“That group” consisted of several men and women, who appeared to be between the ages of 40 to 60. “There are a lot of crazy people here,” said the usher, “especially that group.” The din - let’s call it Blabapalooza - was audible from the front rows to the rear of Humphreys to the bar at the rear, where a male usher politely and repeatedly tried to get attendees to hold down their gab fest. And each song was enthusiastically received, with standing ovations after a good number of them.īut Winwood and his group were so challenged by the audience - at least in terms of sheer conversational volume - that the crowd’s periodic roars of approval really didn’t matter. Fantasy.”īefore going further, I should note that a fair number of people were present to listen appreciatively to the often vibrant music by this 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and his talented, four-man band. And that gift kept on giving, and giving, from Winwood’s rousing opening number, “I’m a Man,” through his first encore, the Traffic classic “Dear Mr. They not only had the gift of gab, they generously shared it - loudly and constantly - so that everyone in the outdoor venue could partake in their gift. There, the audience does its very best to completely drown out the performances and acceptance speeches by the same musicians they purportedly came to honor.īut last night’s well-lubricated Winwood audience deserves special recognition for their tireless efforts. This is vividly demonstrated each year, to an extreme, at the San Diego Music Awards. While I have no conclusive scientific evidence, the audience din appears to rise in direct proportion to the amount of drinks consumed. Unlike Winwood’s audience, however, the Stills/Collins attendees listened attentively, the better to absorb and savor the music, even at a very uneven concert.Īlcohol, conversely, may well be a factor. The recent sold-out Humphreys show by fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Stephen Stiills and his former paramour Judy Collins - also drew a boomer-dominated crowd. Millennials are just as prone to loudly gab at concerts as their parents, from whom they may have learned that live music makes an ideal soundtrack for chit-chat, the more inane the better.īut there are exceptions to the rule. (That 2000 article appears in its entirety below.)Īlas, things have only worsened in the intervening years, at venues large and small, as oblivious audience members drone on even more incessantly during performances. “Here’s some friendly advice for talkative concertgoers: Shut up.
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