About fans and rock bands

I’ve recently attended an Editors gig. Perhaps the band is irrelevant. I just felt like mentioning it. The gig was ok, in case you were wondering. Yes, ok. Thing is, after the gig, I posted a little innocent comment on Lastfm about how it was ok but there was something missing and how it was a pain in the ass to wait around for three hours not knowing when the gig was going to start. And I realised there are way too many people out there who think one should go to a gig after 9 pm (no matter what the ticket says). In what universe?

And then it struck me why the gig was just ok. There was no build-up before the actual concert. And I’m not talking about the warm-up music, opening-act blabla yadda yadda. No. I’m talking about the fans. See, I’m used to fanaticism. As someone once told me: ‘I was raised to believe that obsessing about your favourite rock bands is the only acceptable way’. And this includes concerts.

I have a small ritual before each gig. I triple-check the entry hour and the hour at which it’s supposed to start. I change a billion outfits in order to find the one that’s comfy enough, hip enough and includes pockets. I make sure everything I need fits in my tiny bag. And, naturally, I go to the concert venue some three hours before. Why? Cause it’s fun! It makes me incredibly happy sitting in a queue (or not) with a bunch of other fans who also want to hump the fence. It gives me chills when I hear the sound check. There is nothing in the world like that feeling I get when I see they’re letting us in and I know I’ll be front row (even if I have to kill a bunch of innocents). This is how all fans should behave. Otherwise, you cannot be considered a fan. And I for one will find the gig lame, boring, no fun. Or just ok, like the Editors gig. Because there were no signs of fanaticism before the actual gig. So maybe the band can’t make people feel that way. Or the fans are just not … fans. Real, hardcore ones. Either ways, it ruins the whole gig. We need the whole package.

Just to make it clear. Editors were great. During the concert, there was a great vibe. The audience was clearly enjoying every moment. Well, us people in the front rows. I can’t guarantee for the people in the back. But there was nothing before. No blood, sweat or tears (my sweat, other people’s blood and tears) were spilled so that people would get as close to the stage as possible. Most people turned up after 8 pm. There were chairs so there was this chillin’ in a backyard vibe. The venue was in a park so some though a walk (or a beer or a swing in the playground) would be a better idea than waiting inside the venue. And I didn’t feel like I was attending a concert!

And, in all honesty, beside all the things that get me off, there’s this thing called respect. For the bands playing and the people organizing the whole thing. You own it to them to be there in time. And, hey, let’s face it. The majority of bands starts playing at the time specified on the ticket/posters/etc. Because they too tend to respect the crowd and/or think some might depend on at least the last bus/tram/tube. That is, if they have any decency.