Hyde Park vs Shep. Bush Empire vs Carling Islington Academy

ukevents · Joined: 15 Dec 2003 Posts: 1980

Hyde Park versus Shepherds Bush Empire versus Carling Islington Academy.

A three-way battle royale.

Jay Morey.

A debate that’s been raging amongst my friends and me for a while now. Is it better to see a gig in wide open landscape, a revered venue such as the small but quaint Empire, or does being on top of a band and dancing in sticky warm beer sound the better experience?

Bon Jovi, those elder statesmen of soft rock played Hyde Park in 2003 to an estimated 94,000 people. The support act, Live, were my main event. Great band but with a propensity to get over excited in front of huge crowds. Yes, we know you’re called Live, yes, we know you’re a band…yes; I’ve heard your music, now flipping get on with it!

Being stuck at the back and watching on a giant flickering screen wasn’t the 45 quids worth of experience I was expecting. Getting lost coming back from the tissue free toilets wasn’t something to be repeated this millennium either. The plus however was the unbridled enjoyment of queue jumping at least 30,000 people and not one of them saying a thing to me. And that was it. Hyde Park is a poor substitute for Wembley Stadium, as found out at Geldof’s last attempt to erase Midge Ure from music history, Live 8. 20,000 people in the screen only area and approximately seventy toilets between us. Do not feel ashamed carrying family sized pack of tissues round with you. To plug out the awful caterwauling of Joss Stone.

The Empire housed Reel Big Fish, those irascible American ska boys mid 2003. No screens in this venue, but a good lot of moshing and freshly poured beer. From the seats above. The security presence can feel choking however; seas of yellow shirts and crackling walkie-talkies make it feel like the Big Empire is watching you. The transports good, two tube stations within five minutes of the venue and a glut of buses right outside. Downside? Being parked next to an Australian pub, and you don’t want to get mixed up with the patrons if you’re wearing an England cricket shirt. Thick skins are definitely required.

Lastly, and the one getting my vote, the small, stuffier and louder Islington Academy. A capacity of no more than 400, but the security are friendlier and less in your face. Long bars with great staff flank the brown floor. You’re waiting no more than three minutes to get served on a packed night. Also, the venue often turns into a nightclub, with entry included in your usually very cheap gig ticket. The music is on top of you, and there's no architecture to block your view. And if the music is by Puressence, a venerable Manchester four piece, or a fledgling unsigned support act like the wonderful Lights from Camden, you’re bound to feel sickly and spoilt. And not just from the cheap Carling.