Blur 2013

KungPao

Pros:
Great prformance by the lads
Despite ominous clouds, never rained
Quite liked the venue

Cons:

Sound could have been louder
As a result could hear people talking sshiite beside me
Camera and phones with cameras should not be allowed in, so annoying having idiots taking pics and recording shiity videos in front of me.
Mile long queues for a piissy 400ml plastic glass of piissy beer - no thanks.

A_Sober_Paddy

The Nal wrote: »

I left just as Song 2 started so was just ahead of the main exit crowd. I heard it was a mess getting out?

I got out fine, but there were a couple of bottle necks that slowed it down alright...

For me the sound seemed fine, and i was a good bit back ,we lost one of our group so had try and find him so were unable to push up further:(

Serious gig tho, blur were so much better than I was expecting

blastman

The Nal wrote: »

I left just as Song 2 started so was just ahead of the main exit crowd. I heard it was a mess getting out?

I thought it wasn't too bad, slow enough but not too stressful as long as you weren't in a mad rush.

The Nal

KungPao wrote: »

Pros:
Mile long queues for a piissy 400ml plastic glass of piissy beer - no thanks.

I've given up on bars at Irish gigs a long time ago. Naggin of Hennessy down the pants does the trick!

Pudsy33

Getting out the Royal hospital/ Hilton exit was a disaster. The arch was very dangerous. Fair play to the copper who single handedly sorted it out.

Casey87

ibarelycare wrote: »

I wonder were you the guy standing in front of me. Stood there with his hands in his pocket for the entire gig. Complained and gave dirty looks to anyone who bumped into him. No idea why he was there.


It's a pity that so many people has issues with the sound, it seemed to be the people up near the front though? Halfway down near the speakers it was absolutely fine.

No dude that def was not me, I tried make the most of it but just didn't do it for me I'm afraid! I have the right to an opinion you know!

FixdePitchmark

Albarn is a bloody genius.
When brit pop was going on , his brain was at another level. The layers and variety in the songs were fantastic.
Great gig , too narrow a venue.
Drink a joke.

Thank God the weather held off, would have been a real mess in that place.

horseburger

uphillonly wrote: »

Fan's eye view of Parklife - great crowd:

http://vimeo.com/71561690

Sorry to be guilty of videoing but I wanted to show my little kids that their parents aren't old farts & what gigs are like.

Don't feel guilty about videoing!:)

Videos like yours capture the good buzz you can get from live music!:)

There's a similar youtube video from when Erasure played Electric Picnic in 2007

I highly suspect that many people complaining about people videoing at gigs will also consult youtube to check out a band, on their current tour, prior to seeing them live.

Also, check out these clips by Conor Talbot of Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine from the Button Factory two years ago, videos which reminded me what a great gig it was!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EXHq2WnTPU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjdCQbnxgjg

paulbok

blur were fantastic, hadn't a problem with the sound where we were, (left of the center tower) but did notice some songs being player faster than normal (I know live gig songs are usually a little faster but this was really noticable) esp. Parklife.
didn't spoil it or anything though.
Really nice bonus that Mr Daniels was there and that the rain held off.

Shambles of organisation though, venue too narrow, the bar was a farce, different promoter and all that but if that bar setup is at oxegen, the UN peacekeepers will have to be brought in. Just as well it was a mostly older and more patient crowd.
Took 15 mins just to find the end of the queue, gave up then and stayed sober. Probably took a little longer to get into the gig because of that.

Also having the entrance to the toilets right beside the exit from the bar was another master stroke:rolleyes:.

The exiting was the worst though, again with a younger crowd, there would have been chaos. seen 2 sets of security arguing on the way out about where the crowd was supposed to be directed, some didn't seem to know.

First time at a gig in Kilmainham but don't think I'd go to another.

OhHiMark

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

I got there bright and early and didn't even realise i had a pit pass until i got in...I guess it was a different gig altogether in the pit, i could hear everything fine...looks to me that this was meant to be a smaller gig, but they kept on selling tickets until the size of the crowd out grew the PA volume. Kept hearing "how come this hasn't sold out?" ...because they kept selling tickets!!

