Tag Archive for 'people'

Concerts – A Rant

There are a couple of things young people like to do (yes, I still consider myself young, so fuck off, will you?). One of these things is going to concerts. I myself am not as avid a concertgoer as some of my peers, mainly because I’m too elitist to listen to most of what is playing in venues near me. But once in a while, I do like to indulge in a live-experience, and whenever I do, I remember another reason why I don’t do this more often: the people.

That’s right, people. It’s similar to the movies, really. You come to see and hear someone or something, and most of the time your enjoyment is hindered by someone else who has come for the same reasons but, unlike you, is an inconsiderate or stupid bastard. Or both.

So let me run down a few things that tend to make me want to shoot someone in the head (“shoot in the head” is of course a figure of speech – I’d actually bludgeon them to death with my plastic beer cup):

  • Dancing: Yes, I have heard from people that moving your body in a fashion resembling the way the schoolgirl-zombies move in STACY is something to be enjoyed. I am inclined to believe that notion, but I’m als extremely annoyed when people think it’s their prerogative to move that way in a crowd that’s already as packed as a can of sardines. I don’t exactly care for your idea of feeling the music through weird movements of arms and legs, so bumping into me repeatedly with a look of bliss on your face is not something I take to lightly. I might make use of that plastic cup.
  • Cameraphones: Yes, it is perfectly alright to take pictures of your favourite band. I’ve done it! But it’s not alright to constantly take photos with your crappy cameraphone, thus obscuring everyone else’s view behind you, forcing them to watch the whole concert through the crappy lense of your crappy cameraphone. Enjoy the music (don’t dance!), and try to forget about posting crappy pictures off your crappy cameraphone to facebook once in a while, willya?

Actually, that’s it. Apart from the fact that I’m really not into handing in my coat, therefore being envious of all those people who prance around in their tshirts and don’t have to either carry or wear their coats and sweat like a pig, there’s nothing else I’d like to add. I guess I’m only half-way to being the bitter, old man I’m aspiring to be.

At least there’s a story to tell…

Waiting for Tosca

Being the culture vultures that my girlfriend and I undoubtedly are, we decided to check out the release performance of Tosca’s new studioalbum “No Hassle”. Within the framework of the Vienna City Fest, the concert was scheduled to be played in a church. And it was free. But as it is the case so often with things that cost no money, they take a toll on other things. Namely people’s precious time and patience.

I won’t go into details, but there are a few things to note:

    People who invite all their friends to queue with them, instead of going to the back of the line, are assholes. Sorry, but there’s just no other way to say it.
    People in queues tend to talk so much crap, I was somewhat sorry I don’t usually bring earplugs to concerts.
    Churches look big from the outside, but I guess all that shit like altars, candles and whatnot take up a lot of space, so in fact, only a very limited number of people actually go into a church.

So no, even though we queued for more than 45 minutes, we weren’t even near getting in. And we were probably in the first half of the line.

Things did get a bit unruly once the nice lady with the tickets walked past the people in line yelling that the church was full. I snapped a few pictures of the mob demanding entry, and somehow felt a bit thrown back in time. You know, when there was still an active interest in churches. I shot a little movie, but with my movie-shooting skills, it turned out like shit, so here’s just two pictures:
The mob is enraged

The mob, ghostly

Beware of the mob formed by electronica-afficionados denied their god-given right (ha!) to listen to a free ambient performance!

Even though we didn’t get to hear the new album, I still think it was a moderately fun thing to do on a Friday night. From a sociological perspective, it was a hoot.




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