IMMORTAL!!!!!!! in Chicago 2/22/11

[Diabolik]

Elton John at age 100 continues to play 3 hour shows with no intermission and Immortal can't even do 90 minutes?

*sigh*

We had Gamma Ray play the day after our third biggest blizzard to 100 people for a full 2 hours. They played thier ass off and Immortal charge up the butt and have a huge sell out show and play 75 minutes. I heard the t-shirt line had bigger lines that Great America Theme Park too. Talk about a cash grab.

Like you mention Elton John and even many other older musicians, they can play and sing for hours while these newer acts can barely do over an hour. The worst part is people let it happen and accept it. Instead of being honest and say they feel ripped off people are to scared to say that it wasnt worth the money or that they do feel cheated.

 

[Diabolik]

The Immortal show was awesome! The set time was 10:27-11:51, so more like 85 minutes. They played 14 songs total. They played Blashyrkh in the encore instead of Beyond The North Waves or the set would have been right at 90 minutes. The crush up front was insane. I can't speak for the entire crowd but the crowd near me was really into the show. I didn't hear anyone say they were disappointed after it ended. It was like riff heaven! I would go see them again in a heartbeat.

I am sure people were into it and digging it. Since they missed the boat the first time around. It seemed most of the people who went were the ones who were not into them when they were an active band. Kind of like what Jason said about Emperor. I saw them once and they did put on a great live show. I just hate when bands do these types of tours and cant do something special since they are just doing select cities and stuff.

Look at Amon Amarth doing that big show tour coming up playing 2 sets. Immortal should be doing something simular since it isnt a full on US tour.

 

[Harvester]

I have no doubt it was an awesome show. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I'm just from the old-school where headline bands played a minimum of 90 minutes with most going 2 hrs. They not only earn my hard earned money, but my respect as well. Those are the type of bands that have endured on the concert scene for 20-30 years.

I can totally accept a festival type situation where bands only get an hour. I simply cannot relate when you are a headliner otherwise.

 

[es156]

I am sure people were into it and digging it. Since they missed the boat the first time around. It seemed most of the people who went were the ones who were not into them when they were an active band. Kind of like what Jason said about Emperor. I saw them once and they did put on a great live show. I just hate when bands do these types of tours and cant do something special since they are just doing select cities and stuff.

Look at Amon Amarth doing that big show tour coming up playing 2 sets. Immortal should be doing something simular since it isnt a full on US tour.

The Chicago show was only $35. What was Gamma Ray? $25? I don't think $35 is an outrageous price these days. What were the Blind Guardian tickets last year? I don't think that it is safe to assume that all of the people there last night "missed the boat" the first time. All of the people around me were long time fans. They made fun of me for being a new fan, ha ha.

 

[es156]

I have no doubt it was an awesome show. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I'm just from the old-school where headline bands played a minimum of 90 minutes with most going 2 hrs. They not only earn my hard earned money, but my respect as well. Those are the type of bands that have endured on the concert scene for 20-30 years.

I can totally accept a festival type situation where bands only get an hour. I simply cannot relate when you are a headliner otherwise.

They played 85 minutes as I stated in my first post. I wish all bands played 2 hours but it is just not the case anymore, unfortunately. Especially with the more extreme types of metal. I can't remember seeing a thrash band play more than 90 minutes recently, except for Megadeth. I was actually surprised that Gamma Ray played almost 2 hours. Immortal has been playing 14-15 songs on the entire tour for All Shall Fall, so we got the same basic set. I actually don't think I would have been able to handle another 30 minutes in that crush anyway, ha ha.

 

[Jasonic]

Elton John at age 100 continues to play 3 hour shows with no intermission and Immortal can't even do 90 minutes?

*sigh*

Exactly, agreed 100%

I mean, going back to their roots, Immortal come from an extremely underground 2nd wave black metal scene. Their heros weren't bands that played 2 1/2 hour sets in arenas with lasers and pyro. Therefore, I can see where it's just been a part of them to play that length. I have only seen Immortal previously in support slots, so I can't speak to if in the past they ever played longer headlining sets.

To me though I just think for what they charged in combination with these being "select" shows they could have done better.

