Entertainment For Lively Minds
I'll name that song in....
I was recently at a Blue Nile gig in the Glasgow Concert hall, and very good it was too.
I couldn't help but notice that some members of the audience were having a 'song recognition' competition. Now Blue Nile songs, as I'm sure you know can have quite subtle differences until they get into the first line. Needless to say, the audience were probably very familiar with the material and sometimes it was on the first whoosh of a chord or the first tittle-tattle of a pre-programmed drum pattern that someone would almost jump out of their seat clapping wildly, all in an attempt to show to everyone else in the audience that they could identify the song at this early stage.
I must admit that at gigs like this, I often like to 'compete' with said 'uberfans' and try and get in there first, even if I don't know the song. It's wicked I know, but my guess is that I'm not the only one.
The flipside of this particular coin is when the audience member saves their applause for the first line of the chorus, when they'd just as well get their coat.
Are you an uberfan? Have you spoiled the party for someone else on purpose, safe in the knowledge that you haven't a clue what the song is? Does 'getting in there first' make or break the gig, or does it drive you to distraction?
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I heard a story about a Blue Nile gig...
... which may not be true. Paul Buchanan had just finished a particularly sad one, the notes were dying, there was a hush as the Glasweigan audience were waiting for the correct moment to applaud when a loud voice piped up "Can ye no play something a wee bit more yearning?"
No idea if it's true, I just really hope it is.
Erm..yeah...
I've been to every Blue Nile concert in the North-West since their first Manchester Free Trade Hall gig back in 1990(?). I am that type of Uberfan. I'm really really sorry. If they ever play "Family Life" then I'm afraid it's a matter of principle that Mr Buchanan gets a standing ovation from me, by myself if necessary (which it must be said, is rarely the case). You just have to, don't you?
It always mystifies me how fans of a band can't recognise a tune until the first line's been sung. Have they not pored over every musical nuance of the artist's work? Pah, these amateurs!
Some artists like to make things difficult for the uberfan though.
Yes, step forward Mr David "sneaky jazz inflections" Sylvian.
don't be sorry
I get where you're coming from. I really do. I'm just staggered that some of the uberfans actually know the song with the first Linn drum bass beat. It's uncanny - like they know the envelope and attack of that particular sample!
Mr Buchanan is a gent too. I was lucky enough to go to the aftershow and I have never seen a lead singer go round the room, thank everyone for coming along and ask what they're up to. He even remembered names from probably years before. A gentleman and no mistake.
..damn blog - no delete option for double posts.
..admin?
i blame elvis for the
delayed applause thing. I know on some 'hits' compilation I have, there's stuff from the Vegas years, and a few of the songs "wonder of you", "American Trilogy" and maybe "Just Can't help believing" have it and it really gets on my wick.
Like y'say Grant, if the punters knew the songs, you'd expect them to applaud as soon as the opening chords are struck up. If they *don't* know the song, then why in the devil don't they sit on their hands, listen to the song APPARANTLY FOR THE FIRST TIME and clap at the end...
I remember noticing this phenomenon in some ITV popstars/idol/factor thing too; the moppet would start a-siniging some universally known oldie and it took until "when tears are in your eyes" before the dullards in the audience would applaud Bridge over Troubled Water. Jesus H - you don't have to be Paul Gambaccini to know what song's coming from the very opening chords!
uberfans=bad
I avoid Fields of the Nephilim/Nefillm™ gigs because of the dickwits that feel it's 'big and clever' to build a tower of sweaty human manhood.
It isn't, it's a pain in the bollocks and blocks your view. It also smells like 'the boys' at school did back in the 70s.
Sit down or, in non-seated venues stand up, and listen, you bought the fuckin' ticket and paid the booking fee, relax and enjoy. You are not part of the act.
thank you
"You are not part of the act"
Last week I watched The Last Waltz for the first time in I couldn't remember how long and what struck me most was the invisibility of the audience. They're there, for sure, but the director has judged that no one wants to watch people watching musicians.
It then dawned on me that my last viewing must have been before the BBC started broadcasting from Glastonbury, that annual whoopfest of I'm-Mad-Mes demonstrating to the rest of us what a fabulous time they're having. Woo! Look at me! I've got a flag! I come from a place! (invariably Wales, Scotland or Cornwall)
Marvellous stuff. He's an idiot, that Scorsese.
Modern American Concert Films
I find modern American concert films have too much crowd footage. Have you seen McCartney Back In The US? It's focus almost seems more on the audience than Macca, in particular any "celebrities" who happenned to be at the gig.
Oh I have to disagree!
Human pyramids are part of the experience at Neph gigs! The more ridiculous and overblown the spectacle the better it is.
Been there too...
I LOATH Nephilim gigs. I used to be a fan until I went to see them at the Manchester International II (that'll date me) and some WANKER at the front hurled an empty bottle of Newkie Brown into the crowd behind them hitting my dear Sis. The Human pyramid thing was the icing on the cake.
The same thing used to go on at New Model Army gigs. It was annoying there as well.
I recall that awful macho human pyramid building too...
very, very sad indeed...it centered around New Model Army, Fields of The Nephilim, The Mission, Spear of Destiny etc etc.
I suppose it was pre-My Space and Facebook so it was probably a way for the sad kids to make some friends.
Half the time they had their backs to the stage waving their elbows about singing every word of every song but er, not actually watching the band!
There also seemed to be this sort of uber fan one-upmanship of rather unpleasant smelling youths with dogs and rucksacks swapping stories of how far they had hitched or walked around the country to see every show on the tour!
Then there is always the fan at the front who when their fave band pulls out the old chestnut "this is a new one..." cheers loudly, nudging their neighbour and nodding approval as though to say "I've heard this, but you haven't so there..."
uberfans go home
In the early eighties I saw the Bunnymen touring the Crocodiles album. Mac announced the title of the next song. A guy in front of me punched the air shouting "yeah - side two, track three!"
I suspect he went home alone.