You really think this is what they were doing? Selling unlimited numbers of tickets?

karaokeman

Thought the gig was great, first time seeing Blur and they were on top form. Played all the songs I wanted to hear too. No issues with sound for me, but then again I was really close to the front.

panama

KungPao wrote: »

Pros:

Camera and phones with cameras should not be allowed in, so annoying having idiots taking pics and recording shiity videos in front of me.

Let's be honest that's not really plausible is it.


We queued up for the bar, got there, ordered 2 pints of Becks, best of a bad lot and it took at least 5 mins for the girl who took the order to get them as they had none freshly pulled and there seemed to be a lot of confusion between the staff handling different orders.

Which means a queue within a queue backed up behind me.

So it was a bit messy.

I've already posted my feelings on the gig as a whole so sorry to be repeating myself, at the end of the day despite the crappy bar queues, the
surprise of seeing the pit and the disappointment of not being able to get up closer to the stage, the relatively poor sound early on and the people talking throughout songs and seemingly disinterested facing away from the stage, Blur were awesome and that's who I paid in to see.

Ash.J.Williams

OhHiMark wrote: »

You really think this is what they were doing? Selling unlimited numbers of tickets?

yeah

homerun_homer

Bat for Lashes and Blur were brilliant. If I knew there was a pit I would have got there early as planned but I decided to get some non festival grub before going in.

I thought the organisation of the site was very poor. The bar queues were ridiculous and not opening additional exits at the end was taking the p!ss. Everyone bottlenecking to get out. A friend of mine had some guy digging into his back and the guy nearly started a fight when my friend told him to cop on, it was all pushing and shoving.

For a gig that wasn't sold out and was being advertised to the very last minute and many competitions in the last few weeks to get more punters in, it was packed. Uncomfortably so for the whole of Blur's set where I was.

But ultimately, the band were awesome.

Big Game

Great gig. Sounds was perfect in the pit, wasn't aware if any issues till reading this thread. Bar was an absolute joke, they're doing themselves out of money by having poor bar staff and not enough bars. Think the stage position fir forbidden fruit is much better, assume that they reckon they could keep selling more tickets by putting the stage st that end tho. Don't think they'd have been able to put a pit in if it was at the bottom of the hill tho. Only went in early because the bat service in Murrays beforehand was an absolute joke, worked out okay tho, never normally get pit passes.....

ghostdancer

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

I got there bright and early and didn't even realise i had a pit pass until i got in...I guess it was a different gig altogether in the pit, i could hear everything fine...looks to me that this was meant to be a smaller gig, but they kept on selling tickets until the size of the crowd out grew the PA volume. Kept hearing "how come this hasn't sold out?" ...because they kept selling tickets!!

not likely.
the event licence needs to be submitted with specified max capacity, and various services/facilities for every X amount of people there, as well as for the local authorities/Gardaí to plan their resources.

it just quite clearly didn't sell as many as POD had hoped for, which was evident from the amount of ads and competitions over the last few weeks.

Ash.J.Williams

ghostdancer wrote: »

not likely.
the event licence needs to be submitted with specified max capacity, and various services/facilities for every X amount of people there, as well as for the local authorities/Gardaí to plan their resources.

it just quite clearly didn't sell as many as POD had hoped for, which was evident from the amount of ads and competitions over the last few weeks.

it seemed busier than ususal though, the place was jammers

weser777

jossnjuice wrote: »

Same issue in the Springsteen thread..........and i cannot for the life of me understand it either........

one of my pet peeves with regards to gigs, Blur were 70 quid and the Boss a tonne, but people still with their backs to the stage.

just typical scenesters...wanna go cos its the thing to do, but then they're there, n they have no interest...

Partagas

The Bottlenecks at the Hilton Exit were just dangerous, You couldn't even see the gate and the crowd did not move for about 20 minutes, Not sure if the gate was locked and then opened? But that was just dangerous.. Thank god there was no crush, Would have been much better if they played the 02..

KungPao

panama wrote: »

Let's be honest that's not really plausible is it.

Oh I know, just wishful thinking.

weser777

Will Bat for Lashes be back for her own headliner do yiz think??...she was fantastic!

