Reviews

I, too, feel I should air my view here... but because it is from a different perspective to everyone else so far.

I am an Alan Moore fan, not a The Enid fan; in fact, I had never even heard of the band until I saw a Facebook post announcing Alan Moore's guest appearance at the show. I booked a ticket because I wished to see my idol and had never come across any other opportunity.

Those of you who said his performance was too different to the rest of the show to fit well are correct... but so too was the short organ solo, which no-one has commented on so far. And I do not feel that doing something jarringly different was a wrong move, but done to be bold/radical... and surely that is admirable?

However, I do take strong exception to the views that the content was inappropriate to the audience; adults take children to any (adult-oriented) rock show at their own risk.... and frankly why should /anyone/ be shielded from challenging content? Some of the poem included matter-of-fact content, but "TubaTim" particularly is wrong to call it "explicit":

For any organisation to force this explicit content on an audience who were mostly not expecting it (there was no clear prior warning that such adult material would be presented, and no organised option to avoid it for those who deemed it inappropriate), I feel is incredibly selfish on their part, and shows contempt for the feelings of the more innocent members of the audience. In fact, it seems to me bordeline criminality to expose minors to explicit sexual material of this nature.

I have reread the poem to check my recollection. It is a piece of social history (with a bias, granted), presented in the form of an epic love poem. Surely, there is no /contempt/ for people's feelings, but respect instead that the audience is grown-up enough to receive what it hears.

As a visitor to the band, what I found offensive was the sheer number of people talking through the band's performance (interestingly, not through the poetry reading), which greatly hindered my first opportunity to appreciate the music.

Alice


PS dillinger, yes, I think you are missing something; one doesn't need to be subject to social prejudices to appreciate (and be able to write about) the effects and consequences, etc. Moore has frequently written about all sorts of social issues, but that doesn't mean he has experienced them all; he has a deep empathy with passions, stigmas and struggles faced by anyone. (BTW, I too am married - to a man - and have a child... but I'm not straight and never have been; Moore's first wife certainly wasn't, and it would surprise me to find that his current wife was straight.)

The sound mix last night was excellent, but markedly quieter than any previous occasion that I've seen the band live. Obviously they had to match the orchestra's sound level. Can someone who knows tell me how much of the band sound was going through the PA (which was tiny compared to last year's gig at the same venue). Dave Storey's drums seemed unmiked to me.





Is this the first post not to mention you know who?

I'm not sure Dave needs his drums miking up he hits them that hard! His drums certainly know they have been hit As to the other stuff no idea I'm afraid.

I loved the concert, however I may be in a minority but it did feel like the CBSO supported by The Enid, did someone forget to mike up Jason's guitar and Dave seemed to have gone part time. I thought that the power of the band was missing, actually thought they were far better at Weyfest than last night!

As for Alan Moore, all I will add to the many statement is, where is our right of reply? Next time can we have a balanced view and in future if you advocate the encouragement of bringing children and young adults (as I did) we need to be made aware of the intention to have this type of content....so we can have a choice (Robert!!!!).

Alice - Forgive me for asking, but where were you siting last night ? Only there was one person last night sitting next to me last night who spent the whole night on her phone and listened half ear cocked and only livened up during the monologue, and was the last person to finish applauding after the wearinesss. Either that, or your ar e a reviewer from the local press...


I

I can't believe some of the criticism on here of the Alan Moore appearance. The event was slightly spoiled for me, but not because of the poem or the delivery but because of all the harrumphing and tut-tutting around me. Narrow minded homophobic Enid fans. Who'd have ever thought it.

...Those of you who said his performance was too different to the rest of the show to fit well are correct... but so too was the short organ solo, which no-one has commented on so far...

...Sean on the pipe organ was great. Boy that thing could sing in his hands. When he said "Renaissance" .... I didnt think he meant the band of that name. I knew the refrain of "Running Hard" from "Turn of the Cards" instantly but dont know its earlier origins. Great band if a little twee at times...

The sound mix last night was excellent, but markedly quieter than any previous occasion that I've seen the band live. Obviously they had to match the orchestra's sound level. Can someone who knows tell me how much of the band sound was going through the PA (which was tiny compared to last year's gig at the same venue). Dave Storey's drums seemed unmiked to me.





