London's Best Big (But Not Arena) Venue - Poll

[sherriff rosco]

you need to sort out why my ears ring everytime i leave.

i stand in front of free party sound systems that do less damage to my ears.

admittedly they are FK1 or Turbosound Aspect + Labhorns but come on, your a venue, they are a bunch of messers

Funnily enuff the shows I engineer in there are usually a big dance night with a HUGE pile of F1...but it`s for the ground floor only so you don`t have the headache of the balcony and as we know dancers love BASSSSSSSSS

But band stuff I`ve done there has been a headache esp` with F1 as getting a good balance over the whole venue is tricky. You also have to account for how the engineer wants his band to sound and the position of the mix desk?

And yep the Forum and SBE have balconies as well but don`t seem to suffer as much ( I`m gonna steer well clear of nerdy maths involving wavelengths etc !).
The Forum is getting a whole new Aspect system Dan so you can go dribble down there ....!


.p.

 

[marty21]

I voted for the Roundhouse. Acoustically it is one of the best venues, offers a superb view all round, the upstairs bit is great too. It has easy access in and out, clean toilets, a nice outside bit for chilling out at in the summer with a cigarette without having to leave the venue and it has a kind of large marquee feel to it, like the dance stage at Glasto or something.

.

i don't do to a lot of gigs now, just fell out of the habit, but i did go and see steve earle at the roundhouse on monday night and thought it was excellent - very civilised, found it easy getting the beers in - not much choice but i'm going to a gig not a fancy pub, and so so easy leaving - plus the acoustics seemed great

 

[isvicthere?]

Academy gets my vote, although I was wlll impressed with the Roundhouse.

My first domicile in London was about 200 yards from the Roundhouse. I've never been in it though. Mind you, at that time (late 80s) it wasn't open to the public.

I'd have to say either Brixton Academy, or RFH.

 

[colacubes]

I do really love Koko - it looks great, really good sound, stage is nice and high. Bar is one of the worst in town though - really over-priced and low on options

This. Koko is probably the best acoustically and in terms of a nice venue but the bar is awful and it does have a moderate Hoxton twat tendency

Best atmosphere is probably the Astoria but the sound can sometimes be rather ropey.

I'm not a huge fan of Brixton Academy. It's alright but a bit soulless.

 

[Dan U]

Funnily enuff the shows I engineer in there are usually a big dance night with a HUGE pile of F1...but it`s for the ground floor only so you don`t have the headache of the balcony and as we know dancers love BASSSSSSSSS

But band stuff I`ve done there has been a headache esp` with F1 as getting a good balance over the whole venue is tricky. You also have to account for how the engineer wants his band to sound and the position of the mix desk?

And yep the Forum and SBE have balconies as well but don`t seem to suffer as much ( I`m gonna steer well clear of nerdy maths involving wavelengths etc !).
The Forum is getting a whole new Aspect system Dan so you can go dribble down there ....!


.p.

I've been in when it's got a FK1 install and it's sounded sweet!
Underworld iirc. And Orbital sounded ace a few years back.

It is just the live band stuff that sounds rough, which is a real shame because it's such a great space.
My ears really should not ring the next day.

Mate of mine has just installed Aspect in Scala as well. It's good kit.

 

[El Jefe]

Was drinking tonight with another sound engineer / PA mate, who confirmed what I said earlier, and rosco has said too: Academy does NOT have an in-house PA, the balcony is the problem but can be overcome, a good sound is possible if there is some thought put into it.

 

[sherriff rosco]

Mate of mine has just installed Aspect in Scala as well. It's good kit.

Think we are talking about the same bloke , Mr P ...of the well known Tribe combo beat group...eh?

If you wanna hear some Hooffing F1 ...Underworld are at the roundhouse soon and it`s gonna be loads of the 21`s....

.p.

 

[twistedAM]

Is it fuck

Go and have a look at the sign and the adverts, and then have a Carling on me

Corporate branding is killing music.

 

[Dr. Furface]

Most of the best gigs I've seen have been at Brixton, and I do love the venue - apart from the upstairs, which I hate, and that it can often take ages to get served.

But I voted for the Forum because the sound and views are good - including upstairs - bars are reasonably priced and well staffed (I've never had to wait long to get served there), no security hassle, pleasant building but suitably scuzzy, and I can walk it there from home in 10 mins. There are also quite a number of decent pubs nearby to go for a beer beforehand.

I also like the Roundhouse, although it's a bit too clean and it doesn't have the feel of a proper gig venue - however, can't really fault it for anything else.

The two I hate going to are the Astoria and Koko - quite different venues but both of them make me feel chlostrophobic, I can never seem to get a view that I'm happy with anywhere, the sound isn't all that great, and I hate the bars - and the prices at koko suck, as do their doorstaff. Not too keen on the Albert Hall either for its bar prices and drinks policy, and it's really boring in there too and there's no pubs anywhere near it to go to.

 

[perplexis]

I like Scala, even though it's too small and usually too rammed, and I really like the Academy because you can SEE the bands!

 

[twistedAM]

The two I hate going to are the Astoria and Koko - quite different venues but both of them make me feel chlostrophobic, I can never seem to get a view that I'm happy with anywhere, the sound isn't all that great, and I hate the bars - and the prices at koko suck, as do their doorstaff. Not too keen on the Albert Hall either for its bar prices and drinks policy, and it's really boring in there too and there's no pubs anywhere near it to go to.

Agree with all yoou said about the Forum; all-round best one.

I've been to the Astoria scores of times and still feel claustrophobic in there even though I know my way round.
Koko is just shit.
RAH is great if you have a box though the best gig I ever saw there was in primes seats about 20 rows back for...JOHNNY CASH