Ash.J.Williams

weser777 wrote: »

just typical scenesters...wanna go cos its the thing to do, but then they're there, n they have no interest...

yeah but seriously it's a free country, many people get free tickets and go for the day out....any gig bigger than 3000 people is going to have a large percentage of knobheads that have no interest in the gig. just move ..

weser777

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

yeah but seriously it's a free country, many people get free tickets and go for the day out....any gig bigger than 3000 people is going to have a large percentage of knobheads that have no interest in the gig. just move ..

they're at every gig - whether they're there yappin away through the whole set, or else they've got their ipads/iphones out recording it..

I just always seem to be near them..

The Nal

Partagas wrote: »

The Bottlenecks at the Hilton Exit were just dangerous, You couldn't even see the gate and the crowd did not move for about 20 minutes, Not sure if the gate was locked and then opened? But that was just dangerous.. Thank god there was no crush, Would have been much better if they played the 02..

Irish promoters for you. Once they have your money they just basically tell you to **** off in whatever direction you can. Slane is the same every year, as is the Pheonix Park.

ghostdancer

weser777 wrote: »

Will Bat for Lashes be back for her own headliner do yiz think??...she was fantastic!

hope so, it's been ages since she did her own gig (if ever?), all festival/support slots for as long as I can remember...

Laneyh

KungPao wrote: »

Pros:
Great prformance by the lads
Despite ominous clouds, never rained
Quite liked the venue

Cons:

Sound could have been louder
As a result could hear people talking sshiite beside me
Camera and phones with cameras should not be allowed in, so annoying having idiots taking pics and recording shiity videos in front of me.
Mile long queues for a piissy 400ml plastic glass of piissy beer - no thanks.

Whilst I know what you mean I did take photos I had pretty much no view being that I'm a short arse and was not right up the front

The zoom on my camera is pretty good so I was able to use it to take photos of the screen and even one or two of the stage over the sea of heads

If I didn't do that I wouldn't have seen anything at all bar the occasional flash of light. I hope it wasn't too annoying for other people

The sound could have been better too. I was near to a crane , hoist type thing which had a bank of speakers on the far side - could have done with a corresponding one on the other side.

The Bishop Basher

Laneyh wrote: »

Whilst I know what you mean I did take photos I had pretty much no view being that I'm a short arse and was not right up the front

The zoom on my camera is pretty good so I was able to use it to take photos of the screen and even one or two of the stage over the sea of heads

If I didn't do that I wouldn't have seen anything at all bar the occasional flash of light. I hope it wasn't too annoying for other people

The sound could have been better too. I was near to a crane , hoist type thing which had a bank of speakers on the far side - could have done with a corresponding one on the other side.

There's no harm in taking a few pics at a gig. It's the people who watch the entire set through their phones can be a bit annoying.

I remember seasick Steve stopping mid song one night an asking these people what the **** they were doing. There was a marked absence of phones for the rest of the night.

panda100

cherryghost wrote: »

That was awesome. They even sneaked in a few seldom played songs

An no rain! Huzzah! Anyone hear Damon's rain reference in Trimm Trabb?

It was like Damon was doing a rain dance to ward off the rain, and it worked

Brilliant gig. There's no other way and Tender were my two favourites. I loved the milk carton in the crowd for coffee and TV.

I was a bit disappointed they didn't play On your own and Charmless man, but I'll get over it.

OhHiMark

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

it seemed busier than ususal though, the place was jammers

Ah well as long as you've done some scientific research to back up your claim.

There is absolutely no way that they sold more tickets than the license allowed them to, as they would not get another license for another gig again, or they would be heavily fined.

Ash.J.Williams

OhHiMark wrote: »

Ah well as long as you've done some scientific research to back up your claim.

There is absolutely no way that they sold more tickets than the license allowed them to, as they would not get another license for another gig again, or they would be heavily fined.

How many people was it licensed for?

OhHiMark

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

How many people was it licensed for?

10,000 I think.

Ash.J.Williams

OhHiMark wrote: »

10,000 I think.

so there was no way on earth there was more than 10000 there last night?

OhHiMark

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

so there was no way on earth there was more than 10000 there last night?

Who knows, the point is that they wouldn't have sold more tickets than they were licensed to. Why would they have been giving away so many tickets over the past few weeks if it was sold out?

