I live in New Haven and last week Foo Fighters did a pop-up show at a historic local club. (Announced the day before, $30 tickets, strict limitations to ensure the people who stood in line were the ones to attend.) Foo Fighters are not Bob Dylan, but in some ways they are bigger now? I have not listened to their albums since I was in high school, but this is a band that fills stadiums and they performed 2 1/2 hours for 900 people. Incredible!
I was center stage, about 8 people back, and the amount of the show I watched through the phone of the person in front of me was fucking infuriating. And then as part of the venue’s victory lap for making this generational event happen they reshared multiple videos THIS ACTUAL ASSHOLE recorded and posted to Instagram!!! Bad behavior reinforcement!!!
I have a friend who works for Yondr, and he says their biggest customer base is schools. But the Jack White and standup comedy arena shows I’ve gone to that they’re hired for benefited so much from the pouches. There’s also TOOL (my favorite band from high school) that papers every other seat with a warning about using your phone and kicks out dozens of people per show. The phone is such a scourge. I generally find that outside NYC is better, maybe because there’s less pressure to post, but god it sucks.
Thanks for reading. You are 100% right and that’s terrible that the Foo Fighters would reinforce someone’s bad behavior. We live in a world in which nothing is real unless it is seen through a phone camera. People don’t even think their own children are real, unless they are videotaping them endlessly.
Something is broken in people these days. They act feral in public and can't be arsed to act like responsible adults.
I won't go to to large concert venues anymore - the last was a Tool concert where everyone stood up in front of their seats from front to back, yelling back and forth among themselves - I had trouble seeing or hearing the act on stage at times - unbelievable.
The selfish me-first/me-only jackassery has soured me off forever.
Hi— The crowd is too big for yonder patches. When you have 20,000 people, it’s impossible.
We’re talking about two different things. Whether or not somebody thinks Bob should put away his harmonica is one issue and we can’t argue about that because it’s just personal preferences and I jokingly admit I can’t be objective. One of my friends makes fun of me about this all the time.
The problem is when people go to any concert of anybody and just can’t shut up. Imagine seeing Tony Bennett in 1972 and everyone around you wouldn’t stop yapping while he was singing “Rags to Riches.”
I definitely think this was the wrong venue for Bob. Let all the true believers like me go see him someplace by himself.
Go to Dead and Company show. Pretty much everyone is there for the music and very respectful. You can leave your phone and wallet on your seat while you go get a beer and they will still be there when you get back.
I’m sure there’s a different vibe, but I did stop going to the annual August Dead meet-up-at-the-movies because people wouldn’t shut up long enough to listen to the show. I also wouldn’t leave my wallet or phone out anywhere, LOL.
I think Bob was misplaced as part of this tour. Thanks for reading!
Perfect last line 👌
Great piece! Good on Bob for continuing to challenge his audience. I hate it when people talk all the way through concerts.
Thank you! Thanks for reading! Good to know there are others who feel the same way.
I live in New Haven and last week Foo Fighters did a pop-up show at a historic local club. (Announced the day before, $30 tickets, strict limitations to ensure the people who stood in line were the ones to attend.) Foo Fighters are not Bob Dylan, but in some ways they are bigger now? I have not listened to their albums since I was in high school, but this is a band that fills stadiums and they performed 2 1/2 hours for 900 people. Incredible!
I was center stage, about 8 people back, and the amount of the show I watched through the phone of the person in front of me was fucking infuriating. And then as part of the venue’s victory lap for making this generational event happen they reshared multiple videos THIS ACTUAL ASSHOLE recorded and posted to Instagram!!! Bad behavior reinforcement!!!
I have a friend who works for Yondr, and he says their biggest customer base is schools. But the Jack White and standup comedy arena shows I’ve gone to that they’re hired for benefited so much from the pouches. There’s also TOOL (my favorite band from high school) that papers every other seat with a warning about using your phone and kicks out dozens of people per show. The phone is such a scourge. I generally find that outside NYC is better, maybe because there’s less pressure to post, but god it sucks.
Thanks for reading. You are 100% right and that’s terrible that the Foo Fighters would reinforce someone’s bad behavior. We live in a world in which nothing is real unless it is seen through a phone camera. People don’t even think their own children are real, unless they are videotaping them endlessly.
Something is broken in people these days. They act feral in public and can't be arsed to act like responsible adults.
I won't go to to large concert venues anymore - the last was a Tool concert where everyone stood up in front of their seats from front to back, yelling back and forth among themselves - I had trouble seeing or hearing the act on stage at times - unbelievable.
The selfish me-first/me-only jackassery has soured me off forever.
You said "And since he can’t use Yondr pouches as part of the Outlaw Festival" -- why not? Just curious.
Dylan's certainly earned the right to murder his old songs and rush out the lyrics in a monotone. However, I don't have to go and listen to it.
Did Tony Bennett do that to "I Left My Heart in San Francisco"? No, he gave the song the respect it deserves and the audience deserves.
Hi— The crowd is too big for yonder patches. When you have 20,000 people, it’s impossible.
We’re talking about two different things. Whether or not somebody thinks Bob should put away his harmonica is one issue and we can’t argue about that because it’s just personal preferences and I jokingly admit I can’t be objective. One of my friends makes fun of me about this all the time.
The problem is when people go to any concert of anybody and just can’t shut up. Imagine seeing Tony Bennett in 1972 and everyone around you wouldn’t stop yapping while he was singing “Rags to Riches.”
I definitely think this was the wrong venue for Bob. Let all the true believers like me go see him someplace by himself.
I couldn’t agree more. Bob certainly doesn’t need the money for a giant venue like that.
Go to Dead and Company show. Pretty much everyone is there for the music and very respectful. You can leave your phone and wallet on your seat while you go get a beer and they will still be there when you get back.
I’m sure there’s a different vibe, but I did stop going to the annual August Dead meet-up-at-the-movies because people wouldn’t shut up long enough to listen to the show. I also wouldn’t leave my wallet or phone out anywhere, LOL.
I think Bob was misplaced as part of this tour. Thanks for reading!
Oliver Stone’s next film stars Kevin Costner (“Daniel”) as he compiles and files the Moran Report, an inquiry into the ‘Second Bob Theory.’
if Kevin Costner plays me, I’m in.