i don't think anyone was happy about that show last night.

they were having sound problems - it seemed fairly decent from the crowd - but the bass was absolutely insane (even for webster hall) - i haven't heard bass this loud at a show in a long time.

about 40 minutes in they played fireworks, but aborted the song about 4 minutes in - and said that "we're so sorry - we can't hear a thing - the bass up here is blasting everything into oblivion and we have no idea what's going on".....they played another song and said "we have a couple more" - at which point, someone in the crowd yelled for fireworks again....their response was "well we have another show tomorrow" - and someone yelled back "well, play something we like then!" (they had been playing a ton of new stuff, as expected). They didn't seem thrilled at that comment.....

After playing one more song, they announced that the next would be their last, and walked off stage after a set that was JUST over an hour - the lights stayed off for at a ridiculously long 10 or 15 minutes while people clapped enthusiastically - but then the lights came on and the crowd started booing.

Everyone was pretty shocked at the display - so they'll probably kill tonight to make up for the fairly lackluster show.

big sleep / twilight sad @ musichall in billyburg was a pretty solid alternative.

let me just say something here, if they thought sound was bad they should blame their own sound guy on the board, who fucking CRANKED THAT SHIT UP as soon as they hit the stage(I was standing to the right of the soundboard and saw their sound and light guy working the controls, they even wished one of them happy birthday at the end of the show). I had to put my plugs in. Its the headliner attitude- the main act cranks up the volume. You were there you know Im telling the truth.

Also, yes like I said last night the dj set/light show between the bands was the best part of the night.

The concert was start to finish 74 minutes.
I did record, and it came out pretty nicely. You can hear all the banter, too!

Animal Collective sux anyway. i think u just woke up. drink some coffee and wake up more

AC can suck it. i watched bunny rabbit and black cracker at glasslands with the worst sound ever and they sucked it up and rocked it. those two girls have way bigger balls than those three bitches.

Wow, they played for over an hour, pretty good set length. So this place is filled with 100 + people who probably just downloaded the albums for free and now whine that they stopped half way through a song...get over yourselves concert goers.

I'll never pay money to see them again.

yeah that dj was killer - i hope for a repeat of that tonight.

but it wasn't that it was "too loud" - in fact, a lot of people were yelling for them to "turn it up"....it was just mixed really poorly (the bass was insanely loud).

BV---- 30 days have september, april june and november.

don't forget it!

That photo is dated September 31. How appropriate that Animal Collective should have a show that apparently exists OUTSIDE OF TIME.

Was it ironic when he wished the sound guy/girl a happy birthday?

Anyway, I want to repeat it. If you want to get rid of your ticket hit me up, I'd buy it. Thanks,

"...have a show that apparently exists OUTSIDE OF TIME."

-maybe in your version of time!

oops!!
fixed, thanks!

What time did they go on last night?

no i think it was sincere, they gave each other hugs up there too and were yucking it up, and to be fair they didnt mention or signal the sound guy that I saw. Actually I thought the sound was excellent(yes too loud, but 95 per of shows are too loud) i had plugs but everything was nice and clear, esp the vocal.

as for the incident itself I guess you can hit up the nyc taper and check for yourself, but I think avey said something like, "Im just not feeling it tonight, Im sorry"

after that aborted fireworks, they also only played half of a new song, a really lackluster "brother sport" and leaf house. the last two shows in philly and dc were apparently awesome, both 100+ min sets.

the show wasnt that bad though. the bass was killer in the back, really loud but not overkill. anyway NYC, do you expect a band to be happy playing for a bunch of stiffs? i totally got the vibe at the end the band felt like they were just putting on a show, nothing else. im upset they didn't play an encore but i felt like we didn't deserve it. it would have been almost awkward if they did come back out.

i'm going for vampire weekend tonight, I'm guessing I'll leave AC's set about 3 songs in. They've evolved into such a shit band, and now with bad attitudes to boot!

the bass at webster hall has been too loud for about 20 years...i think everybody would be made happy if webster hall were to disappear from the nyc venue map.

in the framework of the 'venusian arts' of vh1's 'mystery', bowery presents is demonstrating decreased value by doing shows at webster hall...all i can say is thank ford for terminal 5

and the beers are fucking 7 dollars!

What time does Daft Punk go on tonight?

Oh, I am sorry. The CHEAP beers are fucking 7 dollars!

that is bullshit, Ive been going to shows there for 20 plus years and they have an excellent sound system. I saw Sonic Youth there earlier this year and it was perfect sound and I could actually listen without plugs. Also Hot Chip. If anyone saw either of those and one last night just think how much better those shows were than this one. Or just think about the DJ set which came directly before, it was brilliant!

