Houston Calling

What I hope for in the new year (a rant)

November 30th, 2006 · 7 Comments

I attended the sold-out Wolfmother concert at The Meridian on Tuesday night. They sounded great and put on an excellent show. I do have a few issues with the show, however. Normally I am not a proponent of having shows at bigger venues (like Verizon), but this one definitely was beyond The Meridian’s scope. Not only was security very lax and apathetic (not all of them, of course, but definitely the two guys near the right side of the stage who let a guy stay in the crowd after punching numerous of people for what appeared to be no reason at all–and this was before Wolfmother even started), but the crowd seemed really out of control overall. Maybe I’m too used to the nice, friendly crowds at most concerts I attend. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older. Maybe it’s because I mostly avoid bigger shows–including many of those I’d actually like to see–and don’t enjoy the crowds (not to mention the heat), but it seemed particularly ridiculous at the Wolfmother show.

I know it’s a free country and if someone paid to get in, really they can act however they want–it’s America, after all. And, at risk of sounding elitist, I knew going in that since the show was sold-out–which doesn’t happen often to shows I attend–that there would be a cross-section of humanity there, most of which I’d normally like to avoid. Regardless, I feel the need to offer up a refresher course for concert-goers and have compiled my five hopes for the new year.

1. I hope that people at concerts–especially sold-out, packed concerts–will learn a little something called common courtesy. If someone bumps into you, it’s not a big deal–it’s a sold-out show. Don’t treat it as a personal affront. It’s bound to happen. Get over it. If it keeps on happening, chances are it isn’t going to get any better–pick a better spot from which to view the show. And don’t start a fight because of it. (Listen to Local H‘s “High Fivin’ MF” for further reference.)

2. I hope that people at concerts don’t attend the show just to escape the fumes from the bathtub meth lab in their soon-to-be-foreclosed-upon trailer home and take the opportunity to start fights with anyone who even remotely looks different than they do (which, if you think about it, is probably pretty much everyone).

3. I hope that people at concerts leave the frat party at the frat house and shut the hell up–if you want to talk over a band, let me know and I will buy you a copy of the CD so you can stay at home with your friends. Plan the date rape on your own time–I (and a bunch of other people) paid good money to see the show and want to do so without your inane chatter and ceaseless high-fives. Really, this applies to anyone who’d rather talk than watch a concert. I realize you paid too, and that the band gets their money either way, but really. Back to the common courtesy thing…

4. I hope that people at concerts also learn a little something called self-control/self-restraint. I know that for the underage crowd, a concert might be the only place to be away from the parents for a few hours, but I’m not sure that gives you the right to make out in front of me for two solid hours. Cars still have backseats the last time I checked… And aren’t you here to watch a band?

5. I hope that people at concerts realize that holding their cell phone up for an hour so their buddy at home who wasn’t fortunate to get a ticket can hear it is just plain dumb. Stop it. Seriously.

Feel free to post comments below.

Tags: Music

7 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Jeff // Nov 30, 2006 at 11:49 am

    Sad to say, it has been this way since, well, Altamont and there is no reason to think that drunk and stoned hormone-fueled boys and girls driven by agressive music and the energy of a crowd of other equally messed up people won’t act stupid and make bad choices. It’s unfortunate, but reality.

  • 2 tom // Nov 30, 2006 at 12:52 pm

    nice grand theft auto banner. j/k. i agree with all those points. especially five. it’s just stupid. seriously. stupid.

  • 3 christopher // Nov 30, 2006 at 4:03 pm

    what about the 3 guys that want to mosh at some of the more rock n roll shows when everyone else wants them to stop? or the people that would rather hear themselves sing rather than the guy they’re paying to hear sing.

  • 4 Phil // Nov 30, 2006 at 5:33 pm

    yes. yes. yup. uh-huh. yep.
    STORY CHECKS OUT

  • 5 Scott // Nov 30, 2006 at 7:24 pm

    David, you’re funny. “Plan the date rape on your own time…” Man, that’s rich.

  • 6 Joel // Dec 1, 2006 at 8:09 am

    I agree! People need to shut up when the bands playing and the frat boys need to chill the F out and shut up. Whats with getting in fights anyway, did daddy not love you enough so you feel the need to hurt everyone who bumps you!

  • 7 ca|eb // Dec 1, 2006 at 12:59 pm

    I agree with the holding the phones up thing (#5). Leave them in your damn car. I wanna watch the show, not the crap ass image on the screen of your phone!

Leave a Comment