augurus Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 I feel really fed up with concert etiquette altogether. Perhaps it's just me, but within the last three years, I've noticed an increase in behaviours that disrupt the flow of concerts from heckling at smaller venues, yelling during the acoustics, and other "I'm with rock star" antics. At the East Lansing Wilco show, I had to deal with a girl who wouldn't stop yelling whoos during the tender parts of Misunderstood. I had to loudly inform her to shut up so that I could listen to Tweedy. At the TV On The Radio show a week ago, I had to try my best to ignore two drunk girls arguing loudly, getting stoned, yelling during Grizzly Bear's very tender set. Furthermore, the audience from that show talked loudly as if Grizzly Bear were background noise. At the Radiohead show in Toronto, a bunch of hecklers have ruined attributed a connotation with Fake Plastic Trees. Is this behaviour just in North America? Why must people disrupt the rest of the audience's concert experience? Why do people even attend if they don't plan to pay attention? Why do people chase after this machismo rock star ideal? There's a difference between expressing your appreciation during a song then contributing to the anthemic chorus. I find myself more and more discouraged from attending concerts. Perhaps, there's a more pensive and appropriate action to discourage such disruptive behaviour. But what would that be? Perhaps in future circumstances, I should take a more aggressive stance when it comes to disruptive concert behaviour. Or perhaps, there won't be another concert. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Welsh Rich Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 I agree - it is becoming more prevelant at gigs I go to, especially the larger ones. The smaller gigs I go to tend to be attended by people who actually want to see the acts and listen to the music. However, the bigger acts in the bigger venues are being swamped, in my mind, by people who are just there to say "they've seen" X or Y band and just chat through the whole set. What spoils the trailer for Sunken Treasure is the hollering over it, if the actual concert is full of that, I'm going to send the DVD back. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
froggie Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 i was at an ed kuepper gig last year (nothing too major for me), but this big drunk guy decided to push everyone out of the way to get to the front (as in under under Ed's nose). he had big boofy hairstyle, so when he got there, all we could see was his big head and watching him "dance". to top off, he requested a heap of old Saints songs at the top of his lungs as he was 'trying' to sing along. when you're having fun and enjoying a gig for half an hour and the above happens, it puts a downer on the rest.i was taping (but that's beside the point) - he fucked it up for all of us he stayed there the rest of the show and then afterwards he ducked into a jazz club next door - i wonder how that went? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
M. (hristine Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 During most of my concert going years, drinking alcohol was L7. Most everyone smoked marijuana back in the day, and that makes for a much less aggressive crowd. Just a thought. When I started seeing larger venue live shows again, my first was a Dave Matthews Band concert. The first several rows were college age kids talking through the entire show, as if DMB was there to play their own private soiree. I was exceedingly confused by this behavior. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 This is a perenial problem that clearly isn't getting better. Discussions about rock audiences were common here a couple years ago, but clearly shows with alcholol are far worse than those without and rock audiences are far worse than other types of music. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EL the Famous Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 I don't think behavior is any worse. There have always been assholes of some degree at every show i've ever been too...i've become adept at tuning them out and just enjoying the show. If the person is too bad to ignore, I say something and 9/10 they stop. If anything, I think a lot concertgoers have become exceedingly sensitive and expect some sort of zen-like enviornment that just isn't going to happen. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 If anything, I think a lot concertgoers have become exceedingly sensitive and expect some sort of zen-like enviornment that just isn't going to happen.This is probably true, but just as we discussed in years past, it doesn't necessarily make it easier to take that you just have to expect a certain percentage of assholes at rock shows. If you want 0% assholes, go to a classical concert instead. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EL the Famous Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 If you want 0% assholes, go to a classical concert instead. Pretty much, yeah. Again, for me, if the show was really that good, it'll overshadow any other outside issue from somebody sipping their beer a little too loud or the girl standing next to me not paying attention as much as she should have. A bulk of some of thes post-show reviews are more focused on the crowd than the freaking show itself, I find that a little crazy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Welsh Rich Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 I'm not sure I want a "zen-like environment" at a gig, but as the prices of gigs seem to be going up and up, the last thing I want is some drunken fucker shouting at the top of his voice. He can waste his money, but he ain't wasting mine... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ction Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 I used to go to a lot of shows, and I don't anymore. Mostly because other people would constantly complain about my behavior (taking off my shirt, licking my finger and rubbing my nipples while screaming "wooooooo"). These days, I find it much more relaxing to just go topless and rub my nipples at home. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Atticus Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 For some people concerts are a chance to hear music, and for others they are simply another social event. