5,158 posts
|
Post by TallPaul on Feb 6, 2020 13:02:49 GMT
If there is an 11pm curfew, then I am not sure who has imposed it. Westminster City Council's licence allows performances to continue until midnight, plus an additional 30 minutes for the audience to leave (except on Sundays).
I suppose it could be an LW Theatres thing, to avoid paying overtime, but surely it would just pass the cost on to the promoter.
Or maybe...you know...it's all just a bit of extra drama!
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2020 13:24:42 GMT
If there is an 11pm curfew, then I am not sure who has imposed it. Westminster City Council's licence allows performances to continue until midnight, plus an additional 30 minutes for the audience to leave (except on Sundays). I suppose it could be an LW Theatres thing, to avoid paying overtime, but surely it would just pass the cost on to the promoter. Or maybe...you know...it's all just a bit of extra drama! Whatever the reason, it made for a brilliant finish to the show. You can see the energy from the audience in the video she posted. |
|
|
|
Post by intoanewlife on Feb 6, 2020 13:31:14 GMT
If there is an 11pm curfew, then I am not sure who has imposed it. Westminster City Council's licence allows performances to continue until midnight, plus an additional 30 minutes for the audience to leave (except on Sundays). I suppose it could be an LW Theatres thing, to avoid paying overtime, but surely it would just pass the cost on to the promoter. Or maybe...you know...it's all just a bit of extra drama! Whatever the reason, it made for a brilliant finish to the show. You can see the energy from the audience in the video she posted. Have you ever considered a job with Donald Trump? |
|
19,778 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 6, 2020 13:46:19 GMT
What are the audience doing during the show? Stood up or sat in their seats?
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2020 14:12:06 GMT
What are the audience doing during the show? Stood up or sat in their seats? Stalls are very much stood throughout. Circles are a mix, from the glancing I did last night. |
|
19,778 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 6, 2020 15:54:58 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by danb on Feb 6, 2020 16:35:17 GMT
I remember spending the best part of a Sunday morning in a call box at the end of our street trying go book tickets for the WTG tour with my dads Barclaycard! I was gobsmacked when I got through and got the tickets! I think I must have booked an organised coach trip to Blond Ambition as I don’t remember a similar phone scramble for that.
|
|
|
|
Post by floorshow on Feb 6, 2020 17:45:18 GMT
*I scared the cr*p out of the 30-somethings next to me, telling them we had to get in line at Wembley Stadium at 3.30am to buy tickets for "Who's That Girl" in 1987. No web or easy phone booking back then, LOL. I think those 3 years saw the arrival of little pop up ticketmasters in travel agents and department stores - no more mornings on the phone or sending cheques or postal orders for tickets  |
|
5,158 posts
|
Post by TallPaul on Feb 6, 2020 17:54:29 GMT
There's that scene in Blinded by the Light where the protagonist has to excuse himself on the morning of his sister's wedding, so he can rush to Our Price to buy a ticket for his first Bruce Springsteen gig.
|
|
|
|
Post by danb on Feb 6, 2020 18:11:49 GMT
Think it was a Barry Cooper coach from Warrington that I got...if they weren’t busy ferrying us to swimming lessons it was Alton Towers or the Challenge Cup final! Used to love a coach trip 😬
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2020 20:48:26 GMT
Ah you’re all so lucky to have seen her earlier tours. Sadly I wasn’t born.
|
|
|
|
Post by learfan on Feb 7, 2020 17:31:19 GMT
Was at the same show last night. Madonna, A cappella with "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" to Andrew Lloyd Webber in his own theatre... c'mon, I'd have pretty much paid what I paid for that ticket and said "take more if you need it."
Anyway, for me the show was utterly, utterly stunning and brilliant in every single respect. Madge looked 20 years younger than she is, those knee supports vanished half way through the show and by my watch she was on at 9.05, off 11.15, pretty much non-stop. AND she did a bit of "La Isla Bonita" my favourite.
Amazing too, what a no-phone thing does for the atmosphere. The bars before the show were noisy as people actually talked to each other. Once inside, my corner of the stalls (row O - perfect view) became "party central" as everyone was chatting to one another, swapping concert memories* and then dancing with each other as the show went on.
