Southport 15th September Review

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Southport 15th September Review

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Even though the theatre was only one third full the concert went ahead and that was good. Not sure how low the figures would have to be to cancel. Hopefully the rest of the gigs will go ahead too.

Couldn't find any review from the Chronicle the local Gateshead newspaper for the previous night's gig at The Sage Theatre , or how big the attendance was.

The Liverpool Post asks a good question. What puts people off? And then answers that it might be the prospect of Geldof going into some sort of rant and demanding their money. Without doubt a lot of the audience would have been older fans of the Rats and some latecomers to his solo career. Some, believe it or not would have bought his latest album. The numbers may not be huge but two hundred people showing up shows a certain loyalty and faith. Nobody was forcing them to go.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

noelindublin wrote:
What puts people off?

I don't think people are put off, I just don't think there are enough people wanting to see Geldof in the numbers required to sell out larger venues in the UK.

200 people is a pretty decent turn out, and the sales at the five UK dates all seem decent. I don't see any concert on the current tour been cancelled unless no one turns up.

When Wilko Johnson tours he plays London venues like The 100 Club and the Islington Academy or the Bilston Robin in the midlands. Glenn Tilbrook does similar sized venues. I would suggest that Geldof's musical reputation these days is at best on a par with either of these, even though venues are larger and his ticket prices are higher.

As an aside, Elvis Costello can't sell out these venues either and I would have thought a 600 seat venue wouldn't be a big issue for him...

The Sage wasn't sold out. Most of the top tier was empty and the audience was a bit on the quiet side. Still, EC and the band seemed on fine form and in good voice. The show started a bit later than the advertised 7.30 and ran for almost exactly 2 hours.

http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Concert_2010-06-30_Gateshead

http://www.shieldsgazette.com/lifestyle/entertainment/music/elvis_costello_the_sage_gateshead_1_1266166

-- Edited by ArrGee on Friday 16th of September 2011 01:19:58 PM

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Sometimes money, or lack of it is a consideration and people may have a limit to the amount of concerts they can go to. Sometimes it's the sheer number of artists playing live and music fans having to prioritise who they go and see.

It would be good to know how the Gateshead gig went. Interestingly Geldof eschews Newcastle and Liverpool, for Gateshead and Southport. He is probably afraid of not selling these larger cities and no matter how 'tough' he can seem it's always a test of a singer's ego if he finds that he had lost, or not gotten through to a potential audience. All those hours wasted on breakfast tv! Still there's no sign of him throwing in the towel and gracefully or not, retiring.

Not sure how often Elvis Costello tours but I've always felt he was a bit overexposed, releasing nearly an album per year, under various guises. If Costello didn't release so many albums then maybe his appearances, being rarer , would cause more interest.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

noelindublin wrote:
Interestingly Geldof eschews Newcastle and Liverpool, for Gateshead and Southport.
Gateshead venue is just on other side of Tyne by the Tyne Bridge, so is effectively Newcastle. Southport is nowhere near Liverpool though. Well unless you'd consider Naas to be near Dublin.

Scottie · Loudmouth

Even better one here. Newcastle was fantastic. Have been trying without sucecess to upload pics. There are good videos on the Rats songs up on youtube. Just search Geldof Southport Off to croydon and london now. This tour is gonna be the bet yet.

http://www.liverpoolstudentmedia.com/bob-geldof-gig-review-southport-theatre-september-15th-2011

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Here's Mary of the Fourth Form from Southport as a sampler. Was there a healthy attendence figure at the Gateshead gig, Scottie?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy-9aJ_CNag

-- Edited by noelindublin on Saturday 17th of September 2011 11:45:18 AM

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Southport is twenty miles north of Liverpool, a short journey of the city's Merseyrail but I suppose all distances are relative.

Naas is near Dublin, with a fast rail connection but equally I take your point about distinct towns in relative proximity to each other.