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tweedfolds Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 Does anyone else get nervous when they hear the person beside you before the show talking about how they haven't ever seen Wilco (or whoever) in concert before? I always am worried that they won't know how to behave. ug Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mchchef1 Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 Ahh, the flogging of the dead horse. IT"S A ROCK SHOW/ HAVE SOME FUN/ ENJOY TIME WITH FRIENDS YOU HAVEN"T SEEN IN AWHILE/ SCREAM/ DRINK TO MUCH? GET HIGH/ just make sure you have a safe way to get home/back to the room. I mean really get over it. I can think of three wilco shows I've seen in the past year where Jeff has had to practically beg the audience to get up and make some noise(Bloomington mainly) The whole Kingpin rant about screaming , going to work horse " I was at a rock show last night" my argument about "same old set list/ standing vs. sitting talking at the wrong time Free Bird/ Casino Queen request is always the same NO one on this board owns wilco or dictates how people should act. I see a lot of shows from different bands, and without exception Wilco's crowd is the most eclectic/ well behaved /polite and educated as anyLay off Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mountain bed Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 During most of my concert going years, drinking alcohol was L7. Most everyone smoked maijuana back in the day, and that makes for a much less aggressive crowd. Just a thought.That's absolutely true,especially from a pharmacological standpoint.I have always said I'd rather be around a group of heads than drunks in any situation(even though I myself love my beer). It seems as if we've entered another "Drunken Nation" phase in this country.Lord knows why. Judy?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mchchef1 Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 Does anyone else get nervous when they hear the person beside you before the show talking about how they haven't ever seen Wilco (or whoever) in concert before? I always am worried that they won't know how to behave. ug I usally tell them they are in for one of the gratest musical events of there life! Do you ever get nervous when someone with three post, starts dictating how, just kidding Quote Link to post Share on other sites
caliber66 Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 I tend to rub other people's nipples at concerts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mrs. Peel Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 IT"S A ROCK SHOW/ HAVE SOME FUN/ ENJOY TIME WITH FRIENDS YOU HAVEN"T SEEN IN AWHILE/ SCREAM/ DRINK TO MUCH? GET HIGH /HAVE SOME RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU AND ASSUME THEY DIDN'T COME TO HEAR YOU SCREAM JEFF'S NAME DURING QUIET PARTS OF SONGS OR TO LISTEN TO YOU CATCH UP WITH OLD FRIENDS AT THE TOP OF YOUR LUNGS DURING A PERFORMANCE OR TO BE SUBJECTED TO YOUR DRUNKEN IDIOCY. Not aimed directly at you, of course, but there are common courtesies that should be upheld. I have had to tell WAY too many people to shut the fuck up over the years because I could hear their conversations louder than the music. Also, there are appropriate times to show your love and appreciation for the band. Yelling out a song request in the middle of another song is not one of them. Being at a show usually means being confined in a small space with strangers for a lengthy period of time. I'm usually up front at shows and it drives me insane when people are so wasted or so egotistical that they shout at the band, to their friends (or to whoever happens to be next to them) at inappropriate times as if the performance is actually a movie and the band can't hear what they're shouting from 3 feet away. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jules Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 I just want to be clear since I will be up close for the Nov. 25 show in Chicago. Is it acceptable to be drunk and quiet? What about leaving my seat for a couple more beers, maybe even during a song? I don't want to offend anyone. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 I just want to be clear since I will be up close for the Nov. 25 show in Chicago. Is it acceptable to be drunk and quiet? What about leaving my seat for a couple more beers, maybe even during a song? I don't want to offend anyone.Have you been to the Auditorium? If not expect long lines for drinks. The auditorium (unlike the Vic) doesn't have good logisitics for lots of beer consumption. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EL the Famous Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 I don't want to offend anyone. That is impossible to do at any of these gigs nowadays. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
watch me fall Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 I just don't want anyone to puke on me. Is that too much to ask? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 I have found that a spanish archer to the the throat will make people leave you alone every time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 There is no rock concert etiquette...everyone knows that. Anything goes!! You can puke on someone, spill beer on them, burn them with your cigarette, push them aside to get upfront, scream at the top of your lungs even during quiet songs, talk during the entire show even if you paid alot of money for tickets, threaten people for no reason, get on stage and accoust the performer, etc. etc. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jules Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 Have you been to the Auditorium? If not expect long lines for drinks. The auditorium (unlike the Vic) doesn't have good logisitics for lots of beer consumption. LouieB You're right, I forgot about that. I think at the benefit show last year, I was able to get out during On & On & On without missing much. I was just kidding anyway...I seem to be able to block everyone out for the most part and try to enjoy the show. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 There is no rock concert etiquette...everyone knows that. Anything goes!! You can puke on someone, spill beer on them, burn them with your cigarette, push them aside to get upfront, scream at the top of your lungs even during quiet songs, talk during the entire show even if you paid alot of money for tickets, threaten people for no reason, get on stage and accoust the performer, etc. etc. LouieB that was one of the great things about the other night - no beers for sale Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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