Is this the first post not to mention you know who?

I'm not sure Dave needs his drums miking up he hits them that hard! His drums certainly know they have been hit As to the other stuff no idea I'm afraid.

He certainly doesn't need any extra help!! From where I was sitting, about 10 rows back, I was almost deafened when he got into his "swing"

It kind of drowned out some of the music for me, so he didn't realy need 'miking up'

As others have said, a great gig which made the music sound even better with the CBSO. Fand has been one of my faves for a long time (along with Sheets of Blue, and Dark Hydraulic), and it sounded magnificent with the orchestra - the final climactic movement always sends a shiver down my spine, but last nights version almost brought me to tears.

The only other time a gig has had such an emotional impact on me was when I saw Led Zeppelin at Earls Court in 1975!!!

Alice - Forgive me for asking, but where were you siting last night ? Only there was one person last night sitting next to me last night who spent the whole night on her phone and listened half ear cocked and only livened up during the monologue, and was the last person to finish applauding after the wearinesss. Either that, or your ar e a reviewer from the local press...I

I sat in the circle. I used my phone a couple of times to see if anyone was tweeting about the show (as has happened in many other events I've been to), but there was no reception in the auditorium so didn't keep it up. I paid attention throughout (don't know what "half ear cocked" means, really!), keen to grasp the whole performance. I'm not a reviewer of any sort!

I can't believe some of the criticism on here of the Alan Moore appearance. The event was slightly spoiled for me, but not because of the poem or the delivery but because of all the harrumphing and tut-tutting around me. Narrow minded homophobic Enid fans. Who'd have ever thought it.

Very, very well said. And now that tut-tutting is carrying on here. Those who complain about children hearing the poem are exactly those who should try to understand the issues surrounding Clause 28.

A

I think I get the point, RJG.

The debate on this thread has ranged from outright condemnation to accusation of homophobia to appreciation of art.

Everybody knew the music would be wonderful. And it was. Some minor gripes about the mix, the timing early on and the difference between early and late(r) Enid material. That night was what we have been waiting for for three decades.

The spanner in the works is what true artists do. All Enid fans will know of RJG's sexual orientation. He has never rammed it down our throats (OK - bad choice of words) - but what he would like to do is take people out of their comfort zones. On a big stage, the opportunity to be mischeivous is so tempting.

Our leader knows he will never be a multi-millionaire on the back of his works.

Did i enjoy the datribe? No
Do i respect the right to free speech? Yes
Did i think it "appropriate"? No
Did it impact my enjoyment of the music? No
Do i think the piano should have been higher in the mix? Yes
Do i think that RJG will be remembered for longer as an artist because of it?

The sound mix last night was excellent, but markedly quieter than any previous occasion that I've seen the band live. Obviously they had to match the orchestra's sound level. Can someone who knows tell me how much of the band sound was going through the PA (which was tiny compared to last year's gig at the same venue). Dave Storey's drums seemed unmiked to me.





Is this the first post not to mention you know who?

I'm not sure Dave needs his drums miking up he hits them that hard! His drums certainly know they have been hit As to the other stuff no idea I'm afraid.

He certainly doesn't need any extra help!! From where I was sitting, about 10 rows back, I was almost deafened when he got into his "swing"

It kind of drowned out some of the music for me, so he didn't realy need 'miking up'

I meant Dave's drums looked unmiked (apart from a couple of overheads); they could certainly be heard.

I suspect Jason's guitar wasn't miked up, but I could hear him well.
This was the first time I've seen a band + full orchestra and the whole band set-up seemed quite different.
The PA seemed to consist of one 4 x 12 cab on either side of the stage, and I couldn't see a mixing desk

When we bought the tickets we eagerly expected an evening of beautiful Enid music, not a lecture on homosexuality or clause 28 or anything else for that matter. There is surely a different time and a place for lecturing on such matters, NOT during an Enid concert.
Secondly, it was a very poorly written piece of material by Mr Moore, if he is such a great writer then clearly this wasnt amongst his better efforts.
Thirdly, no-one is being homophobic. It just wasnt the time and place for this material.
Lastly, i am saddened that after 34 years of supporting the band, that the evening which should have been their greatest triumph, will only be remembered for a shockingly bad piece of material and the resulting controversy.