Well, it finally happened. A quite disappointing show from last night's black midi (w/Injury Reserve) concert. First time I've been disappointed by a show that I've paid for.
Injury Reserve
Their performance went for ~40min, but was laced with technical difficulties in the first two songs and the final ~10min which might have been because of Ritchie's microphone being defective. He signaled over event staff at least three times to get his volume fixed, which seemed like a lack preparation on both parties. Two songs during the beginning of the set were performed entirely without vocals/rapping when there should have been, but it ultimately sounded awkward hearing electronic/experimental noise without any kind of lyrical context behind it. I lost patience with this duo almost immediately to the point that if they were the headliner of the night, I would have walked out 20min in.
The audience was separated by two barricades (distinguishing 21+ and younger), but the audience wasn't energized/frenzied whatsoever during Injury Reserve's set to cause problems for event staff...at the time. Nothing that they performed had much impact at all.
I discussed with a couple of nearby gentlemen behind me in 21+ section we were in after their set concluded and we all agreed it was quite a disappointment.
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black midi
This wasn't much better, in my opinion.
They started off the set with the electric "953" from
Schlagenheim, which was killer. However, the moment that the drummer intro'd in, the under 21 section immediately started to violently move the barricades and began to mosh. Event staff immediately moved to push against the crowd to keep momentum from spilling over into my section, but they ultimately wouldn't be able to sustain the crowd.
Around the time of the third song in their setlist, event staff thought that the
wise (not really) idea would be to take out the poles of both barricades and mesh both crowds together with one another, as it was a lost cause to keep the younger crowd tempered. It immediately became uncomfortable with the moshing spilling over to a couple feet within me, which had me moving back to a safer part of the crowd albeit with a disadvantageous view given my lack of height. I didn't take many photos at all and just settled to the decision of trying to enjoy the live performance.
As for the music past the first ~15min or so, outside of the drummer, I couldn't distinguish instruments clearly at all. The mixing and sound design was very cluttered and confusing. I was not impressed at all. Apparently, they played for ~80min but it seemed quicker than that. No encore but I'm thankful there wasn't; I was sandwiched in with nowhere to go for far too long.
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Ultimately, I wouldn't see either again.