Loading ...Delighted to get tickets for the Dan Lyth and Foy Vance gig at the Courtyard in Kenmore (23 Oct), we headed out for a night of music and banter with friends after a hard week of work and the beginning of winter. Looking forward to a good night out in a local venue with something a bit different; in an area which can struggle to draw in new and interesting acts.
The night seemed to struggle to get started, but eventually Dan Lyth and band joined the stage and once the volume levels were adjusted the music was well worth the wait, nice tunes, good sound, looking like the perfect start – they had a kind of ‘Belle and Sebastian’ feel too them.Â
After a set of an hour or so, we were ready for Foy’s headline appearance; he took the stage to get started – finally (9.45ish) getting into it.
At this point the gig took a turn to the bizarre and after the 3rd plug for the Temple Gallery Foy got started with his set – great tunes, great voice, but why do I hear Shushing, shhh, shhh! I thought we were in a bar, at a gig, having a good time!
The shushing turned to another ‘wee’ announcement as we were asked to keep the chatting to a minimum as it was not helping the sound, or it was distracting or even off-putting. Talkative guests were told that, if they wanted to enjoy each other’s company they could move to the other bar, around the corner, and chat there away from the music we came to see.
This was backed up by the bar staff telling us that – “we’re not serving while he’s playing – the chat is distractingâ€; Foy even paused for a moment to tell those of us who were having the crack to “Shut up!†– we hadn’t realised there were rules in place for the enjoyment of music and company on a night out – especially in Scotland, the home of good times.
Don’t get me wrong – the music when played - was great, Dan Lyth are a band I will be looking to hear more of, Foy seems to be a fine musician with a great sound and style – maybe just a bit uptight.
November 4th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Maybe Foy was shushing everyone to make sure no-one missed the next Temple Gallery Plug!
October 29th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
I went to see Barclay James Harvest at Perth concert hall last Friday and had a great seat at the back and middle of the hall, great view. All was fine until a group of around 10 sat next to us and all we heard was a constant ‘yak, yak’ for the first couple of numbers. Very annoying when you pay £25 for a ticket to see and listen to a band. Myself and my wife moved away around 7 or 8 seats but the noise was very distracting to us (and I am sure to many others there). I lost my temper a bit and shouted at them to shut up which started loud verbal abuse and a jacket being thrown at my wifes head. The security were great and were were moved to another seat way down and around 10 minutes later some of them were ejected.
The point I am trying to make is that I like music, I like to hear it without any disturbance, expecially when you pay good money to hear it (not like it was punk or heavy death metal or the like). Maybe I am unreasonable, dont know!I would also say that it is maybe different in a bar situation like you were in.
Anyhow, just my tuppens worth.