One of the reasons I fell a little bit out of love with going to gigs is the rudeness of the audience that ruins it for everyone. Regular readers of this blog will be aware of my dislike for people who seemingly just turn up where live music is playing and have a conversation. As far as I am concerned it is time that venues did something about this by removing and barring people who ruin it for everyone else. Personally I would have them taken outside and shot but political correctness being what it is that sort of idea would be poo-pooed by the tree hugging tofu brigade.
I have recently seen two very different gigs that happened exactly how a live music experience should happen, and if they could all be like it then live music in Nottingham would be brilliant. Don't get me wrong, I love going to gigs but it seems at times as if I am the only one there to hear what is on stage. The above gig at the Running Horse was amazing and not just for the music. Gary had invited me to see Laura Cortese and the Dance Cards and although I missed the first support I caught Daniel and Stevie from The Most Ugly Child. As much as I love the band, (and also DH Lawrence and the Vaudeville Skiffle Show) I really enjoyed seeing just the two of them on stage and asked if they would do a Random Saturday Session soon. Unfortunately they are out of town when I film the next one in Nottingham.
What struck me about the crowd was that nobody was talking during the songs. People were showing the artist the respect they deserve and I was in my element. Laura Cortese played a brilliant set which could have been ruined by the arrival of a couple who were talking a little bit too loudly at the front, not only that but the woman was trying to engage others in her conversation too. Suddenly the barmaid appeared and removed them both. At that moment I fell in love with her (her name is Laura) and decided that she should be in charge of a school that you have to graduate from before being allowed to work in a music venue. We had a brief chat about the nuisance of talking at gigs and it led me to wondering whether or not this disrespectful practise could be stamped out once and for all? In 2007 we had a ridiculous ban on smoking inflicted on us and (sadly) there was no rebelling, it just happened that one Sunday in July people bent over and took this ruling. If people can accept not being allowed to smoke, can they accept being told that they have to shut up while the act is on? This might take a while to settle in, but every venue in Nottingham could work together and create a rule similar to the old Pubwatch scheme in which all pubs worked together and advised on who was barred and for what. Posters around the venue stating that talking during live music will not be tolerated and that offenders will be asked to leave is all you need, and if every venue sticks to it then decent people will be able to enjoy gigs again.
The other gig was at the Royal Concert Hall, Solid Silver 60s with The Merseybeats, New Amen Corner, Dave Berry, Brian Hyland and Peter Noone. New Amen Corner provided the backing for the solo acts and the whole thing ran like clockwork. This is another area in which live music can be improved, obviously it might not be workable to have one backing band on all night, but you can all have the one backline and get on and off the stage without a lot of pissing about sound-checking. Another lesson that a lot of bands should learn is how to enjoy themselves, every act on the bill looked like they were having fun and weren't trying to be cool.
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