Last night was one of the most disappointing live music experiences I can remember paying for…read more
I came to Revel in Frisco specifically to see Emerald City--a band that has been known in Dallas for years for excellence: strong vocals, tight musicianship, and some of the best horn players around. That reputation is the only reason my group drove from Dallas to Frisco and paid $50 per person for a VIP table of seven ($350 total).
Unfortunately, what we experienced was embarrassing--both for the venue and for a band that once set a very high standard.
To start, the venue experience itself was misleading. I had never been to Revel before and wrongly assumed that a $350 VIP table meant an upscale music venue. It is not. Revel is essentially a large, crowded bar with TVs everywhere, wooden floors and tables, and a packed layout that made it difficult to even move once seated. Think Road House--minus the cage.
Despite calling ahead and explaining that we had dinner reservations and were coming only for Emerald City (not the dueling pianos that started at 5:30), we were met with confusion about start times and warnings that our table might not be held. To their credit, the staff did hold the table until 8:30 as promised, but we arrived to a tightly packed VIP section with little room and no clear service.
The dueling pianos played until around 8:45 and were, frankly, unimpressive. My guests were already questioning why we had driven all this way--but I reassured them that Emerald City would make it worth it.
They did not.
Emerald City didn't begin playing until after 9:30, and from the very first song it was clear something was seriously wrong. The sound mix was atrocious. The bass and drums were so loud they drowned out everything else. The horn section--arguably one of Emerald City's strongest calling cards--was almost completely inaudible. The singers were forced to scream just to be heard, and even then the vocals were strained, off, and painful to listen to.
This wasn't a "bad night" or a minor technical issue. This was a full set that never recovered. I kept expecting them to adjust, recalibrate, or find their footing--but it never happened.
Service only added to the frustration. We could not find our server most of the night and had to track down another staff member just to order and eventually close out our tab. Ultimately, we left during Emerald City's set because we simply couldn't justify staying any longer.
As we stood outside regrouping and laughing in disbelief at how bad the experience was, a large number of people poured out of the venue--shaking their heads, visibly frustrated, clearly leaving early as well. We weren't alone.
I haven't seen Emerald City perform in a few years, but based on last night, I would not intentionally go see them again. Whatever made them great in the past was not present here--whether due to sound management, venue limitations, or the performance itself.
This was a complete waste of time, money, and expectations--for me and my guests.
I truly hope both the venue and the band take this feedback seriously, because what happened last night should never happen at this level of pricing or reputation.
