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September 11, 2007 - 7:15am
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Sound at Farm-Aid
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What a shame.
I recently had the same experience......
Saw Harry Connik, Jr. At the Benedum Center (a gorgeously restored concert hall), in PGH.
Great show, horrible sound in one of the best concert halls in Pittsburgh. Stupid audio engr.
Also, recently at my favorite small jazz club in Pgh, some people think loud is better?!?!?!?
Acoustic jazz at 95 dB?
It's done wrong it sounds BAD. Read how this musican knows how bad most venues are due to bad soundmen. Ya'd think something of teh level of Neil young and other top musicans would have some concern about how they sound to their fans and PAYING customers. Rev does, and he is right on teh mopney. I've been to many live events, heard some good some great some bad, some terrrible http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=401415&blogID=219574869
Rev. Horton Heat definitely got it right here. The biggest issue at all of the shows that I've been to has been that bass that makes it feel like your stomach is going to rumble out of your ass, and not in a good way. Kind of in that brown note sort of way. Not only is it unpleasing to the ear, but also feels nasty to the body.
As to the matter of "paying" audience members, it was a fundraiser and the artists were not paid. So I guess ticket prices were more of "donations" but considering the prices of the best tickets (over $1000!), I'm sure those guests wanted to hear something good.
I've been to numerous live events, most of teh time the bass is a blur of one note boom, it makes mud of everything. Blues is not hip hop. Best sound i heard was House of Blues chicago. Then i read the designer dude who does the work for h.O.B was awarded stuff about his excellent work. Pristine sound, bass detail, not loud, not soft, perfectly done. Don't understand why the guys at teh controls thinks the bass is supposed to be on top of everything, cus it ain't. It can be done right, when it is it's GREAT. A few other local places also have done it right every once in a while, some are baaaaaad.
I find that generally any outdoor venue is going to sound horrible. An indoor concert is no guarantee of good sound, but the odds are better.
Best live show I ever heard (SQ wise) was Steely Dan at the Amphitheater near Pittsburgh. I was lucky to know the lighting designer/engr and got to sit with the mixing/engrs crew during the show, and hang with them in the busses after the show....Feagan flew his privet jet out right after the show
... go figure 
His attention to detail in the studio showed though at the concert.
Yea I saw a show at Red Rocks in Denver, CO and it was incredible. I have also been to shows that have the potential to be great and they suck really bad.
I have heard that Red Rock is a fantastic venue, lots of folks have said some of the best show they have ever seen where there.
Oh yea Red Rocks is a great venue. I have seen something like 15 shows there as a patron then I worked there for two summers as concert security. The views are what make the place so special, besides the great acoustics.