Hey all,
I'm curious to see what you would like to see more of in the Irish metal scene with regards to shows
Anything from types of bands, times or anything else you can think of that you think would make going to metal gigs in Ireland better
I'm speaking mainly of more local adjacent shows rather than the bigger shows
What do you like? What works for you and what doesn't
Sacred Reich did a meet and greet before their show in Dublin a few years ago- would like to see more of that....
I'd like to see less of the phone of some dope held aloft in front of me.
bingo
As in, I agree with Herr Meister. I don't want to see more bingo at shows. In general, shows already have the perfect amount of bingo.
Tickets without extorsion fees.
Not enough grind goats about.
Death to smoke machines. I hate being at gigs where you can't see the band. You can't even take yhe odd photo as the smoke cover reduces as the smoke stil messes up the focus.
I also don't see why camera users can't reduce their screen brightness to the lowest setting so that it doesn't blind people behind them when they do hold them up.
And ban synchronized headbanging where somebody throws their arm around other poor souls and insists they headbang together as one human mass - what's that about anyway??
If bands don't engage with the crowd with banter by the 4th track then feck em off stage the boring gits.
However if band members insist on playing with their back to the crowd then that's a booting offense after 1 track - go to the fecking band room ye gits!
Set times should be a legal requirement for all gigs!
Quote from: Snare on March 28, 2025, 07:08:59 PMNot enough grind goats about.
Death to smoke machines. I hate being at gigs where you can't see the band. You can't even take yhe odd photo as the smoke cover reduces as the smoke stil messes up the focus.
If bands don't engage with the crowd with banter by the 4th track then feck em off stage the boring gits.
Lights look shite without haze.
I rarely want to hear any band speak. And especially who gives a fuck what a local band has to say?
Crowd surfers are a pain in the hole, especially when the crowd is fairly thin. Looking for a boost up only for five people to carry him around the room til they drop him on his head.
Sweaty lads with their tops off make me want to run for the bar.
On a positive note, the presale of tickets (for local gigs) is a great idea. It makes me commit and gets my lazy hole off the couch. Set times on social media are brilliant. They're helpful to know who you're watching too.
It's always refreshing to see a band in the odd different venue too, instead of the old reliables.
Quote from: open face surgery on March 29, 2025, 12:05:32 AMQuote from: Snare on March 28, 2025, 07:08:59 PMNot enough grind goats about.
Death to smoke machines. I hate being at gigs where you can't see the band. You can't even take yhe odd photo as the smoke cover reduces as the smoke stil messes up the focus.
If bands don't engage with the crowd with banter by the 4th track then feck em off stage the boring gits.
Lights look shite without haze.
I rarely want to hear any band speak. And especially who gives a fuck what a local band has to say?
Different strokes for different folks as they say! There's haze and then there's absolute blinding fog where you can barely breath. Not for me.
I actually love when local bands engage in banter and there is back and forth with people they know, or people they are getting to know the hard way :laugh: Not there for comedic values of course but no harm putting a bit of personality into a show and making it more memorable.
Quote from: Snare on March 29, 2025, 01:56:25 PMI actually love when local bands engage in banter and there is back and forth with people they know, or people they are getting to know the hard way :laugh: Not there for comedic values of course but no harm putting a bit of personality into a show and making it more memorable.
Genuinely, I think this is probably the worst thing that a local band can do.
Quoteactually love when local bands engage in banter and there is back and forth with people they know
Christ can think of nothing worse.
Also can't stand when a local band gets a support to a touring act and goes on and on about what a privilege it is to support such legends when they clearly hadn't heard of said band until they got the call to do the show.
Case in point the art students supporting Jesus Lizard the other month
I think set times and door times should be posted in advance of the gig. Hate not knowing when to land into a gig if there's no times posted. I don't want to land in and find out no bands are on for another hour and a half or find out I've missed the first 2 bands.
