Seattlest: So That's What WaMu Theater Is...

guest

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 10:04:11 -0800

BR checking in again. I did not want to go WaMU but ended up getting cheap tix to the Killers so I went and guess what? The venue exceeded my expectations and the sound was great. The Killers also exceeded my expectations. On this night they at least had an $8 Redhook. I go back for Daft Punk and once again great sound and a great show. I'm liking this venue for it being so big. Beer? Only Bud and Bud Light! I had already stocked plenty o beer in my belly at Collins (Stone, Boundary Bay, Walking Man) but I was counting on one Redhook at the show. Bring back the mediocre microbrew!! Next stop here: Interpol.

guest

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 11:12:08 -0800

ha! Can you honestly believe someone who says something like this? ..it's theirs, not ours. They bring in their own sound. The main thing they're saying really is it's better than it used to be. And Seattlest, from what I remember your going to be shelling out a bit for those drinks.

Saxtor

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 10:57:32 -0800

PR fluffing, pure and simple. First, Seattle doesn't "need" a 5,000-7,000 person venue, it already has one; Key Arena. The original recommendation for Key Arena, when the Sonics decided to pack up, was to install a curtain (how innovative!) to cut Key Arena in half to accommodate smaller crowds, more frequently as a means of keeping Key Arena profitable. If AEG really felt an unfulfilled need, why not have your "WaMu Theater" there, where the sound and experience is naturally better. Instead, the Qwest WaMu Theater is scooping up those acts into an inferior space and thus jeopardizing the future of Key Arena. If AEG felt the need apart from Key Arena, why not build a new space, or actually remodel their portion of Qwest Exhibition Center to actually be suitable? Second, during the initial PR blitz for WaMu Theater, AEG promised "the new WaMu will overcome the Events Center's concert inadequacies" (read: bad reputation) and "state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems are designed to make the space feel more like a real theater." What happened to that promise? Instead, now we get an "it's theirs, not ours. They bring in their own sound." That doesn't sound very state-of-the-art. It really, truly does seem as if they put up some (space-age!) curtains, darkened the windows, patted themselves on the back, and opened the doors. Daft Punk's sound was terrible from a regular concert-goer's perspective. Non-stop distorted bass, that was only masked by the volume of the mids and treble. It was most evident during Kavinsky and Sebastien's set, which was unacceptable sound-wise, using the exact same equipment (and probably sound guy). And yes, their light show was "state-of-the-art" because they invented their proprietary light show and have become icons for it. A (con)job well done, AEG/WaMu!