Random reflections on culture, life and the Universe.
Warning: will regularly include Scottish actors.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
How to write a gig review
Paul Fuzz provides not only hilarious and incisive commentary on a popular culture issue (in this case the demise of good music journalism), but also provides a patented Paul Fuzz E-Z Do-It-Yourself Gig Review template.
Okay, THAT is just annoying. I typed a comment, pressed enter and it all disappeared.
What I was trying to say in response to Joe was that to write better gig reviews I will have to get back in the habit of actually attending some gigs! Shame on me...
Aw, Lisa! You gotta get down your local plastic beer glass emporium & dig some new sounds, I don't think I've read any gig reviews on here & I'd be mighty interested to see what you come up with.
Most gig reportage is poor for one very simple reason; it's very hard to do it well. I love going to watch live music, and I love writing about it, but describing the experience without resorting to the formula outlined in my post is pretty tough. If you're reviewing a book or an LP you are expected to say what the text MEANS; apparently people do not think the same is true of reviewing live rock music; a list of what happened and in what order is generally enough. And if I read another review which begins "I arrived at the venue..." Jeez. OF COURSE YOU ARRIVED AT THE VENUE! IT'S SORT OF A GIVEN!! YOUR BEING AT THE GIG COMES AS A DIRECT RESULT OF YOU HAVING ARRIVED THERE AT SOME POINT!! THIS IS EXTRANEOUS INFOTMATION!! (I don't know if capital letters are regarded as rude in BLOGWORLD, I apologise if they are.)
Hi Paul Hmm... well, I've not ENTIRELY been without gig reviews (though they have been more sparce than I would like... Cloud has some more on some of the ones we attended)
"[T]he demise of good music" might have been a better subject.
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ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads-up, Lisa, you're a much more attentive blogger/reader than me!
ReplyDeleteDoes this mean we can expect more inciteful reviews from you?
ReplyDeleteOkay, THAT is just annoying. I typed a comment, pressed enter and it all disappeared.
ReplyDeleteWhat I was trying to say in response to Joe was that to write better gig reviews I will have to get back in the habit of actually attending some gigs! Shame on me...
Aw, Lisa! You gotta get down your local plastic beer glass emporium & dig some new sounds, I don't think I've read any gig reviews on here & I'd be mighty interested to see what you come up with.
ReplyDeleteMost gig reportage is poor for one very simple reason; it's very hard to do it well. I love going to watch live music, and I love writing about it, but describing the experience without resorting to the formula outlined in my post is pretty tough. If you're reviewing a book or an LP you are expected to say what the text MEANS; apparently people do not think the same is true of reviewing live rock music; a list of what happened and in what order is generally enough. And if I read another review which begins "I arrived at the venue..." Jeez. OF COURSE YOU ARRIVED AT THE VENUE! IT'S SORT OF A GIVEN!! YOUR BEING AT THE GIG COMES AS A DIRECT RESULT OF YOU HAVING ARRIVED THERE AT SOME POINT!! THIS IS EXTRANEOUS INFOTMATION!! (I don't know if capital letters are regarded as rude in BLOGWORLD, I apologise if they are.)
Hi Paul
ReplyDeleteHmm... well, I've not ENTIRELY been without gig reviews (though they have been more sparce than I would like... Cloud has some more on some of the ones we attended)
Still, here are some links for you to mock/read:
Sons & Daughters / Delgados
Roots
Mistys Big Adventure / Persil / Melys
Rufus Wainwright (where I first encountered Anna - albeit indirectly!)
Pere Ubu
Not much and I have been to others in the period of this blog - but lacking reviews ... sorry.
Thanks lisa for attractive postings. These links are really helpful.
ReplyDelete