Is There Still A Place In The World For The Wildhearts?

[nuno75]

Not at the rate they're going, no. Great as it was the self-titled album was an attempt to re-hash their glory-days. What they need now is another Endless Nameless. A reinvention and at least an attempt to be something new and interesting.

When they started they were something different for the time at hand. Then the times caught up with them and they started feeling a little more commonplace. Then they attempted to make another real splash with something new and different, Endless Nameless... and failed. As a result of that they've been playing it safe ever since... with the pop-luster of Must be Destroyed and the tried-and-true of Self-Titled. It's all great to me as a long-time fan... but it's nothing that's gonna turn on new listeners and nothing that's gonna change anything.

They really need to start pushing the envelope again... taking chances. Lacking that, maybe it's best they just leave us with what we have. I'd rather see them burn out and leave us wanting more than to fade away and end up embarrassing themselves.

[stuff]

Many in this thread have said "Ginger had a bad night"

Frankly, I think it is his own fault. He said the band had not sound checked yet whinged about the crappy sound and threw his toys out of the pram...

In another thread Monica said the band needed to be professional... and after 20 years of gigging you'd think Ginger - the whole band even - would be a damn site more professional.

Their fans pay their hard earned money to see the band... and I don't know about you, but twice in the last three months (SB Empire too) I've had to put up with shitty sound and a band complaining about it... That just shows little or indeed no respect for the fans.

I would have thought that the band could get a sound guy that understands that a good sound is crucial...

The problem is The Wildhearts try to be the loudest... which if they got the balance would be fine... but they don't.

They need to turn the front of house down a bit - so that the bounce back in smaller venues does not affect the stage sound.

They need to soundcheck properly - personally I think the way Radiohead do it and start with the vocals rather than the drums works best...

They probably also need to turn down the onstage amps too, so they can hear what is coming out of the monitors... or invest in an in-ear system.

Unfortunately, I am beginning to think that Ginger is too stuck in his ways to care about the fan experience - but I for one will certainly think carefully about buying a ticket again. I do not think that it is unreasonable to expect a professional band to deliver a professional sound and have a professional attitude.

[PeeCee]

hahahahahaha geeezzz you're comparing a loud rock band to a puffy shitty pop band that can't take their fingers out of their asses???? if a band like the WH would turn the volume down you would moan about the lack of... ermm "feeling"

Anyone knows when Zeen Requiem will be out?

[Jason_scorching_past]

Personally I think the band play too loud anyway. As someone who has tinnitus I have to wear ear plugs to a gig to take the edge off the sound and to me that volume sounds fine. On the rare occassions that I hear them without my ear plugs it almost seems like volume for volume's sake. I know it's not very rock 'n' roll and all that but if they are having trouble getting the sound right maybe lowering it a bit would help. I dunno if many people would agree though, but I would go for clarity over volume.

[PeeCee]

I respect all your opinions but for sound clarity I rather stay home and listen to a record tinnitus is shit man I have it too but I can't stand earplugs

[Jason_scorching_past]

Not at the rate they're going, no. Great as it was the self-titled album was an attempt to re-hash their glory-days. What they need now is another Endless Nameless. A reinvention and at least an attempt to be something new and interesting.

When they started they were something different for the time at hand. Then the times caught up with them and they started feeling a little more commonplace. Then they attempted to make another real splash with something new and different, Endless Nameless... and failed. As a result of that they've been playing it safe ever since... with the pop-luster of Must be Destroyed and the tried-and-true of Self-Titled. It's all great to me as a long-time fan... but it's nothing that's gonna turn on new listeners and nothing that's gonna change anything.

They really need to start pushing the envelope again... taking chances. Lacking that, maybe it's best they just leave us with what we have. I'd rather see them burn out and leave us wanting more than to fade away and end up embarrassing themselves.

I don't think there's any danger of that happening, the last album got great reviews and was seen as a return to form. I think the last thing they need is another Endless Nameless, that was career suicide really.

As long as they make decent enough money out of what they do (?) I think they should carry on in the same vein. I am sure they will pick up fans at festivals and in the US and start to gradually build a head of steam up again. It wont happen overnight and I doubt they will ever reach the mainstream, but the mainstream likes X factor and Coldplay so that explains it really.