Ash.J.Williams

OhHiMark wrote: »

Who knows, the point is that they wouldn't have sold more tickets than they were licensed to. Why would they have been giving away so many tickets over the past few weeks if it was sold out?

I heard from staff there was 20,000 capacity last night. I felt there was a little more.

OhHiMark

I'm just going to stop now because I can't argue against your feelings.

ghostdancer

the licence was for 20,000:
http://www.dublincity.ie/Planning/Documents/PEL07_13PUBLICEVENTLICENCE.doc

delbertgrady

ghostdancer wrote: »

hope so, it's been ages since she did her own gig (if ever?), all festival/support slots for as long as I can remember...

Yeah. It's getting ridiculous. Why is nobody getting her over to do her own show? She did a huge tour of the UK in support of the new album, even playing small towns.
Her last four appearances here were support for Radiohead in Malahide Castle, Electric Picnic (which she cancelled), Electric Picnic last year and now as support for Blur.

Miguel_Sanchez

I got in around 7 and strolled to the bar for a drink no hassle. 20 minutes or so later it was nuts. Very badly organised.

No problems with sound where I was (not far from the mixing desk).

Some people in front standing with their backs to the stage for about the first 6 or so songs. Don't quite understand what they have to say to their friends that's so important it's causing them to ignore the band they paid money to see but there you go.

Really enjoyed the gig.

Getting out by the Hilton was dangerous - can't believe it was so badly organised and as someone has said previously if it was a younger, rowdier crowd there was a real chance of injury there.

By and large a great evening though.

threein99

Great performance by Blur, didn't notice any sound problems,the que for bars were a pisstake and the exits were poorly organised, I presume something went wrong with that.

Back to Blurs performance, heard eveything I wanted especially End Of A Century, that was the song that got me into them.

BPKS

Got there early.

No queue for the bar the first 3 times I went, last time after Bat for Lashes finished I was about 10 minutes which wasnt too bad. Anybody who thinks the bar system was a mess should have been at The Stone Roses in Heaton Park on the Friday to see what a mess that was.

The sound was good where I was. Thought Blur gave a very good performance, really put it in and looked like they enjoyed it. Nice to hear the likes of Trimm Trabb and Caramel as well as the more popular songs.

Again, as I was in the pit we got out very quickly and safely so didnt have the trouble others seemed to have.

And on the crowd numbers, I heard the security man say there was 5000 capacity in the pit area. Surely there were 3 times that behind the pit area - so 20,000 would seem a reasonable figure to me.

panama

Off topic slightly here I know but just wondering does anyone know any of the St. John's ambulance guys who were on duty last night?
One of them found and handed in a phone belonging to a friend of mind and he wanted to thank him if possible.

No idea how he'd find that out so thought I'd throw it up here and see if anyone knows anyone or has a contact etc?

Cheers

Timmyctc

Loved that gig.
No sound problems where we were (4 rows from the front in the centre ) Just want to gloat that when Damon jumped on the railing for Country House he acknowledged my Tattoo (of Milky the Carton on my chest) and thumbsed me up. So I'm a happy man. One pet peeve. Hate people who spend such an effort staying in the pit especially up the front and don't sing along or clap or cheer.

They have every right to do that obviously, but it annoys me that there are definitely great fans further back who'd kill to be up there.

Saruwatari

Fantastic gig, first (and possible last) time I've seen the lads but a night I'll never forget.

Didn't even think twice about the drink situation, opted for a bottle of water and ice-cream from the vendor near the jacks (sound chap that rounded the two to a fiver for me) instead.
Crowd was a bit crap now. Might've just been my bad luck though, I was surrounded by knobheads turned the other way chatting with their mates and the most ignorant jackass I've ever met at a gig; He was this Dub chap in his forties with his girlfriend, and he literally did nothing but whinge the entire night.
Damon talking during songs? 'Ah boring ****e would ye just play the music'. Someone brush past em? Give em the stare of death.
The best part was when his girlfriend tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I could maybe move out of his way. Keep in mind I was maybe four people away from the pit gate, I couldn't afford an arm to scratch my arse never mind move out of some moany gimp's way.
And then he'd rattle on about the equipment being used trying to come off as some well-informed / cultured head, it was a pretty sad spectacle altogether. I feel bad for his girlfriend, she was dancing away all night and he stood there with his arms folded sinking gradually into the earth.

