ago and hes barely done anything of note since.He expected a full house from a generation who dont even know his name just cause its his hometown. The phrase delusions of grandeur come to mind.

Rothko · 11-03-2012 8:35pm

I saw ASIWYFA in the Forum just before New Years' and I thought the atmosphere was great.

Finneen · 11-03-2012 9:30pm

Waterford should have a great bands scene as it's cut off from the rest of Ireland when it comes to jobs/news/weather forecasts so why not music? There should be a 'Waterford sound' that's different and better than other parts of this country. Lots of bands with a similar style and attitude that puts Waterford on the music map!

mrgardener · 11-03-2012 9:30pm

Suas11 wrote: »

I saw AWIWYFA in the Forum just before New Years' and I thought the atmosphere was great.

It was. They were absolutely brilliant. So why wasn't it packed?

I was talking to Mick who books the bands the other day and he said that O'Emperor, Solar Taxi and Katie Kim got approx 250 people, ASIWYFA got 300, King Kong Company got 600, Madrigal, Kodakid etc got 150 and Ham Sandwich got approx 50! All great live bands!

Rothko · 11-03-2012 9:37pm

mrgardener wrote: »

It was. They were absolutely brilliant. So why wasn't it packed?

I was talking to Mick who books the bands the other day and he said that O'Emperor, Solar Taxi and Katie Kim got approx 250 people, ASIWYFA got 300, King Kong Company got 600, Madrigal, Kodakid etc got 150 and Ham Sandwich got approx 50! All great live bands!

I honestly don't know. It's not like the ticket prices are too high. The ASIWYFA gig was only about €15 after all.

Professey Chin · 11-03-2012 10:11pm

Id say the forums location has an impact on it. Ive seen lots of great bands in there but theres always people whinging that its too far from town.
Although a lot of these people would give out about price if it was in town, then drinks price, then that the band didnt personally dedicate a song to them

Marchandire · 11-03-2012 11:56pm

Isn't there an element of over-saturation here? You often only get to see the same bands, or members of older bands in a new group. I get tired of hearing the same names and seeing the same musicians.

I don't think Waterford has a particularly vibrant live music scene, tbh. It might help of a few of the old heads could step aside and let the kids have a go. The town must be full of enthusiastic young musicians - it seemed to be when I was in my teens.

Nypd · 12-03-2012 10:20am

The gigs you mentioned are all in one venue, so I don't buy that people don't enjoy live music.
The Forum not a particulary nice looking place, and a lot would say it is out of the way.
It would be a fair enough assumption that it's the venue not the acts.

AdMMM · 12-03-2012 10:46am

A lot of the bands that have played in The Forum in the past, I would have happily gone all the way up to Dublin to see, where I would have expected to pay a lot more than asked in Waterford. I think we're very lucky to have someone like Mick in Waterford, who has the connections to bring exciting bands to the City.

I do worry for the live scene in Waterford however, especially when you start to hear excuses like The Forum being too far away or €10 being too expensive to see well-established bands. If people aren't willing to walk 10 minutes, or pay €10 (much less than comparable venues around the country) then you really do begin to despair!

mrgardener · 12-03-2012 4:12pm

Nypd wrote: »

The gigs you mentioned are all in one venue, so I don't buy that people don't enjoy live music.
The Forum not a particulary nice looking place, and a lot would say it is out of the way.
It would be a fair enough assumption that it's the venue not the acts.

I hear what you're saying about the Forum, but as music venues go, its actually not bad. Its dark, theres a stage, lights, p.a. etc.
I've certainly been to worse around the country.
Its probably up to the band to make it a memorable night anyways.
So, I wouldn't buy the arguement at all, thats its the venue's fault. Personally, if i wanted to see a band, i'd go watch them in a field.........

Nypd · 13-03-2012 10:04am

mrgardener wrote: »

Nypd wrote: »

The gigs you mentioned are all in one venue, so I don't buy that people don't enjoy live music.
The Forum not a particulary nice looking place, and a lot would say it is out of the way.
It would be a fair enough assumption that it's the venue not the acts.

