Reader Request – Annoyances at Concerts
October 3rd, 2007 - by Eddie
Sorry. This is late again I know, but at least we didn’t miss the Wednesday.
As some of you know, I was at the Kings of Leon concert last weekend and noticed some rather strange behavior. It was during the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s opening set. I was in the back of the Orpheum Theatre in Boston (it’s a “fancy” theatre which means they have seats everywhere) and there was a guy seated in the back row screaming “SIT DOWN! SIT DOWN NOW!!!!” to two people i n front of him.
I wasn’t sure if it was for real or if he was serious. But it was very annoying and got me thinking that there’s a slew of behavior that ticks me off. Here’s quick list in no particular order.
1. Over-priced beer – it’s hard to get a buzz when you can only afford to get two beers and it’s Bud Light.
2. Obstructed view – This happens when the fat/smelly/tall person decides to view the concert directly in front of you.
3. No encores – I don’t care if you’re Warrant and you already played all your songs. Get back out there and give us something extra. Cover Extreme if you have to.
4. Over-priced t-shirts – Right now I believe they are going for $40. It’s tough when you have choose between fashion and drunkenness.
5. Puke – Either in the bathroom, on the floor, or coming out of the mouth from the person next to you. It’s never a good scene…especially if that person ate chili that evening.
6. “Intermission” – I was at a James Taylor concert and they guy took an intermission. Like a real intermission. The house lights came on and he left the stage for, what I can only assume, was his mid-concert nap. If you can’t handle playing the length of a concert, then you should play the State Fair.
Got any more?
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:29 pm
People who talk during the band. I mean, sure make a comment here and there, but if you are going to have your full on conversation where you have to yell to be heard over the music, don’t do it standing behind me!
October 4th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
People who take up more than their fair share of personal space. Yes, it’s a concert and we’re all in close quarters… but I was recently at a show where the gal standing in front of me needed to fully extend her arms out in front of her to really get her groove on… of course, since we were near the front of the crowd, there wasn’t much room in front of her, so she just kept stepping back onto my shoes, swinging her hair in my face, and basically leaning back into me, as if to spoon. If we were dating, it might have become a tender moment… but seeing as how we had never met each other, it made for a most annoying experience.
October 4th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
got to agree w/jackie on this one-
people talking over the band-
a few times i’ve seen the opening band talking loudly while the next band is playing which always strikes me as strange-
October 4th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
This is a really specific annoyance — but it’s fresh in my head from seeing the Melvins / Big Business this week in Philly. The venue has a small balcony bar area with a few rows of stools that overlook the stage. It’s a decent spot to watch a show if you can snag a seat.
Halfway through the Melvins set, an emo dude appeared decked out in a wife beater holding a set of drumsticks. He snatched up the only open stool and ran off.
A few minutes later all kinds of thumping and clanging were competing with the sound of the band. The Melvins & Big Business field two drummers with two full kits. But this emo dude was banging away on the stool, a wall, and a metal railing. I looked over to see him spinning one stick in the air and bashing the other against the wall and the railing.
This kept up for about three songs before someone finally grabbed the drum sticks from the moron. He tried to argue, but the angry guy yelled and emo boy snatched back his sticks and ran away in a huff.
Seriously — who brings drum sticks to a concert and rocks it Stomp style while the band plays? WTF?