Also having the ticket price clearly on the poster or posted along with the gig announcements. I've noticed inconsistencies in this these days, sometimes you have to really look around online or start buying the ticket online to get the price.
I also kind of like having somewhere to go sit for a bit at a longer gig. I don't mean every venue needs tables (too many tables can ruin a gig) or whatever but a few stools by the bar or at the walls is nice so you can take a minute off between bands. Not always an option if space is a premium.
I think there should be earplugs provided at gigs. I always bring my own but have had mates leave gigs that were too loud before since they had none. I understand you have to be a bit stingy with them as I've also seen people grab handfuls when there are free ones but it should be an option I think. I know a lot of bars keep some in stock but it couldn't hurt for the promoter to have some on hand.
This wouldn't be an issue for any half decent promoters but some places/bands that book shows kind of take the piss with the lineups being basically the same over and over. I get some bands are friends and whatnot but I've seen bills for gigs weeks apart that were pretty much the same gig in the same venue.
I actually like smoke machines at gigs, turns the lights into looking like a real show and not some amateur setup in the corner of a bar. The good ones don't really smell bad and the smoke tends to dissipate quickly enough so as long as they aren't abusing it then there shouldn't be an issue.
People were also talking about crowd talk. Again I want it to feel like a show to a crowd, not some lad chatting to his mate in front of him. A quick shoutout isn't too bad but a lot of back and forth is awful altogether and does nothing for me. Feels like a mistake bands make in their first shows when they don't know how to address an crowd properly.
It would be nice if set times were displayed on either:
A - the website/app you bought the ticket on
or
B - the venue website
It's an unnecessary pain in the hole having to look through social media to find them, especially when you don't have a social media account!
Cunts with phones at gigs.
Smoke machines are grand.
Earplugs available behind the bar would stop people grabbing them by the handful.
Better Bands :abbath:
No phones.
No more cunts trying to push their way to the front
Have things changed that much because ten/twenty years ago this would have been an unanimous chorus of 'WOMEN!'.
Headliners that play at least 90-100 minutes, fuck this 60 minutes stuff
I can forgive it for local/upcoming bands or package tours with a great lineup, but the likes of Mgla for example wrapping up after 50 minutes on a headline tour is a bit cheeky.
Quote from: Thorn on March 30, 2025, 02:19:37 PMHave things changed that much because ten/twenty years ago this would have been an unanimous chorus of 'WOMEN!'.
Lots of women at Carpathian Forest in Dublin for whatever reason.
I'm gonna guess they like Carpathian Forest.
Quote from: ldj on March 30, 2025, 07:17:08 PMI can forgive it for local/upcoming bands or package tours with a great lineup, but the likes of Mgla for example wrapping up after 50 minutes on a headline tour is a bit cheeky.
Bands of that ilk, black or death, def shouldn't be playing more than 60 minutes and that's a stretch for a lot of bands.
Quote from: Squigs on March 31, 2025, 12:00:31 PMQuote from: jpm4 on March 31, 2025, 08:16:38 AMQuote from: Thorn on March 30, 2025, 02:19:37 PMHave things changed that much because ten/twenty years ago this would have been an unanimous chorus of 'WOMEN!'.
Lots of women at Carpathian Forest in Dublin for whatever reason.
I'm gonna guess they like Carpathian Forest.
Zing! :laugh:
Quote from: Squigs on March 31, 2025, 12:00:31 PMI'm gonna guess they like Carpathian Forest.
Probably, smart arse! I guess what I meant was am not sure why they would attract a more gender diverse crowd.
Cheaper merch would be nice to see. Some bands can still make a few €€ with shirts at €25. These arena bands charging €45+ is just crazy - total rip-off for fans. As an oul lad I appreciate gigs ending before my last train home :-)
Quote from: yknaa on April 02, 2025, 10:07:12 AMAs an oul lad I appreciate gigs ending before my last train home :-)
There's a lot to be said for hopping on the last bus home after a gig. I'd much rather spend that extra €20 at the merch stand than pay the same for a taxi home.
