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Last Post 6/19/2008 10:39 AM by  Helmet
Why do people talk during gigs?
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Quint
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4/12/2008 5:50 AM
    At This Will Destroy You at Whelans last night. Fantastic gig but marred by idiots talking loudly throughout the set.
    Why are they there? Why do they ruin it for everyone else? Namely, fans of the band who have taken time out to go see the band and enjoy the gig in the hope it's not ruined by f**king gibbering idiots behind them or in front of them. Why have they paid for a ticket if they have absolutely no interest in the band or their music whatsoever? This seems to happen at every gig. If they do have an interest, why can't they just shut the f**k up for 90 minutes and then they can catch up with all their news and gossip at the bar or in the pub afterwards? At one point last night, some stupid c**t was standing with his back to the band in front of stage while he chatted to two equally loud girls. Why? He's obviously not a fan and has no respect for the band so what is he doing there? Then, if you politely ask them to be quiet they seem to take great offence at this. Wankers. Rant over.
    Protein biscuit
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    4/12/2008 6:50 AM
    Yes, w**kers indeed Quint. It happens almost all the time and The Village is notorious in this respect. It makes me so mad and with a little less tolerance of my fellow man. Had a particularly bad experience at Iron and Wine once upon a time in Whelans. Blood was boiling and i could feel the rage and violence rising up inside me. Sigh, just a fact of life. I sometimes think the onus is on the staff to say "Shut the f**k up" when necessary.
    dermot_trellis
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    4/12/2008 9:29 AM
    I can't stand this either.. Why pay 15-20 euro to talk the whole way during a gig instead of going to a pub, where you get in for free, don't have to shout right into somebody's ear to be heard and don't have to queue for ages for drinks\toilets (in most places, anyway). I'm guessing it's mostly just gimps who don't give a toss about the bands and either got in without paying, were dragged along by their mates, or who want to be seen at the event so they can look cool among certain circles..
    aidan
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    4/13/2008 12:58 PM
    The fact is, not everyone who goes to a gig is a dedicated fan of the act onstage. But not always because they're poseurs or dragged along - haven't we all gone to see bands just to check them out, to see if they're any good?

    I always thought that the hardcore fans were up the front anyway, the casual listener hanging back behind the halfway line. Maybe there should be a rule or etiquette: if you're bored by the band, move to the bar or the back of the hall. Do you reckon a venue would put up a poster to that effect?

    And are we going to differentiate between gig-related chatting or non-gig-chatting? For example, is Beatlemania screaming or discreet singing-along or 'I-love-you-Glen/pull-down-your-pants-Damo' okay, but football or relationship or current affairs chats are out?

    Personally, I'm annoyed by 'shushers' and the 'concert = religious experience' scenario, where some fans (and some artists) are a bit too precious and joyless.
    Unicron
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    4/13/2008 2:23 PM
    Posted By aidan on 13 Apr 2008 12:58 PM
    The fact is, not everyone who goes to a gig is a dedicated fan of the act onstage. But not always because they're poseurs or dragged along - haven't we all gone to see bands just to check them out, to see if they're any good?




    Yeah but if they're not I've got the good manners to shut the f**k up while they're on anyway.
    starbelgrade
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    4/14/2008 4:42 AM
    The best cure for people talking at gigs is to whack the volume up.
    PARTON
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    4/14/2008 4:51 AM
    depends really on the music played..if its a band, plugged in band, then sure you cant hear them anyway...

    but accoustic or solo performance, yeah its pretty rude and ignorant..see this kind of thing happens at smaller venues alot because alot of people go for a) a gander or b) the club/dj on after.....

    saying that i was at REM last eyar in the olympia, and three characters taken straight from Philidelphia here i come were shouting unfunny comments at Michael Stipe in between songs.
    starbelgrade
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    4/14/2008 4:55 AM
    Posted By PARTON on 14 Apr 2008 4:51 AM
    depends really on the music played..if its a band, plugged in band, then sure you cant hear them anyway...

    but accoustic or solo performance, yeah its pretty rude and ignorant..see this kind of thing happens at smaller venues alot because alot of people go for a) a gander or b) the club/dj on after.....

    saying that i was at REM last eyar in the olympia, and three characters taken straight from Philidelphia here i come were shouting unfunny comments at Michael Stipe in between songs.