I hear what you're saying about the Forum, but as music venues go, its actually not bad. Its dark, theres a stage, lights, p.a. etc.
I've certainly been to worse around the country.
Its probably up to the band to make it a memorable night anyways.
So, I wouldn't buy the arguement at all, thats its the venue's fault. Personally, if i wanted to see a band, i'd go watch them in a field.........

I agree totally with you, I too would go anywhere to watch a good band.
My point is that compare the forum to other venues in the city, the quality is pretty high when it comes to decor and comfort, the forum is just a shabby black box compared to them.

CardBordWindow · 13-03-2012 10:33am

I'm just wondering, has advertisment for gigs got a role to play? Often I don't hear about some gigs until after they've been on. The only reason that I knew that Ham Sandwich were playing was that I saw a poster on the wall of Lombard Street Takeaway, and that was the day before it!

Nypd · 13-03-2012 11:26am

CardBordWindow wrote: »

I'm just wondering, has advertisment for gigs got a role to play? Often I don't hear about some gigs until after they've been on. The only reason that I knew that Ham Sandwich were playing was that I saw a poster on the wall of Lombard Street Takeaway, and that was the day before it!

Good point, I never really hear much advertising from any venue

AdMMM · 13-03-2012 11:36am

CardBordWindow wrote: »

I'm just wondering, has advertisment for gigs got a role to play? Often I don't hear about some gigs until after they've been on. The only reason that I knew that Ham Sandwich were playing was that I saw a poster on the wall of Lombard Street Takeaway, and that was the day before it!

That's traditionally how gigs are advertised by promoters - posters in places where a lot of people will be exposed to it (e.g. pubs and chippers and street walls) and ads in local papers. They'll also usually get a mention in any Community Notices on local radio. Only the likes of MCD or AIKEN who deal with the marquee names of national interest in big venues (The O2, Phoenix Park) need to take out ads on national media. Obviously the internet has changed this but most events are now listed on Facebook and on websites (both of the promoter and the band) well in advance.

It would definitely be interesting to hear a promoters side of the story, as I know a lot post on here and even more lurk!

smirkydee · 13-03-2012 11:39am

So who was there, I was dancing my socks off. That's the thing about King Kong Company, not only are the songs deadly but you can dance away to them

smirkydee · 13-03-2012 11:43am

my 2 cents is that people do know about the gigs, if people were interested in going to gigs, there's always information in the local newspapers like Waterford Today. Maybe all the gig going people from Waterford moved to places like Cork or Dublin etc

deiselack · 13-03-2012 11:50am

I think they don't have enough of a diverese rang of music, IMO there's a lot of metal or dickie rock type bands. Also as previous posters have mentioned, they're badly advertised. Waterford Today, Whazon and the Munster all do advertise but they need to get the message out about live bands more.

I love a good live band but I'm no longer a pub/club type person so that's kind of offputting aswell. They need to put on more performances like they did for the tall ships, the harvest festival etc..these drew huge crowds!

AdMMM · 13-03-2012 11:59am

Em, the gigs at the Harvest Festival and Tall Ships attracted huge crowds because there were huge crowds in town... and were free! These one-off events (or at most annual) simply can't be compared to the week-to-week events in venues...

old gregg · 13-03-2012 12:03pm

I suppose to some degree it's become a self perpetuating problem. Bands don't like coming to Waterford because the place has a reputation for not supporting live music so we don't get the choice and people go clubbing instead.
For me personally, I love a live band so will travel pretty much anywhere to hear the music I like. I'd also love techno but find it more fun to skip up to the Twisted Pepper in Dublin than deal with the local clubs. It's also the case for me as a producer that I can get gigs easier outside of Ireland than in Waterford where I live.

