Finally writing about seeing My Bloody Valentine in San Francisco 9/30/08(my birthday & my gift to myself). The concert was at The Concourse At San Francisco Design Center which is south of Market Street. I hadn't been to a show there before, let alone knew the venue existed. So I didn't know much about the place. Probably a good thing too, since I didn't want to color my concert experience with what others thought of it.
So, ALOT has been said about MBV's U.S. performances here on Mog. And although I enjoyed the performance since they sounded fantastic, ultimately I was disappointed. I'm sure it has much to do with the fact that I wasn't feeling too well due to a caffeine overdose which was my dumb mistake(forgot to ask for a single & got a double w/o realizing it. I'd already had a single shot latte earlier, so I was on edge). But it also had quite a bit to do with the venue.
Basically The Concourse is this huge warehouse that is basically a humongous trough which is 4 feet below the two sides running through the structure. So unless you were front & center(which I was not due to not feeling well) or on the side railings up close, the view wasn't too good(there were also these big wood pillars that got in the way of the view). I moved around alot to get better views though.
'When You Sleep' at The Concourse in SF:
The thing that I was most disappointed about was the fact that the set list was pretty much the same as what others have posted on prior shows. Even up to the very last song 'You Made Me Realise' with 'the holocaust' wall of sound guitar attack of 15 minutes. I guess I figured they'd change up the set list some & do the holocaust on different songs. It's not like it would be difficult for them to do since it would fit into any number of their songs. Also, I was surprised they were so inanimate. Granted, they are shoegaze, the genre not known for putting on much of a show, but after 15 years you'd think they'd put out a bit more of an effort since they are no longer the disinterested youngin's they once were. They had a psychedelic light show going on which helped to an extent.
Kevin Shields circa '03:
So all this to say, I really felt MBV was phoning in their performance. Maybe I would've felt differently if I was right up front watching them play up close. But I think even then I would have gotten bored quickly. We're talking no emotion shown & only a few words spoken inbetween the songs, which is truly what shoegaze is about I suppose, being very minimal & not interacting much with the audience. I guess my expectations were probably way too high. But they did SOUND amazing even though the acoustics in the venue weren't all that great, but for shoegaze I don't think it's really necessary to have great acoustics. Of course, they were fucking LOUD & I wore the earplugs I brought(even though I'd heard they'd be handing some out at the show)which helped to make the show enjoyable & not ear bleeding.
Oh & D2 Affinity opened the night with their one song long drone with flute & computer. Unfortunately I was at the back of the venue & thought it was just the sound guys playing music. I eventually realized it was the opening act when I walked up to the front & saw two people on stage just as they finished up. Spectrum(who has some Spacemen 3 members) played next & they were shoegazey but poppier, more accessible and rather enjoyable compared to the previous group.
All in all I'm glad I saw them live, despite the drawbacks(& my mindset). If I didn't go I would have regretted it for the rest of my days. They proved that they are so much more than a studio band & can recreate their sound convincingly in a live venue.
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my sweets, i'm sorry to hear it fell short of expectations. i have very low expectations from things i have no care for, and very high ones from those i do love. i agree that the venue can make or break, especially if it's music highly dependent on sound and almost not at all on entertainment value (i am cringing while saying that). i myself go for the side railings up close since it's my best and only option, being all of 5'2". plus, when i notice on DVDs that a band is pulling the same live stunt over and over, gah!
that being said, it had to be a happy time to see MBV on a (your) birthday even if not for the first time.
"I was at the back of the venue & thought it was just the sound guys playing music. I eventually realized it was the opening act"... yeah, someone just turned a year older there. ;p
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hmm. that's too bad! venue can really make or break a performance [ha i just realized poe said that too...] (in the case of sigur ros at benaroya last week...although i don't think anything could truly break them :)
but on the bright side, you don't really need to see if you're staring at your shoes the whole time, right?
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i was planning on bringing some earplugs to the sigur show. but eventually decided that i needed to hear them with my naked ears. it wasnt that loud anyway...
well at least the music was good.
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ilay it was the first time I saw them since I didn't get turned onto them until a 1/2 year or so after 'Loveless' was released in '91. They were on the downhill slope by then. But I was happy to see them. The venue also was pretty cold since I'm sure they didn't bother to heat the place or did so minimally.
And PLHHHHHHHHHHHH to you re: getting a year older! @;P
Ardy I'm an unusual shoegazer, since I DO like to see a band perform. The venue didn't break MBV, they still sounded great, it was just that the good views were so limited.
Sam that's a great pic! Good that Sigur wasn't that loud. Earplugs were de rigeur for MBV. They still sounded great even w/the plugs.
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;p
(also, i didn't realise it was the first time. well, better than zero time - i.e. me.)
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Sorry you were a bit disappointed, uncle A. I can only imagine what a deadly combination caffeine overdose and that kind of sound can be.
But hey you saw MY BLOODY VALENTINE!
Truth be told, everything you described is what I would expect from a shoegaze band (and especially this one). No interaction, no animation, no performance, just massive layers of sound. Nor would I expect any changes in the setlist.
