Most disappointing band/musician seen live

[theDudesmummy]

I am starting this on the back of another thread about best live performances. How about bands/performers you loved and thought were going to be great live, only to be disappointed for one reason or another?

I will start:

Neil Young, Royal Albert Hall 2003. I love his music, absolute soundtrack of my later years at university, but this concert was unbelievable in its shitness. Half of it was some unlistenable concept album. Never felt the same about him after that.

Van Morrison, some concert at a stately home type of place, maybe fifteen years ago? (Have blocked out the details). The booze completely ran out before we got to the bar for the first time (and no, we weren't late, he hadnt even come on stage yet). I guess that wasn't Morrison's fault directly but you would think he would employ/contract people to make sure this doesn't happen. DH and I soberly listened to two songs then shared a look and left to find a pub.

Nina Simone, probably also Royal Albert Hall, some time in the 1990s. Sorry, I know she is dead now, and was a legend, but when you sit right over to one side of the stage, practically in the wings, for the whole show, completely hidden by the piano so only half the audience can see you, then you are going to pass off even your most ardent fans. I never even caught sight of her.

(Bob Dylan pissed me off at the Brixton Acedemy circa 1990 by never taking his hat off, so I never saw his face, but I forgave him because he is Bob Dylan, and at least I saw the rest of him).

Dogs D’Amour at the Barrowlands in 1989. Tyla was so drunk he was using the mic stand to hold himself up. Pretty sure most of the crowd left before the third song. Glasgow crowds are not forgiving!

Lighthouse Family. DH wanted to go see them and although the singing was technically brilliant they were so so boring. I wanted to go to bed with a cup of tea by half way through!

To Paul Weller- The Roundhouse, Kentish Town, ten years ago.
Dear Mr Weller,
It was very thoughtful of you to play ALL the tracks from your new, yet to be released album and nothing at all from your days as iconic frontman for The Jam and The Style Council. No-one obviously had come to hear that old stuff. Who could possibly want any of your more contemporary solo output: classics such as Wildwood or Stanley Road? Outdated, all of 'em. You were so right on that judgement call- why pay a fortune to hear the soundtrack for major milestones in one's life? Completely silly idea. We'd much rather be subjected to your newest genius outpourings and be jolly grateful that you are thinking of us, the fans.
I'm grateful too that I had upped and left near the end and so missed hearing the one song I actually knew and liked. Thoughtful of you to chuck it in at the end like that, just to test the stamina and patience of the audience. Cheers, mate.

Elton John. Hop Farm, Kent 2004.

Can you tell I am bitter. It was shit. Traffic management appalling. We live local approx 8 miles away. We left at 4pm to get the atmosphere. Stuck in traffic less than 2 miles from venue. Missed the Scissor Sisters totally and back then they were at their peak. Saw the helicopter fly in, finally 2 hours of plonk, plonk, buy more flowers, and Elton flew out. I havent bought a record since, and huff every time he is mentioned. He would have known - it was the flower buying period.

Stone Roses
Bob Dylan
Oasis
Eminem
Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Same !!
unforgettable great gig !

Debbie Harry in 1990 or 91 - not terrible, just lacklustre and a bit disappointing for such an icon

UNPOPULAR opinion alert: I saw Queen and Adam Lambert at the o2 last week and thought it was a bit rubbish.

Brian May doing these massive 10 min long guitar sessions... boring. And I'm not convinced he was actually playing!

Adam was lush though.

@Oldandcobwebby When did you see New Order? I saw them a couple of times way back in the early/mid 80's & they were terrific. I imagine they lost a lot when Peter Hook left.

Steely Dan at Wembley Arena in 1996 - the sound was terrible

Another one for Van Morrison. I knew his reputation but even so I was disappointed by how few fucks he gave for his audience.

Gorillaz at Glastonbury.

The whole set just didn't translate well to a festival stage, really lacking atmosphere for a headline spot, rather boring - may have looked better on TV but we were among the mass migration of the Pyramid stage crowd to other stages.

A complete contrast to Blur a few years later who got a massive crowd and amazing reaction that made Damon Alburn cry (with joy).

Bruce Springsteen, also at Glastonbury, was disappointing too.

Bryan Adams was amazing when I saw him, and I hadn’t wanted to go.

van Morrison, he was a tedious git, first date with my now husband, it’s lucky I went back for a second date.

proclaimers v v dull. didn’t look like they wanted to be there and spent the second half just playing 500 miles on a loop.

the darkness, don’t know why I bought tickets really. They were having a blast but they basically have one song. That was me not them.

elton John did one of the best gigs I’ve ever been to. Went because small venue just down road about 8 years ago, with no expectations . He was completely engaged with the audience, looked like he was having a blast, played all the old favourites. Sounds like I was lucky!

Van Morrison too. He sat with bus back the the audience and didn’t talk to us at all. Crowd were super boring too and did that shit stepping side to side and back dancing. So dull.

The Pretenders. Chrissy Hynde was rude and supercilious, I left before the end.

Depeche Mode. So very, very dull.

Yep! Saw BDB at Glastonbury and he just moaned and bitched for 45 minutes while playing songs no one had heard.

Air. They came on stage played the album and then left. Zero interaction. I'm not even sure they said anything when they came on stage.
I should have saved my money and listened to the album at home stood up whilst drinking a lukewarm pint.

Not really a band I’d normally pay to go and see but - Bucks Fizz 🤣

They were playing at a Butlins 80s Weekender and were shite. So we went over to the other venue to see Boney M who were brilliant.

Bastille in Glasgow, Feb 2019. Best part was Lewis Cappaldi(?!) starting the show off and when they eventually played Pompeii. They were playing alot of their new stuff from their album which I've never heard in the charts. It was the most boring, miserable show I've ever been too. I used the love the guy but I was so bored by the end that I wasn't even excited when he came to sing two metres away from us. Put me off them for good.

Coldplay on the other hand, absolutely brilliant atmosphere and I'm not even a big fan.

Garbage 2015 - didn't come together somehow and her voice has gone.
Lissie just sort of fell flat although can't put my finger on why.
Pj Harvey and Bob Dylan were poor but I'm not a huge fan so didn't expect a lot and wasn't disappointed. Also Metallica at Glastonbury and I think I missed someone good like The Pixies while giving them a chance, so I'm all the more miffed.

I can't be doing with the rude ones either- looking at you Van Morrison and The Fall (not that it was unexpected!)

That Mr Motivator story is brilliant.

I loved Queen + Adam Lambert. Great show, great singer, Brian May on top of an asteroid playing a guitar solo surrounded by the planets- what’s not to like? 😁

Black Eyed Peas.
We played their album to death. Kids loved them too. Wanting to be cool parents we took the kids to their first concert. Went to see them in New Jersey in about 2003. They were complete crap. I think Fergie left not long after this. There wasn't enough space on the stage for all their egos.

They were supported by the Pussycat Dolls who I didn't particularly like but they were amazing live.

I went to that show but in Brighton. My friend was so excited to see David Cassidy as she adored him. He was awful, so disrespectful and she left early (as most of us did) and I think a little piece of her died that night. The order should have been the other way round - the Bay City Rollers were bloody brilliant.

(I have to say I found the Kate Bush concert - 2014? - very dull.)

At least he still had a voice in 1975!

Neil Young was good at Glastonbury but far less good at his own gig around that time. Lots of wishy washy hippiness.
I thought Bruce was good at Glastonbury but he did talk way too much. On and on about building a house of love or something.