i try not to be bothered too much by crowds at show, but they're sometimes so intolerable that it ruins (or at least brings down) what's otherwise a good or great show. i saw kasabian a few hours ago and everything on the stage was pretty great, but the crowd was horrendous. people were hardly even moving. what's wrong with people at shows?

i saw one guy standing up front with his arms crossed on top of a monitor. he didn't move for the entire show, other than to clap a few times. afterward, i saw him leaving and said, "hey, next time you stand up front, at least nod your head and pretend you're having a good time because the band will appreciate it, especially when they're putting on a great show for you." he got all mad and i just turned around. out of line? whatever.

so, what fellow showgoers do you despise?

it's worse when there's some off his face junkie that looks exactly like Freddie Mercury following you around and dancing all over you...

man a while ago I went to see Saturday Looks Good to Me and Aqueduct. Saturday went on first and put on an awesome show and people barely showed any emotion..they did this amazing (seriously, I was shocked at how killer it was) cover of "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow," and hardly a damn person in the whole room made any kind of showing of recognition of the tune when the first words started. Except for me and my sister. The crowd was fucking depressing.

So then before Aqueduct came on my sister (who's a big fan) was like maybe the crowd is just waiting for Aqueduct (they're a hometown band)--so I said fair enough I guess but Saturday is from fucking Michigan and it's not every day of the week we get a band like that to come down to Oklahoma. at least show some appreciation. so whatever.

Aqueduct gets on--I was not particularly familiar with them before hand but they killed--their show is hilarious and they have tons of energy...drummer was doing a jig in the middle of the crowd and all sorts of crazy stuff. and they probably turned it up a notch since they were home. audience barely made a sound (except for my sister and one other person in the front). everyone is perpetually too cool for school.

after the show I talked with Fred from Saturday and told him they were great and that it sucked they got such a tame reception--he said they felt a weird vibe from the crowd but that it was ok. He put on the happy face. Such an incredibly nice guy and I felt just terrible knowing that the band felt virtually nothing from the crowd.

and this is in Norman--I mean, people are acting like damn hipsters in NORMAN?!??!!? I mean cut the shit out people.

whatever. sorry for the vent. needed a study break anyway.

Aero, I probably shouldn't tell you about the Change-tour Dismemberment Plan show in Denver. Dressy Bessy opened, and I was the only one up front dancing. Keep in mind this is their hometown. Oh, yeah, they danced for the Plan after that goofy big dude dancing to Dressy Bessy got on stage and joined Eric and Travis in the "Ice of Boston" choreography. That opened the floodgates.

Am anxiously awaiting the tall-guy-up-front comments in this thread. If someone gets there late and pushes their way up front, I can understand the annoyance. If, however, you arrive after me and wind up behind me when I haven't moved, that's not my problem.

When I was young and went to shows with girlfriends I was more forgiving about the more rambunctious members of the crowd at a show.

Now, in my late 30's and going to shows with my wife I am real protective. You wannna dance and jump around-fine. You slam into my wife and I'm going to stomp your face.

Steve

Don't know jackshitall about you young peoples shows

But them VFW shindigs sure do devolve into knock downs sometimes

Spit.

it's the American way!

For example, I've seen Muse in the states and in England. The difference......in the states, the crowd moved slightly, clapped loudly when the songs finished, and semi-clapped for an encore. In England [and Holland for that matter] I couldn't keep up with the crowd jumping up and down and all around, screaming during the songs and when they finished, and relentless hootin' and yelling and screaming for 2 encores. They were going absolutely mental. The entire crowd seemed to know every word to every song. Same goes for bands like: Blur, Pulp, Smashing Pumpkins, Jellyfish, My Vitriol, Inspiral Carpets, U2, and other bands I've seen in these places.

Crowds vary from town to town. Personally, love seeing rock shows in Detroit. The crowds are great. Many a time, I've seen blood fly. People really get into it.

My personaly pet peeve...ear plugs. Yeah, yeah it's a good idea and all that, but it just seems really wrong to me. That, and bands that don't drink. (although I make exceptions for friends of Bill W.)

That's cool. I'll be sure to learn sign language by the time I meet you thirty years from now.

Ha! So true. I got the shit scared out of me about 3 years ago when I found I had significant hearing loss in my right ear. Can only be the shows I went to and volume I always tended to listen to my music. I'm more careful now. Once it's gone it don't come back.

Steve

I don't worry because the tall people in front block the most damaging sound waves.

...and never get any credit for it. Ungrateful not-so-deaf swine!!!!!!

The people who have several inches or even a feet in front of them but insist on standing practically on top of you, who is behind them.

