My concert outings have been few and far between in the last few decades, so it's always interesting to sit back and watch the crowd. Fleetwood Mac had their share of folks stuck in the past (think Archie Bunker's son-in-law "Meathead"). The concert goers were mostly in the "I've seen my 50th birthday come and go" range. Sure, there were 30 year olds in attendance (and my three teens), but it was mostly an older crowd.Before we left our home, College Daughter came down the stairs announcing, "I've got my camera!" We had to explain to her that at this venue, no cameras are allowed (she's been to outdoor concerts where it's a free-for-all). After some arguing, she put it away. Sure enough, the minute we stepped inside the arena, we were asked if we had cameras or recording devices and we had to walk through the metal detectors. Husband and I felt vindicated. Until the concert started and everyone around us seemed to be holding up digital cameras like they were lighters! Yes, that pissed her off.......
The well groomed man directly in front of me was a particularly bad offender. He had that camera flashing the entire first half hour of the show. Finally, an usher came over and told him to put it away. The man (who seemed unusually giddy) offered the camera to the usher, saying, "here, you can take it!" To which the usher just shook his head and walked away. The rest of the show, Mr. CameraMan kept putting his arm around his boyfriend, who seemed to be doing his best to ignore him. The boyfriend looked to have stepped right out of a 1970's porn movie, or possibly a Village People video with his mustache and leather jacket. Stevie Nicks has quite the gay following.
The above usher was an interesting fellow too. He was in his mid-60's and really trying to enjoy the concert. Unfortunately, he had a job to do, and that seemed to be shining his flashlight on the steps for the drunk women who paraded up and down them, holding their plastic cups of Miller Lite. On more than one occasion, I saw the usher wrap his arm around their waists, presumably to guide them to the stairs. He was quite the touchy-feely sort.
As I stated earlier, it's probably been about four or five years since I went to a concert, but since when do people miss half the show just to go get food and drink? It was a constant stream of traffic where we were sitting. At one point, I was ready to shout, "Sit the hell down, people!" Then there were the loud talkers. Is it really necessary to have a conversation during the concert, especially when you have to shout to the person next to you to be heard above the music? I turned around a few times and just stared at people. Man, I'm turning into my mom!
My kids gave me a few looks too when a couple a few rows in front of us looked to be having sex, albeit fully dressed. Nice grinding, by the way!
Then there were the vast number of women dressed like Stevie Nicks, with their long shawls and capes. A coven of loveliness, shall we say?
My biggest "huh?" moment came when the band left the stage for the first time. A bunch of people around us got up and left! I was like, "Have they never been to a concert before?" The band returned for their first encore and I saw people come back and stand at the entrances. After two songs, they left the stage again. And more people got up and left!!! Huh? I've never been to a concert where there wasn't two encores......plus the fact that the house lights were not coming back on!
All in all, it was your usual crowd of hippies and bikers and the women that love them. We even caught a few whiffs of pot an hour into the show. No disappointments!
On leaving early, you gotta beat the traffic! As to the rest? I dunno.
ReplyDeleteHa! I was going to say the traffic thing, too! Of course, we also have babysitters to contend with. I say all this like I get to go do this type of fun thing like go to concerts, but ha, sometimes I think Tool Man and I are far, far older than the years would indicate. Our last concert was Rick Springfield last summer, and there may have been some complaining about the loud fireworks afterward!
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The first time I went to see McCartney, back in '93, it was a stadium venue, and the crowd was heavy with balding, graying, pony-tailed men. There was this odd vibe (alas, in retrospect, all-too-predictable) where the crowd stayed attentively in their seats as long as the band was playing Beatles or Wings stuff, but the second Paul told us the next number was from his latest CD, there was a steady stream of folks to the restrooms. . . (*sigh*)The more recent of his concerts, the crowd has been much more generationally-mixed, with the gray pony-tails bringing their kids and grandkids along. And maybe it was because those were in smaller, arena-sized venues, but they were also a good deal more, shall-we-say 'aromatic'. At one point, Sir Paul was talking between songs, and asked if we were having a good time. (*Loud, self-congratulatory cheer*) And he said, "It sure SMELLS like you're having a good time. . ."
ReplyDeleteI brought my cell phone, just because I'm paranoid about driving more than 20 minutes from home without it. And during the 'Hey Jude' singalong, I thought it would be cool to call 2F and let her listen in. And apparently, I wasn't the only person in the audience that night who had that idea. But wouldn't you know, the ushers were all over that. It was like, at the pre-concert usher-training, they were told, "NO NA-NAs TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD!" Because, as soon as the song started, all of a sudden, every aisle in the arena was thick with ushers (who had, up to that point, been utterly invisible) wandering up and down, pointing at people, and making the 'SHUT IT!' motion with their hands. I was brazen enough to pause for a second to tell my daughter that I had to go, before I closed my phone, and the usher started coming down the row toward me. (*sigh*)
Russ - With the price of tickets, missing the last three songs sets you back at least $20.
ReplyDeleteFADKOG - Ironically enough, Rick Springfield was the first concert I ever attended. Also, my worst date ever, but that is a separate post.
Desmond - I've noticed the aroma no matter what the venue, but then, I notice it at amusement parks and anywhere crowds congregate. What I didn't get was the stream of people coming and going the ENTIRE concert, no matter how popular the song. Annoying!
I love to people watch!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your descriptions of everyone there! I don't know how I'd handle my kiddos seeing the grindage, though. Awkward!
Flutter - Since "grinding" has become a major topic of conversation concerning high school dances, my kids have seen their share. I think they were more shocked that "adults" were doing it than anything else.
ReplyDeleteLOL, great recap of the evening!
ReplyDelete4 or 5 years??? - Girrrrrrrrrrrl, you need to get out & attend more concerts!
The cam thing pisses me off, too. Concert venues (and the bands) should just give up on this one, tho, cuz nearly EVERY cell phone has a built-in cam nowadays. THAT is what you're seeing light up instead of lighters. Yes, cell phones have replaced lighters in concerts.
Ushers are on a misplaced power trip. LOL!
The people who feel compelled to have a full-blown conversation DURING a concert piss me off more than anything. I mean, really, if it's THAT important, take it out into walk-around or go to a restaurant or STAY AT HOME! Did they come to actually see and HEAR the band or NOT? Sheesh! lol
Only die-hards, like us, stay for the encores these days. And only long-time concert-goers KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that there WILL be an encore... until those damn house lights come on! lol
I'm taking Mom to a concert tomorrow night for an early Mother's Day present. She doesn't know it yet and it's not my concert-of-choice, but she luuuuuuuuvs George Jones and Conway Twitty (now deceased) and wouldn't you guess it... George Jones is performing in my city ... and get this, he's doing Conway Twitty songs! LOL, she's gonna FAINT! I can't wait. =)
btw... had I been at this concert, I mighta been one of the dancin' gypsies in the crowd. lol ;)
LB - That is so sweet that you are taking your mom to that concert. I'm not sure I could sit through it - LOL....how is your mom doing, btw??
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