SparkyCentral

August 19th, 2005

Astoria Blues

I had high hopes. Alkaline Trio are a great band, with great songs. Now, disregarding the fact that we ruined it for ourselves a bit (having again failed to listen to any of their first three records, despite being oblivious to 70% of the set at a previous viewing at ULU a couple of years ago), the sound last night in the Astoria was awful! Bass too high in the mix. Guitar too low. Vocals all over the shop. I’m half tempted to get tickets to see them again at Brixton in November, but I’m not a big fan of Brixton Academy. Despite going there on Monday to see Queens of the Stone Age!

Something about bigger venues attracts the kind of people that aren’t really bothered about music but go to gigs because they feel they’re missing out on something, then spend the whole show chatting with their backs to the stage. Pah. I’m just a gig snob.

Back at the Astoria on Wednesday for the Foo Fighter’s Reading Festival warm-up gig . Last one was a couple of days after Reading 2003, and I spent the whole gig struggling to stay upright after picking up student-lurgy from some brat on the campsite. Hopefully the sound and my health will be alright on the night.

Categories: Music