The Who road crew review

[TomWales]

In 2013 I heard all 3 of the headline band's crew sound checking as we were camped right on the bottom of big ground, so quite close to the stage. Could hear them every morning from my tent!

 

I assume by "No Soundcheck" they mean the band themselves don't personally get a chance to hear how their monitoring setup will sound onstage.

 

 

Most of the more seasoned festival bands just use IEMs these days. It's a lot easier than worrying about different stage setups effecting placements of monitors ect. Gives more consistency to the performers. 

[stuartbert two hats]

What's an IEM?  I tried Googling it, but was struggling to find a good explanation.

[The Placid Casual]

What's an IEM?  I tried Googling it, but was struggling to find a good explanation.

Intel Extreme Masters

[Bonehead> Clapton]

In ear monitor isnt it? can hear the band through the ear piece so there is no delay i believe. Not 100% tho. Someone could defo explain better than me lol 

[TomWales]

Yeah, In Ear Monitors.

 

 

You get a lot more reliable/consistent mix with them than having to contend with stages of different sizes/shapes ect.

[Bonehead> Clapton]

Yeah, In Ear Monitors.

 

 

You get a lot more reliable/consistent mix with them than having to contend with stages of different sizes/shapes ect.

 

And usually whilst on stage, the band are not hearing what the audience hear. so they use the IEM to hear everything at a controlled level, also if the song is played to a click track, that can be played through the IEM

[The Placid Casual]

Also on the soundchecks, I heard Arctic Monkeys' soundcheck at around 6.30am in 2013 the day they played.

[Bonehead> Clapton]

Mettalica had there gear sound checked last year, and it was so fucking loud! Loudest ive heard at the pryamid

[giantkatestacks]

Not as much sound checking between 6 and 9 this year compared to 2013. We didnt see them check any lights or visuals until Sunday for the Who either. Mind you the Pyramid was ready very very late onFriday, looked touch and go to us.

[TomWales]

 

I was pissed off with Townshend complaining about the sound. It was great where I was standing, amazing at times. Obviously it's different on stage, but it's a golden rule (I thought), not to highlight mistakes (musical or otherwise) as most punters won't have noticed.

 

Also, I agree with this. It's best to not draw attention to it and carry on.

 

Seems like the general feeling from The Who's camp is that the sound wasn't great, at least on stage.

 

Sounded fine from where I was.

[The Nal]

Pete suffers badly from tinnitus remember so any mess up in sound is magnified for him. And painful. 

[Slugworth]

Prince is waiting for 2018 and the last headline set at Worthy farm. I betchya.

[fightoffyour]

Well the element of surprise would certainly work if he plays a fallow year

[Harry3]

Intel Extreme Masters

 

Showing your inner nerd there Placid

[The Placid Casual]

Showing your inner nerd there Placid

It was the first option on Google.

Sorry to disappoint guys.

[Harry3]

Does that mean Ive just shown my inner nerd

 

Dammit

[fur_q]

Pete suffers badly from tinnitus remember so any mess up in sound is magnified for him. And painful.

Which makes it all the more surprising to me the they don't use IEM.

Most headliners will bring there own FOH and foldback desks and these will be digital consoles these days so monitoring mixes are less of an issue than they once where, however if your mixing monitors based on working in stadiums your going to have problems with conventional monitors on a stage like the pyramid.

[The Nal]

Which makes it all the more surprising to me the they don't use IEM.

 

He says he can't. Makes it worse!

[The Placid Casual]

Does that mean Ive just shown my inner nerd

 

Dammit

There are more nerds than non nerds nowadays.

[Mardy]

Perfection, in sound or otherwise, is massively overrated. It's the cultural shift from recordings being a representation of the live sound, to live performances attmpting to reproduce the canonical recorded versions. It's noticeable for me that the acts I enjoyed most this weekend were the ones that cut loose, that didn't attempt to faithfully reproduce the pristine album versions. Basically, artists who fucked up a little bit. That's the thrill, it should be juggling plates. Live music needs jeopardy.

 

(Been mulling this over since the Libtertines set, and my thoughts have coalesced after seeing 'Fare Thee Well' last night and a subsequent conversation with Wooderson)

[The Placid Casual]

Perfection, in sound or otherwise, is massively overrated.

I honestly hate perfection in live music. So, so, so dull.

[Quark]

Does that mean Ive just shown my inner nerd

 

Dammit

[Mardy]

I don't think The Who can be accused of attempting to recreate their recorded versions. If you can't hear what the drummer (or whoever) is playing, you simply can't play properly 

 

 

yeah, sorry, wasn't specifically referring to the Who (or indeed referring to the Who at all, more the whole sound thing), probably not the best place to post that.

[Brave Sir Robin]

Interesting read, cheers. I see they've corrected the 2006 and Sussex references.  Though not the one about the 200,000 crowd 

[TomWales]

Having a good/perfect live sound isn't the same as identically replicating the record note for note and beat for beat.

 

 

You can have perfect sound and still not sound exactly like the record.