Also dont blame the crowd for lackluster show, thats what happens when you go through motions, only Avey was trying to do anything. Panda fucking pissed me off with his passivity. And where was Deakin? back at the hotel? THey could have came out there and tried to rescue something out of the fire, but by not coming out they made it seem like they did that just to beat the rush out of the club.

And Im glad I didnt get tickets for tonight.

i have to say I'm really happy people are finally waking up to the fact that animal collective are a shitty fucking band

I WILL NEVER FORGIVE THEM! NEVER!

Deakin isn't playing with them on this tour. I was at the show and, while it was disappointing, it was hardly the disaster that some people are making it out to be. People complaining about them not playing things they like are obviously not fans of the band. You know they are going to play a lot of new songs. They always do. I'll be back again tonight and I can't wait. I'm sure they will more than make up for the off performance last night.

we love this blog and added you to our blog's links, keep it up!

"I saw Sonic Youth there earlier this year and it was perfect sound and I could actually listen without plugs. Also Hot Chip."

the sound for hot chip was absolutely awful...it sounded like somebody blasting "over and over" on their boombox in the apartment below me...muffled, bass-crippled shit...par for the course for webster hall

maybe your hearing is just fucked, because i think the majority of people would agree with me that webster hall is the all-around worst venue in nyc

dude they are absolutely TERRIBLE live. I saw them a couple of years ago at the black cat in dc and walked out after 4 songs. unless you're tripping and/or enjoy screaming and sitting thru songs/jams that you've never heard before mixed in with like 3 album tracks while some idiot with a head lamp sways his head around like a dumbass dont see them live.

I agree... the bass is always too loud at Webster Hall, though it mainly seems to be a problem near the stage. At Hot Chip I thought my chest was going to cave in.

they played for free last summer...a good idea would have been to go to that, see if you like their live show, and buy a ticket for webster if you did.

AC live shows have always been notorious for leaving the 'greatest hits' crowd disappointed...you were all warned

one of the best shows i've ever seen, and i've seen more shows than any of you!

new animal collective is the best animal collective ever. next album will be better than strawberry jam fo sho.

bummer about the bad vibes. i blame the nyc crowd for sucking.

"i have to say I'm really happy people are finally waking up to the fact that animal collective are a shitty fucking band"

Sometimes people get really happy for being SO wrong.

I wish avery would stop yelling so much. What's he yelling about? He has a pretty girlfriend and everyone eating out of his hand, so stop yelling dude!

Webster Hall is definitely my least favorite venue in NYC. I can't say I've ever seen an amazing show there all around.

"bummer about the bad vibes. i blame the nyc crowd for sucking."

haha that's nothing new. i'm actually surprised most acts don't call out the crowd for their blatant unenthusiasm when they're in town.

suck they only played a little over an hour.

That free show they played at South Street Seaport earlier this year was at least 2 hours. However, it was incredibly BORING.

I saw AC at south street seaport this summer and i was really close- good show, boringgg crowd. I saw them again on Saturday night in philly- killllled it! fantastic energy, really long (10+ min) version of fireworks- peacebone was insaaaaane. after getting really into it they chilled out 3/4 of the way through and everyone was still rapt with attention.

we also got we tigers and leaf house. i was in the front for we tigers and i thought some people were going to have seizures, they were so into it. plus p bear's vox were right on.

Webster Hall has become a truly shitty venue. Did anyone notice the fish tank bar they installed in the upstairs bar? What's that about?

Also, I feel like AC not playing an encore was completely arrogant. They were playing to a sold out club in their home town (except for the one guy who lives in Lisbon). So it sounded crappy on stage, tough it out and play another song or 2. Take the sound problems up with the club, not out on the fans. Shameful.

I think Deakin not beaing there is big part of the problem, more than anything else.

I was at the philly show and it was insane especially we tigers...the "light show" was nice and i was hoping for reverend green but didnt get it :(

panda bear solo live was surprisingly amazing, compared to the band as a whole. glad i didnt give in and get tix. saw the south street seaport show which was good, but not good enough to want to pay money. im broke.

The D.C. show was flawless. Every band has a bad show

Yeah, it was obviously an off night for them, it happens, life goes on. But making people clap for 10 minutes and then not doing an encore (in your home town!) is extremely lame. If you're not going to play an encore, no problem, but turn on the damn lights so I can go home and go to sleep....