But when it comes to live music in Waterford, it's hats off to Luminous Live & the Speakeasy Sessions down in Sals.

smirkydee · 13-03-2012 12:10pm

Then with all the unemployment here now, not as many young people are here. A lot of gig going people just don't live here anymore. Students won't pay the money. Anything over 10 quid in Waterford is not contemplated by many unless you're a big fan. Maybe the forum should arrange a shuttle bus from the city centre haha

deiselack · 13-03-2012 12:18pm

em.. yes I know that.. but what about a band playing in john roberts square? that still goes on from time to time..or the apple market, Waterford is crap at getting our name out their and advertising itself

deiselack · 13-03-2012 12:21pm

AdMMM wrote: »

Em, the gigs at the Harvest Festival and Tall Ships attracted huge crowds because there were huge crowds in town... and were free! These one-off events (or at most annual) simply can't be compared to the week-to-week events in venues...

em.. yes I know that.. but what about a band playing in john roberts square? that still goes on from time to time..or the apple market, Waterford is crap at getting our name out their and advertising itself

mrgardener · 13-03-2012 2:00pm

old gregg wrote: »

I suppose to some degree it's become a self perpetuating problem. Bands don't like coming to Waterford because the place has a reputation for not supporting live music so we don't get the choice and people go clubbing instead.
For me personally, I love a live band so will travel pretty much anywhere to hear the music I like. I'd also love techno but find it more fun to skip up to the Twisted Pepper in Dublin than deal with the local clubs. It's also the case for me as a producer that I can get gigs easier outside of Ireland than in Waterford where I live.

But when it comes to live music in Waterford, it's hats off to Luminous Live & the Speakeasy Sessions down in Sals.

Great to hear from someone in the music industry. Is it just Waterford or is this happening elsewhere?
I remember last summer when the 50 cent festival was happening in town, there were people on here almost willing and hoping it would fail. Why?
We have a few good live venues in town but they seem to have cover band after cover band in them.
Personally, I would much prefer to see an original band knocking out original tunes than to see another cover band. Sure, some of these original bands mightn't be great, but in time they might be. Then you can tell your grandchildren that you saw them before they were famous!

bullpost · 13-03-2012 4:23pm

One thing missing is a small venue is the centre of town. This would help promote the culture of live music and should be able to accomodate local and touring bands. Other cities where the scene is more active , such as Dublin and Kilkenny have them.

old gregg · 13-03-2012 4:48pm

mrgardener wrote: »

Great to hear from someone in the music industry. Is it just Waterford or is this happening elsewhere?
I remember last summer when the 50 cent festival was happening in town, there were people on here almost willing and hoping it would fail. Why?
We have a few good live venues in town but they seem to have cover band after cover band in them.
Personally, I would much prefer to see an original band knocking out original tunes than to see another cover band. Sure, some of these original bands mightn't be great, but in time they might be. Then you can tell your grandchildren that you saw them before they were famous!

I can only compare with experiences in Dublin where there's plenty of oportunities to attend/play gigs and almost too many venues as well as Cork where there's always been a decent live scene.
For sure you're right re the 50 cent event, many folks were willing it to fail unfortunately.

Still I do think there are some young folks working hard at trying to bring life to the live music scene around town and that's brilliant for all of us.

kkdela6 · 13-03-2012 4:54pm

Murphy's on the quay is a great spot for original music but unfortunately a lot of people tend to stay away from it due the stigma attached to it, 'oh its a rough bikers pub'. Murphys is run very well and you can be sure that if any trouble was to go on in there it would be stamped out immediately.

I wonder is there much of a teenage scene going on now? when i was between the ages of 13-16/17 there used to be gigs going on nearly every weekend in places like dooleys hotel, the bridge, electric avenue, the forum etc. and young bands from nearly all over the country would play at them, and the place used to be packed out. You'd never hear of anything like that going on these days.
I remember when i was playing in bands when i was younger, Spraoi was like Glastonbury, and if your band got a slot on the teenage kicks stage it was like 'oh my god your gona be famous!' good times..

