Fao: Every Single Gig Goer

[Guest RockMonkey]

The article is good, and makes valid points. Unfortunately, I doubt the people who do spoil gigs by talking all the way through it are unlikely to take heed from it, given they'll tend to be naturally inconsiderate.

[Michael MacLennan]

if you want to listen in silence to a piece of music' date=' isn't that what cd's are for?[/quote']

No, CDs are available to listen to in the environment of your choice, unless I've missed something and you get zapped by the CD Player Death Ray © when you start singing along to a song while doing the vacuuming...

I think Twobackjoe made a great point about it being respect for the audience, not necessarily for the band. There's been plenty of times I've thought a band were diabolical, but i could plainly see a lot of people were really into them, and I just think it's rude to disrupt their enjoyment because I don't like it. Nothing wrong with being alruistic now and then...

And I don't think the writer's talking about small amounts of noise, there's been some gigs when it's a complete din, Arab Strap at Triple Kirks was a classic example. It's not a bit of chatter, it's like some sort of goddam competition.

From a band point of view, I think it depends. When I played as part of Popcorn Fiend at Gavfest on Saturday, I could hear chatter during songs, but I didn't mind because it was a free gig, so no-one had come just to see me, plus it was late at night and most people were plastered. It was groovy, and by the end I was very pleased with the audience reaction.

But if I'd been charging 30 for the Popcorn Fiend Extravaganza and people had been talking extremely loudly (for no discernable reason) during the entire gig, I'd have been pissed off for those who'd come along and paid good money to enjoy the show.

PS The fact that only my parents and people on the guest-list would attend the Popcorn Fiend Extravaganza is a negligible point.

[KarmaTsunami]

what? i can't even wrap my head around that statement..(Girdlock's)..when you go see a band live it's an experience that more often than not is unmatched by just sitting at home and listening to them on CD.

Why shouldn't we be abe to go see our favourite artists live, for how ever much money, without having it ruined by some obnoxious git who just has to tell his mate about his weekend/football practise/his pint tasting odd.

[Marsh]

Mogwai hate it when people talk throughout their shows. It can put them off and they don't like the fact that others in the audience who WANT to hear every litytle sound they are making but CAN'T because of some nyaff bleatering shite in the audience.

It pisses me off when you get stuck beside / behind / in front of someone who can't sing worth a fuck and ends up screaming down your ear in a tuneless warble (often singing the wrong words) - They usually get an "accidental" elbow right in the face when they get so close I can't hear the band. Hey, I'm only exercising my right to move about in the venue - that's what you pay your money for isn't it? Just like you pay it for the right to sing? Or throughout the band.

It works both ways.

[Guest pop-notmyface]

to be honest, the music in pubs and bars are too loud.

as much as i absolutely adore music, the point of going to bars and pubs is to socialise, and i don't want to have to shout to the person sitting just a metre away from me. if the music was quieter, i wouldn't even HAVE to. it should be more relaxed, it should be background music in restaurant. but then again...i would go to a restaurant.

and cinema seats should be less comfortable. like hard wooden stools so that you can't really feel at home. then again, i'd go back to school wouldn't i?

[lepeep]

if you want to listen in silence to a piece of music' date=' isn't that what cd's are for?[/quote']

yeah, that's right...

and you can wank to them in peace too.

[Guest bluesxman]

I went to see Interpol at T in teh Park and ended up with some annoying guy of about 40 making a ridiculous whooping noise all through the first couple of songs like some demented circus seal. We had to move before the urge to kill became too great.

[TR!ΔNGL€ T€€TH]

I think one of the few times I've become incredible angry at a gig was during Sonic Youth at the Barrows last year.... the show started so well... but about half an hour through some wankers started hopping on people's feet... it was packed... it wasnt funny... I'm not saying dont move... but there is a level where it's fucking ridiculous in a packed venue.

