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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to ask who is the worst performer/group you've seen live?

841 replies

Weston14 · 12/08/2019 01:17

Following on from a (very late-to-the-party) discussion about this year's Glasto with some friends over dinner tonight, where we all decided Lauryn Hill was an absolute let down, who is the worst performer or group you've ever seen live? Especially thinking of people you really liked who let you down here, not just "was dragged to see Take That with DSis and they were shite" Grin

If you're not much of a music fan I suppose this stretches to comedians, actors, poets...anyone who gets up on stage and does a turn.

OP posts:
notacooldad · 18/08/2019 00:58

I've come away saying ' god that was shite' but everyone else has loved them. It was just the wrong genre for me!

Stonerosie67 · 18/08/2019 01:13

thigh you must - Springsteen is god!!!

Starstruck2020 · 18/08/2019 01:19

I did not enjoy lady Gaga in 2012 when we saw her. wecleft about 30min early. Which was such as shame as I was really looking forward to it. I hope she’s less vulgar in concert now

YourVagesty · 18/08/2019 02:02

When Reginald D Hunter played my local town, the venue handed out refunds because so many people left in horror at what he was saying
(particularly about women). He was going on about wanted to stab his ex or something (from recollection). And not in a funny way - in a melt-down sort of way. Uncomfortable and near-career-killing tour I think.

nicenewdusters · 18/08/2019 02:12

The Lighthouse Family and Gabrielle, outdoors, boiling hot, so boring and lifeless I wanted to cry.

Tom Jones at the Apollo, London. Phoned in the first half going through the motions with his hits. Crowd loved it. Massively pissed off that we didn't appreciate his new material in the second. It was like watching your dad singing along with a hairbrush .

Eurythmics. Annie was fine, but Dave sat behind her with his guitar and a face like death. She seemed embarrassed he was there.

James Arthur at Capital Summertime Ball. Miserable bugger. He appeared to hate the crowd and it was mutual by the time he left.

Brilliant: Depeche Mode (about 2010), David Bowie, Neil Diamond, Sean Paul.

pictish · 18/08/2019 08:00

I’ve never seen Bob Dylan in concert but nor would I want to...he’s a great lyricist and songwriter...but he’s no singer and frankly, his voice is an affront to my ears. I can’t imagine anything worse than listening to it live.

I like some Dylan songs but usually those covered by other people who can sing.

ThighThighOfthigh · 18/08/2019 11:00

Did anyone see The Who or The Jam way back? I'd like to see The Specials and Pink.

I had tickets to UB40 but couldn't go on the day.

Did anyone see Bob Marley? That would have been amazing.

AndTheSeaRollsOn · 18/08/2019 11:03

Saw Keane years and years ago during a set on a smaller stage at Reading (before they’d actually released anything I think) and walked out as my body actually had a physical reaction to them. They were really lifeless. Not a disappointment as such though as I’d never heard of them before and they’re just not my thing.

WildRosie · 18/08/2019 13:24

I've only been to a handful of shows and concerts and I'm pleased to say none of them were at all bad. I'll try to rank them:

  1. Neil Diamond, Birmingham NEC, 1989.
  2. Wax (Andrew Gold and Graham Gouldman), Harrogate International Centre, 1987.
  3. Bottom, Leeds Grand Theatre, 1995 and again a few years later.
  4. French and Saunders, Leeds Grand Theatre, 1989.
  5. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Leeds University, 1984.
  6. Simply Red, Sheffield Arena, 1996.
  7. Neil Diamond, Sheffield Arena, 1992. The sound quality wasn't as good as at Birmingham in '89.
  8. Boo Hewerdine, Otley, West Yorkshire, about eight years ago. It was a solo gig but needed a backing band to do his material justice.
GabsAlot · 18/08/2019 13:48

I loved tom jones at wembley prob abvout 15 years ago now

EdmundSlackbladder · 18/08/2019 14:54

Bruce Springsteen when he headlined at Glasto. Soooooooooooo boring. He played a lot of obscure Blues stuff. Not engaging at all. On the other hand I saw The Cure on Friday in Glasgow and they were phenomenally good. Currently listening to their greatest hits on my way to work.

KnitFastDieWarm · 18/08/2019 18:35

Did anyone see Bob Marley? That would have been amazing.

