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tchocky
- FB Fan -
16 Posts |
 Posted - 03/26/2003 : 11:38:24
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I was at the Little Brothers show in Columbus. First off.. the concert was great, it was amazing to finally get to see Frank. But the dissapointing thing was that my brother told me about David Lovering apparently flirting and hitting on several underage looking girls. and Frank wouldn't even look at the fans when they would call his name or try and talk to him.. I guess all of the lime light over the years can do that too you.. just thought they'd be different. :(
[MOVED - I don't see any news here...] |
Edited by - El Barto on 03/26/2003 13:46:18 |
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peter radiator
= Cult of Ray =
USA
653 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2003 : 13:17:24
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quote:
Originally posted by tchocky
I was at the Little Brothers show in Columbus. First off.. the concert was great, it was amazing to finally get to see Frank. But the dissapointing thing was that my brother told me about David Lovering apparently flirting and hitting on several underage looking girls. and Frank wouldn't even look at the fans when they would call his name or try and talk to him.. I guess all of the lime light over the years can do that too you.. just thought they'd be different. :(
Can't speak on the Lovering issue, but as Far as Frank not acknowledging fans in the crowd who call his name or try to talk to him:
I assume you're not a performng artist or musician. That's not meant to sound harsh, but as one, I can tell you that playing a raucous rock show in a club or theatre is almost entirely dependent on maintaining control of the situation. Without that barrier or implied delineation between performer and audience, the entire thing can almost instantly shift into a chaotic and incredibly dissatisfying situation for all concerned.
I LOVE Frank Black's work, but would never dream of trying to get his attention during a show – and I've been dead center in front of him a foot and a half from his guitar bridge. The fact that he occasionally would glance down and seem to get a kick out of the look of bliss on my face was plenty for me – and completely unnecessary.
At many of the shows of his that I've seen, the almost messianic fervor with which some "fans" attempt to get a rise out of the man is annoying at best and insulting at worst. They yell his name incessantly, demand loudly for certain requests (as though he's the piano man at a Holiday Inn lounge), and generally disrupt the show for no apparent reason other than the hope that he – as Alex Chilton once put it – "might look (their) way."
I mean, what's the end result supposed to be? That he winks at somebody or flashes a gang sign? When you pay to see FB & The C's, you're paying for the privilege of watching them do in public what you love to hear them do in private – play music. They're not contractually agreeing to pretend to be your buddy or act like a human jukebox.
Frank's a professional, who obviously strives for an incredibly high level of live performance on a nightly basis. It's integral to these great shows that he and all of the Catholics remain focused on their job for the night, which is to blow everybody's mind and leave them gasping for more.
The only way that happens is through a steely-eyed determination, that might come off to the uninformed as rudeness. It's actually the nicest and most generous thing a musician can do for their audience.
I'd be curious to hear what other folks on this board think about the dichotomy between the intrusive behavior of some concertgoers and the band's reserved demeanor onstage.
~ Peter Radiator
P.S. I'm reminded of the time I saw Patti Smith at a 1,000 seat venue in Atlanta on the '97 tour. I was second row, 2 feet from the stage, and a young girl in front of me thrust a pen and a book of Patti's poetry directly at her between the first and second songs of the night. When Patti politely ignored it, the girl began to ask loudly in between every song why Patti wouldn't stop to sign or even acknowledge the open book at her feet. After several minutes of this, Patti shrugged her shoulders, stared incredulously at the girl and moaned, "Jesus Christ! I'm workin' here..."
~ Peter Radiator
"Real music is out there and real people are making it." ~ Webb Wilder |
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tchocky
- FB Fan -
16 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2003 : 13:29:20
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| We'll I'm not talking about him when he was playing.. I wouldn't be that naive. I'm talking about before the show and after the show he was just walking around.. and in the club he was just hanging out and people would be like "hey frank!" etc and he would just ignore them.. I know that they are at work, but comeone.. a simple nod would be acceptable. god forbid. I still love Frank so don't try and crucify me here. |
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ramona
"FB Quote Mistress"
USA
3988 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2003 : 13:43:23
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Yeah, a simple nod WOULD be acceptable, but it didn't happen. We all have our quiet days and our pissy moods - and if he showed up and gave a good show, that is really all you can ask for, I think.
I don't mean it to sound bitchy though - I'm sorry the experience wasn't what you hoped for. |
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mereubu
= FB QuizMistress =
USA
2677 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2003 : 14:40:06
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As for Lovering and the young ladies, I don't think this is a particularly new interest for him (or, sadly, an unusual one for musicians in general). On the Alec Eiffel site (which I'm having trouble accessing or I'd give you a direct link) they have a great archive of Pixies articles, one of which includes Black Francis' tour diary. At one point he relates with disgust David's preoccupation with teenaged girls. It's a hilarious read. I'll post the link as soon as I can get to the site. Hope it's still there!