    I hate acoustic gigs & performers. That said, I wouldn't talk over them, I'd just leave! I saw J.Mascis do a solo show a few years ago... he came out with an acoustic, but the Marshall stack behind him suggested it would be more than an acoustic show.. he ran the guitar thru a rake of pedals & blew the f**k outta the place!
    Trix
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    4/14/2008 6:28 AM
    Posted By Quint on 12 Apr 2008 5:50 AM
    At This Will Destroy You at Whelans last night. Fantastic gig but marred by idiots talking loudly throughout the set.




    Great gig, I only went to see TwinKranes (didn't even know This Will Destroy You). Really impressed with TWDY and looking forward to more of them.
    The sound was really loud but that doesn't make any difference if there is annoying people beside you talking through out the whole gig. Show a little respect for the band and the people who paid money to enjoy listening to them!!
    IcaruS
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    4/18/2008 8:59 AM
    Sounds like the loud guy at the front was trying to get laid. A lot of jerks' manners will go out the window with that goal in mind. It honestly sounds to me likie these people are of cracked.com's notorious douchebag mental conditions.
    istillwantyoulucy
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    4/20/2008 6:10 AM
    I was really irritated by this at the Spook of the 13th Lock launch night on Friday, they are a rather quiet band and all I could hear were the knobs beside me chatting away about their current problems in the office. It must be disheartening for the band too, I'd imagine.
    mick
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    4/20/2008 3:32 PM
    ... guest list
    mick
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    4/20/2008 3:32 PM
    ... guest list
    floodzer
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    4/21/2008 7:21 AM
    You know what really grinds my gears?? I'll probably getted dubbed Hitler but I have to say I hate when women get up on fellas shoulders at gigs. I know I should probably just expect it at the likes of summer festivals but it wrecks my head. Its always some stupid cow who has interest in nothing but how loud and thick she can look, meanwhile every poor fecker behind her fat arse is missing the show!!! There Im done!
    starbelgrade
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    4/22/2008 4:18 AM
    Posted By floodzer on 21 Apr 2008 7:21 AM
    You know what really grinds my gears?? I'll probably getted dubbed Hitler but I have to say I hate when women get up on fellas shoulders at gigs. I know I should probably just expect it at the likes of summer festivals but it wrecks my head. Its always some stupid cow who has interest in nothing but how loud and thick she can look, meanwhile every poor fecker behind her fat arse is missing the show!!! There Im done!




    LOL! Even worse than that os anyone who's not a dumb ass teenager, crowdsurfing. I'd forgive the teenagers coz, well, they're dumbasses & we've all been there.. but anyone over 18 crowdsurfing should be shot dead on sight.

    I went to see The Pixies in Landsdowne a few summers back - worst venue I've ever been to in my life & one of the worst crowds too.. full of over excited Kings of Leon fans. Anyhow, we were hanging back at the soundesk area when a stupid f**ker in his 20's came flying thru the crowd from behind me - I didn't see him till his boot whacked off the back of my head. Painful stuff... and what was the f**ker doing crowdsurfing that far back in the crowd. No-one but his sad mates were willing to catch him & when he went to ground I kicked the s**te out of him. Not my proudest moment, but the c**t was asking for it.
    UnaRocks
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    4/22/2008 4:24 AM
    crowdsurfing is fun.

    Sitting on people's shoulders gives you a better view. If you don't like it - move!

    Everyone should stand completely still at gigs and have their mouths gagged. Although, seriously, it does piss me off during a quiet gig. The main offenders are people at the bar in Whelan's seemingly oblivious to what is going on on stage and ranting away with their mates. It's just manners I suppose. Something a lot of people don't have.