I echo the sentiment of those that suggest set times should be printed/posted more often and in more places. Even if not exact times then something like;
Doors 7pm/Support 7.30pm/Stage curfew 11pm.
Being one of the very few lads in my friend group who is child-free - I end up going to a fair few gigs on my own these days, I don't need to be standing around like a spare prick for 90 minutes waiting for something to happen. Stage times also help the lads who do have kids to think about - they can figure out if the rugrats will be in bed or whatever before the main band comes on.
Allow a band play an extra song if the crowd give a rapturous response/roar
Defeats the purpose of giving set times.
I don't have much interest in local shows but for gigs in general the decline in physical tickets for shows is very annoying. Tickets.ie stopped doing them a few weeks ago using caring for the environment as the excuse. In Canada at least and possibly the US you can't get physicals from ticketmaster at all so only a matter of time before that shite starts here. The current shitty paper tickets they give you for a physical in Ireland are bad enough but better than nothing at all. Sound Cellar still have the old style proper cardboard tickets but they only do MCD events so no Aiken or non TM shows.
Also agree with set times in advance as most of the time I am only interested in one band but in some cases isn't not giving times in advance to get people into the venue early so they spend more money. For non DME related shows MCD rarely give stage times.
Rock chicks (and I don't mean fat lesbian hefers ) getting their norks out
Oh yeah, we need a time machine back to the eighties :laugh:
Quote from: mickO))) on April 02, 2025, 08:01:50 PMI don't have much interest in local shows but for gigs in general the decline in physical tickets for shows is very annoying. Tickets.ie stopped doing them a few weeks ago using caring for the environment as the excuse. In Canada at least and possibly the US you can't get physicals from ticketmaster at all so only a matter of time before that shite starts here. The current shitty paper tickets they give you for a physical in Ireland are bad enough but better than nothing at all. Sound Cellar still have the old style proper cardboard tickets but they only do MCD events so no Aiken or non TM shows.
Also agree with set times in advance as most of the time I am only interested in one band but in some cases isn't not giving times in advance to get people into the venue early so they spend more money. For non DME related shows MCD rarely give stage times.
I agree about having ab actual ticket. I hate having to rely on my phone and would rather just have the ticket, plus I collect tickets like a nerd ha ha
It's a pain when the code won't scan from your phone too. At The Cure there was no way it would scan, whether I changed the brightness, theme, zoomed in, two different scanners, nothing. Yer man stood there and put in the numerical code bit by bit before he'd let me in, big back up behind me an' all. Same thing happened at Godflesh, she just said go on, you're grand.
Quote from: Necro Red on April 03, 2025, 11:17:54 AMI agree about having ab actual ticket. I hate having to rely on my phone and would rather just have the ticket, plus I collect tickets like a nerd ha ha
Nobody seems to be recording the history of shows / venues / dates anywhere either so with no physical tickets to look back on after you have went to a certain number of shows in some cases it can be hard even remembering if you've even seen certain bands or how many times you've seen others.
The old DME site use to be great as it had all the old gig posters and even photos from every show. I think all of that was lost when he upgraded to the current site which is a real shame. Even the past gigs list on the old site was great and I can't imagine it would take too much effort to make and maintain another one of those.
I got stung with a massive phone bill last time I was in Canada on holidays because every TM related thing I went to had to be an eticket scanned through the TM app you couldn't even add tickets to the phones wallet. Got a bill of €55 from data use because of it. luckily I used my work phone, they paid it and nobody ever came after me looking for the money. Not a good thing for people coming to shows from overseas.
I'm the same with collecting tickets, but unless I'm in town and able to get to Sound Cellar I end up just getting the digital one
Went to the Obscura show last year though and gave yer man on the door my ticket and he seemed bemused by the whole thing
What's this yoke?
- Eh, my ticket for the gig?