I think Frank's mood really just depends on the night. I've had one pleasant, funny exchange with him and will probably never attempt another for fear of marring my happy memory. There's a long interview with him on the FTP site where he discusses his aloofness during shows (as well as how to make a correct Caesar salad). Good stuff.
EDIT: I found the quote, from Nov. 1989: "David's dream has finally come true. Groupies are starting to appear backstage. I read in a science magazine that global warming is affecting our hormones. What a relief! At last there's a scientific explanation for his increasing obsession with schoolgirls."
http://membres.lycos.fr/alec/diary.html
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Edited by - mereubu on 03/30/2003 19:36:34 |
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tchocky
- FB Fan -
16 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2003 : 14:55:22
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good good.. think that sums it up for me. I'll forgive Frankie.. just this once.
But Dave is still a pedophile. lol jk... maybe. |
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peter radiator
= Cult of Ray =
USA
653 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2003 : 15:25:51
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quote:
Originally posted by tchocky
We'll I'm not talking about him when he was playing.. I wouldn't be that naive. I'm talking about before the show and after the show he was just walking around.. and in the club he was just hanging out and people would be like "hey frank!" etc and he would just ignore them.. I know that they are at work, but comeone.. a simple nod would be acceptable. god forbid. I still love Frank so don't try and crucify me here.
Sorry if I came off as harsh (I think I tried to make sure that wasn't the case, but it may have not worked!). I certainly wasn't trying to crucify - just clarify. I assumed you meant people talking to him during the show because that's what I've seen a lot of, but even if he wasn't onstage, the same rules apply as far as I'm concerned.
Half of a good show is psyching yourself up and that often takes the form of shutting out any distractions (or potential distractions). The last time I saw the band, before and after the gig, Frank and the rest of the guys were loading their own equipment, which is hard work no matter how you cut it.
He's got plenty to deal with, and since there are numerous stories on this board about charming and friendly encounters with Mr. Black at shows and in-stores, it seems he's just a mercurial cat. Which probably helps to contribute to his tremendously diverse back catalog...
~ Peter Radiator
"Real music is out there and real people are making it." ~ Webb Wilder |
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the swimmer
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1602 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2003 : 11:02:11
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NOW do you understand I'll Be Blue?
You stared a while,
And said to me
Give me a smile,
and aren’t you having fun?
Stood in my path,
Down in the street
I wouldn’t laugh,
And you look so stunned
I think you,
Had no clue
I will be blue
Like a hermit in it’s shell
Like Jesus Christ on the hill
I’ll be blue, I’ll be blue
We had a drink,
I sang some songs
You had to think,
I didn’t hold my place at all
Please pardon me,
For these my wrongs
And I will leave
But I wont put your party face on
I’ll be blue
I’----ll will be blue
I will be blue
Like the reign of mastodon
Like the islands of Old Lyons
I’ll be blue,
I’ll be blue
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Vicki
- FB Fan -
USA
72 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2003 : 11:50:11
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| We actually went to the in store and all shuffled in line to have him sign stuff and hopefully talk to him. My friend Lea and I had gone to the Louisville show that Thurs. and spent about fifteen minutes talking w/ Rich G. in the parking lot. Frank was maybe two feet from us, but was VERY into putting up the equipment. We didn't want to bother him, I don't think it would have been a pleasant encounter. At the in store, though, it was different because he's there to play and deal w/ the public then. He signed Lea's poster and then she asked for a photo w/ him. He said sure and stepped from behind the counter. He put his arms around both of us and I gave him a peck on the cheek. He then signed my DW cd, which I had brought in my BLD case. I said "You see the duality going on here." and he laughed and signed the insert. Here's my query, though....he signed the cd Frank Black, but on the insert he wrote ..Frank Black(twice) and then put BGV'S BGV's in quotes. does anyone else have a cryptic autograph? |
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Vicki
- FB Fan -
USA
72 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2003 : 11:52:54
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| I probably shouldn't have written this in the 'disapointed' thread. I got carried away...oops. |
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NimrodsSon
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1938 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2003 : 12:19:48
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quote:
Originally posted by peter radiator
They yell his name incessantly...(as though he's the piano man at a Holiday Inn lounge)
Well I thought it was funny |
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mereubu
= FB QuizMistress =
USA
2677 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2003 : 15:00:16
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quote:
Originally posted by the swimmer
NOW do you understand I'll Be Blue?