Delighted it was the full show. One of the party crowd had seen it on Sunday (cut show) and admitted the full one was way better - there is quite a bit you would miss and I don't think the show would have had the same meaning if the opening sequence wasn't there, nor a great bit with a piano.
*I scared the cr*p out of the 30-somethings next to me, telling them we had to get in line at Wembley Stadium at 3.30am to buy tickets for "Who's That Girl" in 1987. No web or easy phone booking back then, LOL.
Haha, i was at Wembley in the 87 too. I remember her having a sweary fit as some lager "glasses" were lobbed onto the stage. |
|
653 posts
|
Post by ptwest on Feb 7, 2020 21:19:47 GMT
I remember the 8 hour stakeout for The Girlie Show at Wembley then the extra 4 hours before she came on stage. Worth every minute to get down to the front. But there is no way I would have the stamina now!!
|
|
|
|
Post by intoanewlife on Feb 7, 2020 22:14:47 GMT
I saw the Girlie Show in Oz, was in the nosebleeds as it was in a stadium but I still think it's her best show.
|
|
2,409 posts
|
Post by theatreian on Feb 7, 2020 22:42:35 GMT
It seems the 2nd show in a back to back show is following the same pattern with the reduced setlist, although she seems to have added The Sound of silence in yesterdays show which had 16 songs not the 15. Seems an odd addition .
|
|
|
|
Post by danb on Feb 8, 2020 7:09:38 GMT
It would be ‘Blonde Ambition’ for me. The only person who had done that level of theatricality & ‘journey’ in a pop show (on that scale) before was Kate Bush. The huge clanking industrial set, the ‘Cherish’ Mermen holding up the stage, swathes of people filling the stage moving from one set up to another. I guess she’s felt like she has to beat this every time.
|
|
|
|
Post by intoanewlife on Feb 8, 2020 13:33:08 GMT
It would be ‘Blonde Ambition’ for me. The only person who had done that level of theatricality & ‘journey’ in a pop show (on that scale) before was Kate Bush. The huge clanking industrial set, the ‘Cherish’ Mermen holding up the stage, swathes of people filling the stage moving from one set up to another. I guess she’s felt like she has to beat this every time. Actually it was Bowie's Glass Spider Tour that started that not Blonde Ambition. Alice Cooper also did huge theatrical shows as well. |
|
653 posts
|
Post by ptwest on Feb 9, 2020 11:27:54 GMT
Proving she can do it when required, last nights show started at 8:50 and finished at 11:05ish. Loved it - I’ve been struggling with Madam X a bit but last night really brought it to life. Such a beautiful show, and Madonna sounded better than I have ever heard her.
|
|
751 posts
|
Post by horton on Feb 9, 2020 15:24:40 GMT
Due to the impossible weather I'll be missing the show tonight  |
|
|
|
Post by danb on Feb 9, 2020 16:54:53 GMT
It would be ‘Blonde Ambition’ for me. The only person who had done that level of theatricality & ‘journey’ in a pop show (on that scale) before was Kate Bush. The huge clanking industrial set, the ‘Cherish’ Mermen holding up the stage, swathes of people filling the stage moving from one set up to another. I guess she’s felt like she has to beat this every time. Actually it was Bowie's Glass Spider Tour that started that not Blonde Ambition. Alice Cooper also did huge theatrical shows as well. Only kind of the case. The ‘Who’s That Girl’ tour did sow the seeds for what ‘Blond Ambition’ would bring to fruition and that was happening In ‘87 too (the same as Glass Spider). Bowie had done the performance arty stuff before and is oft quoted by Madonna as a huge influence; but this was the first time he’d taken it to stadiums. But deffo Alice Cooper in his shows. |
|
|
|
Post by intoanewlife on Feb 9, 2020 17:10:39 GMT
Actually it was Bowie's Glass Spider Tour that started that not Blonde Ambition. Alice Cooper also did huge theatrical shows as well. Only kind of the case. The ‘Who’s That Girl’ tour did sow the seeds for what ‘Blond Ambition’ would bring to fruition and that was happening In ‘87 too (the same as Glass Spider). Bowie had done the performance arty stuff before and is oft quoted by Madonna as a huge influence; but this was the first time he’d taken it to stadiums. But deffo Alice Cooper in his shows. Who's That Girl was pretty dire tho lol Everyone holds Blonde Ambition up as some kind of masterpiece, but in retrospect half of it is actually pretty bland and some of it even embarrassing. It has some amazing moments, but for the most part it is actually pretty ordinary. I think the Girlie Show is a much better show as a whole, even if the song selection isn't as strong. I think as a cohesive 'piece' it holds together much better than B.A does. I still think it's funny that she ditched her brother and he became the devil, but I don't think any of the tours after she 'disposed' of him were anywhere near as creative as the stuff she did with him. Once Jamie King (*shudders) came on board, her shows became generic carbon copy spectacles the same as every other big act at the time that he worked with. Despite her assertions that what she was doing was 'art', they always came across as obnoxious, pretentious and not as fun as her earlier tours. |