Where'd you get it?
- Sound Cellar, earlier on today
Yeah...yeah...alright...grand head in so
- Well can I have the ticket back now?
Nah, we need to hold on to these...I think...
Must've only been in his early 20s, was turning the thing over looking at it like some alien relic
Quote from: Pagan Saviour on March 29, 2025, 04:00:24 PMQuoteactually love when local bands engage in banter and there is back and forth with people they know
Christ can think of nothing worse.
Also can't stand when a local band gets a support to a touring act and goes on and on about what a privilege it is to support such legends when they clearly hadn't heard of said band until they got the call to do the show.
Case in point the art students supporting Jesus Lizard the other month
Will never understand how they landed that, industry wankers
Ah sometimes that can work out, that Sepultura gig with Pagan Riot would have been long forgotten if their bassist didn't have a fit about someone calling their band shite
Quote from: Jward on April 02, 2025, 07:13:52 PMAllow a band play an extra song if the crowd give a rapturous response/roar
Quote from: open face surgery on April 02, 2025, 07:50:08 PMDefeats the purpose of giving set times.
:laugh:
Feckin' eejit, John.
You know what he means, 4mins will hardly throw off indicative stage times.
Quote from: Trev on April 03, 2025, 10:05:35 PMAh sometimes that can work out, that Sepultura gig with Pagan Riot would have been long forgotten if their bassist didn't have a fit about someone calling their band shite
:laugh: sounds like a classic from the MI days. Refresh my memory.
Quote from: Jward on April 02, 2025, 07:13:52 PM
Allow a band play an extra song if the crowd give a rapturous response/roar
Quote from: open face surgery on April 02, 2025, 07:50:08 PM
Defeats the purpose of giving set times.
How does playing 1 song as a 'proper' encore defeat the purpose of stage times?
- Band has started as planned
- Band play a stormer
- Crowd love it
- "We want more! We want more!"
---- let them play another f*cking tune ffs!
Go home if you want, as governed by the pre-ordained stage times
All you'll miss is the crowd/band soaking up the final remnants of a great gig
Quote from: Jward on April 04, 2025, 09:05:44 AMQuote from: Jward on April 02, 2025, 07:13:52 PM
Allow a band play an extra song if the crowd give a rapturous response/roar
Quote from: open face surgery on April 02, 2025, 07:50:08 PM
Defeats the purpose of giving set times.
How does playing 1 song as a 'proper' encore defeat the purpose of stage times? (for the headline act is what I am on about)
- Band has started as planned
- Band play a stormer
- Crowd love it
- "We want more! We want more!"
---- let them play another f*cking tune ffs!
Go home if you want, as governed by the pre-ordained stage times
All you'll miss is the crowd/band soaking up the final remnants of a great gig
DME on Twitter are good for posting stage times, I think The Academy (MCD) post them somewhere too. Other venues / promoters are hit & miss though.
Quote from: Eoin McLove on April 03, 2025, 11:42:42 PMQuote from: Trev on April 03, 2025, 10:05:35 PMAh sometimes that can work out, that Sepultura gig with Pagan Riot would have been long forgotten if their bassist didn't have a fit about someone calling their band shite
:laugh: sounds like a classic from the MI days. Refresh my memory.
If I remember right, the bassist had a big rant about how the scene needed to stick together, and no one cared what a few people on MI thought about them. Then one of other members came on and told him he was kicked out of the band :laugh:
Quote from: Jward on April 04, 2025, 09:05:44 AMQuote from: Jward on April 02, 2025, 07:13:52 PM
Allow a band play an extra song if the crowd give a rapturous response/roar
Quote from: open face surgery on April 02, 2025, 07:50:08 PM
Defeats the purpose of giving set times.
How does playing 1 song as a 'proper' encore defeat the purpose of stage times?
- Band has started as planned
- Band play a stormer
- Crowd love it
- "We want more! We want more!"