Hmm, sounds like my mate Chris. He got in for free after serving in Bairds for about 20 minutes, so he came dancing in all excited... It looked pretty funny watching this pissed Weegie bouncing in through all the motionless Sonic Youth fans.

[The Ghost Of Fudge]

if you want to listen in silence to a piece of music' date=' isn't that what cd's are for?[/quote']

i've never really noticed this gridlock guy before, but in this thread everytime i read what he's posted i throw my hands up in the air and shout "WHAT THE FUCK?!?"

what a fucking idiot. really. are you serious?

when mogwai played the lemon tree 5 or 6 years ago, you couldn't hear fucking anything for the trendy arseholes at the bar. when the wannadies played the lemon tree, they stopped halfway throught the opening song to tell the audience to shut the fuck up, because the racket was incredible. the lone pigeon gig at drakes where that fucking arsefaced slapper wouldn't shut the fuck up and leave the poor guy alone.

these gigs are all memorable for being spoiled by the fucking spoons in the crowd who can't shut the fuck up because they really REALLY need the attention or whatever.

cunts.

(p.s. i've been feeling rather unwell for the past 4 days, and this may be contributing to my posting style today...)

[huntedbyafreak]

You should be ill more often, Bri... It's quite amusing, you mad rocket.

[Graeme]

when mogwai played the lemon tree 5 or 6 years ago' date=' you couldn't hear fucking anything for the trendy arseholes at the bar.

[/quote']

And it's significant, they've never been back!!

[The Ghost Of Fudge]

you should thank pissing christ that you're not my girlfriend, that's what i say. the poor lass.

then again, you'd probably like to be my girlfriend....

[The Ghost Of Fudge]

that one was for huntedetc by the way, not you graeme

[garbage_star]

it really annoys me when you're really into a band and there's people standying right at the front at the barrier, and you're trying to enjoy it and all you can hear is someone chattering on and all you can see is moving heads so they can hear eachother....that really pisses me off...

also nobody seems to get really excited about gigs anymore...i know everyone is different but, for example, at the dresden dolls the other night everyone was standing there like morons not moving at all...how can you listen to music like that and not move???

[lepeep]

also nobody seems to get really excited about gigs anymore...???

not I, if I didn't get excited about going to a gig, I wouldn't be going !

[huntedbyafreak]

then again' date=' you'd probably like to be my girlfriend....[/quote']

Are you asking me out? Oh Brian...

at the dresden dolls the other night everyone was standing there like morons not moving at all

To be fair, it was hardly the best music to dance to... The thing is that you don't have to be going mental down the front of a gig to enjoy it.

[garbage_star]

...maybe that was a wee bit extreme but when people are chattering away and not even paying attention...!!

maybe i'm just being irrational and obsessive....?

[KarmaTsunami]

I wasn't moving at the Dresden Dolls and i thought it was once of the best things I've ever seen in Aberdeen. She was amazing to listen to and watch...

Anyone here at the Bleeding Through/Cult of Luna gig? Remember the twattish couple down the front who talked loudly through most of Cult of Luna's set? Christ I could have choked the pair of them, as could other members of the crowd and band.

[garbage_star]

did you see how wide those legs were??!

[Cloud]

People keep bringing up the issue of big name bands telling folk to shut the fuck up - well, maybe isn't that because they've earnt the right to do that? A local musician doing it would just sound ridiculous and as if they have ideas above their station, but if you've got a big career and can sell out decent sized venues, then yeah, you have the right to do as you please.

What's with Aberdonians and demanding respect? I really don't get it...

As for talking at gigs - talking down the front is ridiculous, anyone who does that deserves a hard slap. But if they're not anywhere near the stage (for instance, at the back of the room in the tunnels), then what's the problem?

[RF Scott]

People keep bringing up the issue of big name bands telling folk to shut the fuck up - well' date=' maybe isn't that because they've earnt the right to do that? A local musician doing it would just sound ridiculous and as if they have ideas above their station, but if you've got a big career and can sell out decent sized venues, then yeah, you have the right to do as you please.

