Why pay £42.50 plus booking fee etc to stand and talk to your pissed up mate in a really loud voice while Radiohead play Videotape?

[Tom Eiselberg]

Says it all really! I hate these gigs. We travelled a long way to see Radiohead last night and we had to constantly move in an effort to find somewhere where my wife (of average height) could see, but that was also moron free. Unfortunately it took most of the main set. Great band, great gig, but 20% of their fans are complete idiots. I just don't buy the argument that these big outdoor gigs (like Genesis last year) are only done reluctantly as the best way most fans can get to see them. I've done my last one, unless, please no, a Lamb reunion is on the cards and it ends up being in a park as well! I'm probably to weak willed to resist that. I know this not a new complaint and plenty of people were hacked off by some of the "fans" at Old Trafford last July. I'm just overtired and venting steam. AAAAAGH! Viva Portsmouth Guildhall, Viva The Pyramids, Viva any bloody venue where people actually spend most of their time listening. How many photos of your mates gurning do you need to take at one gig for Pete's sake? They didn't even applaud when the band came onstage...good job I left the Uzi and machete at home.

[Vijay]

Your post demonstrates why I wish the venues for these huge shows wouldn't serve beer. It just makes the people naturally inclined to idiocy that much more annoying. But even at the recent Genesis concert, I had my share of them. The two kids in front of me were constantly yelling out things like, "I love you, Phil!" and "F*** me, Phil!" again and again. If this had been in between songs, well alright, but this is in the middle of the song! Thank gods they left to get more beer during "Ripples"! (Eventually, one of them felt ill from all that beer, and had to leave early! hee hee!) And they were both gone for "Carpet Crawlers", so that was alright! : )

Having said all that, there were fantastic aspects to the show too. But yeah, I know where you're coming from with your post.

[Tom Eiselberg]

Thanks for the comments folks - I think the natural urge to moan, rather than be positive overcame me there.
So positives: great set, great sound, not a bad light show either, smooth journey on the underground, empty motorway all the way home, nice stop for hot chocolate at 1:30am and most important of all a midweek night out with my wife - an extremely rare event these days.
Bit tired now though, so off to bed for me.

[Kendra]

Sorry the experience was bad -- I've seen Radiohead a couple times and while the first time was excellent, the second time not so much and I think some major contributing factors were the venue and the crowd. Both of those can make a big difference. They didn't applaud when the band came on?? Lame.

[Mike's Mechanic]

Ack! Sorry your Radiohead concert wasn't all that and a bag of chips last night; it's too bad you weren't able to enjoy it more. Atmosphere is definitely a big portion of what makes up an excellent concert.

I can guarantee you, however, that if Genesis were to play in a park of some sort that fans would be much different from the kind you were mentioning above. I've noticed that most Genesis fans are music lovers who come not to drink and be idiotic but to listen and appreciate wonderful music by an absolutely amazing band. :D

Get some rest and take care! ^_^