"Also, I feel like AC not playing an encore was completely arrogant."

Seriously. Especially since almost no one was upset when Avey stopped Fireworks.. it seemed the majority was understanding, cheering and just expecting more. But suddenly saying 'we have one more,' leaving, and not coming back was way too douchebaggy.

I may also be biased because they didn't play For Reverend Green, and I was 99.9% sure they would :( I heard some people requesting it and had my hopes up but oh well.

Any true fan of animal collective would have been disappointed if they hadn't played mostly new songs. So there.

And deakin isn't there because he doesn't want to be. It's not a big deal and pretty normal considering the fact they had two albums in a row with the same lineup. Anyway, how could his main contribution to the band (guitar)even fit in with their bass-heavy, dub style. man, fuck this town.

an hour and 15 minutes is still a long set. bands shouldn't be expected to play encores.

animal collective are douchebags shocka!!!!!

I was at Okkervil River on Friday, and they seemed to be having issues with the sound guy as well- the difference being they sacked up and killed it.

I've heard this a lot about AC. Still love the new record.

Just another instance of another so called artist fucking the folks who pay to see them. It's getting quite common these days.

As for NY crowds. It really seems like the crowds enthusiasm depends on the type of music and which band is playing. The "hipper" crowds seem to just go to shows just to say they went talking during the whole show.

"the bass at webster hall has been too loud for about 20 years..."

I've seen about 5 shows there over the last few years and the sound was just fine. It's up to the bands sound crew to adjust to wherever they are playing. Any good crew would have just turned down the bass a little. They sound like amateurs to me.

is tonight's show sold out?

is tonight's show sold out?

i saw animal collective at webster last year, and i learned from that show to never see them again. the sound was like noisy discord... there was no melody and nothing that made the music come alive as it does on record. plus, webster hall does have shitty sound. those of you claiming that it doesn't, you don't know shit, obviously. boo to animal collective live.

AKRON/FAMILY is where it was at last night suckers!!!

always thought they were overrated. wouldn't waste the cash anyways. (you call that songwriting?)

Well there might have been a lot of bass, but at least you guys didnt have backwards playing music and men trying to lure teenagers ...

(from a mom who sent this to the show promoter of the philly show)

You should be brought up on charges for what went down Saturday night, is this an underground cult you are running with Animal Collective?

My daughter and her friends were terrified, no security, no police, not even a show, music playing backwards and men trying to lure them away, only one door to exit out and no cab would come pick them up because the location they gave did not exist, no one ever heard of the Polaris club or the address.

What kind of scheme are you running.....

I will find someone to listen and have your organization investigated, you endangered several young adults on Saturday night.

I hope your child never goes thru what hell you put ours thru,
I hope you rot in hell, or is that were your from!

that is an awesome post sean! haha

I love the idea of it being a covert sinister operation.

Afraid all they are really guilty of is sucking

AC is a great band and Strawberry Jam is an incredible record. They've definitely proven that they can write some amazing songs. But last night wasn't so hot. There were some brilliant moments for sure, but a lot of it seemed like directionless wandering. It's like the energy just fizzed after the first handful of songs. And it didn't help that they pulled the plug from a sure-fire crowd-pleaser.

But before all the haters start feeling vindicated, I'll say again: their records are great and just keep getting better. I'm not a fan of their droney, repetitive mode, but they've recorded some inventive and exhilarating music.

The sound was fine at the venue - the bass was INCREDIBLY heavy but that's why I like going to big venues like Webster. I can totally understand why Avey wasn't feeling it - it probably was really hard to even think onstage with the bass like that.

That being said the show was VERY good - the new songs sounded great, great visuals and it was really mesmerizing. They seemed to be having a good time up there until people in the crowd startled heckling them. It's a known fact that AC rarely play the songs off their records live. For all of the stupid NYU and New School and high school treehouse twerps who just started listening to the band 6 months ago, at least do your research before you complain about the fact that they didn't play a full set of the songs you know.

They played for 75 minutes, a long time for most bands and no wonder they didn't want to do an encore. The crowd was off, and yes this is a valid reason for a show to suck. I stood there mesmerized and bobbin' while everyone else was acting like they were at Burning Man (the whole place reeked of weed) or just not paying attention to them. Tons of heckling from bros in the crowd who were also heckling the endearing Tickley Feather. Really frustrating for those in the crowd and I can only imagine even worse for the men onstage.

If I were Animal Collective I'd never want to play in NYC again after all of this.

