Saw Soundgarden on Friday Night

[Ventura]

Yo,

3 band night with the Meat Puppets opening up first, then Queens of the Stone Age, then Soundgarden.

Granted, the venue sucks ass for acoustics unless it's perfectly loaded with 'meat' (people), but brass tax of it all? QOTSA actually played a better, tighter, more 'on it' set than Soundgarden. Seemed as though Chris Cornell was having some issues with his 1st axe, the sound was off, the trails in the digital echo were plugged, their timing was off for the 1st 5 or 6 songs, and generally speaking, just seemed like they either weren't into it and the synergy was off, or something....

ANYWAY - great show overall, but all things considered, QOTSA really put on a killer tight fun high energy act, and Soundgarden was pretty good, just in need of a little polishing up...

Peace
Mo

 

[glip22]

As long as you had fun. I heard that Stone Age was great live. I saw U2 a couple of weeks ago. I am not by any means a big fan. My Wife is. With that said it was probably the best show I ever saw. The whole crowd of 75,000 was into it and singing. They do have a way of making a connection and that claw thing was awesome.

 

[vchizzle]

I saw SG a couple weeks back and they were very tight and sounded great. Everything was really clicking on all levels. I would've loved those opening bands but got the Mars Volta who did not sound very tight that night. I also saw U2 on this tour & they were fantastic as well.

 

[se7en]

I saw Soundgarden's Lollapalooza performance on TV a few weeks back and it was sloppy...vocals were all over the place and the band just lacked energy.

 

[bravedude2]

my buddy sent me this from the la fourm show

 

[glassjaw7]

Cool Mo! I'd love to see Soundgarden, even if they're not in their prime.
QOTSA absolutely slays live! I didn't even like them until I saw them open for another band I went to see. Fucking ENERGY!

 

[Ventura]

Ya, I've seen SG live before and they were awesome... Raw, tight, focused, energetic, and ON IT!! Something just wasn't clicking for them on Friday, but I'm sure their night in Seattle last night must have been epic - homecoming and all!!

So it goes.

I've seen QOTSA live a few times now, and by far, they are one of my fave live bands out there. They've got it going on!! And totally know how to get the crowd into it, pump the vibe, sound incredibly tight, and just give 'er right proper rock'n'roll shitkicking for their set. I think for whatever reason, it kinda helps that there's this underlying sense of humour with the band... Forgive me if this sounds strange, but typically, a band has a little more synergy and oomph when it's in a playful mood. I get that from QOTSA, and I also get that from RHCP and even Ministry. They don't take themselves too seriously, and that then comes off as totally chillaxed.

Whatever...

Have a good day Gents (and Laura!!), back to business!
Mo

 

[Motorpud]

Man this is giving me concert GAS

 

[thenine]

I saw Soundgarden's Lollapalooza performance on TV a few weeks back and it was sloppy...vocals were all over the place and the band just lacked energy.

yep saw it too and I agree 100%

 

[thiswaythatway]

Well, where's the gear report?

 

[Onzabar]

I saw SG a few weeks ago during their stop in MA and they were nothing short of amazing. The band was tight and Cornell's vocals were as strong as they were back in the 90's. I have heard the tour has had some hit or miss nights, and they were definitely on the night I saw them. I hope to hear some new music from them in the upcoming months.

 

[steve_k]

My drummer is Canadian that lives over here. He and his wife are back in Canadistan on holidays and were at the same concert. I just got an email from his that said it was all kick ass. He's a big QOTSA fanboy, but said Soundgarden was awesome. He's probably hearing different things in the mix that Mo. As a guitarist, I often find myself doing that and concentrating on a guitar player rather than the band. Either way, I wish I was there and probably the purpose of the email was to wind me up.....

Steve

 

[Ventura]

Well, put it this way, going clean and sober, and with a set of ears used to hearing mixes and pre and post production, AS WELL as jammin' and recording and giggin', there were just some obvious screw ups, and this perhaps wasn't as noticeable to those just 'enjoying the show'. Cornell swelled and ebbed, he had moments of greatness, he had moments that just seemed lacking... The thing that got me was the processed plugs in the vox echoes; outside of this, Matt Cameron was on fire, Ben the bassist was about 80% on it full throttle; Kim was 'there', the force of the band.

Honestly, as my wife and I BOTH summed up leaving the concert, Cornell and the music and the band seemed way better at making the music they were expected to when Cornell put his axe down and concentrated on singing solely.

It is what it is - I had a blast, LOVED QOTSA, and LIKED Soundgarden. No problem. It was a solid concert. Not the best, not the worst... And I'm glad I was there for it 100 f*ckin %

Peace
Mo

 

[steve_k]

Well, put it this way, going clean and sober, and with a set of ears used to hearing mixes and pre and post production, AS WELL as jammin' and recording and giggin', there were just some obvious screw ups, and this perhaps wasn't as noticeable to those just 'enjoying the show'. Cornell swelled and ebbed, he had moments of greatness, he had moments that just seemed lacking... The thing that got me was the processed plugs in the vox echoes; outside of this, Matt Cameron was on fire, Ben the bassist was about 80% on it full throttle; Kim was 'there', the force of the band.

Honestly, as my wife and I BOTH summed up leaving the concert, Cornell and the music and the band seemed way better at making the music they were expected to when Cornell put his axe down and concentrated on singing solely.

It is what it is - I had a blast, LOVED QOTSA, and LIKED Soundgarden. No problem. It was a solid concert. Not the best, not the worst... And I'm glad I was there for it 100 f*ckin %

Peace
Mo

Outdoor gigs are always a audio challenge too, even under the best of conditions....and especially in Canada where stages have been known to collapse

 

[Ventura]

Well, put it this way, going clean and sober, and with a set of ears used to hearing mixes and pre and post production, AS WELL as jammin' and recording and giggin', there were just some obvious screw ups, and this perhaps wasn't as noticeable to those just 'enjoying the show'. Cornell swelled and ebbed, he had moments of greatness, he had moments that just seemed lacking... The thing that got me was the processed plugs in the vox echoes; outside of this, Matt Cameron was on fire, Ben the bassist was about 80% on it full throttle; Kim was 'there', the force of the band.

Honestly, as my wife and I BOTH summed up leaving the concert, Cornell and the music and the band seemed way better at making the music they were expected to when Cornell put his axe down and concentrated on singing solely.

It is what it is - I had a blast, LOVED QOTSA, and LIKED Soundgarden. No problem. It was a solid concert. Not the best, not the worst... And I'm glad I was there for it 100 f*ckin %

Peace
Mo

Outdoor gigs are always a audio challenge too, even under the best of conditions....and especially in Canada where stages have been known to collapse

Ya man, air does shit to the sound... This was in Rogers Arena, as mentioned, a shit venue for most bands regardless. But shit sound differs from missed beats, sloppy playing, fucked up notes, and processed bunk being injected into the mix as though it wouldn't get noticed

WHATEVER. Bottom line? They're on stage playing their music to 20,000+ fans a night, I sling properties for a living. Big difference.

Peace
Mojo