---- let them play another f*cking tune ffs!
Go home if you want, as governed by the pre-ordained stage times
All you'll miss is the crowd/band soaking up the final remnants of a great gig
Because changeover times are already tight as it is, even when everything is going right.
Quote from: StrangersWithGuns on April 03, 2025, 08:50:26 PMWill never understand how they landed that, industry wankers
Get over it for fucks sake.
:laugh: :laugh: fuck sake.
Strangers With Grudges
Quote from: Yung Led Zeppelin on April 04, 2025, 09:16:12 AMQuote from: Jward on April 04, 2025, 09:05:44 AMQuote from: Jward on April 02, 2025, 07:13:52 PM
Allow a band play an extra song if the crowd give a rapturous response/roar
Quote from: open face surgery on April 02, 2025, 07:50:08 PM
Defeats the purpose of giving set times.
How does playing 1 song as a 'proper' encore defeat the purpose of stage times?
- Band has started as planned
- Band play a stormer
- Crowd love it
- "We want more! We want more!"
---- let them play another f*cking tune ffs!
Go home if you want, as governed by the pre-ordained stage times
All you'll miss is the crowd/band soaking up the final remnants of a great gig
Because changeover times are already tight as it is, even when everything is going right.
I know
I'm more on about venues allowing 4 minutes at the end of the gig
I know bands need to pack up, and venue staff want to get home/go out
Sometimes it would be nice to hear a bit more
Bring back Woodstock, where it could finish at 11:00am !!! :laugh:
Quote from: Jward on April 04, 2025, 10:57:33 AMQuote from: Yung Led Zeppelin on April 04, 2025, 09:16:12 AMQuote from: Jward on April 04, 2025, 09:05:44 AMQuote from: Jward on April 02, 2025, 07:13:52 PM
Allow a band play an extra song if the crowd give a rapturous response/roar
Quote from: open face surgery on April 02, 2025, 07:50:08 PM
Defeats the purpose of giving set times.
How does playing 1 song as a 'proper' encore defeat the purpose of stage times?
- Band has started as planned
- Band play a stormer
- Crowd love it
- "We want more! We want more!"
---- let them play another f*cking tune ffs!
Go home if you want, as governed by the pre-ordained stage times
All you'll miss is the crowd/band soaking up the final remnants of a great gig
Because changeover times are already tight as it is, even when everything is going right.
I know
I'm more on about venues allowing 4 minutes at the end of the gig
I know bands need to pack up, and venue staff want to get home/go out
Sometimes it would be nice to hear a bit more
Yeah, totally depends on the venue/situation really. Some venues are stricter than others, some events are really under pressure with regulations they have to stick to, you'll get hassle or maybe even fined (as if the margins aren't thin enough) if you take liberty with it.
I've had to shut off the PA and tear down in front of 400 angry people because we were already 15 minutes over and the festival would have been in pretty serious shit if we just disregarded the prerequisites for the event to happen. You have to compromise to sustain it. That one was a real case of see ye in 7 hours to do another 18 hour day of it, you ungrateful cunts :laugh:
Quote from: Snare on April 03, 2025, 11:39:17 PMYou know what he means, 4mins will hardly throw off indicative stage times.
with 15 minute changeover for supports 4 minutes then leaves a band 11 minutes which bring the next band on late which then brings the whole thing on late
No issues with one more tune for headliners but not with supports. That's my rule anyway. Supports have a very specific allotted time and fuck acting and going over your set time then cuts into the headliners
Exactly and I don't think some people realise any delays are both cumulative, and one only take away from a total - you do not get that time back unless you really really push to get everything else moving faster.
Although, was on a festival crew before who managed to turn a 2 hour delay starting the day (perfect storm of mad tech issues and artists not showing up on time for sound check) to back on schedule about halfway through, without cutting anyone's sets. Fairly fucking smug about that one we were, lol
Quote from: StrangersWithGuns on April 03, 2025, 08:50:26 PMQuote from: Pagan Saviour on March 29, 2025, 04:00:24 PMQuoteactually love when local bands engage in banter and there is back and forth with people they know
Christ can think of nothing worse.
