I've just seen an amazing show - well, a 2/3 amazing show, anyway - and i've got some ranting to do.
The show i'm referring to was The Joy Formidable, A Place to Bury Strangers, and EXITMUSIC at the Majestic Theater in Madison, WI. I'm a huge fan of A Place to Bury Strangers, i have been for about four years, since shortly after their self-titled album was released on Killer Pimp Records, one of the best-named record labels ever. I saw them in 2010, shortly after their second album Exploding Head was released, and mine nearly did. Head explode, that is. That came out more obtusely than intended.
I'd heard of The Joy Formidable before, though i hadn't ever heard their music. I saw a clip of them performing on Jimmy Kimmel a couple days ago and was bored for about four minutes, and then blown away for about three. Let me just say that their live show tonight was approximately 100% in the latter column. You can solidly count me as a fan. They had a lighthouse on the stage. How can you not like a band that puts a freaking lighthouse on the stage?
The opener, EXITMUSIC, was awful, which i'll use as a segue into my rants, but will not be the ranting itself. After all, if i posted about every single band that i hated, i'd be blogging multiple times daily and it would get circular and old in a jiffy.
But here's what i want to rant about: audience members at rock shows these days. Yes, i said "these days," in exactly the tone of voice that the elderly use when describing whippersnappers, but i'm fairly certain that these behaviors are indigenous to the specific time period we currently inhabit. These two specific acts are things i've noted people doing at multiple shows over the last year or two, from local attractions to national and even international touring acts. The Joy Formidable came all the way to Wisconsin today from Wales, and everybody paid fifteen (or seventeen!) dollars to get in. You'd think that would warrant a certain degree of respect for the band.
Exhibit A: Taking pictures of yourself and your stupid friends while the band is playing. Until today my experience was that 100% of the guilty on this one were girls, but as usual, eventually you'll run into a douchebag who defies the stereotype. Genders aside now, allow me, since this is my rant, to be more specific: standing in the front row of a packed auditorium and taking pictures of yourself and/or your stupid friends THAT DON'T EVEN INCLUDE THE BAND ONSTAGE IN THE BACKGROUND. What the fuck? Why do you do this? If you just want pictures of yourself and/or your stupid friends, go do it at home. Or at least go do it in the back, or at the bar. The venue is filled to capacity with people who just paid fifteen of their hard-earned dollars to see their favorite band from the other side of the ocean, and they have to stand behind your stupid ass who doesn't even give a shit what's going on. Why did you pay fifteen dollars to be here? Goddammit. If anyone did this while my band was playing, i'd kick them in the head, since, from the stage, their stupid heads are right at my boot level.
Exhibit B: Talking OVER THE BAND during slow/acoustic songs. I've only witnessed this twice, and both times were for international bands. Today it was The Joy Formidable, last year it was Biffy Clyro (twice!). I realize that slowing it down or going acoustic is not going to be everybody's proverbial cup of lard, but, especially when we're talking huge bands with international followings, it's going to be most present people's proverbial cup of lard. Shut your god damned lard hole already and allow the rest of us to appreciate the rare gift that is being bestowed upon us! As mentioned above, i'm not familiar with The Joy Formidable's music, but last year when we saw Biffy Clyro (twice!), i knew damn well that what i was hearing was a rarity. When Simon Neil pulls out his acoustic guitar and launches into the song Folding Stars, you shut up and pay attention, because this is likely a once-in-a-lifetime event. But seriously, when your conversation has drowned out the PA, it's time for you to quit drinking and go home, where you can loudly assert your opinions on sandwich flavors as you like without disturbing 200 other people who paid fifteen dollars to be there.
I've mentioned fifteen dollars a number of times. Some may think i'm bitter about having to pay such a hefty sum. They would be right! Fifteen dollars is a lot of dollars to pay to listen to an unidentifiable hipster with an entire can of Pabst stuck in his ironic beard harangue about his organic sandwich! Would you pay me fifteen dollars to hear about my college studentesque culinary experiments? Wait, you would? Fuck, why do i work for a living? Allow me to elaborate on the joys of rye.
