Louisville 11/22 Reviews

[aMD]

ok, I couldn't go, so make me feel like I was there.  How did it all go down?

[Scott D]

I'll start.  I've seen MMJ 8-10 times in Louisville, and this was by far my least favorite show.  The music was alright, although the setlist included most of my least-favorite MMJ songs.  Oh, well...

First disappointment - from where I was sitting off to the side - for a good portion of the show, the sound reminded me of listening to a cassette in a cheap car stereo and turning up the volume as loud as it can go - really muddy and distorted.  It was probably due to the acoustics of the venue.  Also, what's with the excessive use of the strobe lights aimed at the audience?  Combined with all the smoke, it just gave me a headache.

Biggest disappointment for me - smoking!  It's a non-smoking venue.  I confirmed this with the security guards.  There is no ventilation system as far as I could tell.  (The venue probably should have done more to convey this to the people at the concert.)  But, people were smoking EVERYWHERE - it was like a smoke-filled bar.  And security did absolutely nothing about it.

When I bought tickets for myself and my 8-months-pregnant wife, I assumed people would follow the rules and not smoke in a non-smoking venue.  When you go to see a symphony (in a non-smoking venue), you take it for granted that people won't be smoking.  Why should this be any different?  So, I'm sitting in seats way off to the side, next to my very obviously pregnant wife, with 2 kids behind me (roughly 10 years old) with their Mom.  No less than 3 people sat down right next to us and started smoking!  If you're not going to follow the no-smoking rule, at least don't sit down right next to a pregnant lady and 2 young kids.

The smoke got really bad, so we left after about an hour of MMJ's set.  So, overall, I was disappointed with the show, but not because of the music.

My first time seeing Wax Fang - I was impressed and would see them again.

OK, I'm done with my venting. I'm sure I sound like a cranky old man.  I hope everyone else enjoyed the show more than I did.

-Scott

[ali]

sorry to hear you had a disappointing gig... that's so crap that the smoke made you & your wife leave early scott, i've been in similar situations and it can get unbearable. even crapper that it was supposed to be smoke-free... particularly bad for your wife too!

 :(

[ycartrob]

I'm sure I sound like a cranky old man.

yes, you do.

[ultravisitor]

No less than 3 people sat down right next to us and started smoking!  If you're not going to follow the no-smoking rule, at least don't sit down right next to a pregnant lady and 2 young kids.

Honestly, you should have said, "Excuse me, but my wife is pregnant and you're smoking right next to her.  Do you mind?"

[BH]

Holy crap, you can go see a rock and roll show at a non smoking venue?  I had no idea.

[Sammified]

There was a lot of smoke, but I must say, from the floor the show was absolutely fantastic. Run Thru was the standout of the night for me, though Magheeta (my No. 1  MMJ song) gave it a solid run for its money.

For some reason every time I'm at a GA concert I end up next to an incredibly loud and obnoxious group of high school kids. They were gone by Wordless Chorus (which was just a lot of fun) and not a big deal.

Great show. Good enough to join this message board just to say how good it was.

[TheBri-Man]

This was my fourth time seeing the Jacket, and I have to say it was the best. The venue wasn't great but I got their early and was in the second row. They came out behind a white sheet that covered the entire stage and played the intro to OBH, when the song kicked in the curtain dropped and they were already rockin out. It was nuts! I look in front of me and the fellas are just going at it and Jim has on these ridiculously awesome skeleton boots!!! I look behind me and their are 25 beach-balls, some shaped like sea creatures bouncing around. It was a great atmosphere from the front. The setlist was pretty jamming, and Dancefloors was by far my highlight. I thought Carl might loose his mind during that song.  Although, Phone Went West sounded great too. Dahhhh I still cant hear anything out of my left ear and I can't speak, but I could care less. It was a great show. They had amazing energy tonight. To top of my great concert event, I caught one of Carl's picks at the end, which has the monkey logo and his signature printed on it. Ahhh, sorry for the long post, I just am still on a high. Bottom line, it rocked...alot!

[ycartrob]

Holy crap, you can go see a rock and roll show at a non smoking venue?  I had no idea.

The NorVa in Norfolk, VA is non-smoking, all ages. We saw kings of Leon there, very cool.

[Scott D]

"Honestly, you should have said, "Excuse me, but my wife is pregnant and you're smoking right next to her.  Do you mind?""

I did ask them politely, and they all stopped smoking.  I just thought it was surprising that you'd sit down next to a pregnant lady and 2 young kids in a non-smoking venue and then start smoking.

"Holy crap, you can go see a rock and roll show at a non smoking venue?  I had no idea."