God I could really bring up about ten things wrong from when we saw Wilco a few weeks back. I think I spent half the show being pissed about the people around us.

1) The drunk guy a few people front of us who kept making beer runs and not caring who he pushed aside or practically over.

2) the couple directly in front of us who were uhhh...a lot heavier then us. And the girl kept trying to do what I think were acrobatic acts on her boyfriends feet because she'd jump up onto them and back into him which would end up with HIM pushing me backwards. This happened through the first half of the damn show.

Oh, and they had all this SPACE in front of them. They could of taken their act forward a bit and not back onto me.

3) People who talk, and I don't mean say a few words like Wow that song rocked to your friend, I mean the guy behind us carrying on loudly even during quieter songs, a fucking conversation with the chick he was with. No consideration. I turned around with a look saying I was going to clock him when josh told me to simmer.

4) Slam dancing at shows that in no means would incur slam dancing ever. WTF? It's WILCO not Green Day.

5)Please don't stand there and fondle your boy or girlfriends ass/boobs/stick hands down their pants. It's creepy. And there ARE people standing around you.

6) Please don't SCREAM super super loudly during a show the songs you want the band to play. They will play what they want, possibly taking a request, but you're in the farthest back of a club, they can't hear you.

7) Please don't block the aisles. I'm sorry but if there was an emergency and I get trapped in there and die, I'm haunting YOU when I'm a ghost.

Ok, so I could only come up with 7 so far.

I would love to be there when Jen clocks some guy at a show.

Lemme get this straight... the guy did nothing, and it got you upset? It was, in fact, his lack of action that angered you into posting? Though I will give you the fact that maybe his chosen place to stand wasn't the best.

I don't dance at shows. I may nod my head enthusiastically, but I don't dance. Not all of us are any good at it. When I'm at a show, I'm paying ridiculous amounts of attention to what the band is doing. I usually consider it a rare chance to deconstruct how that band made that record that blew me away. No, not every time, no, not every band. When I saw the Shins, I was watching what guitars went through what amps, which player carried which part, who sang what, and what parts were actually played vs what they decided could go. That's how I met Busty in highschool... talking about a Smashing Pumpkins concert, and how it was Billy who played all the solos, not James. Yes, I'm a dork. That's fine. I paid for my ticket just like everyone else. I'm off to the side where I can't bring anybody down, I'm actually happier if the whole place IS dancing so the band has something good to react to. I know when I'm playing in a full band, I'd rather see people NOT like me out there, having an outwardly-visible good time instead of studying my left hand all night.

But I can't dance. It doesn't mean I'm not having an amazing time. I'm there to learn, because I have a crippling, dorky need to know how they do what they're doing. But I know better than to stand on a monitor, face-to-face with a band and stare at them all night without moving. That's creepy.

That's a great post Cap'n.

yeah, sorry. Ask Bloor... I've been called out for "why aren't you having a good time" at shows since forever, when I'm having a GREAT time. I just look like I'm taking a final exam or something I guess.

"Hey drunk guy that was standing in the aisle at the Wilco show, remember me? Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!"

Awesome.

yeah i agree with the captain. just because i am not dancing around like a fool doesnt mean that i am not toally enjoying the show. most of the time people are over doing it and that ANNOYS me. crowd surfers, slam dancing, and people making out in front of me PISS ME OFF TO NO END. i agree the original post is pretty weak for bitching because someone is just standing there.

The dimwit who thought it would be a brilliant plan to organize the audience to sing "Happy Birthday" to Gedge at the Double Door. I hope in the last month she's developed cancer and died. Dumbass should've stayed home, as should have everyone who followed along. Disgraceful.

I just hate being bumped into. And since I am the tall guy (I never stand in the front, but people still say shit to me) it seems like everyone uses me as a beacon and walks straight to me to go get their drinks or take a piss. Really irks me I tell ya.

Stu and are right in time on this. My buddy Tommy tried to get me to stand in front with him for The Walkmen at SXSW, and after a bout a song of feeling like a self conscious dick (yes, this even happens to ME) I went and leaned against the wall and drank beer, which is where I belong.

Awesome show.

I typically hippie-dance at the indie shows and indie stare at the hippie shows.

I'm also a big dork who likes to check out effects pedals, guitar amps, guitars, etc. I just like to shake my tail feather a bit.

I'm that annoying guy at shows that feels like he has to harmonize with EVERY SONG!

Course this is not at all limited to shows. That's EVERYWHERE I GO! Car, work, home, shows, etc...

I'm also prone to throw up my devil horns alot.

I'll never be accused of not being into a show. Unless it's not very good.

Reminds me of Woody Allen movie Hannah & Her Sisters. "On the negative end of the spectrum it coudl be a tumor."