    "when he went to ground I kicked the s**te out of him." - why?

    floodzer
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    4/22/2008 4:50 AM
    Posted By UnaRocks on 22 Apr 2008 4:24 AM

    Sitting on people's shoulders gives you a better view. If you don't like it - move!



    The times that are coming to mind the crowd was so tightly packed that there is no option of moving.. Im talkin bout sardines here. Bjork at electric picnic. Crowd around me were retards!
    starbelgrade
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    4/22/2008 4:52 AM
    Posted By UnaRocks on 22 Apr 2008 4:24 AM
    crowdsurfing is fun.

    Sitting on people's shoulders gives you a better view. If you don't like it - move!

    Everyone should stand completely still at gigs and have their mouths gagged. Although, seriously, it does piss me off during a quiet gig. The main offenders are people at the bar in Whelan's seemingly oblivious to what is going on on stage and ranting away with their mates. It's just manners I suppose. Something a lot of people don't have.

    "when he went to ground I kicked the s**te out of him." - why?





    His boot whacked me full on in the back of the head, which started pumping blood... I'd a headache for 2 days & still have a scar from it. Normally I avoid violence, but if I get hit, I hit back.
    Binokular
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    4/22/2008 6:30 AM
    Posted By starbelgrade on 22 Apr 2008 4:18 AM

    . but anyone over 18 crowdsurfing should be shot dead on sight.




    Are you like one of those people that tells me that now I'm 30, I should get a sensible car? Nah, I'd rather enjoy life, you're never too old to goof around.

    OK, people getting hurt isn't good, but you know, it's a gig, people do have a license to go a little bit nuts.
    starbelgrade
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    4/22/2008 9:54 AM
    Posted By Binokular on 22 Apr 2008 6:30 AM
    Posted By starbelgrade on 22 Apr 2008 4:18 AM

    . but anyone over 18 crowdsurfing should be shot dead on sight.




    Are you like one of those people that tells me that now I'm 30, I should get a sensible car? Nah, I'd rather enjoy life, you're never too old to goof around.

    OK, people getting hurt isn't good, but you know, it's a gig, people do have a license to go a little bit nuts.




    You can drive whatever car you like, go apes**t gigs, even dress like a teenager.. whatever floats your boat. Just don't land feet first on my head, or yer a dead man.
    aidan
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    4/22/2008 1:03 PM
    Posted By Binokular on 22 Apr 2008 6:30 AM


    OK, people getting hurt isn't good, but you know, it's a gig, people do have a license to go a little bit nuts.




    Agreed. But that includes talking, right? ;D

    Seriously, the gigs where people get disturbed by talking are most likely the over-serious, reverential, Mass-like ones where we must worship the singer-songer and their precious lyrics. No fun. Give me loud music and jumping around and excitement and let people chat if they want.
    Binokular
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    4/23/2008 2:42 AM
    Posted By aidan on 22 Apr 2008 1:03 PM


    Agreed. But that includes talking, right? ;D

    Seriously, the gigs where people get disturbed by talking are most likely the over-serious, reverential, Mass-like ones where we must worship the singer-songer and their precious lyrics. No fun. Give me loud music and jumping around and excitement and let people chat if they want.




    Yeah, pretty much, though sometimes even loud gigs have quiet moments, and not all artists who play acoustically invoke a humorless po-faced atmosphere, theres no hard and fast rules, it just requires a bit of basic cop on and consideration, which some people lack, but you get that in all aspects of life, like people who park in disabled spaces or shout into their mobiles on public transport.
    PARTON
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    4/23/2008 3:11 AM
    or fart on packed trains
    starbelgrade
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    4/23/2008 3:30 AM
    I was at Sigor Ros' first Irish gig in the Music Centre - at the time, they'd an additional small bar in the same room as the stage & the volume was so low, you could hear people ordering drinks & the "ka-ching" of the cash register, even during the louder moments... my self & my brother were commenting on this fact, when the dude in front of me turned round & "shushed" us. I was NOT impressed.. I mean, there's incessant annoying chatting (which can be really annoying), but to expect people to not talk AT ALL during a gig is ridiculous.

