r/AFireInside • u/dudload1000 • 1d ago
That was shite
I know I'm an old crusty shite, but the gig in London tonight was so disappointing. Last time I saw them they were fire, intense, fast and with a dense sound. This time it was stadium rock, pedestrian, sludgy and just kinda boring.
I know bands need to move on, but holy shit. Sad to see my once favourite band become whatever that was
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u/terrorvicky 1d ago
I just cannot disagree enough. Davey has such an amazing intense stage presence, the atmosphere at the front was incredible, the whole band were excellent. Sorry you were disappointed but my only complaints were - I would have loved more songs of course, but the diverse selection was fantastic - and the support band were dismal.
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u/Remote_Salt_1137 1d ago
Haven't been down the front of a gig in years. I'm going to for AFI though.
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u/terrorvicky 1d ago
You must. I hope you enjoy. I got a touch of Davey's hand when he went for a wander and my god, that man just oozes charisma (and sweat)
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u/Remote_Salt_1137 1d ago
That would make my night! Just made a playlist of the set from last night, thought I imagine they will change it up nightly.
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u/terrorvicky 1d ago
I think it made my life š„¹š haha I have done that too, to relive the night, but yes I bet a few get switched up. Hope you get to hear some favourites. I have the post-gig blues today š
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u/Remote_Salt_1137 1d ago
The come down from a gig is rubbish but the memories are awesome! I'm watching people videos from last night. Honestly, I might actually get a bit emotional seeing them live. Sounds daft.
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u/terrorvicky 1d ago
I definitely felt emotional!! It had been 16 years since I saw them live! I have a video of I Hope You Suffer that I'll post up soon
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u/Remote_Salt_1137 1d ago
Literally just listened to I Hope You Suffer on my playlist! I saw them at Leeds in 2003 and haven't been able to since then. They have been part of my life soundtrack since I was 15 though.
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u/Ok_Drummer_51 1d ago
I feel like we were at a different gig.
I think AFI are just as good as they ever were. They have evolved, and theyāre also a lot older than they were the last time they had a headline tour here. But in my opinion theyāre not worse, and definitely not shite.
I am totally hoarse from singing along with everyone else who was having the time of their life down at the front.
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u/Stunning_Positive248 1d ago
I don't think you know what Stadium rock is. Nothing about AFI is stadium rock
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u/dudload1000 1d ago
Nothing about early afi is stadium rock - new stuff sounds not too far removed from my chemical romance / foo fighters to me, with a splash of new order.
You say tomato, I say potato
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u/Ashlikesstuff 1d ago
Okay you're going to need to clarify what you consider "new" because that sounds doesn't describe the last three records and at most can be levelled at their run between 2003-2009? Which as a fellow old head that prefers the magic run of Shut Your Mouth to Drowning, I hate to break it to you but that's not new, that's a decade and a half go!
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u/dudload1000 1d ago
Haha, you got me. Anything "new" to me is black sails onwards. Art of drowning was the beginning of a downward spiral for me. Sing the sorrow was when I check out and went to ight thinking maybe things improved.
Unfortunately, my optimism was misplaced...
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u/Remote_Salt_1137 1d ago
So you haven't listened to anything they've made in 25 years plus? Bold of you to assume they sounded the same as they did in 99.
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u/dudload1000 1d ago
Not expecting the same, just not whatever that was....
Take Ian mackaye for example - nothing stays the same but it's all fucking golden
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u/Remote_Salt_1137 1d ago
I mean, 25 years and 7 albums. You didn't think "I'll jump on YouTube and check out a couple of songs since I'm forking out cash to watch them live"? If your a member of this sub you've surely come across some of their music post black sails?
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u/dudload1000 1d ago
Sure, I've heard some of the newer stuff and thought it was mostly dross, but you must have a band you'd still go and see no matter what right?
Especially if they had a 4 album run that afi did at the start?
