[tomhills1]

now here is a title that is passed around more freely than a joint at glastonbury, but why is it so often much maligned?

two years ago it was the kaiser chiefs (give me strength), last year the arctics (anomoly), and now the likes of the view (absolute toilet, except supestar tradesman) and the twang.

now it is the twang i want to talk about: any band with the hype they've recieved can only fall short, but why so hysterical to start? i'm 28 and i think almost all of the band are older than me and the front man is going bald.

it's not as if to say it's all bad but out of about 12 odd songs three, maybe four max, were ok. two were good enough to be singles. that's it. now these bands don't ask for it and the NME have to have a hype band in order to shift copies, but i get embarrased for them.

last night at the tunbridge wells forum, they did ok but with a bass player that looks like teddy ruckspin, one frontman who looks like my mate skinner from school (loser) and the other is shaun ryder's bastard lovechild, the omens are not good.

i thought they'd be the new hard-fi but they're not quite that bad, and i'd say you should check them and make up you're own mind.

the whole point of this thread, albeit long-winded (sorry), is to gauge some opinion on the band(s) in question and also in relation to the various next big thing bands you've come across over the years and why exactly they are so bad and undeserving of any fanship from you.

the most overrated of which for me are the view, = donald where's your troosers?

[tomhills1]

in short: who is the most overrated band for you at the moment? who is it you just don't get? for the view read the killers too.

[monochrome]

U2
they'll never make it

[johnas]

monochrome said:

U2
they'll never make it

it's funny you should mention U2 mono - they've got to be THE most overated pile of cack EVER. never have liked them; never will. Bono's the biggest spam purse around...

[pastiepie]

johnas said:

monochrome said:

U2
they'll never make it

it's funny you should mention U2 mono - they've got to be THE most overated pile of cack EVER. never have liked them; never will. Bono's the biggest spam purse around...

So So True. Anytime I mention my dislike for U2, no matter how quietly I whisper it I get daggers from everyone within a 100m radius.


I think Bloc Party are over-rated and their new album is utter shite. Most under-rated are Kings of Leon and Arcade Fire. Next big thing is Dan Baldwin isn't it. ;D

[tomhills1]

pastiepie said:

johnas said:

it's funny you should mention U2 mono - they've got to be THE most overated pile of cack EVER. never have liked them; never will. Bono's the biggest spam purse around...

So So True. Anytime I mention my dislike for U2, no matter how quietly I whisper it I get daggers from everyone within a 100m radius.


I think Bloc Party are over-rated and their new album is utter s**te. Most under-rated are Kings of Leon and Arcade Fire. Next big thing is Dan Baldwin isn't it. ;D

:)agreed, agreed, agreed.

[biggayal]

Lucky we can all have our own opinions and agree to disagree ;D because The View and Bloc Party's new album are my fave of the year so far.......
and the Klaxons....
For me the biggest disappointment was DJ Shadows' new album 'The Outsider' (although released end of last year). I've pretty loved everything he has done, and have tried and tried to get into this album......unfortuanley, I think it's muck

[slowmo]

Someone said Arcade fire were a crap Canadian Bruce Springsteen. That made me laugh.

[rolyateel]

arcade fire are awesome
seeing them tonite at brixton (s**t venue )
they remain the only band to make me nearly cry at a gig (when regine was singing "in the backseat")

as for overrated...feck where do I start...
killers (new album is awful)
franz ferdinand (one good song)
kaiser chiefs (been flogging one album for the best part of 3 years)
the view
fratellis
...I could go on

I'm seeing the twang at Bristol Uni next Friday...so we'll see if they're as good as they're made out to be...only heard one song on Lamacq on BBC6 & it sounded a bit like Simple Minds...which doesn't bode well.

and the most overrated ever has to be...
Robbie Fucking Williams...utter tosh

[mcnuts]

Brixton a cr@p venue? If you get to stand on the floor, I think its great! Sheppard's Bush is better, but still great atmosphere at Brixton and not bad sound. Good job on gettin tix, would have loved to have gone

[Daniel Silk]

Shock news - Eric the Dog is designing the next TakeThat CD cover

[rolyateel]

mcnuts said:

