While The xx dazzled, the crowd chatted
It usually takes a quiet show or a set filled with nuance to remind me just how ridiculous and rampant talking at a concert has become.
On Oct. 12, The xx put on an amazing show in Oklahoma City, and there were plenty of lights, lasers and booming sounds to distract from chit chat. I was amazed at the band’s newfound showmanship and energy. But when I took a lap around the crowd, I couldn’t believe the amount of conversations going on.
From a financial standpoint, it makes no sense. Say you bought two tickets online with service fees, parked behind the venue and bought dinner before snagging two drinks at the shows. That’s easily a $200+ night. Why not save yourself a few bucks and talk over the record at home?
Ryan Adams was playing a soldout show at Cain’s Ballroom that same Thursday evening, and I heard heasked the crowd to stop talking, as well. I also left a recent David Ramirez show because of rude guests. I guess I’m just curious about why concert talkers even bother going to shows. They obviously don’t care about the performer or the patrons around them. It’s worth noting that making bothsets of thosepeople comfortable is what helps build a great concert culture.
It’s even more frustrating because I find myself sounding like a middle school teacher repeating an assignment’s directions for a third time torudeclassmates. We’ve got more shows than we know to do with, so let’sstart making Oklahoma feelmore welcoming for touring bands.
There’s a reason I wear earplugs to concerts. It’s so my ears don’t get damaged shooting photos right in front of speakers and so I don’t have to heareveryone’s plans for after the show. Chances are, your conversations can wait.