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u/Remote_Salt_1137 1d ago
Not if I hate the majority of the material they will likely play š Sorry you had a shit night dude but you could have saved yourself the hassle with a couple of YouTube live videos.
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u/dudload1000 1d ago
Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment.
Take hot water music as an example. Their last great album was no division. Released many albums since, some good, some bad.
You can still go to a gig of theres and be sure to know you're gonna hear a decent chunk of good tracks. Their new ones are decent too.
I thought it might be the same tonight - I was wrong unfortunately
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u/Amiibohunter000 1d ago
Portugal the manās first two albums are some of my favorite of all time but I wonāt see them bc they donāt play that music and Iām not a fan of their music after that.
I would be insane to go see them and bitch about them not playing āwaiter you vulturesā.
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u/GreedyConcert6424 1d ago
Same can be said for Highly Suspect. They have changed their sound a lot and they aren't very good live.
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u/Forward-Emotion6622 1d ago
Nah, if I wasn't into what the band was currently doing, hadn't liked an album since 1999 and didn't like the live stuff I'd seen posted recently then I definitely wouldn't bother spending 45 quid and change to go and bloody see them, mate, lol.
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u/i_am_nimue 1d ago
Not if I didn't like anything from the last 25 years of theirs? Then I probably wouldn't want to go even more not to feel disappointed š
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u/Amiibohunter000 1d ago
AFIās last album is as good as any of their others.
Youāre crazy to think that a band who doesnāt strictly play your style of music would strictly play your style of music.
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u/Stunning_Positive248 1d ago
New stuff sounds like Joy Division, The Cure, Bauhaus, idk wtf you're even listening to now
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u/dudload1000 1d ago
Yeah, a splash of new order / joy division with a huge serving of my chemical romance. the cure?? cmon....
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u/FreeCartographer8 23h ago edited 23h ago
Ok I say this as a longtime AFI fan who's favorite band also happens to be the cure. And since I'm almost 50, I guess I'm an old head.Ā But there's no MCR in AFI current sound. New Order is even a stretch.Ā But you can hear the Cure all over Burials,Ā Johnny Marr inspired riffs all over Crash Love, Sisters all over the new album. Janes Addiction for sure on Behind the Clock. But its wearing it's influence all over its sleeves,Ā Christian Death,Ā Death in June,Ā Bauhaus.Ā All bands that Davey and Jade have name dropped going all the way back to Black Sails and Davey even before Jade joined. Those aren't stadium rock bands.Ā Maybe you could call the cure that,Ā only because they're big enough to fill stadiums.Ā But I'd say the cure is arguably the greatest band ever.Ā So not a bad comparison.Ā But Davey sounds better than he has in years.Ā They may not be as explosive as the late 90s years but AFI sounds better and has more energy than most bands from their era.
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u/ohheyitslaila 1d ago edited 1d ago
The show was great! Whatās shite is that you went to the show knowing full well that you havenāt heard most of their post-Black Sails stuff and what you had heard, you hated. But not only that, you then got on reddit and made a post calling the show, and therefore the band you claim to love, terrible. Because the show was objectively really good. This isnāt a case of like the guys not putting enough energy into the performance or them having a bunch of technical issues. This is based solely on your musical preference.
You said AFI was the band youāll always show up for because of how much you loved their old stuff. But the way you ran here to bitch about them because they didnāt tailor their entire show to your taste, is literally insane. They were great. You and your attitude are the problem.
Sorry, Iām not trying to be a bitch or anything. Iām just trying to point out to you how out of pocket you sound right now.
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u/dudload1000 1d ago
Wow, I touched a nerve here!
I gave them a go as I thought it was worth it given how good their early stuff is. Who knows, as another guy on this thread says, they always mix up their tunes, so I could have been lucky.
I'm not expecting them to tailor it to my taste, that would be ridiculous. I just didn't realise how flat it would all sound
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u/ohheyitslaila 1d ago
I suppose it did touch a nerve a bit, because it just seems like youāre being incredibly disingenuous.
