Top 5: Live Show Audience Archetypes

by hardrockchick [about 1 year, 8 months ago.]

We all know them. These are the people you encounter at every show. They annoy the hell out of you, but it wouldn’t be the same if they weren’t there. Caveat: these are not mutually exclusive!

1. The Fan-atic. Dressed in full regalia, whether it be cool (goth gear for a Manson show) or totally uncool (authentic concert T from first show ever played + pin + bandanna, and maybe a tattoo of the band’s name). Camps out to ensure he/she’s the first to get in. Will do anything to be in front. Anything. They’ll pee in a cup instead of giving up their position. Gives snide looks to people who are too close that don’t seem like they are big enough fans to be there. Will dislocate an arm to get a pick or a drumstick, or touch a band member’s hand. Will not hesitate to use force to procure any of above mentioned items, no matter how small and petite looking they are. Knows more about the band than the band does. Can be overheard discussing multiple past shows and obscure albums.

2. The Maddened Mosher. The music is the background, the premise. They are not here to see. They are here to feel. Testosterone, drugs, and/or stupidity fuel them, as they get in the middle to get out what’s bottled up inside. A danger to themselves and those around them. Identified by casual clothing, borderline athletic wear, look in their eye. Often obtains position after show has started, once a ‘heavy’ song comes on, by a sudden forceful push to the front. Will mow down everything in their paths, as they travel in packs and have an unpredictable rhythm. There’s a fine line between the the bliss of the pit and a full on fight.

3. The Accidental Attendee. A friend had an extra ticket. A date invited them. A promoter gave them a free ticket to fill up the room. They heard there hot chicks/dudes were going to be there. Will make and take ohone calls during the set. Can be caught saying, “who is this again?”, “can you believe what he/she said/did the other day”, “hey baby what’s your name”, or, most preferably, “these guys are pretty cool, will you burn me a copy of this album?”.

4. The Nouveau Groupie. Are they going to a concert or the club? No one can tell. Heels in the dirt, halter tops in the cold, as long as it bares all it’s fair game. Constantly check themselves out in any reflective surface. Makes multiple trips to the bathroom, taking their time. Position themselves at the point where the security guards and the band can equally view the spectacle. Every song, no matter the tempo, is turned into a slow striptease, complete with a virtual pole. Flashing boobs has given way to flipping the band off in a not-so-subtle sign saying, “this is what I will wait outside the door for to try to do to you later”, or, in some instances, and depending on the venue, they may show off their other hairstyle. If you know what I mean. Usually restricted to females, but, not always.

5. The OD Offender. In anticipation of partying at the show, they indulge in too much of something. Vomit may occur before, during, or after the set. Stumbling will occur throughout. No awareness of their personal space or yours. Talks too loud during quiet songs and sings the wrong words. Heckles the band. Often occurs in groups. Drunk dancing in their most widespread offense, making them not only a danger for obstruction of view and inappropriate bumping, but also for vomit splatter. Prefer to move around the venue via being held up by friends or carried out by bouncers. Guaranteed to say the show was awesome the next day, no matter what.

Genre(s): Top 5

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myspace find: living dead

by hardrockchick [about 1 year, 8 months ago.]

Check out Living Dead if you like music that sounds like the soundtrack to a horror movie. I do. Plus, they did a remix of Survivalism.

Genre(s): Myspace Find

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The Beginning of Greatness: NIN

by hardrockchick [about 1 year, 8 months ago.]

Genre(s): In the beginning..., Nine Inch Nails

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NYT: The ‘Reunion’ Tour

by hardrockchick [about 1 year, 8 months ago.]

NYT article about the recent reunion tours. It discusses the money making proposition and whether that deteriorates how good the show is really going to be. It also hints at the fact that we crave old, good bands to get back together and perform because of the lack of current good bands that are around now. It barely touched on the most important piece of music right now- the tour is trumping the album release in press coverage. The times they are a-changing.

Genre(s): Rock in the News

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Year Zero ARG: with the Happy Ending

by hardrockchick [about 1 year, 8 months ago.]

Here’s my response: Me, I’m Not included in the meeting In This Twilight. I thought I’d be The Good Soldier, with a Captial G, since I’m full of Hyperpower and Survivalism. It’s The Beginning of the End, and My Violent Heart can’t take it. I’m ready to spread The Warning and Another Version of the Truth. I want to do something for The Greater Good, before life becomes a Zero Sum situation. Was I going to Meet Your Master, or is he just The Great Destroyer? I’m a Vessel for the cause, God Given!

If you’re not a NIN nerd like me, then you are probably super confused.

Genre(s): Nine Inch Nails

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crazy fans: tool

by hardrockchick [about 1 year, 8 months ago.]

Maynard James Keenan doesn’t need any security guards.

Genre(s): Concerts Gone Wild

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Iggy Pop and The Stooges @ The Warfield, 4/21/07

by hardrockchick [about 1 year, 8 months ago.]

The old, the young, the rebellious. All here to see the inventor of the stage dive; the sinewy, writhing man that can’t really sing, that fronts a band of guys that can’t really play.