I don't think the Wildhearts need to change their sound or go for some experimental approach, cos Ginger has a knack for writing great songs and that is all that matters. Something like Zeen Requiem seems quite a simple track but to me it's one of the best songs I have heard in ages. If you look at popular bands like say Green Day or Foo Fighters, their sound/style remains fairly constant. It boils down to how strong the songs are.

It's very hard to come up with something new and original and I don't think The Wildhearts' style/sound has become commonplace. There isn't anyone who mixes heaviness and melody as well as they do.

[PeeCee]

... and if Ginger can't cope with the volume on stage he should go back to his hippy accoustic pile of shite for godsake. Just my humble opinion

[nig1012]

... and if Ginger can't cope with the volume on stage he should go back to his hippy accoustic pile of shite for godsake. Just my humble opinion

wow dude you don't hold back do ya just say what you feel we're all friends here

[Stuart Brackpool]

Every time they've played the West Midlands for a number of years I've always been down the front. In Wolvo a couple of weeks ago I thought I'd try the middle of the venue, see what that was like. It was like a different band, everything sounded so clear. Mine eyes have been opened. Missed the bruised ribs, though. Next time..!

[richyboy1981]

The WH are a rock band, and therefore they will play loud...simple...the day i start wearing earplugs to gigs is the day i stop going and start voting on X Factor.

I was at the Oxford gig. I had a great time. However, the gig was not as good as the Wolvo gig at the end of 2007, which I feel was the best ive seen them in a long time. For that tour they seemed to have really put the work in - medleys, setlist, energy, tightness etc. kinda made it special.

When i saw them in Oxford, they were very workman-like. Did the job. it was missing the spark a bit for me. Setlist was ok, but again a bit too standard - although hearing JiL was a highlight for me. Maybe it had something to do with all the flights they had had recently.

I also think that a bit more promotion in the UK wouldnt go amiss.....

[Pudu]

I think that a lot of the reviews have been overtaken somewhat by London. It seems a lot more people that went to the London gig post compared to others and this seems to have put a slant on things that the whole tour was poor.

Both the HRH and the Manchester gigs were great and even had my mate (who normally stands at the back these days) in the middle of the crowd moving like a good un and after both gigs stated how Ginger seemed to have got some of his old fun back and that he hadn't seen him enjoy him have so much fun in recent years as he did on this tour.

[stuff]

Jesus...

I don't think I suggested it would not be loud... just not as stupidly loud as they have had it... so stupidly loud that it affects the performance to a considerable degree...

Would you rather have the Wildhearts firing on all cylinders or Ginger whinging about the crappy on-stage sound because he was too lazy to sound check.

Trust me I remember when they used to have great sound every night... but at SBE and the Forum the sound totally sucked out front... and obviously was not much better on stage...

If the Wildhearts want to have a future... they should be professional about it... people pay to see - and hear - a good show...

[lob]

Well they can come back to the Oxford academy every Friday next year and play like they did t'other week and i will be there every f***ing night. And if they want to do a few more themed nights like the Earth Vs gigs I would be a very very happy old twat too.

Steve

[Jason_scorching_past]

The WH are a rock band, and therefore they will play loud...simple...the day i start wearing earplugs to gigs is the day i stop going and start voting on X Factor.
.

If you had constant ringing in your ears you might consider it, trust me it isn't fun. The suggesion wasn't to sop playing loud, just not quite as loud. Maybe a 9 instead of a 10.

Ginger won't ever do that anyway, and it only seems lately there has been complaints about the sound at gigs, I've never heard him say it before at any of the other gigs I've been to.

[Chris DLS]

I think that a lot of the reviews have been overtaken somewhat by London. It seems a lot more people that went to the London gig post compared to others and this seems to have put a slant on things that the whole tour was poor.

Both the HRH and the Manchester gigs were great and even had my mate (who normally stands at the back these days) in the middle of the crowd moving like a good un and after both gigs stated how Ginger seemed to have got some of his old fun back and that he hadn't seen him enjoy him have so much fun in recent years as he did on this tour.

I agree with Pudu - I was at HRH, as well as London, and was bouncing and singing all night - the band were superb that night. Like I said when I first asked the question, everyone has one bad night - doesn't mean you're crap.

And as for Wildies having a future - just looking at the passion in some of these replies shows there are people out there that do really care.