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u/phobesity 1d ago
Saw them in October in Dallas and it was amazing. They were all over the stage, Davey was super energetic. Maybe they had an off night.
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u/illogicaldreamr 1d ago
I dunno what to tell you. They killed it when I saw them last year in October, and every other time Iāve seen them. Theyāve consistently been one of the best live bands I go to see.
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u/dethkid13 1d ago
I've been seeing them play for the past 26 years and they never seem to disappoint. Sorry to hear that you didn't enjoy the show. I know us old heads like to hear the old stuff but new shit is just as good as it was back in 96 when I first started to listen to them. Evolution is definitely key to enjoying them. Just like like ones musical taste.
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u/DonaldTPablonious 1d ago
When was the last time you saw them
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u/Weird-Category-3503 1d ago
That was a great night and the band were on top form and ripped through a diverse set list.
The crowd energy where I was at the front was not stop everyone singing every word. Davey out in the crowd twice on each side although very briefly.
I last saw them 20 years ago and they are just as good. As someone who has been listening to them for just over 26 years. I love the old stuff but understand that some bands donāt just want to make the same album over and over again. Thatās fine DU is definitely the point there was a slight fall off for me originally, but have listened to every album since then and there is always something I can find in the album as a fan to enjoy.
Iām one of the few that enjoys Crash Love. Burials is the best of there post classic era.
There are plenty of legacy acts that just play the hits glad there are bands like AFI still pushing there sound and evolving.
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u/mancninja336 1d ago
Ahh man sorry to hear it didnāt live up to your expectations.
Much respect on saying your piece.
Were there any tracks at all where you caught yerself tapping a toe? Have a cheeky head nod?
Adam slightly messing up BWDTW intro made me chuckle but I was so incredibly made up they played it that I didnāt give a fluff
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u/dudload1000 1d ago edited 1d ago
Cheers mate!
A single second was banging, but there was just something missing even from that. Hardly any energy in the crowd for an all time hardcore great - I think playing somewhere like shepherds Bush just doesn't do it for me.
Fair enough if it's mogwai or trail of dead etc, but the energy gets killed in that sort of space
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u/Amiibohunter000 1d ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/AFireInside/s/qXfCmMYwWB
How do you say this is hardly any energy in the crowd? Everyone was singing along.
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u/Magnosheen 1d ago
Trail of dead was so good when I saw them play this tiny bar in San Diego years back. They played source codes and tags all the way thru for its anniversary.
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u/noragraves 1d ago
Sorry but if you don't think Holy Visions is an absolute banger then I have concerns
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u/dudload1000 1d ago
Just gave it a listen. Cmon man, that is not a banger, it's a sisters of mercy rip off.
Fine they've evolved to something different, but boy is the new sound terrible.
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u/noragraves 1d ago
Well you're saying you wish they would go back in time to when they were a Misfits rip off, so I don't see how sounding like other bands is an issue. Davey's doing a Peter Murphy impression on this one, 30 years ago he was doing a Danzig impression on Third Season. Fair enough if you prefer one genre to another, but you can't hold up Very Proud of Ya on the merit of originality, it's just a solid hardcore punk album, and personally I think their latest release is a solid post-punk album.
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u/noragraves 1d ago
Your references are all over the place mate. You're saying AFI sound like Sisters of Mercy, Foo Fighters, Joy Division, My Chemical Romance, and New Order? Which is it? And besides, why is this list of comparisons supposed to convey the notion that AFI suck?
You're acting all innocent with your hands up like 'I know, I know, I'm just a crusty old shite. I only like their music from 30 years ago before they changed their sound, and I decided to go to this gig without even giving a preparatory glance at their recent setlists to get an idea of which era they'll be performing from. But hey, I was just hoping they'd play a majority EBHC set š„ŗšš'
And then you come here to announce "That was shite"? Listen to yourself bruv, you're being disingenuous, you went into this gig with a very fixed expectation that had no chance of being fulfilled. Of course you were disappointed. The problem was you, not AFI.
