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2 spaces
- FB Fan -
35 Posts |
 Posted - 11/02/2003 : 11:09:07
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I caught the Reid Paley Trio in concert last night. In the midst of a very fine set, Reid introduced a song with something like "Frank Black covered this song on his single Everything Is New". Well, he might have said "... his album Show Me Your Tears" but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. He seemed a bit perturbed at the surprising lack of response to the intro, but then went into a nice rendition of Take What You Want. Cool.
Now here's something I've been noticing for a while. In this club, which in previous years had the front of the crowd practically halfway onto the stage during shows, the audience hung back around four yards for most of the sets. (Around three yards for Reid's). For the past year or so I've noticed this distancing behavior at many of the smaller clubs, almost always in fact, unless the club was packed to the gills. I swear I've been at shows where the the audience placed almost ten yards between themselves and the stage.
Is this just a local trend, or is it a national/international phenomenon? |
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El Barto
= Song DB Master =
USA
4020 Posts |
Posted - 11/02/2003 : 11:12:38
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Maybe nobody has the balls to step up to the plate anymore.
 "I joined the Cult of Clops / If I were you, I'd sleep with one eye open." |
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 11/02/2003 : 11:59:01
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| Is there a difference in the ages of the audience? Are they younger? Older? I haven't seen a show with a small crowd in a long time, so I can't attest to a change in my experience. Sounds kinda freaky. |
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Doog
* Dog in the Sand *
United Kingdom
1220 Posts |
Posted - 11/02/2003 : 12:37:09
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It's called AAPS- Aloof Audience Participation Syndrome. You love the band but don't wanna appear too into them (that would be "uncool") so you just hang back and settle into your CK underwear.
I hate that.
 "I joined the Cult of Frank / Because I thought it would straighten out my life, SIR!"
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ramona
"FB Quote Mistress"
USA
3988 Posts |
Posted - 11/02/2003 : 12:41:33
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| In Boston people are so conservative or boring or something that no one dances. It drives me crazy. The most they will do is what my friend has coined "the Boston head bop". A lame little nod to show excitement - it's so sad! |
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citizen30
- FB Fan -
USA
54 Posts |
Posted - 11/02/2003 : 18:38:03
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| O' You were there too? The Paley song is a cover off the new 'Everyhing Is New' single, but does not appear on the SMYT album. How was the show? |
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darwin
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
5454 Posts |
Posted - 11/02/2003 : 21:41:49
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| Perhaps people are hanging out near the entrances so they can escape when the club burns to the ground. |
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anazgnos
= Cult of Ray =
USA
383 Posts |
Posted - 11/02/2003 : 22:30:12
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| I've seen this happen at shows where the crowd is thin to begin with. People spread out more, and while some of it can be attributed to the fabled indie/rock aloofness, it can simply be uncomfortable to be the most obviously close person to a given performer...Uncomfortably intimate. Not a problem if there's a lot of people around to help absorb the attention. |
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2003 : 08:12:03
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When I was growing up we had a lot of "indie" band shows, and nobody was aloof - we were all really into it, moshing and dancing like fools, like at a revival. That was Louisville, though, not Boston.
"I can't stand all this sex on the television. I mean, I keep falling off!"
 "I partied with the Cult of Frank / Bob ate all the dip" |
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interloper
= Cult of Ray =
440 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2003 : 09:58:05
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quote:
Originally posted by apl4eris
When I was growing up we had a lot of "indie" band shows, and nobody was aloof - we were all really into it, moshing and dancing like fools, like at a revival. That was Louisville, though, not Boston.
"I can't stand all this sex on the television. I mean, I keep falling off!"
"I partied with the Cult of Frank / Bob ate all the dip"
I agree. Some of my favorite shows that I've ever seen involved me sitting on the stage monitors. |
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Doog
* Dog in the Sand *
United Kingdom
1220 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2003 : 10:22:34
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I gotta admit, I rarely venture the "moshpit" unless I'm real drunk, I tend to just hang out at the sides with my drink and get down, big whoops and clapping just not sticking my elbows in peoples faces. I did "indulge" for the FB Brighton gig, got caught in the waves during Velouria and some kind soul helped me up off the ground. Not all bad.
"I joined the Cult of Frank / Because I thought it would straighten out my life, SIR!"
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2003 : 10:31:03
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I don't know about mosh pits for FB shows - seems anachronistic or off-kilter, I dunno. Doesn't FB have a little problem with em, or am I smoking crack again?
"I can't stand all this sex on the television. I mean, I keep falling off!"
