Royal Albert Hall 4/5/9 (Page 1 of 5)

Thanks guys for the reviews. I am sure there will be many more coming over the next days. I've been to the RAH quite a few times and for rock & Blues shows the sound can always be iffy. Difficult for them to nail on a one off when the hall is empty. No wonder Clapton plays it multiple nights, he knows it only gets better - soundwise- as they suss out the acoustics.

If I had been there I would be sure to agree with Mitch. Mountain Time is always a high point for me, so as a closer it would have provoked a hair standing moment as well.

It would always be difficult for this gig just to live up to the hype that the forum has given it, but it sounds like it came pretty close. Well done Joe!

Mike H

Well for me it was my first Joe Bonamassa gig and I had been waiting for this moment for months and months and months. It took us (my Father and I) 5 hours to get there, from Norwich, a lot of money (and a lot of traffic!). But it was totally going to be worth it because Joe is my favourite musician, my idol, and it would be the best gig I have ever been to.

Sadly, I was wrong...

We were in Circle R and the sound wasn't just bad, it was atrocious. God knows what the acoustics are like in the RAH because it was actually physically painful to listen to. Even Clapton sounded awful. When Paul Jones came on to play the harp I thought my head was going to explode (and he is a fantastic player). The noise was piercing, it went straight through your head and it actually, literally, hurt.

So we left early, we couldn't take it any more. I was devastated, I genuinely wanted to cry. We got outside into the corridor and suddenly it was all there. We sat in the corridor and listened to Just Got Paid and it was superb. And what's more we had at least 15 people walk past us going, "Wow it's so bad, do you think it was just where we are sitting? It sounds better out here!" and then leave the building. We followed suit, just after Just Got Paid.

I've watched the clip on Youtube of the bit with Clapton and it sounds fantastic even from the video camera. I don't think I can explain how bad it was up where we were (stage right). Well the fact that I own all of his albums, bought the tickets as soon as they came on sale and travelled 5 hours just to get there, and had to leave early says how bad it was for us.

I think it was all simply turned up too much for that venue, where we were the sound was so loud is was actually destroying itself. We could barely hear the lead at times. Joe's voice through that mic sounded like a chipmunk, only way I can describe it. I so badly wanted to go down to the stage and just tell him to sort it out! Dunno if there's much he could have done, but I was praying that someone would get a message to him.

I am so, so gutted and disappointed that this gig was such a waste of time and money for us. Can't get across my disappointment. I want to go to the Norwich gig and give it one more try, but from previous experience there the sound is always way, way too loud to the point that it gets completely distorted and sounds terrible. What's more there's always a crazy mosh pit in the middle, which is where the best sound is.

I know for a fact it was just where we were sitting, and it was incredibly unlucky. But I've read these complaints about Joe's performances before and he needs to do something about it, because for so many fans last night the gig was a complete travesty.

Only good thing, seeing Clapton, the first time for me or Dad and we were stunned, it was fantastic to see him; but like I said you could barely hear him over the two drummers and the bass.

Regards,

Adam

We were sat right next to the stage in section "O" - literally a couple of seats along from whoever took that video - and the sound was pretty decent by RAH standards, but still not fabulous. For me, those sorts of venues are more about the occasion and the spectacle than the sound quality, but it's a real shame if it was that bad at the back and up top.  

I saw B.B. King there once, from similar seats to where you were, and could barely make out anything at all, even when it was just him talking between songs. When his brass section was in full blast it was just a tsunami of noise. In fact the only time that I've ever experienced real clarity of sound at the RAH was for Bobby McFerrin doing one of the BBC Proms there.

Joe's tone was still huge from where we were, although inevitably not as punchy as when you hear it in a more intimate venue.

I wonder if a couple of perspex enclosures around the drum kits might have helped?

nick

I have to agree and came to website to see if anyone else thought the sound was atrocious. Looks like there are a few who do. Shame.

Hi

This is the only post I'm going to make on this forum, as I'm more active on the Aynsley Lister forum.

However I was sitting at the back of the stalls (Joe was about two inches tall from where I was sat) But the sound was sensational. I've never seen Joe live before and indeed was not that familiar with most of his material.

But he sure did rock. I thoroughly enjoyed the sounds and showmanship and it was a pleasure to be at this gig.

I think if you look at the number of people that were applauding and on their feet during the course of the show that probably tells you more about the sound and performance than individual comments (like this one).

Unfortunately all venues have a place where the sound just doesn't work, I do feel sorry for anyone that may have been unfortunate enough to land in one of these spots.

As my only experience of JB, this was outstanding and rates up there with the great performances I've seen.

A big thanks to Greenose - who persuaded me to go to this gig.

BB

I was sitting in the stalls...row 6 so I wasn't very far from the stage and the sound was really good from there! OK, it was too loud a lot of the time but then amplified concerts always are! I am a violinist and have only ever played classical music and I am very particular about sound. This was really good sound for a blues/rock concert. I think it must have been where you were sitting guys. I went to a Stevie Wonder concert in San Diego a couple of summers ago and was seated at the side. The sound was SO AWFUL I couldn't believe it....you could not hear the guitar at all because the bass was so loud and boomy, in fact you couldn't make out the bass line either because it was too loud! But some friends of mine were in the middle and said the sound was very good. It's a drag that sound levels are never exactly the same in different parts of a venue. It's the same with classical music.

Hi Marty

Nice to get a bit of perspective! Joe really did play his socks off as did the rest of the band (both regulars and extended)

I'm also sure that behind the scenes a lot of hard work and effort was also going into the performance.

The sound quality must have been good in the Loggia boxes if Robert Plant's response was anything to go by.

From what I can gather the arena and stalls seating, as well as choir seating were also AOK - so was it just the circle seats?  What about the gallery? Were all circle seats poor sound quality or just certain areas?

I gotta admit I originally had some stalls seats for my party but swapped them for more arena seats at the first opportunity - if its worth hearing, its worth seeing and hearing right

Vicky

"Stellar" a word used by Joe Bonamassa (also apt as a description of the man himself )

Have to agree on the sound quality back up in the circle, but on my first time at the RAH to see Joe and what it must have meant so much to him,I could never have walked out . Good or bad it just is great to say "I was there".