Anyways, reckon it's a tie between Caramel / Coffee & TV for song of the night for me.


Also, don't suppose anyone pickjed up a Milky carton they're not using? I had to absolutely leg it moment the gig finished for fear of missing the last bus and didn't even get to swing by the merch stall (where they were supposedly giving him out for free...)

panda100

Miguel_Sanchez wrote: »

Some people in front standing with their backs to the stage for about the first 6 or so songs. Don't quite understand what they have to say to their friends that's so important it's causing them to ignore the band they paid money to see but there you go.

Do you think a lot of people go to these gigs just to say they were there and put it up on facebook?

I bumped into a good few people from college, who are definitely not Blur fans. Couldn't believe the amount of people around me just standing around talking with their backs to the stage when the absolute anthem 'There's no other way' came on.

soundmangar

I bumped into a good few people from college, who are definitely not Blur fans. Couldn't believe the amount of people around me just standing around talking with their backs to the stage when the absolute anthem 'There's no other way' came on.[/quote]

I experienced this as well, hard to fathom. I don't think the really low volume helped either, it was like background music where I was for the first 5 songs

ghostdancer

lots of people know a few Blur singles, and go along for the "evening out" and a few drinks. when anything other than a famous single is on, they get bored and talk to their mates. same thing at other big gigs like Springsteen mentioned earlier. not really much else to it than that....

blastman

Saruwatari wrote: »

Also, don't suppose anyone pickjed up a Milky carton they're not using? I had to absolutely leg it moment the gig finished for fear of missing the last bus and didn't even get to swing by the merch stall (where they were supposedly giving him out for free...)

Not free exactly, but if you bought a t-shirt you got one thrown in with it.

CdeC

panda100 wrote: »

Do you think a lot of people go to these gigs just to say they were there and put it up on facebook?

I bumped into a good few people from college, who are definitely not Blur fans. Couldn't believe the amount of people around me just standing around talking with their backs to the stage when the absolute anthem 'There's no other way' came on.

Yeah, we were just to the left of the sound stage and some of the quieter songs you couldn't hear. I wouldn't be the biggest blur fan but I still like them and wanted to see and hear them. People standing there talking about ****e, full blown conversations.
I reckon people really go and are not that interested in the music, there more there for the atmosphere and booze. Same at festivals. I know a lot of people that go who really don't listen to music past whats played on todayfm.

Bohsman1890

I've been to some poorly organised gigs in my time but that was a SHAMBLES!! Got in just before 6ish got to the bar with no hassle and was given a choice of 3 brands of dishwater! I opted for the becks to be on the safe side, came back maybe an hour later to find the bar queue cutting through the queue for the jacks!! Decided to grin and bear it and jumped in at the back, finally got to the top after what seemed like an eternity to be met by the stewards who to be fair to them were doing there best in a poxy situation and keeping there cool despite all the s***e they were taking, got into the bar and this was the biggest kick in the b****cks, the bar staff were laughing and joking with each other like they hadnt a care in the world!! The only saving grace was of course blur! They absoloutly smashed it! Parklife brought me back to my knacker drinking mid teens the apperance of Phil Daniels was a treat and song 2 to my late teen angst and to hear a couple of suprises was defo worth all the stress!! I hope they come back to these shores real soon albeit in a proper sized venue! Exiting was a free for all how nobody was hurt at the arch ill never know!
Blur you made my summer!!
POD get your s**t together!!

PaulieG

What a brilliant gig! Absolutely loved it. I thought Damon Albarn was in exceptional form and really seemed to be enjoying himself. He also looks great. Of course Alex James spent a lot of time looking down at his bass with a fag stuck to his lip, but that's what he does. Definitely noticed the sound go a little weird on at least two occasions but not enough to spoil the show in any way.
I love the classics but I also think Under The Westway is one of their best ever. Surprisingly a lot of people around me had clearly never heard of it. The only downer is God only knows when I'll get to see Blur live again.
P.S. Timmyctc, I think I might copy your tattoo.