But how does the combination add up to one of the most influential bands of all time? They’re relateable, down on our level. Simple lyrics about anger, sex, and friendship that don’t require a joint and some candles to figure out what they mean. Infectious energy and stage moves that a 60 year old man shouldn’t be doing, but pulls off so well.

Iggy Pop runs on stage, shirtless, in jeans that often slip down to show his crack. Every muscle is accentuated, which in turn, accentuate a swollen belly and the slightly sagging skin that comes along with age and life in the fast lane. He moves to the music like he’s got the most appropriate set of Tourette’s ticks in existence. It’s his signature, and the crowd goes wild. Song 3, my personal favorite, ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog’. Three quarters of the way through, he dives into the crowd. It looks pretty violent down there, but as soon as he gets back up, he does it again. Take that. Then, he invites everyone to get on stage. About hundred crazy fans jump up there- his security man’s worst nightmare. It’s one of the best moments I’ve seen of breaking down the wall between act and audience- people are signing into his microphone, clawing on him. One person takes it too far and grabs him hard from behind, almost knocking him over. But he doesn’t care. He jumps int the crowd many more times throughout the two hour set, obviously keeping his high energy level by feeding off of the crowd. The only time he looks pissed is when, at least from my perspective, he seems to spit on someone- though, no telling, they might have asked him to do that. The encore begins with ‘Happy Birthday’, as Iggy just turned 60 a few days ago. Balloons with his picture on them drop from the ceiling.

This completes my ‘classics’ bender from the last 3 weeks: Heart, Willie, and Iggy. And it’s true, the older the violin, the sweeter the music.

great video from youtube (not mine):

Genre(s): Live and In The Flesh

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Willie Nelson @ The Fillmore, 4/18/07

by hardrockchick [about 1 year, 8 months ago.]

Before going to this show, I tried to count the number of times I’ve seen Willie. It must be close to 20. I’ve been to his shows throughout my whole life, I’ve worked the beer ticket stand at his birthday parties in Luckenbach twice, I’ve watched him from backstage at The Backyard and had my picture taken with him, had numerous items signed, been to Luck and hung out at his golf course, with his crazy roadies and Willie Weed.

The fact that Willie is synonymous with home to me is only part of my infatuation. Wilie represents the good part of America to me. He’s part cowboy, part rebel. His music is western, pop, and rock all at once. He’s laid back and a hard worker- we all know Willie likes to have fun, but as he’s about to turn 74 in a few days- he has 6 albums out this year. He writes non stop. America is so divided right now, but I guarantee that one thing you could get everyone to agree on is their shared love of Willie Nelson.

This show was one of the best for me. It was like a greatest hits show- he played almost everything I could have wanted him to: Pancho and Lefty, On the Road Again, Crazy, Georgia, Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys, Blue Eyes Cryin’ In the Rain, Always On My Mind, Skies, Luckenbach, Texas, Whiskey River…you get the point. It’s been two years since I’d seen him, and he looked visibly older, and Trigger had a few more holes. However, we all know Willie can probably out party all of us twenty-somethings. The crowd was crazy- we had one vomiting instance occur in front of us before the show even started, and then we had Willie’s craziest fan next to us screaming ‘WILLIE!!’ every couple of minutes and jumping around like she was having a seizure. It was rather amusing.

I read Willie’s book last year, The Tao of Willie, which I highly recommend. It’s a combination of great jokes, Willie history, and life learnings. And who wouldn’t want to learn something from Willie.

Here is a clip from the show from youtube:

Genre(s): Live and In The Flesh

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Heart @ The Grand National Rodeo/Cow Palace, 4/7/07

by hardrockchick [about 1 year, 8 months ago.]

Music and rodeos go together like…barbecue and baked beans. My earliest experiences with live music occurred at rodeos: Willie Nelson, George Strait, singing on rotating stages in the Astrodome.

When I heard that San Francisco had a rodeo, I have to admit I was a bit skeptical. Nothing is as big as a Texas rodeo- not even the National Pro Rodeo Finals in Las Vegas. But GNR was a pleasant surprise- it had most of the elements of a real rodeo: truck displays, jerky sampling, buckle vendors, pasture smells, rodeo clowns, and carneys. Only GNR traded funnel cakes and turkey drumsticks for- you guessed it- a wine tasting.

After watching the bronc riding, team roping, barrel racing, chuckwagon racing, trick brahma bull, and bull riding, we stumbled down to the center (another difference for GNR) to see Heart. Standing in the dust, we waited for them to come out on a stage high above us, which made me think-perhaps more stages should be like this. It definitely helps being able to see when a tall guy stands in front of you.

I’m only casually familiar with Heart. It is fun to see a chick-fronted band, and Ann Wilson sure can sing. I was really able to appreciate her voice when they did two Led Zeppelin songs. Not many voices can compare to Robert Plant’s, and she really nails it. The crowd was really into it- the buckle bunnies were climbing on their StWrangler-wearing men’s shoulders. It was an event to make you wonder where all of these people came from- they definitely don’t live in San Francisco.

Genre(s): Live and In The Flesh

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The Progression of a Song

by hardrockchick [about 1 year, 8 months ago.]

‘My Humps’ is such an inspirational song.

Black Eyed Peas/My Humps

Alanis Morissette/My Humps, slowed down

Peaches/My Dumps

Genre(s): Rock Video

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