I have a complicated relationship with the OVO Hydro.
By “complicated”, I mean I generally try to avoid it whenever possible.
It’s not that I don’t enjoy seeing great artists there. I’ve seen plenty of excellent performances in the venue over the years. The problem is that something about the Hydro experience never quite works for me. Maybe it’s the size, maybe it’s the atmosphere, maybe it’s the way you can sometimes feel disconnected from what’s happening on stage.
Whatever it is, I’ve never really taken to it.
So when I bought tickets to see The Doobie Brothers, it certainly wasn’t because I was desperate for another evening at the Hydro.
Fortunately, I managed to pick the tickets up cheaply on Twickets.
Had I been paying full price, I suspect I would have spent much longer debating the decision. As it was, the bargain price persuaded me to take the plunge and head through to Glasgow.
Looking back, even that nearly wasn’t enough.
Not because of the band.
The Doobie Brothers were excellent.
The problem was the audience.
Now, I’ve mentioned before that one of my biggest frustrations at concerts is people who seem to believe they’ve purchased tickets to a social gathering rather than a live performance. Sadly, the Hydro appears to attract a particularly enthusiastic branch of this species.
Everywhere I looked there seemed to be somebody talking.
Talking before the gig.
Talking during the gig.
Talking between songs.
Talking during the songs.
Some people appeared capable of maintaining a conversation for the entire evening without once acknowledging that one of America’s most successful bands was performing a few metres away.
It’s a remarkable talent when you think about it.
At times it felt as though half the audience had accidentally wandered into the wrong building and were waiting for a conference on office management.
The frustration was made all the greater because The Doobie Brothers sounded fantastic.
Their catalogue is packed with classic songs that have become part of the soundtrack of several generations. Hearing them performed live should have been the sole focus of the evening.
Instead, there seemed to be a constant battle between the music and the surrounding chatter.
Thankfully, the quality of the performance eventually won out.
The band were tight, professional and clearly enjoying themselves. Decades after first finding success, they still possess the ability to deliver those songs with energy and conviction. Whether it was the soulful material, the rockier moments or the huge singalong favourites, everything was performed exactly as you’d hope.
They certainly held up their end of the bargain.
As for the audience, well…
You’ll get a better idea of what I’m talking about in the vlog below.
Sometimes reading about an experience doesn’t quite capture the reality. Seeing it unfold is another matter entirely.
Looking back, I’m glad I went.
The cheap ticket was worth it, the band were excellent and I got to hear some great songs performed by the people who made them famous. Would I have enjoyed it more in a smaller venue with a more attentive crowd?
Almost certainly.
But that’s hardly The Doobie Brothers’ fault.
The videos below include footage from the evening and my vlog documenting the adventure. If nothing else, they serve as a useful reminder that while bands can control what happens on stage, they have absolutely no control over who buys the tickets.
And sometimes that’s the biggest challenge of all.
The Photos
Cheers!
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