Its also true a lot of the even younger gig heads, i.e teens from the floyd soul and the wolf, pension roadshow, schlumpf, ilya k, dae kim era have all shagged off out of waterford for university, travelling and work. And so teens are growing up now without an underage scene to spark interest, but more teenage discos which just transpires into the clubbing scene.

Myself included. I left for dublin 3 years ago and so i dont get to go to much gigs in waterford these days, apart from the ones im playing in myself, but the ones i have been to over the last while have been very good especially in the front lounge, with fighting spiders, solar taxi, chimpanbee, ruby music nights, swamp stompers, kodakid, casanova wave etc. putting on great shows and a great crowd there.

Shortts are starting to do original music too, i think its like every second sunday night or something like that. We The People did a gig in there about a week or two ago and we did an opening set for them as they are friends of ours, and there was actually a nice crowd in there, especially considering 'The Peoples music is not what your typical club goer would listen to (heavy rock)

I'll stop now because this post is getting very long...

old gregg · 13-03-2012 5:15pm

Murphy's is a great spot agreed. And when there's gig on in Sals on the same night it's almost like a festival down that part of town.

savic04 · 13-03-2012 8:09pm

So are all you saying here, local lads bringing the best of the worlds dance acts to little old Waterford are idiots for doing so because its ruining the local live scene?

Waterford has one of the best dance cultures/scenes in Ireland and is renowned outside of Ireland as place for a lot of touring DJS/acts to travel to... but ye would rather they didnt because the live band scene is being damaged?

Someone saying above that the 'dance scene is about E or drug culture'
What an absolute ignorant thing to say.. if you dont know what you're talking about then best not to say anything..

Old Gregg, im surprised I dont know you, maybe I do, but Waterford has a very open minded dance scene, im very surpirsed you cant get gigs, its one of the best areas for breaking new acts..

Nypd · 13-03-2012 8:19pm

kkdela6 wrote: »

Shortts are starting to do original music too, i think its like every second sunday night or something like that. We The People did a gig in there about a week or two ago and we did an opening set for them as they are friends of ours, and there was actually a nice crowd in there...

Shortts have been doing original stuff since before christmas, id regularly haunt there on a Sunday,
Good mixture of local and national original stuff, iv seen from the likes of chimpanbee to Ben Reel and the Barley Mob.
I was at the gig last Sunday, are you in 20 miles that way ?
Great band look forward to hearing more

old gregg · 13-03-2012 9:32pm

a few things savic04 ... the thing with me is that I just live for music and that especially goes for live Metal and Techno (in spite of my age). In my perfect world there would be live rock music every night folllowed by an all night tecnho session to round things off. I jest not.
The stuff I do would be Ambient electronic music based around travels and location. Lots of field recordings. I'm currently working on an album based around travels in Berlin. This will be my 7th. In 2010 I toured a number of festivals in Europe with the material so am mixing that at the moment. But, I'm doing a live improv Techno performance in Dublin next month. It generally wouldn't be dance music. I can get gigs here but do find it easier to get foreign stuff mostly cos I don't have to look for them but probably would in town.

cycocycle · 13-03-2012 10:15pm

savic04 wrote: »

Someone saying above that the 'dance scene is about E or drug culture'
What an absolute ignorant thing to say.. if you dont know what you're talking about then best not to say anything..

Please give the quote where I say that the 'dance scene is about E or drug culture'. I gave the example of how many of my formerly live music loving friends got into dance music and the preferred drug of choice at the time. It (the drug) was everywhere at that time and to try and suggest that absolutely no link existed is folly. Like trying to argue that not ALL of the hippies at Woodstock smoked weed. I saw with my own eyes the withering of the live music scene in the face of the popularity of dance/rave/techno etc. I saw the non running taps and non flushing toilets in venues to prevent people on "E" from getting "free" water to cool down so the club owner could fleece the punters whos appetite for alcohol was diminished. Im not passing judgement,just saying what I saw. One "scene" became popular and another "scene" became less popular. This discussion is about why in peoples opinions that second scene lessened in popularity.
The point (finally:rolleyes:) is I know what I saw and heard. Im speaking from experience,not second hand hype. Im not judging either way just giving my take on my EXPERIENCE. The opposite of ignorance in fact.