|
|
|
Post by danb on Feb 9, 2020 17:29:29 GMT
Only kind of the case. The ‘Who’s That Girl’ tour did sow the seeds for what ‘Blond Ambition’ would bring to fruition and that was happening In ‘87 too (the same as Glass Spider). Bowie had done the performance arty stuff before and is oft quoted by Madonna as a huge influence; but this was the first time he’d taken it to stadiums. But deffo Alice Cooper in his shows. Who's That Girl was pretty dire tho lol Everyone holds Blonde Ambition up as some kind of masterpiece, but in retrospect half of it is actually pretty bland and some of it even embarrassing. It has some amazing moments, but for the most part it is actually pretty ordinary. I think the Girlie Show is a much better show as a whole, even if the song selection isn't as strong. I think as a cohesive 'piece' it holds together much better than B.A does. I still think it's funny that she ditched her brother and he became the devil, but I don't think any of the tours after she 'disposed' of him were anywhere near as creative as the stuff she did with him. Once Jamie King (*shudders) came on board, her shows became generic carbon copy spectacles the same as every other big act at the time that he worked with. Despite her assertions that what she was doing was 'art', they always came across as obnoxious, pretentious and not as fun as her earlier tours. Couldn’t agree more if we’re talking about the Dick Tracy bits...awful! |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2020 22:28:55 GMT
Only kind of the case. The ‘Who’s That Girl’ tour did sow the seeds for what ‘Blond Ambition’ would bring to fruition and that was happening In ‘87 too (the same as Glass Spider). Bowie had done the performance arty stuff before and is oft quoted by Madonna as a huge influence; but this was the first time he’d taken it to stadiums. But deffo Alice Cooper in his shows. Who's That Girl was pretty dire tho lol Everyone holds Blonde Ambition up as some kind of masterpiece, but in retrospect half of it is actually pretty bland and some of it even embarrassing. It has some amazing moments, but for the most part it is actually pretty ordinary. I think the Girlie Show is a much better show as a whole, even if the song selection isn't as strong. I think as a cohesive 'piece' it holds together much better than B.A does. I still think it's funny that she ditched her brother and he became the devil, but I don't think any of the tours after she 'disposed' of him were anywhere near as creative as the stuff she did with him. Once Jamie King (*shudders) came on board, her shows became generic carbon copy spectacles the same as every other big act at the time that he worked with. Despite her assertions that what she was doing was 'art', they always came across as obnoxious, pretentious and not as fun as her earlier tours. Well her brother was the devil, he wrote an exposé. Which in fairness was fairly boring in the end. Ultimately you don’t slag off the person you’re sibling is in love with, marrying and have kids with. It doesn’t go down well in any family. Blond Ambition (there was no ‘e’, a deliberate attempt at the masculine version of the word) was basically the greatest hits tour that ended that part of Madonna’s career. Everything building up to that tour and The Immaculate Collection was about making her the biggest female act. Everything that came after it was in a total differently lane and a real attempt to change from a popstar into an artist. In many ways she managed to avoid the same trap Michael Jackson fell into - trying to better the success he has already had. From what I’ve read it wasn’t enough for him that Bad and Dangerous were better albums, it was all about the fact he couldn’t understand why they couldn’t match Thriller’s sales. The Virgin Tour, Who’s That Girl Tour and Blond Ambition