Concert Review: B.o.B at SOB’s in NY 11-24-14

The potent smell of marijuana flooded my nostrils as I stepped into the venue SOB, changed from Irving Plaza just a few short days before the show. The venue was small, much more restaurant and bar than concert venue. Judging by the amount of fans that came out, I am going to guess it was moved because the limited turn out. The moderately sized crowd filled out SOB nicely but it would have left Irving Plaza half empty.

The opening act Kevin Gates was spectacularly underwhelming. I will try to put aside the genre of music (gangster rap) as this is a review of the performance, not his songs or lyrical quality (trust me, that would be a scathing review). One of the major problems I had with Gates was that he lip sang a few of his songs. Unless you are a pop singer who has to execute intricate and practiced choreography, it is unacceptable to lip sing live. Trust me when I say that Gates didn’t have any choreography, as he sluggishly lugged his body from one end of the stage to the other end only mere feet away. Another major problem is that he and his “crew” took themselves way too seriously. Unsmiling and wearing a look that was an amalgam of disgust and annoyance peppered with just a hint of “I’m too good to be here”, Gates and his group were not the most pleasant performers I have ever seen to say the least. When you take yourself so seriously to the point that you act like you are the second coming of Jesus Christ, you don’t seem “hard”, you come off as comical and a joke. Overall his performance was one of the worst I have ever experienced.

A moderately energized B.o.B leapt on the stage. He had a good flow with the audience, high fiving fans in the front and taking selfies with audience members’ cell phones while performing. His performance was fine, not bad but nothing to write home about either. The most interaction he had with the crowd is when brought two girls from the crowd and had them twerk for money. The one who received the most applause from the crowd was given $100. So yeah… that happened. I am not a fan of such blatant objectification of women, and do not take pleasure in seeing unsuspecting girls shake their butts for money. I just find it all too sleazy. But I get it, that is just a part of the gangster rap music culture, so I won’t criticize him too much for that. The show ended with B.o.B and  his crew singing together on the stage, which was fun to see everyone taking part in the last song together. However, though this may have been my favorite moment of the night the good vibes were short-lived. Even though the show never really had many high points, it was some how able to end on a low note. The set lasted about an hour and as B.o.b left the stage I waited for the encore. After roughly 12 minutes, I realized there was not going to be an encore. The lights had come on, the dj was packing what little was left with his equipment, and the crowd began to disperse. I have been to over 65+ concerts in my lifetime(this includes rap concerts), and never has an artist not performed an encore. It was a very apropos ending to the evening, disappointing and deflating. Overall it was a very underwhelming concert, with performers who were mediocre at their best moments.

Favorite Moment of the Night: B.o.B with is crew of six or so people crowded on the small stage of SOB, dancing and enjoying the last song together.

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BabyMetal- Hammerstein Ballroom -NY- 11/5/2014 Concert Review

Wow, well what can I say about Babymetal- a J-pop metal band that features three teenage girl singers. Hilarious? Stunning? Exorbitant? To describe Babymetal in one word is impossible, you have to see them and listen to them multiple times to understand. Instead of spending half this review describing their music, just check out this link to understand.

Already creating a die-hard fan base, thousands of dedicated fans lined up outside Hammerstein Ballroom Wednesday night to see the eclectic band play. Upon arrival at Hammerstein Ballroom I saw a wave of misfit fans mesh together. The fifteen year old boy who looked like he leapt from the pages of some sort of manga stood side by side with the forty year old bearded man who looked like he rode his Harley to Hammerstein Ballroom coming from a Metallica concert. The line for this concert was one of the lengthiest I have ever seen. I arrived at 5:30 with the doors opening at 7, anticipating I would be one of the first people in line. I was wrong. There were at least a few hundred ahead of me already. This concert was some serious business.

Once inside, I waited eagerly a few rows away from the front of the stage. There was no opening act, which was a bit surprising but did not bother me so much. However, I can understand fans having an adverse reaction to the absence of an opener to get the juices flowing. The show began around 8:30 when the jumbo screen on stage showed a Star Wars themed introduction which told the story of gods, Babymetal, and their calling to journey to the USA. This segued into the three lead singers of Babymetal rising to the stage and pumping out their first song “Baby Metal Death”. This song was my favorite of the night; partly because it is the one of two songs that have any English lyrics, and partly because it is such a good concert song. It was great to shout “Baby Metal Death! Baby Metal Death!” and have an entire venue scream out the spelling of Babymetal in their best death metal voice. Babymetal is the only band I know that can make the spelling of the word baby so hardcore.

The theatricals of this concert were quite enjoyable. Babymetal packaged a story with their tour which played out from beginning to the end, and even the encore. The choreography was a blast, blending the physical movements of your stereotypical J-pop band with the harsh instrumentals of metal.