Brixton a cr@p venue? If you get to stand on the floor, I think its great! Sheppard's Bush is better, but still great atmosphere at Brixton and not bad sound. Good job on gettin tix, would have loved to have gone

brixton academy is awful
crap area, crap sound...but I suppose there isn't really another venue the same size...hammersmith is a tad smaller...and then next up is wembley arena

in fact..thinking about the 4 "academy's" I've been too, they are among the worst venues in their relevent cities (london / b'ham / bristol / manchester)

had to get my ticket of ebay ...think I paid £35...which wasn't too bad i suppose
you ought to try outside...I've never heard tickets going for that much outside...especially after the doors have opened

[smashedhat]

Brixton Academy is the nuts. I'll fight anyone to the death who disagrees!

The circle is awful, you really need to be in the stalls, and if you get central and close to the front (i.e. at least 1/3 the way back) the sound is the best of any london venue IMO. Of course you get to the killer position soundwise you can rule out going to the bar or the toilet though.

Seeing Arcade Fire tomorrow, can't wait!

[rolyateel]

smashedhat said:

Brixton Academy is the nuts. I'll fight anyone to the death who disagrees!

The circle is awful, you really need to be in the stalls, and if you get central and close to the front (i.e. at least 1/3 the way back) the sound is the best of any london venue IMO. Of course you get to the killer position soundwise you can rule out going to the bar or the toilet though.

Seeing Arcade Fire tomorrow, can't wait!

so you rather see a band at brixton academy instead of
the forum
shepherds bush empire
astoria
mean fiddler


bearing in mind those are the the only venues in London I've visited (apart from wembley arena / stadium & earls court...which are all way too big)...brixton is at the bottom of the list....and I've been in the stalls every time...I'd rather not go at all than be in the circle

[smashedhat]

Yeah, Brixton still floats my boat although if I'm totally honest it does help that I can walk back to my gaff from the academy. But I genuinely do think it's the best venue in London, it's great to go to Plan B for a drink beforehand too as they let you in for free if you have gig tickets

[Curley]

Brixton Academy is a great Venue. Good sight lines, sloping floor all good except the carling lager IMO

I remember when Leftfield were so loud the plaster was coming off the ceiling in the Brixton Academy. They were never allowed to use that Soundsystem again in that venue ;D ;D

[stuey09]

curley said:

Brixton Academy is a great Venue. Good sight lines, sloping floor all good except the carling lager IMO

I remember when Leftfield were so loud the plaster was coming off the ceiling in the Brixton Academy. They were never allowed to use that Soundsystem again in that venue ;D ;D

Curley your spot on. I've seen some great gigs there and have yet to visit a better venue. Ian Brown's solarized gig a couple of years ago was awesome.

[johnas]

i've always liked Brixton... the sloping floor is great as at most gigs i always seem to get the only 6ft 5" geezer stand right in front of me. SBE is a great venue too (once sat next to Cat Deeley at an AIM gig there )

there's loads of great venues though:

Jazz Cafe (always has a great vibe even though getting a beer on a busy night is a 'mare),
electric ballroom, LA2/mean Fiddler (spent an enjoyable 2 hours chatting to Pauline Black from Selector there one night), underworld (I love this little sweat pit!), islington academy, Garage Highbury corner (do they still have Punk karaoke?? that used to be a great night out!), Somerset House (in the Summer), KOKO (only ever been there when it was the Camden Palais so don't know what its like now, despite living next door for 2 years!), ULU... the list goes on and on!

worst venue for me is the Barfly in Camden... seeing bands upstairs there used to do my head in. i'd rather stay home

[Curley]

Its now called KOKO (Camden Palace)
Been a few times and had a couple DJ's play there etc.
Its a great venue, lots of little alcoves, lots of balconies etc

[rolyateel]

mcnuts said:

Brixton a cr@p venue? If you get to stand on the floor, I think its great! Sheppard's Bush is better, but still great atmosphere at Brixton and not bad sound. Good job on gettin tix, would have loved to have gone

