State Magazine posted a review of Airborne's Dublin show on their website that made me really angry. The review is here
http://www.state.ie/2009/11/live/the-airborne-toxic-event-olympia-theatre-dublin/#comment-9458
and this is my response (it's quite long, I had a lot to say!)
http://dannifromdublin.tumblr.com/post/243627257/in-response-to-state-magazines-review-of-the-airborne
The review was rather harsh, I would say. To me, it seems like part of his problem was that he did not like the live performance. I come to this conclusion because he did state that he liked some of the songs on the record, and felt that they were sung with "emotion" and "conviction" in that form. Most of his critique was with the live show. Maybe he thought that the band's performance was somewhat lacking and blamed it on being the band's being "calculated" and "practiced." I'm sure that after a year and a half of non-stop touring, the band's performances might get a bit similar from show to show. Add in the fact that their tour was nearly over at the time and they were likely looking forward to going home, and you might get a show that isn't mind-blowingly epic or worthy of the record books. People get tired, like it or not. The reviewer should have realized that it's impossible for a band to play a perfect show every single night.
I think that he did have some appreciation for the band, but maybe was expecting too much out of them. I don't think that he needed to pass judgement on the band and say that there was "little further" they could go, based on just one show that was one of the last of a year-and-a-half long tour.
Why didn't you post your response on the actual website? Or were there word limits on the comments section?
I didn't post it there because I thought it was just too long. I was at the show, and I thought it was actually the best I've seen them. To me they were perfect that night. He's obviously only seen them once, so is in no position to claim their shows are the same every night. On his own blog he said "The album isn’t great. It’s really bland indie-rock in the mould of Razorlight." so clearly he just doesn't like the band, which in my opinion makes his review kind of pointless. I don't expect everyone to write a glowingly positive review of airborne, but I go to a lot of gigs, and that was one of the best I have ever been to.
The whole thing just really annoyed me. Two people who work for state magazine have since contacted me to say they agree with what I wrote.
Well, opinions of a band's live show are subjective. What one person thinks is an amazing show, another will think is terrible and a waste of money. I think that his ideas and assumptions were far too broad and generalized, since he had only seen one show.
Oh, and the State Magazine staff read comments on their site. That's interesting.
I know people's opinions of live shows are subjective, but I really didn't like the comments he made about the crowd, and about the band only seeing the Olympia again if they're in the audience etc.
I have no idea if State staff read the comments on their site, the messages I got back were through twitter.
Harsh review! Good reply, Danni.
Only thing I'd say to contradict what you said is that I have actually heard them on Radio 1 - the first time I ever heard them was when Edith Bowman played Sometime Around Midnight.
Other than that though I agree with every word you said!
Fi
Thanks Dreamcatcher! We don't get Radio 1 here though, as far as I'm aware they have never been played on mainstream radio in Ireland.
Ahhh I didn't realise that!
Nice response Danni.
Interesting comments about the crowd. Apparently no one turns up just because they like the music. Skinny jeans crowd turn up because a band is cool and people who are on the wrong side of 30 turn up because they think they are cool.
As someone apparently on the wrong side of 30 I certainly don't go to gigs desperately trying to keep in touch.
Since when has putting on a show been a bad thing? I have seen some bands that left me cold because they just stood and played. And it doesn't seem calculated to me. I understand if someone doesn't like a gig, but it all seemed rather judgemental and personal.
I agree with your response too, Danni.
A lot of the reviewer's comments confused me too. I'm definitely on the "wrong side of 30" but I've been going to see live bands ever since I was 13 ... it's got nothing to do with "cool" and I am way too enthusiastic about life to be "cool". So where does that leave those of us who've always gone to see bands cos we like MUSIC then? Should I stop doing stuff I like because it might offend the lazy reviewer who has just made their mind up that they don't like TATE and think those who go along have gone because of a single on the radio? For the record, I saw them BEFORE the single was released ... and I liked what I saw/heard when they were playing tiny little venues and wished them well from the very start.
Oh, and I follow bands who make music I like, not cos I think it'll enhance my status in life or anything. A lot of my friends don't actually share my enthusiasm for gigging/music .. but I like what I like. And sometimes that's a band who play in a local pub, and sometimes it's a band who play in an arena, but most times I like smaller venues. More friendly, more personal, less of a sausage-machine.
Are they not meant to rehearse, refine, polish their act etc? Isn't growth and change a natural progression in any profession/hobby/whatever? If you go to see "bigger" bands at arenas for a few nights on the trot, you'll see them do the same sorts of things each night but why should that be a negative thing, necessarily?
Sorry dear reviewer, but I make my own mind up about what I like. I've been around way too long to just want to follow the latest fad. Hell, I've loved Quo for years - you can't get any less cool than that!! (With apologies to Quo who have their own devoted following - you either like a sound, or you don't.). I suggest the reviewer stops sucking lemons and starts enjoying life. If you don't like The Airborne Toxic Event, fine - you don't have to. But please don't slate them or say their playing is "sloppy" - it very definitely is not so.
Absolutely agree with you, Jules and Gill. Even his "wrong side of 30" comment is offensive. I'm not even sure which side he's referring to as wrong, it's ridiculous either way. I think he'd decided before they even started playing that he wasn't going to like them, and because he couldn't find anything concrete to criticize he made stuff up. The stage set, the scissor kicks, the lack of individuality, the sloppy playing, the absence of skinny jean-clad people.. his statements are either completely inaccurate (even if you don't like Airborne, you can hardly accuse them of being sloppy), or just plain stupid (his comments about the crowd... sheesh). What he wrote on his own blog is even worse.
Anyways, I think I've vented enough! Thanks for reading everyone :)
I Just wanted to say that i also agree with you & have had my say to his review.
I saw them at the Anson rooms in Bristol, they were amazing, full of energy, passion and emotion.
Because i love the album so much, my expectations were really high, they didn't dissapoint, for me they are definately the best band around at the moment and i can't wait till they tour again.
Glad i can't get into my 'skinny jeans.'
Thats the biggest pile of crap that I've ever read about TATE, he obviously has a dislike for the band. Vey sad.
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