"Wall Of Noise" excellent in theory. In practice, not so much.

I wish I was left with a sense of mystery and longing, instead of this bad taste in my mouth.

That said, there is nothing like it in the world as far as the actual physical sensation. Like getting an all over vibrating massage, like into your chest cavity and your toes. I wonder how bad that could be to the brain?

Holy crap. I was there last night.

Needless to say, I left early. I could not enjoy the fact that I was not discerning any music.

Yeah. The concourse is a great EXHIBITION hall. I think, though, it should be banned from holding actual music concerts, ever again. It's notorious for being a horrible venue, and yet promoters still continue to book. This was my first time there for a show, so I really didn't know. Now I sure as hell won't be back.

The sound was all muddy (which for MBV is dissonant enough to begin with, you need that clarity.) Kevin Shield's guitar sounded 2 notes too high and a half a second off. I didn't even recognize some songs initially. Sad, considering how expensive the tickets were, and how ravingly awesome the reviews were for other cities.

@lady: I wish I knew you were going!

But yeah, so much better to just get Loveless, put your headphones on and crank it up, lie down on your own bed, rocking out with perfect clarity, precision and solitude.

@sodoff
That's awesome, but it made me feel even more sorry for myself. After all, I had only waited FIFTEEN YEARS for this! sigh. Their other shows got insanely glowing reviews, that it made the disappointment of mine all the more apparent. (like this one: http://blog.mlive.com/mediumfidelity/2008/09/my_bloody_valentine_creates_bl.html ) I never blamed the band for one second, knowing how much of a perfectionist KS is.

They're hugely important to me, as well. It was from being introduced to them that pretty much reformed my taste in music around that time and discovered bands like lush, chapterhouse (old style), verve, catherine wheel, slowdive, cocteau twins etc. I was truly the shoegaze poster child with my hanging bangs, black tights, droopy sweaters... well, some things never change I suppose ;)

At this show they passed out earplugs at the gate. You'd have to be insane not to wear them. I like to flirt with danger, though, so I keep them with the barest amount of high end seeping in. I did take one off out of curiosity for just a moment, and thought um NO, and promptly reseated that sucker.

I saw them in 91 when they did the wall of noise thing for about 15 minutes. Mellow stoned Texans started wigging out.

Too bad the sound sucked.

those New York shows, were BRUTAL.

people say Manowar are the loudest band in the world

NUH UH!!!!

I have never previously worn earplugs to a concert but, I did for half of this. I would not say that MBV was unusually loud, volume wise. It was higher pitched, which does more damage. They had very little by way of bass and sub-bass.

@nomi> If bone shaking noise were all I wanted, I could have hung around SFO.

Hah, I was being really disgusting in line. Its okay if you would have been embarrassed to call me out.