Probably as with Bob, I am comparing it to the recent Gamma Ray show which was one of the best shows I have ever attended. I seriously bet it would be in my top 20 with ease.

Most importantly though, I too am glad you enjoyed yourself. I suppose if I was more of a die hard Immortal fan, I would be happy as hell to pay $35 to see a 75 minute set. As a casual fan, which I am, I probably would have felt a bit ripped off.

 

[es156]

Exactly, agreed 100%

I mean, going back to their roots, Immortal come from an extremely underground 2nd wave black metal scene. Their heros weren't bands that played 2 1/2 hour sets in arenas with lasers and pyro. Therefore, I can see where it's just been a part of them to play that length. I have only seen Immortal previously in support slots, so I can't speak to if in the past they ever played longer headlining sets.

To me though I just think for what they charged in combination with these being "select" shows they could have done better.

Probably as with Bob, I am comparing it to the recent Gamma Ray show which was one of the best shows I have ever attended. I seriously bet it would be in my top 20 with ease.

Most importantly though, I too am glad you enjoyed yourself. I suppose if I was more of a die hard Immortal fan, I would be happy as hell to pay $35 to see a 75 minute set. As a casual fan, which I am, I probably would have felt a bit ripped off.

As I stated in my first post, it was 85 minutes not 75, ha ha. 10 more minutes than what you were told. Almost 90 minutes!

 

[Jasonic]

Here are some other interesting comments about this show.
http://www.metalsetlists.com/showthread.php?t=16077

 

[Jasonic]

As I stated in my first post, it was 85 minutes not 75, ha ha. 10 more minutes than what you were told. Almost 90 minutes!

Listen you IRON MAIDEN SHIRT WEARING man you!
We read 75 minutes online.
The internet never lies!!!!

 

[es156]

Listen you IRON MAIDEN SHIRT WEARING man you!
We read 75 minutes online.
The internet never lies!!!!

I timed it. For accuracy. (Yes, I am a set list nerd. )

 

[skyrefuge]

haha, you guys are so dumb. Let's see, judging from this thread, two people who weren't there thought it sucked (and have made 7 posts about it!), and two people who *were* there thought it was awesome. However could anyone decide which side to believe in this debate?

85 minutes is too short? Not for a band like Immortal. I was blown out by the end. It's not like they have ballads, or drum solos (thank Mighty Ravendark!), or big call and response bullshit to break up the set into segments. It's pure blasting heavy metal, so 85 minutes is the perfect length to get your fill without things getting monotonous. It's not like they are incapable of playing longer. This is a standard setlist for them, and I'm sure they've figured out that it's an optimal amount of time for them to play. Leave them wanting more and all that. It seems to work, after all.

Instead of being honest and say they feel ripped off people are to scared to say that it wasnt worth the money or that they do feel cheated.

Yeah, good mind-reading there, I'm honored to have a genius as esteemed as yourself correct my thoughts. So you're right, I sure wish I wasn't a cowering little girl and was capable of honestly expressing my opinion, but instead I have to sit here and pretend that I truly liked the show, and lie by saying that I don't feel ripped off at all.

I am sure people were into it and digging it. Since they missed the boat the first time around.

Wow, how many layers of supercilious wrongness can be jammed into one thread? The last time I saw Immortal was in 2002, and the time before that was in 2000. So I think I'm quite familiar with the boat. This show didn't top the one at 2002 in Riley's, but it was right up there. Immortal performed with exactly the same intensity and effort, the only thing that put Riley's over the top was the crowd and the venue.

Neil

 

[skyrefuge]

I'm just from the old-school where headline bands played a minimum of 90 minutes with most going 2 hrs. They not only earn my hard earned money, but my respect as well. Those are the type of bands that have endured on the concert scene for 20-30 years.

I think this really may be a thing of the past, or more specifically, a certain kind of show that makes up a minority of concerts these days. Yeah, if it's some big arena/shed tour where it takes an hour just to get in and out of the parking lot and to your seats, then the bands are almost forced to play 2+ hours, just to keep the music-part from becoming too small a fraction of the concertgoer's total time expended.

