Tues. night Santana concert experience

A.Scovanner · #1 07-07-2010, 02:02 AM

I just had to write this letter to the editor of the Cincinnati Enquirer when we got home......

Dear Ed.,

My wife and I ventured to Riverbend on Tuesday night to see her all-time favorite band, Santana. Seated, or actually unseated, one row in front of us was a young man who was dancing, seemingly having the time of his life unlike anyone else near us (even before the moment when his female companion was handed a pick by Carlos personally!). During one of the night's slower numbers he continued to dance while most others around us sat. At this point, someone a few seats down in our row asked him to sit, as he was apparently now obstructing their view. When the young man refused, that person complained to one of the nearby yellow and blue shirted Riverbend staff who, in turn, summoned a supervisory staff member to intervene and he was indeed forced to take his seat.

As a longtime professional musician in this city who makes his living by trying to make people get up and dance, I was shocked and offended to see an otherwise well-behaved person denied the right to dance at a rock show. Riverbend should be ashamed to bill itself as the ultimate venue in our city to experience live music.

As a longtime concert-goer, I'm also left to wonder: What happened to the unspoken rule that the person in front of you most likely paid more for their ticket than you, so if they stand, then you stand; If they sit, then you sit?

-A. Scovanner

He was not disrespectful to anyone, he was just a kid dancing and having fun at a concert, he even bummed a smoke from me out in the cheap seats in the most respectful way possible! Just fires me up. How pathetic.

SurferJoe46 · #2 07-07-2010, 08:40 AM

I dunnow.

I look at concert vids and see all the old people - of which I am one now - and they don't all look like they CAN stand up without assistance to look over those in the front rows.

Perhaps they should come on Senior Citizens' Night - but wait!

Santana doesn't have a Senior Night.

Hmmm.

As much as I love concerts (the last I saw was Blue Man Group in Las Vegas) - I knew I was gonna be fighting for air space from a younger and more agile audience all around me.

So when kids get in my view, I just whack them with my cane or walker. They sit down and quietly observe the show from then on. Emphasis on 'quietly' and 'sit down'.

I'm old and I know how to use it.

chadds · #3 07-07-2010, 08:46 AM

A woman stood blocking many folks views of Ani DiFranco. She swayed while there wasn't a person standing. This venue allows people in the aisles. It was really selfish and inconsiderate. It was not kick a$$ dancing music.

TJ55 · #4 07-07-2010, 08:54 AM

I caught Govt Mule in Bowling Green, KY several years back and half the crowd sat throughout the show. It was the oddest thing. I had seen Mule numerous times previously (and since) and had/have never seen anyone seated while they were on stage.

Very weird...

Jim Campbell · #5 07-07-2010, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

I dunnow.

I look at concert vids and see all the old people - of which I am one now - and they don't all look like they CAN stand up without assistance to look over those in the front rows.

Perhaps they should come on Senior Citizens' Night - but wait!

Santana doesn't have a Senior Night.

Hmmm.

As much as I love concerts (the last I saw was Blue Man Group in Las Vegas) - I knew I was gonna be fighting for air space from a younger and more agile audience all around me.

So when kids get in my view, I just whack them with my cane or walker. They sit down and quietly observe the show from then on. Emphasis on 'quietly' and 'sit down'.

I'm old and I know how to use it.

i remember having to stand on a metal folding chair for an entire show because everyone in front did......the guy wants to dance cool,let him dance,but if he's blocking my view no way.......time has long passed for concert venues to let everyone enjoy the show......morons that want to block your view,scream in your ear,yak on cell phones,kick the back of your chair,climb over you on the way to/from the beer bar etc....have become so prevalent that i don't bother with rock shows much any more....

far too many people forget that they are not the only people that paid for tickets.....

DWBass · #6 07-07-2010, 10:31 AM

Me personally, I find it rude if someone stands, knowing folks are behind them! Why should we have to stand as well? If you wanna stand and/or dance, go move to the aisle or to the sides of the stage! Same thing with people behind me kicking my seat! Pisses me off! My wife gets doubly pissed! Sorry, I don't agree with your view!

GlennPagano · #7 07-07-2010, 10:32 AM

Well this is nothing compared to the last concert I went to. It was a Isis/Melvins show. When isis went on everyone was wild. I was in the very front row standing against the metal barrier. People were jumping on top of each other, pushing each other, punching each other, elbowing each other. It was 100% brutal. It was kinda hard to enjoy the music but it was fun.

Jim Campbell · #8 07-07-2010, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlennPagano

Well this is nothing compared to the last concert I went to. It was a Isis/Melvins show. When isis went on everyone was wild. I was in the very front row standing against the metal barrier. People were jumping on top of each other, pushing each other, punching each other, elbowing each other. It was 100% brutal. It was kinda hard to enjoy the music but it was fun.

punk was never about the music anyhoo......but because mosh pit antics are cool there does not mean it's cool at other shows.....the price of a concert ticket should not entitle young guys that want to act out their aggression to ruin it for everyone else......

ransombass · #9 07-07-2010, 11:26 AM

A friend and I went to see Bela Fleck and The Flecktones a few years ago and knowing the instrumental prowess of this entire band we splurged and bought the expensive third row seats right in front of Victor. Most of the show was fine, but about half way into the show a group of passive aggressive neo-hippies insinuated themselves in between rows. In front of the people sitting in those rows. We talked to security and they made them move once, but then they came back and security did nothing. I don't mind standing if everyone around me is standing but we paid extra so that we could "study" Victor. I yelled at one of them and he turned and looked at me as if I had tried to jack his wallet. They acted as if we were the trouble makers, causing them to not enjoy the show.