What a bunch of whiny babies!! You people should be grateful that you got over an hour worth of live music - sure AC tend to put on much longer sets, but jeez when I saw them in philly the 2 hours + of show was a little over the top and unexpected. Who are you to determine how much time you are OWED from a band simply because you bought a ticket? Also their "hometown" is Baltimore, idiots.

Surely Animal Collective fans know by know that they usually play a lot of new songs in a typical set? (and these new songs are all over youtube etc, so it wasn't exactly hard to get familiar with them if you really wanted to sing along, or whatever). Whinging that they didn't essay 'the hits' seems a bit of a spurious complaint with a band like that. Plus, an hour and a quarter is a long enough set by most standards.

to 7:03. Hometown of the band is new york (e.g. the place where they formed!)

just got back from show. left midway. nuff said.

opener was great though.

I was there on Friday for Okkervil River and it sounded amazing. I was also there for Animal Collective on Sunday and it sounded like complete shit. I was standing at the gate right in front of the stage and there were points where the bass was so loud that it was all that you could hear. I couldn't discern any of the lyrics, at all, but was still trying to get into it. When AVey stopped playing and they fixed the sound, it was still as loud, yet it sounded great. But fuck them for not coming back out and fuck them for not fixing the sound early on. And those DJ sets were longer than the actual show and just fucking torture. I didn't pay twenty dollars to go to a shitty rave, I paid twenty dollars to see Animal Collective play a full set.

Fuck them and fuck Webster Hall (especiall the bouncers who tried telling me that my NYS-issued LICENSE was a fake id).

they aren't bad , they aren't great, they just are.

....

overrated

I was nothing but impressed Avey & Co. had the balls to cut the show short when it wasn't working, and believe you me, it wasn't working. I've been to plenty of shows where the bands just whined about the sound between every song but kept playing, whining and playing anyway, and Avey totally didn't do that--he stated his case, and then made tracks, no bones about it.

I assumed they spent the 10 minutes backstage while everyone was clapping arguing with the club's management over whether or not they had to do an encore, but who knows. Frankly, I would have lost a little respect for them if they HAD come back out for an encore. AC are totally punk rock in my book. Like them even more now than I did before.

too many college kids, you are an idiot and clearly just out of college, they sucked

too many college kids, you are an idiot and clearly just out of college, they sucked

too many college kids, you are an idiot and clearly just out of college, they sucked

just got back from Monday show. It seems that their MO is to play new new shit (isn't their new album the new shit) but fuck, what is wrong with playing a good amount of your old AMAZING works as well. AC are real artists so they can do whatever they please and cant be held to industry standards but man...i was just waiting to hear some of the greatest songs I have ever dug and barely got a taste..

sound seemed fine though hard to tell with the stuff they played which was 10 minute drone no melody shit unlike any of their other stuff. made me think about what responsibility does an artist have to his fans..

show tonight was great...crazy version of leaf house...definitely seemed like they were trying to make amends for last night

that was straight dance punk

Awesome show. They played Chores!

jpk is the biggest idiot in the universe

and is killing music

by existing

p.s. lol @ so many people having insecurities over 'college' and 'hipsterism'. this is like a weird cool kid party

omg u like JUST started listening to them 6 months ago omg

too bad i saw them for free at south street seaport with annoying concert goers getting upset because a joint was being passed around. and i went to see the white stripes and some douche bag started making reference to the cabaret law and saying how it' still in effect. really, i think going to show in NYC died a long time ago. i would make some pop culture reference, but these lingos are worst than mistakenly hearing a long island jewish girl discussing how she lost her virginity at a dave matthews concert. i rather hang out in the projects in east new york than go to another concert in ny. man, i want to leave for the midwest and put all my belongings in storage, it would be supreme.

AC killllllled it, loved the new songs too! Did anyone tape this show? And does anyone know if they've played Reverend Green this tour?

just to go back to previous night for a second, you should know the sound engineers idea of a sound mix was to push all the sliders up to 10. and its their guy who mixes the sound. to play if off like its websters halls fault that they couldnt get their shit together is just plain bullshit. Glad you enjoyed the second night though.

report from night #2 (monday): absolutely the high caliber i was expecting (and apparently what WASN'T delivered on sunday).

no reverend green (despite the teasy t-shirts for sale pimping it), but otherwise was spectacular. if you want the exact show i just saw at webster just listen to their npr show from last week. exact same setlist and quality--that is to say, what i wanted to hear, and very, very high.

yes, i am excited for the next record to top strawberry jam. and it will.

they can't play "for reverend green" without deaken dudes.