showcase growth as a performer and a popstar learning her craft. She really hit her stride and tour formula with The Girlie Show and what she did there remains the basic blueprint for each tour she’s ever done since. It was the first show she ever did that really focused on the album rather than performing her hits and that’s exactly what she’s doing now on her Madame X Tour. You might dislike Jamie King (he’s only an exec producer on Madame X Tour, Madonna’s the director now) but Drowned World Tour and Confessions Tour are right up there alongside TGS as true works of art imo. It takes an incredibly bold woman to not tour in 8 years then to ignore everything she had done in her 20 year career over her last two albums (with only 4 songs pre 1998). Confessions Tour was a lot of fun though, living up to her usual narrative of starting in a dark place and moving towards the light. I mean she mixed disco with horses and threw in a dollop of Donna Summer - and that’s just the first song! She did 10 out of 12 songs from her latest album on that tour, and shows she didn’t need Holiday, Like a Prayer or Vogue to please a crowd. Then that last half hour is probably the best half hour she’s ever done in any show: Music, Erotica, La Isla Bonita, Lucky Star and Hung Up. It’s been a few days since I saw Madame X Tour and I’m still processing it. It was a great show and whilst I don’t think it was her best, it has some great moment - quite a few songs are staged and performed in a way that makes them just look like you’re watching an art installation. A lot of reviews and fans are saying she’s doing an arena show in a theatre but it’s more than that. For certain songs, yes, absolutely. But where the show really shines in its moments that hark right back to What she did on The Girlie Show: putting the emphasis on the current album over the hits. It’s a very smart move because the temptation would be to just play the hits. Diana, Cher, Elton, Paul etc were all doing that once they reached 60. Yet Madonna is still performing 11 out of 15 songs from her latest record at 61. In fact she only sings 1 song from the 80s in full. I do miss the days when you were at least guaranteed Holiday! |
|
1,133 posts
|
Post by Stephen on Feb 10, 2020 0:31:04 GMT
I was there on Saturday night. Nice to be in a theatre with no phones at all!
It was really interesting for me as someone who has never been to a pop concert. It was certainly an entertaining show and seeing how moved some fans were just to be in that room was touching. Nice surprise when she spotted and spoke to Graham Norton in the front stalls!
What I don't understand (be it a genre or stylistic choice or a necessary one) is the need for the crazy autotune and pre-recorded vocals at points in the show. When she sang the short song with the male guitarist it seemed to be live and her voice was strong.
|
|
|
|
Post by intoanewlife on Feb 11, 2020 15:12:08 GMT
I was there on Saturday night. Nice to be in a theatre with no phones at all! It was really interesting for me as someone who has never been to a pop concert. It was certainly an entertaining show and seeing how moved some fans were just to be in that room was touching. Nice surprise when she spotted and spoke to Graham Norton in the front stalls! What I don't understand (be it a genre or stylistic choice or a necessary one) is the need for the crazy autotune and pre-recorded vocals at points in the show. When she sang the short song with the male guitarist it seemed to be live and her voice was strong. It's a common misconception but you can't actually autotune live vocals. They can use reverb or vocal effects, but you can't 'tune' something as it is being sung as it is being sung. She uses a vocoder at points as that is what is used on the original album versions. They usually use backing tapes of the performers actual voice a lot for background vocals if that is how the recording was especially if there was some computer wizardry going on on the original . If the recording had backing singers they use backing singers. It's so it retains the vocal sound of the albums live and pretty much everyone does it. Funnily enough I was sat next to Graham Norton on the Rebel Heart tour and there was a bit of a drama with him getting up onto the stage as the 'special guest' because they had arrived late and people from rows behind had moved into their empty seats. So security arrived to take him to the stage and of course he was in the wrong seats and they couldn't find him lol |
|