Also can't stand when a local band gets a support to a touring act and goes on and on about what a privilege it is to support such legends when they clearly hadn't heard of said band until they got the call to do the show.
Case in point the art students supporting Jesus Lizard the other month
Will never understand how they landed that, industry wankers
Promoter sent a list of support requests. Jesus Lizard and their management chose them. I've no idea where you'd get an industry plant from haha
Quote from: Evaninka on April 04, 2025, 12:57:28 PMQuote from: StrangersWithGuns on April 03, 2025, 08:50:26 PMQuote from: Pagan Saviour on March 29, 2025, 04:00:24 PMQuoteactually love when local bands engage in banter and there is back and forth with people they know
Christ can think of nothing worse.
Also can't stand when a local band gets a support to a touring act and goes on and on about what a privilege it is to support such legends when they clearly hadn't heard of said band until they got the call to do the show.
Case in point the art students supporting Jesus Lizard the other month
Will never understand how they landed that, industry wankers
Promoter sent a list of support requests. Jesus Lizard and their management chose them. I've no idea where you'd get an industry plant from haha
I didn't go as far as saying plants, Duane venison wrote back to me saying they just left these things to the local promoters, so was some sort of pre existing relationship in play
Quote from: StrangersWithGuns on April 07, 2025, 01:36:39 AMDuane venison wrote back to me
Oh deer.
There were different supports for the two Dublin Jesus Lizard show, right?
I'm not sure to which band you are referring.
Or are you taking umbrage with both?
The Art Students that supported on the first night. Can't remember their name - they were god awful to be fair.
Having said that, it's luck of the draw with the support slots - you win some you lose some. No big deal.
Quote from: StoutAndAle on April 07, 2025, 12:54:59 PMQuote from: StrangersWithGuns on April 07, 2025, 01:36:39 AMDuane venison wrote back to me
Oh deer.
There were different supports for the two Dublin Jesus Lizard show, right?
I'm not sure to which band you are referring.
Or are you taking umbrage with both?
They both supported both nights, swapped who was opening in Belfast
Bands taking a decent amount of XXL shirts along to sell.
Quote from: Mower Liberation Front on April 07, 2025, 06:43:13 PMBands taking a decent amount of XXL shirts along to sell.
Preach.
People who shower at least a week before going to the show
Quote from: The Great Cull on April 08, 2025, 11:57:54 AMPeople who shower at least a week before going to the show
::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::)
Quote from: Mower Liberation Front on April 07, 2025, 06:43:13 PMBands taking a decent amount of XXL shirts along to sell.
Agreed, and good quality ones too, not cheap ones that shrink after the first wash
Quote from: StoutAndAle on April 08, 2025, 09:49:56 AMQuote from: Mower Liberation Front on April 07, 2025, 06:43:13 PMBands taking a decent amount of XXL shirts along to sell.
Preach.
Plenty of XXL Unbelievable Lake T-shirts at the upcoming May shows 8)
Whoever they are.
Jaysus! What a lake!
Jaysus! What lake?
Hard to believe it's not just a pond
I Can't Believe It's Not Water.
.
Justice for Cold Lake!
Quote from: StrangersWithGuns on April 07, 2025, 05:23:22 PMQuote from: StoutAndAle on April 07, 2025, 12:54:59 PMQuote from: StrangersWithGuns on April 07, 2025, 01:36:39 AMDuane venison wrote back to me
Oh deer.
There were different supports for the two Dublin Jesus Lizard show, right?
I'm not sure to which band you are referring.
Or are you taking umbrage with both?
They both supported both nights, swapped who was opening in Belfast
It was one support band each night in Dublin. If you're gonna keep crying about it at least get your facts right lad.