They didn't play Chores for the NPR show in D.C.

animal collective is the new Phish!

I recorded the second night also. It will be up on my site some time tonight. This one is taking a little more time than usual because of the need to edit out some of the non-stop yapping all around me.

Why can't people just shut the fuck up at concerts.

made up for sunday by all means. 100% full on energy packed show delivered...to a star studded audience as well (Bjork, David Byrne and Ed Droste of Grizzly Bear, among others i am sure were spotted)

The only 'strawjam' song they didn't play that i wanted to hear was Reverend Green...but the new songs were next level. one i am not sure the name of towards end of show really stood out and 'walk around with you' is surely a hit for the next album.

The lights were so on point. The sound in webster was phenomenal. In comparison you can definitely tell that the bass was jacked up sunday.

the boys used to be/or still are phish fans

"Why can't people just shut the fuck up at concerts."

FO' REAL!!

Great, great Show. However, there were some SERIOUS jackasses in attendance. Whoever the clown attempting to look like Dan Deacon and dancing like an inconsiderate boob was, he needs to be punched in the teeth. Otherwise, awesome time.

thank god i didn't go on sunday, coz monday's show was sweet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYhgPYfOqC4

watch that youtube video and tell me avey isn't really on the verge of passing out. homeboy looked ill as fuck.

both shows were next level amazing. new songs are better than old songs. AC took it to the high. at times i felt like i was watching the beatles from mars.

also, phish have some crunchy grooves. no lies.

yup, they can't play Reverend Green and countless other songs you wanted to hear without Deaken.

i was very bored

Man, Brother Sport is soooo good.

the end of Brother Sport is just so fucking hypnotic:

you are fully grown / you've got a real good shot / you've got so much inside / let it come, let it come right out

sounds like one bad show makes so called "longtime fans" go apeshit. They had a bad show, deal.

Bearhug sounded incredible on Sunday night I will stand by that forever

"sounds like one bad show makes so called "longtime fans" go apeshit. They had a bad show, deal."

Exactly. Last night's show was great. Sunday's show was an off night. Avey apologized again last night for the Sunday show. It sounds like the sound mess and other things left the band not feeling it. If you only saw Sunday night, I feel bad for you. Mediocre shows happen. This is live music we're talking about. You are not guaranteed an epic performance every time.

It's true. Bummed I saw AC on an off night. But as noted above, Bearhug WAS awesome Sunday. Unfortunately it set up expectations that were rarely met for the rest of the show. The new songs sound promising- you never knew which way things were going to turn. Possibilities seemed endless and that was exciting. Just too bad they couldn't really follow through for whatever reason. Totally jealous of the Monday people.

it's kind of silly that we all stood around clapping for ten minutes expecting an encore from them when the reason they went off in the first place was bad sound...avey pretty clearly said they were doing one more song before they did leaf house and then 'cutting it'. i don't blame them or anything and the show was fantastic up until fireworks. my only regret is that tickets to mondays show were sold out.

hey, did you guys hear HUM in the Cadillac commercial? That was weird.

monday night they killed it.so what they had a bad show.people are really being babies about it.you paid 20 bucks?big deal.if you dont see them again you will just be missing out on awesome shows.

lol at people who still go see animal collective live. like they are legitimately awful live.

The recording of the 2nd show (Monday) is up on my site now for direct download.

newsflash: this was probably not a meltdown. i saw ac at neumo's in seattle on sep 14, and there was no encore then either. the crowd clapped for a good ten minutes but to no avail. who says artists have to have etiquette? doesn't mean they don't still rule the school!

The fact that Avey Tare repeatedly called the show a "disaster" and abruptly bailed on Fireworks probably re-framed the experience for a lot of people. We're not just disappointed that we didn't get an encore. Still, shit happens. I hope they come back soon!

encores are overrated...

"overrated" is overused...

they apologized and explained on collected animals. also they said that the Seattle show was the other bad one on the tour.

hmmm... i dunno i heard avey was upset but it was never cofirmed.
but i'll tell you wizard prison and eric copeland were awful. people were plugging their ears and sitting down. did that happen at webster hall as well?

I love Eric Copeland...Vampire Weekend was like Brooklyn hipsters meet Jimmy Buffet...god awful! But the crowd was loving it, who knew...a freakin tropical revival!

I wasnt at Webster Hall this time to see them but I saw them there in Nov 2005 for their Feels tour and twice this summer at Coronet in London and Maroquinerie in Paris and I was truly truly disappointed on their performance. No encores, no chills. Quite dull.