Before the backlash, let me get one thing straight – I know from a previous visit to Hard Rock Calling that there’s sound issues, so in a way, I shouldn’t have been too shocked, but even still...
I’ve been waiting to see Soundgaden for years. They split when I was 16 (I’m 32 now), so needless to say there’s some child-like excitement about this gig. The weather sucks, but who cares? The band, who were once nicknamed Frowngarden, would probably be suited to blasting out their grunge in the rain anyway. The organisers do deserve a big pat on the back for getting Hyde Park in shape for the weekend of shows, even if it meant denying sad, resentful, thirty something women the opportunity to have flashbacks to 1980’s school discos where they smooched their long lost love to Kylie & Jason on the dance floor, by cancelling some god forsaking pop concert. And anyway, does London really need the sound of Steps polluting the royal parks? No fucking chance.
Anyway, so from the moment Soundgarden hit the stage and launch into Spoonman, it becomes apparent that the sound is terrible, and too quiet. I’m well aware of the issues last year that caused many to complain regarding Arcade Fire’s headline show in Hyde Park. So when we’re getting songs like Outshined, Jesus Christ Pose, The Day I Tried To Live & Rusty Cage, we really want to hear them shattering our, erm, (rusty) rib cage, if you will. The fact the weather is bad doesn’t help, but it doesn’t excuse the fact that Hard Rock Calling is severely hampered by its choice in venue. I bet it sounded great down the front, but those of us who want to stand back a bit and enjoy it without some lairy teenagers wanting to mosh over you, it’s not good enough.
So what to do? Pearl Jam in 2010 was louder than this, and was still disrupted easily enough by the annoying chatter of disinterested people (don’t start me on that one...) and I also understand that the posho’s of Mayfair have had a whinge over the volume and number of events being held at Hyde Park (heaven forbid anyone coming into a park and enjoying themselves – if you don’t like it, then maybe have a nice weekend away, it’s not like you can’t afford it), but for Hard Rock Calling to continue, it really needs at a better venue. Surely you can’t have a gig called Hard Rock Calling, when the whole event turned down to 6, so it emits a polite whisper. You could argue, on the plus side, that the size of Hyde Park allows the organisers to lay on 4 stages of music, which also includes unknown bands given an opportunity to show their stuff, and at £50-odd a ticket, does represent some decent value, but then those dreaded noise levels kick in and the feeling of being slightly cheated creeps in. Even standing just on the edge of the tent for The Mars Volta was bad. There must be somewhere within London that this festival can move to and not have to face the same noise restrictions? Or perhaps Westminster Council/Royal Parks could reduce the number of events it gives permission for, on the basis the volume restriction could be lifted? With the amount of revenue they must make having so many events on in the park, this isn’t an option that would be taken lightly. Money certainly does talk far louder than the music in this case. Failing venues in London, why not shift it to Milton Keynes Bowl? Logistically, it’s further out, and can be a pain to get out from after, but after Foo Fighters last year, it’s a cracking venue for outdoor shows. And after going to Big Day Out festival there back in 1999, they quite easily had 2 stages set up. Just a thought...
I’d pre-warned my Dad on the Saturday morning before he headed out to the Bruce Springsteen show, that the sound would be bad. I’m not sure if he believed me. By the end of Saturday, he knew exactly what I meant. He also felt slightly deflated after reflecting back on Sunday morning at the fact the sound had ruined it, which was the exact same feeling I had after Soundgarden. Hard Rock Calling? More like Hard Rock Muted By The Man. I challenge the promoters to find an alternative venue for next year where the music can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless where they are in the venue, otherwise, I, like many others, will probably give it a miss. Shame that. They’ll probably end up getting someone I really badly want to see play....