"I partied with the Cult of Frank / Bob ate all the dip" |
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the swimmer
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1602 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2003 : 10:34:49
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| Don't tell me about apathetic crowds....I live in Nashville. |
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Blank Frack
- FB Fan -
USA
24 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2003 : 10:39:52
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| Although the crowd at the last FB concert I went to looked about 8 years past their physical prime, they were still against the stage in a fair sized club. |
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2003 : 11:00:44
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quote:
Originally posted by Blank Frack
Although the crowd at the last FB concert I went to looked about 8 years past their physical prime, they were still against the stage in a fair sized club.
Hey Brank Flack, I don't wanna come across as a stalker, but I noticed you put in your profile that you graduated from William and Mary. My younger sister is a freshman there, and I was just curious if you had any suggestions about local flavor, good venues for bands, etc. Sorry to bother you at all, but she's about to join a sorority, and I feel a moral imperative to save her from the maws of the mongoloid majority.
"I can't stand all this sex on the television. I mean, I keep falling off!"
"I partied with the Cult of Frank / Bob ate all the dip" |
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VoVat
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
9168 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2003 : 06:57:53
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quote:
I don't know about mosh pits for FB shows - seems anachronistic or off-kilter, I dunno. Doesn't FB have a little problem with em, or am I smoking crack again?
He wants you to mosh, rather than to pass the guy. But he'd probably prefer it if you didn't do either.
-Nathan
And how does lemur's skin reflect the sea?
http://vovat.blogspot.com/ |
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2 spaces
- FB Fan -
35 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2003 : 10:29:24
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The show was really good, citizen30. And yah, Reid's song is on Every Is New, but do I think he said "Show Me Your Tears" in the intro... not 100% positive though.
The audience was neutral aged I guess, apl4eris-- mostly 20s through early 30s. Most places I've seen the 'floor-gap' in I'd say it was a younger crowd, like late teens-early 20s.
The first time I noticed this was in a place out in Brooklyn. The crowd was sparse for the space and when the band started their set the audience faced the stage with the frontline at least a dozen feet away! I'm used to being as close as possible to the stage and (seeing this wasn't my usual turf) I wondered if they knew something I didn't-- like, maybe the acoustics of this club favored the center of the floor, or perhaps they were filming the band and didn't want anyone blocking the view. (The fire escape route didn't occur to me, darwin). Probably the real explanation had to do with what anazgnos was saying. Anyway, I resolved my spatial dilemma by standing in front of the stage, but off to a corner edge.
What was especially weird about the show w/Reid was that it took place at CBGB-- that ol' NYC bastion of punk. This place is not known for timid crowds. But here's a super strange part: The band that came on before Reid was C. Gibbs and the Cardia Bros. (a very good "dark country" band, complete with pedal-steel. People who have a preference for Frank's latter albums would probably appreciate them). The crowd was about four yards back throughout their set, and I noticed there were a lot of women in the frontline. When the band was done, C.Gibbs took a seat at a small table by the side of the stage. A group from the front of the crowd came and joined him and it was obvious that they were all friends and that one of the women was his girlfriend/wife! I mean, if Anybody shouldn't feel intimidated or have to act aloof... ya know? |
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Apesy
= Cult of Ray =
USA
411 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2003 : 11:08:09
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When I saw Frank and the guys last November in Boston, I was so disappointed in the crowd. My girlfriend and I were practically in a mad dash to get into the club when the doors opened so we could land a spot right in front of the stage; turns out we were the only ones, as we ended up right up front, dead center, while all the other attendees looked bored and hit the bar.
They yelled out cruel things to David Lovering during his magic act, such as answering "Attempting suicide!" when he asked if anyone could guess what his hobby was. They were no kinder to Reid Paley, but they refrained from yelling things at The Bennies (from fear of yelling at a guy in a wheelchair, I guess, because I heard enough whispers to know they hated them too).
During the main show, everyone was frowning and practically looking at their feet unless Frank was singing a Pixies song; even then they could barely shake out a head bop. One girl asked my girlfriend to stop dancing because it was "disturbing" her. What the hell? Dancing at a concert is an annoyance?
-=Apesy |
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realmeanmotorscutor
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1764 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2003 : 16:20:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Apesy
They were no kinder to Reid Paley
Well Reid was a giant cock at my show so my guess is that he deserved it.
 "I joined the Cult of Popeye / The CoF required my good eye" |
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ejcampbell
- FB Fan -
16 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2003 : 18:41:11
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quote:
Originally posted by the swimmer
Don't tell me about apathetic crowds....I live in Nashville.
Took in the Badly Drawn Boy show in Nashville last week. The crowd was so dead he actually said, "Now, don't go anywhere. I'm just going to smoke a bit until you applaud and I come back," at the end of the main set before the encore. |
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