Maybe it's just me. But from my point of view it's seems like it's not just for our band but at most concerts I go to the crowds reaction and I guess participation in the show seems to have changed a lot over the last decade. In many ways our band is more successful now. We're on a small record label, our newer music and merch is selling better than ever. But the crowds interaction and energy at the shows just isn't the same.
Here's a video That was recently found on a flash drive from one of our shows from back around 2005
the crowd is singing along, they're moshing, got their hands up. Not saying that never happens anymore. We occasionally play shows with great crowds but it seems to be more and more rare. I get this feeling like people in general are becoming more and more disconnected from each other and the world around them. Even with packed shows I see a lot more people looking at cell phones or filming with cell phones at shows than I used to. People are buying merch but they aren't participating in the show like the old days.
The guys in our band were having a conversation recently and everyone agreed I seemed to have been bumbed out at a few recent shows. And they are right. I think the differences in the crowd is starting to get to me. It's one thing for people to be kind of disconnected during an acoustic show or something but during a high energy rock/metal show even if the attendance is great the level of interaction/participation from the crowd just isn't the same these days. Especially with younger folks. Seems like younger people are even more disconnected from the show. I kind of feel like if you're going to be like that why even bother paying to be there? Ive honestly Had more fun playing some out of town shows with 30 people that were really into it even if we only sold a handful of CDs than playing for hundreds of people looking at their cell phones. I remember reading a story about a year ago about how a popular pop singer wouldn't allow cell phones in her shows. Not saying I'd ever ask that but I'm starting to understand why. It kills the vibe. That interaction between the band and the crowd. I miss that
Here's a video That was recently found on a flash drive from one of our shows from back around 2005
the crowd is singing along, they're moshing, got their hands up. Not saying that never happens anymore. We occasionally play shows with great crowds but it seems to be more and more rare. I get this feeling like people in general are becoming more and more disconnected from each other and the world around them. Even with packed shows I see a lot more people looking at cell phones or filming with cell phones at shows than I used to. People are buying merch but they aren't participating in the show like the old days.
The guys in our band were having a conversation recently and everyone agreed I seemed to have been bumbed out at a few recent shows. And they are right. I think the differences in the crowd is starting to get to me. It's one thing for people to be kind of disconnected during an acoustic show or something but during a high energy rock/metal show even if the attendance is great the level of interaction/participation from the crowd just isn't the same these days. Especially with younger folks. Seems like younger people are even more disconnected from the show. I kind of feel like if you're going to be like that why even bother paying to be there? Ive honestly Had more fun playing some out of town shows with 30 people that were really into it even if we only sold a handful of CDs than playing for hundreds of people looking at their cell phones. I remember reading a story about a year ago about how a popular pop singer wouldn't allow cell phones in her shows. Not saying I'd ever ask that but I'm starting to understand why. It kills the vibe. That interaction between the band and the crowd. I miss that