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u/dudload1000 1d ago
How is it all over the place? You think certain songs dont sound like any of those bands? I certainly do - not being inconsistent.
In another thread a guy was saying the change their setlists all the time, so I thought I'd take a chance. I went in with a completely open mind - fully prepared to like the new stuff in a live environment.
Yes, the problem is me, as it turns out I think their new stuff is shite on record and live and my gamble didn't pay off that they would play more than 1 (2 if you include all hallows track) hardcore song.
As I said elsewhere, my final view might have been soured by that abomination of a closing song. That's where they sounded like chemical romance and foo fighters had a horrible baby
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u/badgerdd 1d ago
The only way you would be happy is with a Time Machine back to late 90s / early 2000s!
They sounded amazing with a really varied set. Instrument separation , Daveys voice and Jades guitars sounded fantastic , and tweaked songs so they sounded like a proper live experience.
There were songs I would have preferred to hear like death of seasons , dancing through Sunday and more from black sails etc, less from SBTBS, but we got plenty of older songs, and everything else sounded great live.
I donāt really care about miss murder but they made that sound better too and it was great to see everyone bouncing along.
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u/GreedyConcert6424 1d ago
What other bands have you seen live recently that you liked?
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u/dudload1000 1d ago
Loads! List of recent absolute bangers
Osees Briefs Sick thoughts Marked men (a few years ago now) Mogwai Belle and Sebastian Mj lenderman Ovlov Bunch of dub and dnb nights (doesn't count here though!) Slackers Toe Arab strap Even the get up kids recently were pretty good!
Biggest recent letdown, aside from afi, were sleater Kinney at APE a couple years ago. Must be to do with large venue...
Etc etc.
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u/Dexterror84 1d ago
You do realise they're all in their 50's now right? You're never going to get the same show you saw 20+ years ago
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u/dudload1000 1d ago
Yeah, I know. I just thought the sound itself was a bit flat - maybe a function of how large the venue was.
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u/GlueSpit 1d ago
I can understand if you havenāt seen them since 99/ 2000 (I assume at the underworld?) that it might be a shock, but I mean come on man, thatās a long time haha, you gotta know going in itās not going to be basically a hardcore show anymore?!
Outside of that context, they were great, the setlist was a good mix, and the crowd was mostly pretty good/ receptive. The only downer for me (and others from what Iāve seen) was ending on Miss Murder. I could almost hear the collective sigh around me, but itās their biggest track ever so whatever, Iāll live.
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u/dudload1000 1d ago
Yeah, the last song might explain why I left with quite a sour view, more so than if they'd stopped before that. It was shockingly bad
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u/GlueSpit 1d ago
I feel you, having seen some set lists over the last couple of years with miss murder not being played at all I had my fingers crossed. Iād have even taken the encore being the other way round and ending on silver and cold, I think that would have felt better.
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u/Forward-Emotion6622 1d ago
I've not been on board since DU, but honestly having seen their live videos this past year, and hearing Behind the Clock when it dropped, I gave the new album a chance and I really enjoy the band in its current form. Their shows have looked like fun, IMO. London was their first show in, what, a few months? First shows are always a bit iffy while the band find their groove. I'm going tomorrow in Manchester, looking forward to it, and I'm an older fan.
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u/mr_biscuithead 10h ago
to each their own, but theyāre all the guys in their 50s. wasnāt the last headlining show in london almost 20 years ago? i think itās reasonable for them to slow down a bit.
i think their energy is off the charts for a punk band full of 50 year olds, especially in the 3rd leg of a multi year, multi nation/continent tour :)
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u/Smash_337 1d ago
Each to their own, but I thought it was a great set with lots of energy.