Yes the sound was weak at the bowl - not sure why, because I was lucky enough to see REM again the following week at Red Rocks. Much better sound, and the crowd was really in to it. Set list was a bit different (higher energy show), and MS was more animated.

Agree:
1.Sound should have been louder.
2.Modest Mouse:worse than putrid.
3.Acoustic “Let Me In” was lovely.

Missed first opening band The National. My ticket said “7:00 p.m.”, but the marquee said 6:30. Must have been a short set. Oh well.)

“Nerd rock?” Are you retarded?

This was my second REM show at the bowl, and yes, the setlist was great but it was a strugle to hear Stipe’s voice durring most songs. I was among those shouting “turn it up” and i was seated in the lower half of the bowl. I enjoyed the show but walked away wishing that it was more.

Never seen REM before. But I thought going to the concert would be a nice honeymoon present for my wife…And myself.
I hesitate to say this, but I wasn’t entirely impressed. The sound was an issue, clearly. I don’t want my ears blown out, but I want to feel the music.
The die-hard REM fans were certainly into it. But the majority of those in attendance, including the band, lacked energy and enthusiasm.
Oddly enough, The Cure concert two nights later was the opposite. Lively crowd, cranked guitars…I’m not even a fan of The Cure, but they rocked the Hollywood Bowl that night.

I think they were actually saying “turn it off”! But I wouldn’t know because I wouldn’t be caught dead at one of their “Nerd Rock” shows.

I was there and the volume level was much too low, as evidenced by the crowd chanting “Turn it up!” after Michael asked if we could hear them. I’ve heard him ask this before, so I don’t think he really knew how low it was. I’ve seen them live many times and this was an excellent show, volume levels aside. “Circus Envy” wasn’t heavy metal; it was just “Circus Envy.” “I’ve Been High” was beautiful.

Here’s the set-list:

Pretty Persuasion
Living Well is the Best Revenge
What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?
Sitting Still
Ignoreland
Man-Sized Wreath
Circus Envy
Drive
Accelerate
Hollow Man
Fall On Me
Houston
Electrolite
Final Straw
I’ve Been High
Let Me In (done in an acoustic round with Bill R. also on guitar)
Losing My Religion
Horse to Water
Bad Day
Walk Unafraid
I’m Gonna DJ

Encore:

Supernatural Superserious
The One I Love
Until the Day is Done
Man on the Moon

Fuckin’ nerd rock.

It blows me away that more people aren’t going crazy about this. I avoid seeing bands at places like Staples Center, Honda Center etc. in LA because the sound can be so bad. Are people so used to crappy sound at many concert venues that they don’t even realize what a concert should sound like?

I was in F1 right behind the boxes and the sound was terrible. Anyone that thinks otherwise should go and check out what real live music sounds like. I was just at Coachella and Roger Waters made a field in the middle of nowhere sound spectacular. To have sound that bad at the new Hollywood bowl (which has not bad acoustics now and a great sound system) is inexcusable.

I have been seeing live music for 30 years and this was one of the worst concerts I have seen. Why because I don’t pay to see the band, I pay to hear them.

This is one of the top bands in the world playing one of the top venues in the world. The sound should be awesome, instead it was so low in volume that people talking next to me sounded louder than the band.

REM make a lot of money on this tour (rightly so) but if they don’t deliver then I feel that I should every right to ask for my money back.

So REM I want my money back.Does anyone from REM have the balls to explain why I shouldn’t get a refund?

This was a great show! I saw REM on the 2004-2005 tour and there were some songs I didnt know all the words to …so I did my homework and was able to sing it all with them this time!! I saw them on my college campus in 1984 and since then have been a REM adddict!!!! Best band ever!

superfan | 5/30/2008, 11:25 pm EST

You guys really need to record an acoustic version of Let Me In! I didnt even recognize the song until the third verse….geeezz that was fantastic!
_______

Agreed.

tsm | 5/30/2008, 8:04 pm EST

Modest Mouse sucks ass.
__________

Agreed… except for “We’ll All Float on O.K.” I was falling asleep.

so what exactly was the set? I love how RS posts stories like this but doesnt actually post the setlist..