    Anyhow, the bro recognised him as the bass player from Red Neck Minifesto, so we started talking about his band - well slagging them off - until he moved off to another spot.. as Aidan put it, the "the over-serious, reverential, Mass-like ones" can be worse than the chatters.

    (I wouldn't have minded so much, only the band's performance, though it was OK in general , was ruined by the drummer who - though he's improved these days - couldn't keep a beat & kept tryin the most ridiculously overcomplicated rolls which he f**ked up every single time).
    Protein biscuit
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    5/2/2008 8:49 AM
    It's essentially about manners as some have said and as an incidental character on The Simpson's once said "some people are just assholes."

    On a completely extreme end of the scale a mate of mine went to see Bonnie Prince Billy in Vicar St. ages and ages ago. He was driving and wasn't drinking. He bought a 7-Up, poured it into his glass back at this seat and the amount of scorpy looks and "ssshhhs" he got was mental. That's f**ked up.
    Quint
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    5/7/2008 4:14 AM
    Jesus, extreme end of the scale indeed.That's Seriously f**ked up. That wouldn't annoy me in the slightest. In fact, people speaking between songs is fine also as long as they shut the f**k up once the next song starts. Even the odd heckle - once it's genuinely funny and/or original (sadly, very rare in this country)- is ok too. The problem is the groups of idiots having conversations throughout the gig who are completely oblivious to the music. I found this on an NME.com article with fans giving feedback of the first Radiohead gig of the world tour in Florida. Looks like gig-chatter is not just an Irish thing.....



    ''Blogger Richard Rap was more conservative in his assessment of the show, however. "For an opening night, it was a very good set," he wrote. "Pacing needs a little reconsideration, however, with a disproportionate number of slower, quieter songs bunched together in the middle. But the sonics were very good considering the venue and the light show was cool, too.

    "The beer-swilling audience talked throughout the set, and in the quieter portions of the show the babble was overpowering," he continued. "I'm an old fart, but I don't get it - it's one thing to make occasional comments but it's another to have an ongoing conversation during the performance."

    http://www.nme.com/news/radiohead/36442


    I don't get it either, Richard.

    dermot_trellis
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    5/7/2008 1:23 PM
    Definately.. There is a happy medium! It doesn't have to be a choice between either an oppressive Mass-like atmophere of reverential silence on one hand (which nobody should expect or desire at a rock/pop event), and between incessant high-volume chatter throughout the entire gig, oblivious to how much you're ruining somebody elses' evening. If you really have to keep up a conversation the whole way through the show, it's possible to do it in a considerate way.
    headu phole
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    5/17/2008 5:14 PM
    Video camera phones are up there too. Take a picture, if you must, not a video.
    Absolute idocy.
    No Excuses.
    I will soon starting throwing them skyward, I can handle being punched if it means starting a trend that damages personal property that will end a trend that ruins gigs.

    Binokular
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    5/19/2008 3:41 AM
    Whats wrong with video phones? I never bother with them, but what's the problem?
    PARTON
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    5/19/2008 3:46 AM
    how do they ruin gigs? is it not the same as bootleg recording years ago no?
    Earthhorse
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    5/20/2008 7:15 AM
    Was at the Mark Knopfler gig last night and I seriously gotta wonder about people who would pay €55 to see one of modern rock's greatest guitarists and then proceed to talk while he's soloing.

    Similarly, when Lou Barlow was playing his acoustic set at the Dinosaur Jr. gig the other week he finished one song and as the applause died down noted with amusement, "Now you're not talking".

    It's almost as if people want to talk about the good time they're having rather than actually have it. Same goes for the video camera brigade; they want to record the experience rather than experience the experience.
    starbelgrade
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    5/21/2008 3:29 AM
    I seriously gotta wonder about people who would pay to see Mark Knopfler.
    Earthhorse
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    5/21/2008 5:40 AM
    Gee, I guess we can't all be as edgy as you starbelgrade.

