Opeth Show last night

[Wireneck]

Was anyone else annoyed as hell with the sound? The mix for the first 2 bands was all Vocals and Lead Kick drum and then a whole wall of mush that was supposed to be bass and guitars. The sound did get consideralbly better by the time Opeth went on but it was still not what I was expecting. It was my first time seeing a show at the Roxy since moving to Atlanta. I assumed that it couldn't get any worse than the Masquerade?
I've seen Opeth on more than one occasion so I still had a good time. I did notice the sound guy had a black eye, maybe I wasn't the only person annoyed with his mix.

[necroodin]

Hey man, glad you made it out. I was underneath the balcony area near the soundman, for the first 2 Nevermore songs, and was getting seriously panicked, cause I couldn't hear anything but the bass and drums. We ran upstairs to the very back of the balcony and were like OH! There are two guitarists. I think because the Roxy is sortof ampitheatre style, the sound is probably worse right on the bottom, up top it was killer sound. Also this seemed to become the public smoking/toking area. But yes, the sound I thought sounded pretty shitty downstairs for Nevermore at the start.

[Mike]

Hey man, glad you made it out. I was underneath the balcony area near the soundman, for the first 2 Nevermore songs, and was getting seriously panicked, cause I couldn't hear anything but the bass and drums. We ran upstairs to the very back of the balcony and were like OH! There are two guitarists. I think because the Roxy is sortof ampitheatre style, the sound is probably worse right on the bottom, up top it was killer sound. Also this seemed to become the public smoking/toking area. But yes, the sound I thought sounded pretty shitty downstairs for Nevermore at the start.

Nah, the sound was shitty for Nevermore early on even in the balcony. The drums were definitely too loud and the guitars could barely be heard. They fixed it somewhat.

[mrjumping]

regardless of acoustics Nevermore is a hard band to get a good live mix on just due to the fact that they play 7 strings and are sooooo fast

[Greg]

I agree, in fact both them and Into Eternity are much better studio bands than they are live.

[Asrynth]

I agree, in fact both them and Into Eternity are much better studio bands than they are live.

Personally I disagree, Nevermore to me was much better last night live than on any of their cd's. I must say though, the shredding and solos in general are much better on the CD's but that just comes with the territory. My only problem with Nevermore was that their songs seemed to get repetitive as the set went on. They always seem to revolve around those slow palm muted riff down on the low B string. But regardless I thought the vocals were better live than on CD as I never listen to nevermore on CD because I cant really stand the vocals. Ironic.

[Wireneck]

The sound definitely got better torwards the end of Nevermore but it just seemed like the sound guy couldn't get it right. The bass drums were way too loud, especially when the drummer would lay into both kicks (which was most of the set). Instead of sacrificing a little of the low end (on the kicks) to create some more space in the mix, he just kept trying to turn the guitars up louder to compete. So it was back and forth between very little guitars w/ lots of drums and tons of guitars with no drums. The bass was a lost cause on all the bands. The rumble was there but no definition.
I am by no means claiming to be a "pro mix engineer" or even saying that I could do better but something isn't right when the mix guy is constantly having to make changes on all of the instruments an hour into a bands set.

we ran upstairs to the very back of the balcony and were like OH!

I stood next to the mix desk all night. Typically this is the most balanced spot in the room because the mix engineer is mixing for what his ears are hearing at that particular spot in the room. At any rate I moved a few times and it still wasn't great.

My biggest complaint was what the guy did to the bass drum on the end of Opeth's deliverance. Why was he cutting the kick in and out for those 3-4 little accent beats? It made the song sound so incredibly weak during that part. ARGGGGG.............I know, just another loser ranting.

[Wireneck]

They always seem to revolve around those slow palm muted riff down on the low B string.

Yeah you have to give the guy props for his guitar skills but the songs just don't do it for me. It seemed like every solo was just over some crappy chugging Low B breakdown riff. Id love to hear him throw down over some more interesting key changes/time signatures etc. At any rate I guess thats why I don't listen to Nevermore in the first place.