kkdela6 · 14-03-2012 12:20am

Nypd wrote: »

Shortts have been doing original stuff since before christmas, id regularly haunt there on a Sunday,
Good mixture of local and national original stuff, iv seen from the likes of chimpanbee to Ben Reel and the Barley Mob.
I was at the gig last Sunday, are you in 20 miles that way ?
Great band look forward to hearing more

I remember suggesting back in September that Shortts was looking like it was gonna start being a good spot for original gigs and a few posters slammed me for it, saying I was only dreaming and that it was never gonna happen. Feck the begrudgers

As a matter of interest were you at the WOMAG gig in crystal with the spiders and chimpanbee etc. or the 'de big session boy' in the forum? nearly wet myself at the lineups but i couldn't go due to dublin commitments, but i heard the turnouts weren't great. Thats madness! Fighting Spiders and Kodakid are two of my favourite bands and i think its class i can go see them for free on my own doorstep. Im moving back to waterford for work next week and can't wait to start getting out to see some more of the local acts.

And yea i'm in 20 miles, cheers for the comment it means a lot.

savic04 wrote: »

So are all you saying here, local lads bringing the best of the worlds dance acts to little old Waterford are idiots for doing so because its ruining the local live scene?

The club scene is indeed great and thats all well and good if your into that kind of thing. No one is slamming that, its the lack of original live music we have a problem with.

But even then there is a live scene, like Old Gregg said on a night when there's a big band on in Murphys and the Luminous Live Sessions are on in Sals its like a big session on down the quay. The problem is the stigma associated with both of these pubs, and especially in the Sals area the lack of advertisement. And also the rivalry between Sals and Murphys.

Between The Front Lounge, Shortts, The Forum, Sals and Murphys, there is plenty to choose from as regards live music, and i think if more people began taking an interest and attending, the gigs might become more frequent.

There is a good few videos of local live bands on the Waterford Bands Youtube Thread, and i recommend everyone has a poke about on it and keep an eye out for gigs in the forthcoming future

savic04 · 14-03-2012 1:39am

cycocycle wrote: »

savic04 wrote: »

Someone saying above that the 'dance scene is about E or drug culture'
What an absolute ignorant thing to say.. if you dont know what you're talking about then best not to say anything..

Please give the quote where I say that the 'dance scene is about E or drug culture'. I gave the example of how many of my formerly live music loving friends got into dance music and the preferred drug of choice at the time. It (the drug) was everywhere at that time and to try and suggest that absolutely no link existed is folly. Like trying to argue that not ALL of the hippies at Woodstock smoked weed. I saw with my own eyes the withering of the live music scene in the face of the popularity of dance/rave/techno etc. I saw the non running taps and non flushing toilets in venues to prevent people on "E" from getting "free" water to cool down so the club owner could fleece the punters whos appetite for alcohol was diminished. Im not passing judgement,just saying what I saw. One "scene" became popular and another "scene" became less popular. This discussion is about why in peoples opinions that second scene lessened in popularity.
The point (finally:rolleyes:) is I know what I saw and heard. Im speaking from experience,not second hand hype. Im not judging either way just giving my take on my EXPERIENCE. The opposite of ignorance in fact.

That was 15-20 years ago.. What has become of that scene is vastly different and is big business now for local clubs .

I think Waterford has a decent Live Music scene myself, it could be better but I think technology has played a part also ... Kids wanting Dj gear or laptops or iPods instead of guitars and drum kits

Nypd · 14-03-2012 1:54am

kkdela6 wrote: »

As a matter of interest were you at the WOMAG gig in crystal with the spiders and chimpanbee etc. or the 'de big session boy' in the forum? nearly wet myself at the lineups but i couldn't go due to dublin commitments, but i heard the turnouts weren't great. Thats madness!