But for most club shows these days, 75-90 minutes seems to be the standard. That's why Immortal's 85 minute set didn't seem at all strange to me. If you walk into a club show expecting the headliner to play 2 hours, you're going to leave disappointed most of the time.

It's like albums, or movies. There's a certain sweet-spot that just tends to be the most effective. Though plenty of exceptions exist, the sweet-spot becomes a standard, presumably through trial-and-error and seeing how audiences react to different durations. For albums, the standard is around 50 minutes (even though they could be made much longer) and for movies it's 90-120 minutes (even though they could be made much longer). For club shows, that time is 75-90 minutes. Go longer than that and you risk wearing out your audience and losing their attention.

Yes, the ticket price for Immortal could imply that their shows are something bigger than a "club show", but that's not how I interpret it. Instead, they're just limiting supply, which raises the price they can charge. And this show was significantly cheaper than NY/LA shows they had done in previous years.

Neil

 

[Harvester]

I think this really may be a thing of the past, .

Neil

Sadly, I would agree with you. That's why I hold those that continue the longer shows in a much higher regard. It's nothing against Immortal specifically as I'd feel the same way about all club shows with that sweet spot you describe. I just don't relate and make no apology for that.

I guess my attention span is a lot longer than the young whippersnappers!

 

[Metalmilitia2000]

I guess my attention span is a lot longer than the young whippersnappers!

Oh great, will this year be the year we see the "Official Progpower USA walking stick"?

 

[Purveyor Of Evil]

I wanted to go, but NY is sold out.

I was there, Milton. Fucking amazing show! Except, that it took forever for them to take the stage fucking me out of Beyond the North Waves. My favorite IMMORTAL song ever. I saw a girl at the end of the show with the setlist and sure enough it was supposed to be the second to the last song. They played 13 tunes. I figure it was about an hour and fifteen minutes. I agree with Glenn. You'd think with only one support band, you'd get an hour and a half at least.

 

[Purveyor Of Evil]

Now, going back and reading Skyrefuge's posts, it does make sense what he's saying. Damn, I wanted Beyond the North Waves, though.

 

[Jasonic]

Neil, I love how you blast Bob to shit, but walk on eggshells around Glen's post which essentially say the same thing.
You really are the weasel I expected you were...

 

[TENTH DREAMER DECEIVER]

If you bought merchandise, they fucked you twice

I was there, Milton. Fucking amazing show! Except, that it took forever for them to take the stage fucking me out of Beyond the North Waves. My favorite IMMORTAL song ever. I saw a girl at the end of the show with the setlist and sure enough it was supposed to be the second to the last song. They played 13 tunes. I figure it was about an hour and fifteen minutes. I agree with Glenn. You'd think with only one support band, you'd get an hour and a half at least.

 

[AngraRULES]

If you bought merchandise, they fucked you twice

Think of all of those guys who keep going to see bands that are 100% not worth it anymore, every single year, doing what everyone thinks might be their very last tour ever (think Priest, Kiss, Asia, Kansas, etc.) and pay astronomical prices for a sub par show...

I guess they really like getting fucked repeatedly. I'd be happy with one Immortal fuck. It'd hurt less than doing it every year, 15 times a year with bands that are just not worth it...

Then again, if people like getting fucked...

 

[skyrefuge]

Neil, I love how you blast Bob to shit, but walk on eggshells around Glen's post which essentially say the same thing.
You really are the weasel I expected you were...

What? Since apparently you didn't do it right on your first try, please re-read my two posts. When discussing the issue of set-length, I used the same neutral tone in both posts.

I only "blasted Bob to shit" when he made presumptions about the internal psychology of concertgoers at a show he didn't even attend. Glenn did no such thing, so how could you think they "essentially said the same thing"? Do you also think that chocolate cake and cat crap are "essentially the same thing" because they're both brown and start start with the letter 'C' and you don't pay any attention beyond that?

By the way, even though I wasn't being a Glenn suck-up in this thread, I reserve the right to be one in the future, what with him being awesome and all. If treating two totally different people differently makes me "a weasel", then I'm proud to be guilty! Anyhow, if I was *really* a Glenn suck-up, I would refrain from fomenting this rancorous atmosphere on his board, right?

Neil