I’m sorry tsm, but do you mean to say Modest Mouse kicks ass? Because that is truth. And I wasn’t there, but I’d love to hear an acoustic version of Let Me In. REM’s acoustic stuff always seems good.

I promise I was dancing and i know all the words!
If you could hear ( and i know there were problems) it was a truly great gig.The Bowl was beautiful and the set list made a great change from the usual “greatest hits” - worth traveling from England for

I’ve seen the band once before in a small venue, big or small the is tight and into the crowd. It was a nice mix of there music and the new songs are real good. O and TMS above is right, Modest Mouse SUCKED!!!

Circus Envy has always been pretty “heavy-metal”, no?

I’m gonna see the show tomorrow night in Berkeley. I’ll give a full report.

This was my first time seeing REM live and it was my first experience at the Hollywood Bowl. I drove 7 hours to see this show as Hollywood is the closest REM is coming to where I live on this tour.

The sound was awful in the upper sections. I’ve never been to any rock concert when I could hear conversations between couples, who were sitting 3-4 rows from me, while the band was playing. It was so distracting hearing so many people complain that I had a hard time concentrating on the music.

Also, the crowd seemed to be pretty old and mostly white. While that isn’t a bad thing, there just seemed to be no energy in the crowd. I didn’t see many people dancing in the aisles or singing along with the band. It just felt kind of sterile because the crowd seemed like they were a bunch of old people who didn’t have the energy to enjoy the show. I think a lot of that has to do with how the Hollywood Bowl was laid out. There would have been a lot more energy in the crowd if there was a large GA section where everyone was standing, for example.

I’d definitely see REM again, I’m not too sure that I’d ever go back to the Hollywood Bowl.

the show was really good but the sound was not. I was one of the many in the upper sections complaining that the music volume was too low. It was like the speakers weren’t turned up enough, which was weird because Modest Mouse was plenty loud. definitely enjoyed it though.

R.E.M.’s pace, polish and showmanship were very strong last nightThe Hollywood Bowl’s stage lighting often hurt the band. The music was fresh and exhilirating every minute.
I loved the surprises such as digging out “Fall On Me.” — a wonderful moment for a longtime fan like me.
I don’t recall ever aeeing a song from Murmur — other than Pilgrimage — done live in the five R.E.M. concerts I’ve seen, which made Sitting Still a great touch.
Let Me In worked great as an acoustic, as did Oeter Bucck’s six-string work on Till The Day Is Ddone

R.E.M.’s pace, polish and showmanship were very strong last nightThe Hollywood Bowl’s stage lighting often hurt the band. The music was fresh and exhilirating every minute.
I loved the surprises such as digging out “Fall On Me.” — a wonderful moment for a longtime fan like me.
I don’t recall ever aeeing a song from Murmur — other than Pilgrimage — done live in the five R.E.M. concerts I’ve seen, which made Sitting Still a great touch.
Let Me In worked great as an acoustic, as did Oeter Bucck’s six-string work on Till The Day Is Ddone
– Jim L., Victorville, Calif.

You guys really need to record an acoustic version of Let Me In! I didnt even recognize the song until the third verse….geeezz that was fantastic!

Its was a great concert for me since Ive never been able to attend any previous REM gigs. A lot of people in the upper sections were complaining that they couldnt hear the music. How unfortunate….overall, they were GREAT! A good mix of young and old fans….play list was better than their first show (my opinion). Michael’s singing was outstanding, Mike’s backups were super, and Pete’s guitar playing was fantastic. Good job guys!

Modest Mouse sucks ass.

There aren’t many better seats to enjoy any musical performance than the front 1/2 of the Hollywood Bowl, and REM made the most of a great venue. We should add just how good the National and Modest Mouse were as well. I can see why REM had them open up the show!

They rocked alright. Great mix of old and new. Mesh like video screen backdrops at varying depths added interesting visuals.