Arcade Fire will release very limited extra tickets for this week’s Brixton Academy shows in London. There will be 50 tickets per night, sold on a strictly first come first served basis, and limited to one ticket per person. Tickets will be priced at £18.50 (payable in cash only). The tickets will be available from the venue box office at 7pm on show night only. Once the ticket has been purchased customers will be asked to enter the venue at that point, with no re-admissions allowed, in an effort to avoid resale of tickets. Approximate Stage times (subject to change: Electralene 7.45pm, Arcade Fire 8.45pm. Under 14's to be accompanied by an adult and seated in the Circle
7pm-11pm
Sold Out

[mcnuts]

rolyateel said:

mcnuts said:

Brixton a cr@p venue? If you get to stand on the floor, I think its great! Sheppard's Bush is better, but still great atmosphere at Brixton and not bad sound. Good job on gettin tix, would have loved to have gone

Arcade Fire will release very limited extra tickets for this week’s Brixton Academy shows in London. There will be 50 tickets per night, sold on a strictly first come first served basis, and limited to one ticket per person. Tickets will be priced at £18.50 (payable in cash only). The tickets will be available from the venue box office at 7pm on show night only. Once the ticket has been purchased customers will be asked to enter the venue at that point, with no re-admissions allowed, in an effort to avoid resale of tickets. Approximate Stage times (subject to change: Electralene 7.45pm, Arcade Fire 8.45pm. Under 14's to be accompanied by an adult and seated in the Circle
7pm-11pm
Sold Out

respect for that AND to the band for doin it!

[johnas]

stuey09 said:

Curley your spot on. I've seen some great gigs there and have yet to visit a better venue. Ian Brown's solarized gig a couple of years ago was awesome.

one of the best venues I've been for a gig was an Ian brown one too in 2004... it was at a National trust House - Claremont i think it was called. They set up a stage alongside this beautiful lake, at the bottom of a hill so all the gig goers could just sit on the slope and everyone got a perfect view. there was the obligatory flat ground in front of the stage too for all the pill 'eds who wanted to dance the night away

[goffy]

The Brixton Academy is a fantastic venue for bands. First time I went was to see the Clash. Also had a fun filled night there on the Hawkwind anniversary all nighter. What I can remember of it!

[buddings]

www.petitiononline.com/savethea/petition-sign.html sign this to try and save the london astoria, the best venue ive ever been to!!

[johnas]

buddings said:

www.petitiononline.com/savethea/petition-sign.html sign this to try and save the london astoria, the best venue ive ever been to!!

isn't that where G-A-Y is held?

did you have fun?!

[buddings]

hahahaha. yes it is where G-A-Y is held, but no thats not why i went (im not gay). as im sure you know, its mostly a music venue. a bloody rad one!

u seem to know G-A-Y pretty well, did YOU have fun?? haha

[johnas]

buddings said:

u seem to know G-A-Y pretty well, did YOU have fun?? haha

FUN??? I couldn't walk for a week afterwards!* ;D ;D








* may not be 100% fact btw

[tomhills1]

not that i've been but g.a.y is upstairs i think. i saw oasis at the astoria and that aside it is the worst venue i've ever had the mis-fortune to frequent. i'm not clostraphobic but that place must be a f*cking danger i'm sure.

as for brixton academy, anyone who doubts that place is talking ou their rear end. any bad gig there is down to the crap you're watching. when i've seen a good band there nowhere compares, when a shite band are there it's the same as any other: shite. i've even had a good night in the circle.

best venue in london by a mile.

whoever it was who said they're going to see the twang in bristol, please post your thoughts. i LOL about the simple minds comparison although i couldn't see it. i've seen worse but they're just the same ilk as kaiser's et al.

[buddings]

johnas said:

buddings said:

u seem to know G-A-Y pretty well, did YOU have fun?? haha

FUN??? I couldn't walk for a week afterwards!* ;D ;D







* may not be 100% fact btw

+1 for making me laugh like a c*nt.

oh and brixton academy? i hated that place, the sloped floor is so annoying. and the venues massive! i mean its hardly up and personal.

i guess its all personal preference i like gigs to be clostrephobic, hot, sweaty and if outside dusty.

[johnas]

have you been to the underworld then? pretty sure you'd like it if sweat is a prerequiste... or the Metro Club on oxford street