At the end of the show Victor handed a stuffed Cosmic Hippo toy to an eight year old kid who had been standing in front watching him all night (politely I might add) and one of these jerks tried to take it from the kid. We all yelled at him (including Victor) and the guy gave it back.

It was one of the best concerts that I've been to while being the worst concert experience that I've ever had.

pedroims · #10 07-07-2010, 11:40 AM

I think depends on who is playing, you know that there is not way to be seated at a metal / punk concert but with musicians as Stevie Wonder or Santana it can be a little different, for the slower numbers I would prefer take a seat, have a smoke of good stuff and a good drink

, but at the end of the day we need to remember that Santana is a rock concert so everybody is free to do whatever they want, that's the spirit of rock

Fetusyolk · #11 07-07-2010, 11:51 AM

agreed

mrpackerguy · #12 07-07-2010, 12:36 PM

Totally disagree with your editorial. If others are up dancing, you are the only one sitting, so be it. But Concert tix cost too much these days (same goes for sporting events) that your experience should not be obstructed by others or you should be forced to imitate their behavior just to be able to enjoy the experience for your self. I'm sure people sitting at your shows are having just as much fun/enjoying themselves as those up n dancing. There is a reason they book in venues with seats I'm guessing.

CaptainWampum · #13 07-07-2010, 12:48 PM

I hate this! I have been told to sit before, even had a woman behind me tug on my ponytail at a ZZ Top concert!!! As a musician I am amazed that this could be someone's attitude at a rock show.

elgecko · #14 07-07-2010, 12:56 PM

Comedian Greg Behrendt does an awesome bit about "adult rock shows"...very funny!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kKA1V-YcnU

jnuts1 · #15 07-07-2010, 01:02 PM

sitting at a rock show???? telling someone to NOT dance is as lame as you can be. if you need to sit at a rock show DO NOT complain when someone else stands, in fact get your lazy butt up & move away if it is too much for you. at they symphony yes you can sit & you should expect everyone to sit. but shows where there is a screaming guitar you should EXPECT to stand when you buy the ticket.

bwest9 · #16 07-07-2010, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Campbell

....the guy wants to dance cool,let him dance,but if he's blocking my view no way.......time has long passed for concert venues to let everyone enjoy the show......morons that want to block your view, scream in your ear, yak on cell phones, kick the back of your chair, climb over you on the way to/from the beer bar etc....have become so prevalent that I don't bother with rock shows much any more....

far too many people forget that they are not the only people that paid for tickets.....

Amen.

I'd say I've seen a shift in the focus at concerts --rock music or otherwise-- in the 25 years that I've been going to them. Back then, it was all about the group or artist, and an appreciation of their art/music/performance. Not that the shift wasn't well under way back then, but people are much more narcissistic today; it's not about the show, ITS ALL ABOUT THEM, THEY'RE THE ONE'S ON DISPLAY. That's why they're so distracted with validating themselves by talking loudly to the person next to them, or on cell phones, or taking pictures of the show to paste on Facebook to show everyone else where THEY are and others are not. And they could care less how much their obnoxious, selfish behavior effects others around them, and react indignantly when its pointed out to them in the moment.

Yet, another further indication of the coarsening of our culture.

cbrophy · #17 07-07-2010, 01:34 PM

Wow...this can really be a confusing issue...I can see both sides. I would say the act might dictate the behavior. If you are at a Metal show...i.e. AC/DC, Metalica etc. I would have no expectations of people sitting nicely and enjoying the show. If the act is more cerebral, such as say Steely Dan or maybe Sara McGloughlin, then you wouldn't expect people in front of you to be acting all the fool! The problem becomes one persons AC/DC might be anothers Steely Dan...What to do...Act as you feel, but be aware of others around you...hmmm, maybe just some common courtesy.

Jim Campbell · #18 07-07-2010, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwest9

Amen.

I'd say I've seen a shift in the focus at concerts --rock music or otherwise-- in the 25 years that I've been going to them. Back then, it was all about the group or artist, and an appreciation of their art/music/performance. Not that the shift wasn't well under way back then, but people are much more narcissistic today; it's not about the show, ITS ALL ABOUT THEM, THEY'RE THE ONE'S ON DISPLAY. That's why they're so distracted with validating themselves by talking loudly to the person next to them, or on cell phones, or taking pictures of the show to paste on Facebook to show everyone else where THEY are and others are not. And they could care less how much their obnoxious, selfish behavior effects others around them, and react indignantly when its pointed out to them in the moment.

Yet, another further indication of the coarsening of our culture.

even small acoustic venues are not immune.....i can't recall the number of threads on here whining about how no one pays attention to the band.....well this is where it comes from.....the notion that "fans" are there to be seen and to socialize and the band is somehow of secondary importance.....

karaoke and dj's are not the only reason there are ever fewer live venues to play any more.....the people who think that anything goes have driven the others out of those venues,to watch the tv/ht,play poker slots where they don't have to tolerate the idiots at music venues......