I recently went to a concert of one of my long time favourites, Loreena McKenitt. Although she has been releasing music since 1985, her singing was note-for-note perfect, and she hasn't lost a thing, ability-wise. She began on time, and the concert lasted about 2 hours, with a break of about 20 minutes. She lived up to my expectations and more.

But the concert itself was something of a let-down. For one thing, it was in the Obi Hall, a sub-par venue, especially for that type of performer. Folding chairs, terrible acoustics. There was no light show or special effects, apart from spotlights. Although Loreena had on a nice dress, the rest of the band were wearing ordinary clothes. And the boredom of several members of the band was palpable. For one thing, the guitarist and bass player were sitting down, as if they were in the studio. I think anyone who isn't playing drums, keyboards, cello or viola should stand up! Only the violinist and the cellist seemed like they loved what they were doing. The others did not even smile. The tickets for two were over 100 €.

This kind of thing annoyed me at the Eric Clapton concert as well, although of course all the musicians except the drummer were at least on their feet. Jeans and t-shirts, no smiling, no light show, in and out. The Clapton tickets were 100 € each, for not great seats.

Not every performer or band can afford elaborate light shows or special effects. But they should be at least as well dressed as the audience, and show some appreciation for their fans. For many people in the audience, especially now, 100 € is a big deal.

Your thoughts?

Sometimes it's cool when a band is sitting.

I'm sure the Stones used to sit on stools in the early days.

I like Loreena McKennitt by the way, I have a couple of her CDs. She's like Enya only more consistent.

I have to be in the right mood though.

A kick-ass performance can overcome anything, except me not being there.

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Edith Grove
A kick-ass performance can overcome anything, except me not being there.

I know, Edith. You not being there was what really wrecked this concert. When I realised you weren't coming, I said to myself that I might as well just go home now.

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Bliss

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Edith Grove
A kick-ass performance can overcome anything, except me not being there.

I know, Edith. You not being there was what really wrecked this concert. When I realised you weren't coming, I said to myself that I might as well just go home now.

I dunno, Bliss. I was actually referring to my own enjoyment of the show.

My two-finger whistling really annoys some people.

I want to see someone cooler than me doing things I can't do. It also helps if they're older than me, too. It gives me hope for my own future and something to aspire to. Seriously, If I can get that at a concert, I leave with an energy that I can take home and put to use in my own life.

MUSIC

What do you expect at a concert? People who are attending the concert because they want to hear the music...


So, I went to see Steve Winwood last week in NYC at the Beacon. Two rows in front of me was a woman on her iPad doing emails for a good part of the show. I mean, WTF !!! Are you here to see the show or is it just a night out because you are bored at home ?

Gone are the days of the enthusiastic fans. People are more interested in taking pictures and posting them on facebook than enjoying the show.

Having a good time

Keep On Rolling

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custom55
People are more interested in taking pictures and posting them on facebook than enjoying the show.

That's why Instagram sold for $1B.

It is quite amazing watching sport on TV and seeing people in the front row texting rather than watching the game.

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custom55
Are you here to see the show or is it just a night out because you are bored at home ?

This is always what amazes me. Tickets for big name concerts are priced so high nowadays that I can't even consider taking a chance on seeing someone I'm not a huge fan of. If nothing else, you'd think the high prices would ensure that the audiences would consist entirely of hard core fans, and yet there's always these people there who seem to have just wandered in on a whim, as if they had nothing better to do that night.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2012-06-05 16:22 by tatters.

I expect to be entertained, not kept waiting ( like Prince, the ego-maniac who kept us waiting for 2 hours in Boston 5 years ago!), I like a great opening act, and I expect to hear deep-cuts not just their greatest hits. I also want the show to be a respectable length of time, not 40 minutes like Mick Taylor shows!

Hot chicks workin' in the donut-caravan .....

ROCKMAN

"What do you expect at a concert?"

Not leaving the venue with an unbearable ringing in my ears.

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dcba
"What do you expect at a concert?"

Not leaving the venue with an unbearable ringing in my ears.

Ideally, the music should be loud enough to make the conversations of the people sitting near you inaudible.

You're right Tatters but at this level my eardrums burst...
(sorry to be such a dB wuss)

I remember my Mom telling me "turn that thing down, it's killing me!" and she was talking about... the TV set! That allergy to loud sounds must run in my family.

If it is a band like The Rolling Stones I expect at least one week of Carnival, Womens and Booze....




I was driving home early Sunday morning through Bakersfield...

I've come to expect a drunk girl sitting behind me yapping away loudly to her friends, and me turning around to her 17 times and telling her to shut the F^@& up