What's with Aberdonians and demanding respect? I really don't get it...

As for talking at gigs - talking down the front is ridiculous, anyone who does that deserves a hard slap. But if they're not anywhere near the stage (for instance, at the back of the room in the tunnels), then what's the problem?[/quote']

Dear 'Cloud,'

The above reply is yet another in a series of posts which completely miss the point. It has nothing to do with the size of an artist/band/orchestra/robot/dj, but is in fact an issue of showing respect for fellow audience members, who have paid money - as you may also have done - to bear witness to a concert, and thus should in no way have to deal with overhearing conversations which may disrupt their listening, viewing and general enjoyment of the provided entertainment. It is also not a matter of where you are in the venue, but with the volume you speak. Many times at the Tunnels have I heard people talking loudly at the back, but not heard a peep from the front. It seems to really be a joint case of not showing respect (I know you like that word, so I've used it here), and people treating shows as purely a social event, as they would a night down the pub. And yes, I am aware there is a social aspect to going to shows.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Scott

[Cloud]

Okay, respect for fellow audience members.

If it's such a big problem, why don't the venues ban it outright?

Seriously, how can anyone enjoy gigs if they're too busy getting uptight over people talking? Whenever I've seen a performance that's been something truly special, people have been talking around me and I haven't heard a thing, just the music...

I hate to break it to you people, but for a lot of people, gigs are a social thing as well as a cultural thing. If they've paid good money to get in, then I'd say they've got just as much right to talk as they've got to do whatever, unless it's against the rules of the venue. If you stop them talking by any means, you're going to see gig attendances drop - simply because you'll be 'restricting their enjoyment' in their eyes.

People care way too much about little things in this city and don't give a toss about the big picture..it's sad.

[Cloud]

Many times at the Tunnels have I heard people talking loudly at the back' date=' but not heard a peep from the front. It seems to really be a joint case of not showing respect (I know you like that word, so I've used it here), and people treating shows as purely a social event, as they would a night down the pub. And yes, I am aware there is a social aspect to going to shows.[/quote']

Sorry, you edited your post after I wrote mine, soo..

Is it a bad thing that people are attending shows in a purely social sense? My heart says it's a bad thing, but my head says that as long as people are going to them, it means there'll be more of the same, which is a good thing.

I really don't know actually, I've never gone to a gig solely to see mates, so I wouldn't know one way or another.

[nullmouse]

I hate to break it to you people' date=' but for a lot of people, gigs are a social thing as well as a cultural thing. If they've paid good money to get in, then I'd say they've got just as much right to talk as they've got to do whatever, unless it's against the rules of the venue. If you stop them talking by any means, you're going to see gig attendances drop - simply because you'll be 'restricting their enjoyment' in their eyes.

[/quote']

Well, I'd have as much right to set off an air-horn throughout a band's set. Just because I'd be within my rights doesn't mean I should be a selfish asshole and ruin the majority of other people's fun.

Besides, there's the period before and after bands that's perfectly okay to socialise in. Also, there's corridors and often bars associated with most venues that the friendly bouncers and ticket staff will let you move between so that those that want to talk can go move somewhere they're not going to irritate other people.

We're talking about consideration here, and not being selfish. Rights have nothing to do with it.

[Jim Stax]

Sorry' date=' you edited your post after I wrote mine, soo..

Is it a bad thing that people are attending shows in a purely social sense? My heart says it's a bad thing, but my head says that as long as people are going to them, it means there'll be more of the same, which is a good thing.

I really don't know actually, I've never gone to a gig solely to see mates, so I wouldn't know one way or another.[/quote']

Somebody else take this... Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease... I'm convinced Cloud is replying, in most cases, to entirley different threads on another forum!

I try to see reason in most of your points and opinions, of which you are most certainly entilted, but always come away shaking my head... I do try, truly.

Jim

By the way, I read your (Clouds) second last reply as "venues should ban respect for fellow audience members" Which does amusingly and worryingly, fit with your stance.