I was at the WOMAG gig in crystal there was a decent turnout for it, I know a few of the lads behind it, they rekoned there was about 300 at the gig, de big session done about 120/150 so I'm told wasn't at that gig tho.
The spiders rocked crystal and Van Basten were another act that really stood out.
Iv been to a few gigs in the loft part of crystal too, the lads from beta lounge have had kodakid, amber jean and a good few original bands there, small venue but well worth a look

kkdela6 · 15-03-2012 1:05am

Nypd wrote: »

I was at the WOMAG gig in crystal there was a decent turnout for it, I know a few of the lads behind it, they rekoned there was about 300 at the gig, de big session done about 120/150 so I'm told wasn't at that gig tho.
The spiders rocked crystal and Van Basten were another act that really stood out.
Iv been to a few gigs in the loft part of crystal too, the lads from beta lounge have had kodakid, amber jean and a good few original bands there, small venue but well worth a look

The spiders will rock any venue they play in haha. De big session was a great lineup im very suprised at only 120-150 people. And as a venue i really like the forum, nice layout, nice clientele, expensive pints alright but you'll have that. seriously good entertainment for the price you pay. havent been there since new years and new years was absolutely savage

Yea i know a few heads from the beta lounge, we were asked to play at the one on friday night there a few weeks ago but due to dublin commitments again cant do it. havent been able to go to any of them because of dublin, but im looking forward to the one in april as ive heard they are great nights

Stayfrosty2 · 28-09-2012 11:34pm

Suas11 wrote: »

I saw ASIWYFA in the Forum just before New Years' and I thought the atmosphere was great.

Mmm I was at that too with two of my friends and we had a ball but thought the crowd were ****e!
I thoroughly enjoyed myself but thought that the crowd gave a piss poor reaction to ASIWYFA.
I am now even more prejudiced against Waterford people.
Am heading to see Damien Dempsey in the forum this winter so hopefully there'll be a better atmosphere!!

molby · 29-09-2012 6:30am

Don't bother.Get in them fields and pick them strawberries.

old gregg · 29-09-2012 3:12pm

Stayfrosty2 wrote: »

Mmm I was at that too with two of my friends and we had a ball but thought the crowd were ****e!
I thoroughly enjoyed myself but thought that the crowd gave a piss poor reaction to ASIWYFA.
I am now even more prejudiced against Waterford people.
Am heading to see Damien Dempsey in the forum this winter so hopefully there'll be a better atmosphere!!

I was there that night. I've seen the band on several occasions around Ireland and spoken with them from time to time. The crowd loved them. The atmosphere was brilliant. Support on the night was from Waterford's wonderful Great Ocean Divide and pretty much everyone had a ball.

Maybe you should take your parochial prejudices and jog on.

Stayfrosty2 · 29-09-2012 4:47pm

old gregg wrote: »

Stayfrosty2 wrote: »

Mmm I was at that too with two of my friends and we had a ball but thought the crowd were ****e!
I thoroughly enjoyed myself but thought that the crowd gave a piss poor reaction to ASIWYFA.
I am now even more prejudiced against Waterford people.
Am heading to see Damien Dempsey in the forum this winter so hopefully there'll be a better atmosphere!!

I was there that night. I've seen the band on several occasions around Ireland and spoken with them from time to time. The crowd loved them. The atmosphere was brilliant. Support on the night was from Waterford's wonderful Great Ocean Divide and pretty much everyone had a ball.

Maybe you should take your parochial prejudices and jog on.

Are we talking about the same gig? This the one with Toby karr and rsag supporting, it was on directly after Christmas?
because the one I was at the crowd didn't really get into it as much as I'd be used to at an asiwyfa gig. Never said the crowd didn't love them or that I didn't enjoy the gig but their music is so infectious I really expected more. This coming from a fan who has also seen the numerous times and spoken with them on occasion. I was just a bit disheartened with the crowd reaction after seeing what those crowds are usually like.

Why don't Waterford people enjoy live music?

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