Bummer about the venue tho. Like poe, I always try to be as close to the stage as I can, because I have a limit on how much time I can stand on my toes (I'm not a bloody ballerina, you know har har).
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August on the edge...not something I want to see...
Happy belated b-day friend.
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you gotta give them credit for making a comeback after so long. nice review. i se where you are coming from.
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Coming out of gigs slightly dissapointed is never a good feeling, but you can't have the highs without the lows..............
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bummer that it wasn't the best but hey, still a great bday treat for yourself. maybe it would've been better with a single shot of espresso :)
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Yeah- I was there and totally agree.
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At least you can say you saw them August. May not have lived up to what you wanted, but you got to see them. I am still kicking myself for not catching new order at least once while they were still around, can only hope they make one last tour in order to make my dream a reality.
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ilay yes, I'm glad I did see them at least once since I know many moggers didn't get the chance since they didn't tour extensively.
Anna disappointment happens, what can I say. I'm glad I'm at least tall enough(5'11'') to see over most people's heads. During the concert I was looking at all the shorter persons & thinking what a drag it would be to not be able to see much of anything. But yea, I f'n saw MBV!
Annie me on the edge is not a pretty sight. But I handled it pretty well by drinking LOTS of water. Thanks for the belated b.day wishes.
Charley I agree, I'm sure it took ALOT to persuade them to make their comeback after so long(especially lots of $$$$).
Neill oh so true. They can't all be fantastic.
Britt it was a great b.day treat to see the infamous MBV in person after all this time. But yea, a little less caffeine would've been preferable, lol.
Hardrockchick glad you agree w/my assessment!
Kev yes, I did get to see them in the flesh. It's unfortunate you didn't get to see NO at least once, they were pretty fucking awesome live(not to rub it in or anything).
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you tend to rub it in everytime you get the chance to
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Outrageous review! All Irish people are great and everything they do is magnificent!
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Thanks Colin. Your statement wouldn't have anything to do w/being Irish yourself now would it? hehe
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I wish you would have been in top form that day. Bummer. It would be interesting to see your thoughts if you had felt better and been more in the mood.
Thanks for taking the time to share about the show though. It does suck when a band does not live up to expectations. As much as I would have liked to have seen them this tour and would have if possible, honestly I'm not surprised that they didn't live up to the hype. They do strike me as a band that you would have had to have seen back in the early days in a small venue.
All in all, it appears you are still glad you caught them live. I know I would have.
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I wish that too! I think you're right, a smaller venue would've been much better to see them in like The Warfield theater. I wonder why they ended up getting booked at The Concourse? Oh well.
But yea, I'm glad I saw them. I'd be kicking myself eternally if I hadn't!
I also think I would've enjoyed the show more if I'd had a fellow MBV fan to go to it with. Too bad you don't live here!
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yeah, it helps to go with a fellow fan. if i could have been there, you know i would. we would have had a blast.
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I'm sure we would! I also felt uncomfortable cause it was all these trendy 20 something hipsters in their black peg leg jeans. I felt SO uncool & out of it. After awhile I just thought FUCK 'EM I'm here for the music!
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Aww..Bummer! But at least they played well. I have never heard of that venue either. Sounds interesting.
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Sarah, yeah they did play well & sounded great considering the venue. I wouldn't recommend the place at all, so you've been warned! I was checking out reviews of the venue online(after the fact) & only 1 out of like 20 was good(I betcha that one was by someone who worked for the place too, haha).
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Oh no! All this negativity happened on your birthday! Waah [big hugz] So sorry you had to endure that pain that you paid for. I actually am in enjoying their music. Very soft with the flutes but then kinda quiet. Maybe as a group they have learned what has worked best. I prefer the dynamics of a musician/performer interacting with their audience.
I try to stay away from reviews that had already been written on a show that i have seen but then after awhile when you have observed the same set list of songs over and over then you woder if the musicians are actually looking to see what people are saying about them online. I love hearing the variety! If no variety then why even bother to attend a show sometimes. I like to be surprised if possible.
Venues too can make a big difference on the mood that you may be in. I wonder if any of these venues have considered going through a major renovation to make them more appealing
Blowing you a kiss!
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I enjoyed the rest of the day for the most part though. The concert experience was bad because of the venue(no seats or view from the sides unless on the railings) & not feeling well. At one point, before My Bloody Valentine came on, I was considering leaving cause I was so ill. But I talked myself into staying since I paid so much for the ticket, which I'm glad I did after the fact.
And what you are hearing is all guitars on that vid, there are no synths or flutes. It definitely was not soft at all. If you turn it up to full volume then multiply it by 1,000 then that was the volume at the venue. I wore earplugs since I knew it would be LOUD!
I highly doubt the venue has even considered a renovation. They got your money so I doubt they care . . . sigh. As long as people are willing to pay for the tickets & show up they won't change a thing. I certainly won't go to The Concourse for a concert again.
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Oh & blowing you a kiss backatcha J!