My dad was at the Lyceum gig when they did the live recording of no woman no cry and said it was akin to a religious experience Grin

His list:
Amazing - Nina Simone, captain beefheart, frank zappa, the stones, talking heads

Terrible - led zeppelin, sadly. He also echoes the sentiment that Van Morrison, while an amazing musician, is a bit of a twat

WildRosie · 18/08/2019 20:44

Forgot some:

Cannon and Ball, Manchester Apollo, 1984. It was good but the material was largely regurgitated from their most recent TV series so somewhat predictable. The support act was Rocky Sharpe and The Replays.

Dudley Moore Trio and The BBC Concert Orchestra, Manchester GMEX, 1992. Brilliant show and a sell-out, appreciative audience.

Barry Manilow, Sheffield Arena, 1995. I chaperoned my sister to this, otherwise she would have gone by herself or not at all. I admit he and his entourage gave a 100% show, very engaging.

Solid Silver Sixties, Harrogate International Centre, 1990. The line-up was Chris Montez (a has-been trying too hard), Bobby Vee (highly professional and quite a card) and The Searchers (satisfactory).

I've also seen Jools Holland and Co. a couple of times but not recently. A very professional outfit but twice is enough. The week before the first show, I saw Squeeze at the same venue (Leeds Town and Country Club, 1995). They were excellent. Kiki Dee was the support act.

Chubby Brown, Harrogate, about twenty years ago. Everything you'd expect from the man. He got quite irate with one heckler but otherwise, a good-humoured, vulgar performance. Once is enough.

YouTheCat · 18/08/2019 20:52

I am so jealous you got to see the Dudley Moore Trio. I love their stuff. I have a cd and used to have it on vinyl years ago.

WildRosie · 18/08/2019 21:21

I remember seeing the newspaper ad for the Dudley Moore shows and suggesting to my Mum and Dad that it might be worth going. I booked it that night. Most of the show was with the BBC CO with a handful of solo spots and jazz numbers with Chris Karan and Pete Morgan. I forget what it cost but it was worth every penny.

YouTheCat · 18/08/2019 21:24

My mam and dad would have loved it. They are the reason I love the music in the first place.

I have been to see Ian McKellen today and his show was brilliant.

DGRossetti · 18/08/2019 21:27

My dad was at the Lyceum gig when they did the live recording of no woman no cry and said it was akin to a religious experience

It's hard to think of a better example of a truly live song - for me it's the definitive version and eclipses the "original". (The only other song that comes close is Thin Lizzys live version of "Rosalie" ....)

Total respect for your DF Grin

goose1964 · 18/08/2019 21:28

The stranglers at Reading Rock.They were abysmal.

Dieu · 18/08/2019 21:35

Another vote for Dara O'Briain! Saw him at the Playhouse in Edinburgh a few years back, and it was completely forgettable.

SpotlessMind · 18/08/2019 21:38

Ricky Gervais - no interaction with the audience at all, basically just did his set and left which is not what I’m used to with live comedy - I might as well have just bought the dvd

Dieu · 18/08/2019 21:49

To be honest, some of these performers are as funny as toothache. Harry Hill and Lee Evans, I'm looking at youHmm So it really doesn't surprise me that they're shite live.
Mind you, I'm Glaswegian and we're the toughest audience of all Grin

Dieu · 18/08/2019 21:55

And I wouldn't be able to see Sarah Millican, as her voice/accent GRATES. Is it her who does the Tesco food ads? I have to put the telly on mute.

Digestive28 · 18/08/2019 22:06

Saw Amy Whinehouse not long before she died. She kept falling over, was taking coke on stage, forgetting words etc. She had an amazing voice still but it was an awful performance. Imagine even six months earlier it would have been gig of a lifetime. Sad

adaline · 18/08/2019 22:10

Ed Byrne was really disappointing live - no stage presence and just plain blah really.

1Morewineplease · 18/08/2019 22:18

Saw one of my all time favourites at the Birmingham Hippodrome in the early eighties, Dave Allen. Was distraught to see him constantly using the ‘f’ word and ‘c’ word during all his monologues. The monologues weren’t even new material.. just re-hashed from previous tv material.
Loved Simple Minds at the Birmingham Odeon in late 70s although Jim Kerr fell off the stage! 😲
Big Country were fantastic as were Level 42.

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