    Next time I'm at a gig I'll try kicking the sh*t out of someone, I promise.
    starbelgrade
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    5/21/2008 5:43 AM
    Posted By Earthhorse on 21 May 2008 5:40 AM
    Gee, I guess we can't all be as edgy as you starbelgrade.

    Next time I'm at a gig I'll try kicking the sh*t out of someone, I promise.




    You missed your chance at the Knopfler gig... old men are easy targets!
    Earthhorse
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    5/21/2008 5:59 AM
    Aye, but he had a whole security team with him.

    Don't worry though. Next time Linkin Park are touring I'll give those emo kids something to blog about.
    starbelgrade
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    5/21/2008 6:26 AM
    Posted By Earthhorse on 21 May 2008 5:59 AM
    Aye, but he had a whole security team with him.

    Don't worry though. Next time Linkin Park are touring I'll give those emo kids something to blog about.




    LOL!
    Paulie
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    6/18/2008 5:27 AM
    I totally agree with you. Was at a band comp not so long ago with various acts preforming and it completly bugged me, when 1 act finished all their possie just blabbed on talking s**t while other acts were trying to preform.now the other acts were s**t but thats not the point, ignorience i tell ya. and for kickin some poor young fella in the head " while we were ultra cool down at the sound desk" that s**ts not cool
    PeterQuaife
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    6/18/2008 5:49 AM
    you have a s**t average of 3 per post, hope you havent peaked too early

    PQ
    starbelgrade
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    6/18/2008 9:27 AM
    Posted By Paulie on 18 Jun 2008 5:27 AM
    I Was at a band comp not so long ago with various acts preforming and it completly bugged me, when 1 act finished all their possie just blabbed on talking s**t while other acts were trying to preform.now the other acts were s**t but thats not the point,




    This one time, at band camp, I stuck a flute in my pussy.
    starbelgrade
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    6/18/2008 9:29 AM
    Though I must clarify that despite the perception brought about by American Pie, that not all band camps are merely staging grounds for sexual activity.

    Typical band camp activities may include: Marching, standing in the hot sun for hours, getting eaten alive by bugs, marching, playing instruments, getting weird tan lines, marching, choking down partially edible food, coming up with strange inside jokes nobody outside of band will ever understand, getting soaked, getting lost in nearby woods at night, sleeping, pulling off pranks, and oh yeah, more marching.
    UnaRocks
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    6/19/2008 3:14 AM
    "now the other acts were s**t but thats not the point" - uh, yes it is. How do you expect people to give their utmost attention if a band sucks?
    PeterQuaife
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    6/19/2008 3:23 AM
    a little respect maybe?
    PARTON
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    6/19/2008 4:33 AM
    The ssssh brigade are bad.....but the culchie in the rugby shirt crowd...turning every Bruce Springsteen song into a song about Munster almost made me sacrifice my clean record with the cops.....

    Unicron
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    6/19/2008 6:25 AM
    Posted By PARTON on 19 Jun 2008 4:33 AM
    The ssssh brigade are bad.....but the culchie in the rugby shirt crowd...turning every Bruce Springsteen song into a song about Munster almost made me sacrifice my clean record with the cops.....





    Buddy, you've gotta elaborate on this one. It sounds like gold.
    Helmet
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    6/19/2008 10:39 AM
    I was at Bonnie Prince Billy there on Sunday night, the man is mighty and I will go back to see him again and again.....however, the gombeens behind me insisted on talking (s**te) the whole way through most of the songs and then escalated this to shouting stuff like "give us a smile" when he was trying to tell a wee story between songs.......jesus, if you've that little interest fup off into the bar and let the rest of us enjoy the music!

    There are gigs were it is absolutely necessary for you to jump up and down, roar and shout and basically go demented for the duration but a Will Oldham show is not one of those gigs.

    I was at Leonard Cohen the previous Friday and the crowd were really attentive and respectful....big difference. I know there's an age/crowd dynamic issue involved with this but still and all..........


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