Woops! You'll want to steer clear of my review of "Parachutes" in my journal then!
Seriously, I know people hate Coldplay, but (and I'm not a huge fan, but I do like their music. Mostly) isn't it sometimes easier just to knock something because it's there and it's got bigger than really it has any right to be? What about REM? They're surely an arena band (or were): do you think they sold out, and do you think that of all bands who play arenas, or did I miss the point? I know it was essentially a rant at Coldplay, but I do wonder. If the London Philharmonic (or pick your orchestra) play in an arena, is that wrong? What about Peter Gabriel and his orchestra on that "New blood" thing? Or the live version of Jeff Wayne's "War of the worlds"? Some music MUST have been written for arenas --- can you really see Meat Loaf playing the Mean Fiddler?
I never really thought about it to be honest. Gigs have just more or less evolved into larger beasts as the artistes get more popular and more people want to see them, and to accomodate them they have to use arenas. Biggest bands here usually play Croke Park or the Point, which would both be considered arenas, sometimes Phoenix Park, biggest park in Europe. Would you relegate them to smaller venues, thus less people could get to see them unless they played more nights, and that's not always logistically possible?
I think you HAVE to have arenas. Sure, it's much better when it's all small and intimate. I saw both BB King and Steve Earle in the National Stadium, which holds about two thousand people:small, really, in comparison to the likes of the Point which can seat up to 13,000 --- it's called the 02 arena now, as it happens. But those gigs were great. Would they have been better or worse in an arena setting? I really don't think so.
When it comes down to it, I think the music has to stand up, whether it's played for a worldwide television audience or six guys in a pub. The venue should not matter: let the music do the talking, is what I say!
Okay, I'm SLOWLY reaching inside my pocket and taking out my musical prejudices .... see? ... sliding them across the floor... you're in no danger --- backing away slowly, just want to talk.... no need for anyone to get hurt....
