Acoustically it was a disaster, but musically it was extremely inspiring. I think I react more to the vibe of a place than the acoustics. Audience reaction is definitely an influence on how we play. It's best when the audience is working as hard as we are to make the event happen. Especially when we improvise, the audience can be very present in the performance.
Recording is a radically different experience than performing live.
The music we make in 60 minutes on stage takes exactly 60 minutes. The biggest problem I have with concert halls is looking off the stage at the audience, and my eyes have to cross a vast gulf before I can barely make out shadowy faces in the distance. That's not a lot of fun. With the Fred Frith Guitar Quartet, at one point I suggested we turn the house lights up for the second set. Audience loved it.