Actually, Frank said this song was about a friend of his that he used to go to parties with and she was always bugging him about his mood and trying to get him to cheer up. |
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the swimmer
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1602 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2003 : 16:11:49
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Spoil Sport  |
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peter radiator
= Cult of Ray =
USA
653 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2003 : 16:59:43
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quote:
Originally posted by NimrodsSon
quote:
Originally posted by peter radiator
They yell his name incessantly...(as though he's the piano man at a Holiday Inn lounge)
Well I thought it was funny
Do you mean it was funny to yell his name or that my analogy was humorous?
~ Peter Radiator
"Real music is out there and real people are making it." ~ Webb Wilder |
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NimrodsSon
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1938 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2003 : 17:21:28
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| the analogy |
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TarTar
* Dog in the Sand *
1965 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2003 : 21:31:42
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| Many people complain about Charles being "rude" when they cross hispath. My response to this is that he simply doesn't have the ability to plaster on a smile and have a spontaneous conversation about anything and everything with a surplus of unfamiliar people, which is perfectly natural. Hell, it's overwhelming. Don't expect him to answer all of the mysteries to life and make you feel all warm when you see him in the flesh. He's just another guy... who happens to write some of the best damn songs of all time. |
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Omer
= Cult of Ray =
275 Posts |
Posted - 03/28/2003 : 10:59:19
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My feeling is, I've had nothing but kindness from the Man. In concert, he once or twice kicked our stuff (including beer) off the stage, but he signed a piece of paper I had with me ( I didn't expect him to be around) - and all the Catholics did as well. Rich was particularly nice - when I recognized him, he said "I'm the only one worth knowing" or something like that. Really funny.
During a solo electric show, I constantly yelled request and indeed Frank did that song ('Skeleton Man') and even dedicated it to me. During concerts with the band, Frank didn't answer calls, but who cares?
The way I see it, it's OK to yell and scream and ask request in Rock concerts. That's part of the fun. I even had a really nice conversation with Kim Deal in a Breeders concert (she asked mew about my tee shirt- I think it was a WHO t shirt, and I asked about hers), during the performance. I also requested 'Hellbound' but after a few notes they abandoned it.
So, ultimately, I wouldn't go as far as Peter Radiator - go to concerts, yell and scream whatever you want, and you might just get lucky. or not. |
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Whiskeyshoes
- FB Fan -
67 Posts |
Posted - 03/28/2003 : 15:19:47
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Peter Radiator hit the nail on the head. The reason I appreciate FB is the focus and intensity he brings to the shows. I have a dog for the other reasons.
WS <---will be at all three SF bay area shows next month. |
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stymie
= Cult of Ray =
385 Posts |
Posted - 03/28/2003 : 23:26:36
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| So what? Frank had a horrible day. He wasn't in the mood to chat! Big deal. As far as dave, who cares thats his biz. What if they were 18 is it OK? |
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Speedy Marie
- FB Fan -
USA
35 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2003 : 11:29:19
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quote:
Originally posted by Whiskeyshoes
Peter Radiator hit the nail on the head. The reason I appreciate FB is the focus and intensity he brings to the shows. I have a dog for the other reasons.
WS <---will be at all three SF bay area shows next month.
Well said! 
happy are my mind and my soul and my heart |
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tchocky
- FB Fan -
16 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2003 : 11:54:49
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quote:
Originally posted by stymie
So what? Frank had a horrible day. He wasn't in the mood to chat! Big deal. As far as dave, who cares thats his biz. What if they were 18 is it OK?
18 would be ok.. but beings they looked 16 I don't think so, but maybe my morals are just higher than yours. |
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marcusb
= Cult of Ray =
USA
308 Posts |
Posted - 03/30/2003 : 07:35:34
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| Little Brother's show was 18+.. |
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cheshireycat
- FB Fan -
USA
75 Posts |
Posted - 03/30/2003 : 17:25:06
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i've only read the first few posts, so that's what i'm responding to. anyway, about lovering, at least most of the shows are 18+ or 21+, so there's not that many underagers, and, there really isn't anything wrong with flirting. if a few drunken high schoolers end-up in the tour bus, i might see a problem, but what's wrong if he talks to them?
and, about frank, when and if you have a billion people bugging and worshipping the devil out of you, you'll turn a bit reclusive, too.
My fortune cookie would say "It is now your time to ROCK." What would yours say? |
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GropeForLuna
- FB Fan -
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2003 : 05:34:22
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Honestly, the only obligation of an entertainer is to entertain. Anything else is a bonus.
Of course my band doesn't have the multitudes of fans FB does, but I can see how acknowledging everyone can send the wrong message and become generally annoying. Especially when you're trying to chill after a show.
I'm not trying to be a jerk, but everyone wants to say "those guys are cool, they are just regular guys". They aren't regular guys...that's why they are onstage and you're not. |
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