I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic...?  Aside from a bar, what indoor venues hold rock concerts and allow smoking?  If the venue isn't ventilated, doesn't offer ash trays, and isn't even allowed to allow smoking, why would people be allowed to smoke?

Regarding the sound - I'm sure it was better up front, and the beach balls and giant curtain looked pretty cool.  

[marktwain]

The smoke was a real issue.  I'm not a wuss about such things,  but I'm pretty sure I experienced the equivalent of smoking a pack last night.  I ended up almost passing out - I had to drag myself out of the arena during Dancefloors to keep from falling down.  (Granted, the alcohol and whatnot didn't help, but I've never had a problem with any of that before - only tobacco)

As for the strobe lights, I thought they were amazing.  I had this flashback to being a kid at Showbiz pizza, and they had this room where kids could dance around under a strobe light, tripping naturally.

Wax Fang is great.

Nashville to Kentucky was the highlight for me - it was beautiful - full band.

[TEO]

Holy crap, you can go see a rock and roll show at a non smoking venue?  I had no idea.

Sat. night is gonna' be non-smoking.   :D

[Kory]

The show was awesome, though the smoke was quite unbearable... too many little kids smoking bad weed every other song. I had to step out on the last few songs as it was difficult to breath. A positive to that though is that I got to meet Scott and Jake of Wax Fang. I bought a cd and they signed it for me. Great guys and I look forward to seeing them again.

I opted not to take my slr camera because of size and so kids wouldn't throw up on it and took our point and shoot canon, I paid for that mistake. Not too many salvagable shots but here's a few of the opening OBH...

Opening of One Big Holiday from behind the curtain...


when the curtain fell...

[primushead]

The Curtain FALLS?!?!?!

Oh man, I would have nutted myself if I got to see that.

That sucks about the smoke though, you guys.  And as for getting stuck next to obnoxious high school kids, I totally hear you on that.  When I saw shows during high school, I hated those kids (from my own generation, how embarrasing!!) who would just talk through the whole thing and do stupid shit.  Dorks.

[ycartrob]

So what's the green stuff below Patrick's bass drum?

[Paulaner]

It was great to see them play and give so many the opportunity to see them play, but the venue itself sucks.  Not an intimate feel and not friendly to sound.  I would rather see them play the palace.  Southgate House/Bogart's up in Cincy would be awesome as well

Their performance was awesome though.  Amazing energy and played for a little over 2 hrs.  Some of the saxophone portions played out really well

[Kory]

So what's the green stuff below Patrick's bass drum?

Fake grass, the stage was decked out with plants and rocks and the bear in a red suit as well as carosel horses... and they threw blew up animals like octopuses and crabs and owls out in the audience. I grabbed a deflated owl on the way out. I'll take a picture of it later if need be.
Off to turkey day!
Everyone have a great Holiday!

[BH]

I guess it's just because backwoods Missouri is a bit behind the times, but every show I have ever been too has been thick with smoke, and since I quit 5 years ago (this january ;)) I have had to leave my clothes in the garage when I get home becuase they stink so bad.  I feel your pain, I just am surprised that anybody is surprised.   Sounds like maybe it was worse than normal though.

On a seperate note, what about the squalis puppets.  Did they make an appearance?

[marktwain]

Sounds like maybe it was worse than normal though.

On a seperate note, what about the squalis puppets.  Did they make an appearance?

Yeah, when I say I nearly passed out, I mean it.  I couldn't see and I barely made it to the edge of the crowd and pulled myself along the railings to get out of there.  I don't know if I'm allergic to tobacco or what, but it was bad.

The Squallis puppeteers were there dancing before the show, and the 21 santas, too.  The puppets disappeared when the show started, but the Santas remained interspersed throughout the crowd.  One or two made an appearance playing in the horn section for a couple of Wax Fang songs - incl. a cover of 'Stand by Me,' which also featured Jim on guitar and 2 violins

[CrazyFingers]

I was at the Gardens last night. As always, I thought it was a great concert. Nashville to Kentucky and Lay Low were my two personal favorites on the night. I fully understand the complaints about the smoking. I actually smoke and I could barely stand all the smoking going on in the building. I do my best to keep it at a minimum during shows out of respect for others.

We had a Jim James sighting before we even got to the show. We parked right in front of the Gardens and walked to 4th Street Live to get some beers. As we were heading down the sidewalk I looked up and there was Jim just walking down the street by himself. Unfortunately, he wasn't wearing those crazy KISS boots yet.

Overall, it was a great show but because of the venue it was not as good as last year's show at The Palace.