The show i'm referring to was The Joy Formidable, A Place to Bury Strangers, and EXITMUSIC at the Majestic Theater in Madison, WI. I'm a huge fan of A Place to Bury Strangers, i have been for about four years, since shortly after their self-titled album was released on Killer Pimp Records, one of the best-named record labels ever. I saw them in 2010, shortly after their second album Exploding Head was released, and mine nearly did. Head explode, that is. That came out more obtusely than intended.
I'd heard of The Joy Formidable before, though i hadn't ever heard their music. I saw a clip of them performing on Jimmy Kimmel a couple days ago and was bored for about four minutes, and then blown away for about three. Let me just say that their live show tonight was approximately 100% in the latter column. You can solidly count me as a fan. They had a lighthouse on the stage. How can you not like a band that puts a freaking lighthouse on the stage?
The opener, EXITMUSIC, was awful, which i'll use as a segue into my rants, but will not be the ranting itself. After all, if i posted about every single band that i hated, i'd be blogging multiple times daily and it would get circular and old in a jiffy.
But here's what i want to rant about: audience members at rock shows these days. Yes, i said "these days," in exactly the tone of voice that the elderly use when describing whippersnappers, but i'm fairly certain that these behaviors are indigenous to the specific time period we currently inhabit. These two specific acts are things i've noted people doing at multiple shows over the last year or two, from local attractions to national and even international touring acts. The Joy Formidable came all the way to Wisconsin today from Wales, and everybody paid fifteen (or seventeen!) dollars to get in. You'd think that would warrant a certain degree of respect for the band.
Exhibit A: Taking pictures of yourself and your stupid friends while the band is playing. Until today my experience was that 100% of the guilty on this one were girls, but as usual, eventually you'll run into a douchebag who defies the stereotype. Genders aside now, allow me, since this is my rant, to be more specific: standing in the front row of a packed auditorium and taking pictures of yourself and/or your stupid friends THAT DON'T EVEN INCLUDE THE BAND ONSTAGE IN THE BACKGROUND. What the fuck? Why do you do this? If you just want pictures of yourself and/or your stupid friends, go do it at home. Or at least go do it in the back, or at the bar. The venue is filled to capacity with people who just paid fifteen of their hard-earned dollars to see their favorite band from the other side of the ocean, and they have to stand behind your stupid ass who doesn't even give a shit what's going on. Why did you pay fifteen dollars to be here? Goddammit. If anyone did this while my band was playing, i'd kick them in the head, since, from the stage, their stupid heads are right at my boot level.
Exhibit B: Talking OVER THE BAND during slow/acoustic songs. I've only witnessed this twice, and both times were for international bands. Today it was The Joy Formidable, last year it was Biffy Clyro (twice!). I realize that slowing it down or going acoustic is not going to be everybody's proverbial cup of lard, but, especially when we're talking huge bands with international followings, it's going to be most present people's proverbial cup of lard. Shut your god damned lard hole already and allow the rest of us to appreciate the rare gift that is being bestowed upon us! As mentioned above, i'm not familiar with The Joy Formidable's music, but last year when we saw Biffy Clyro (twice!), i knew damn well that what i was hearing was a rarity. When Simon Neil pulls out his acoustic guitar and launches into the song Folding Stars, you shut up and pay attention, because this is likely a once-in-a-lifetime event. But seriously, when your conversation has drowned out the PA, it's time for you to quit drinking and go home, where you can loudly assert your opinions on sandwich flavors as you like without disturbing 200 other people who paid fifteen dollars to be there.
I've mentioned fifteen dollars a number of times. Some may think i'm bitter about having to pay such a hefty sum. They would be right! Fifteen dollars is a lot of dollars to pay to listen to an unidentifiable hipster with an entire can of Pabst stuck in his ironic beard harangue about his organic sandwich! Would you pay me fifteen dollars to hear about my college studentesque culinary experiments? Wait, you would? Fuck, why do i work for a living? Allow me to elaborate on the joys of rye.
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