While there was so much to love about this concert there are some aspects of it that fell flat. While Babymetal was great, the crowd was less than outstanding(this is referring to those near the front of the stage where I was standing). People were pushy and throwing elbows in selfish attempts to pry their way to the front. And no this was not moshing. In between songs and at instrumentally calm moments, a plethora of people throughout the whole night were blatantly shoving, pushing, and elbowing their way to the front. I have been in rough concert environments and this sort of pushiness is not acceptable. Besides this pocket of obnoxious fans, Babymetal has a fun fan base.  I really enjoyed seeing how diverse Babymetal’s fan base was.

The only other minor quibble I had with this concert was that Babymetal’s music falls susceptible to mosh confusion. The crowd seemed befuddled; some fans thought it appropriate to mosh at certain points, others not, and then another group of fans kind of just stood there questioning “Can I mosh to this right now?”

Overall the concert spirited, weird, and a bunch of fun. While the crowd that surrounded me and the lyrics being in Japanese may have limited my experience, this was a great experience and I will be seeing them again next time they come to New York. If you are looking for something a bit weird, off-kilter, and a loads of fun, check out Babymetal.

Favorite moment of the night: A lot of great moments in this one. I have to say that one of my favorite moments was during the introduction when USA was mentioned and everyone started chanting “U.S.A, U.S.A”. I just find it hilariously wonderful that you can get a USA chant going anywhere and everyone will immediately join in.

Real favorite moment of the night: The guitarist performing on the right side of the stage was a joy to watch. He was so interactive with the audience and looked like he was having an immense amount of fun. When the band has fun, I have fun.

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The 10 Unspoken Rules of Concerts Part 2

6.Don’t Be The Professional Videographer: This one is more so for the sake of the person doing it rather than the people around him. Don’t spend the entire concert looking at the show through a screen or lens. Listen I get it, you want to record your favorite song to remember the concert and watch it again later. Or maybe you want to record it so you post it on Facebook later and see the likes pile up. Whatever the reason, I have seen people literally record entire concerts with the exception of the encore songs. If you don’t take a moment to take it all in you won’t have anything of substance to take away from the concert. Yeah you will have the recordings to watch but there won’t be much feeling or emotion attached to it. If you want to record do what I do, set a limit (two or three songs and maybe half a dozen pictures) and then don’t exceed it. Even when I end up recording a song or two I usually don’t even look at the screen while I’m recording. I want to see the band with my own eyes and take something away from the experience.

7.Don’t Be The Heckler/Most Important Man In the World: This one is simple; do not yell at the band. I am not talking about cheering or wooing, I am talking about trying to have a conversation with the band in between songs. I was recently at a concert where in between each song the lead singer paused to try to tell the crowd something about himself or the upcoming song. People in the crowd yelled over him at the top of their lungs; “Oh my God you’re sooooooo hot, have my babies”, and “Hey man it’s my birthday today, can you sing me happy birthday”? The rest of us don’t need to know about your burning desire to mother the lead singer’s kids, and sorry to break it to you but this isn’t a DJ at a wedding- the band does not take requests. It is great to be enthusiastic but be considerate of the band and the people around you.

8.Don’t Be The I Have A Friend There…But Not Really Guy: This one is specifically for general admission, standing only concerts. There are some hardcore fans that get to a show hours early so they can be the first to get through the doors and secure a spot right in front of the stage. They took time out of their day and went extra lengths to get to the front, so don’t be the guy who cuts in front an hour after a show has started. On numerous occasions I have seen people push their way to the front or claim to have a friend at the front.Then they get to the front and aren’t acknowledged by anyone around him… except for maybe the annoyed concertgoers who just realized he cut. You get to the concert when you get there and you take the best spot available to you, don’t cut in front of people it is disrespectful and wrong.

9.Don’t Grope: You would think I would not even have to mention this one, right? This should not need to be stated but I have seen it happen and it is not acceptable. When you’re jumping up and down and you are in a General Admission venue certain areas of your body are going to get pressed against other people’s delicate spots. It may be slightly weird to have your crotch pressed firmly up against a strangers buttocks but at a concert you just accept it and move on. However, I have seen several instances where a guy will take advantage of this precarious situation and purposely squeeze and grind up against girls, then proceed to play it off as if he didn’t do it on purpose. In no instances is groping okay and it is not okay at concerts either-cut it out.

10.Be Kind to Everyone You Meet: From the ticket booth guy and vendors to the security and your fellow concertgoers, be kind to everyone you meet. Whether they’re their because it’s their job or because they are a die hard fans of the main act, we are all in the same place for the night so why not get along? Be polite, start up a conversation with the guy next to you, and have a good time. Now I know sometimes it may be challenging(see #3) but most people are just there to enjoy the show and a little kindness and politeness from other people can turn a good night into a great night.

I hope you enjoyed reading The 10 Unspoken Rules of Concerts as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you liked this piece then please feel free to comment, like, and follow. I publish articles on music related subjects and other various topics that interest me, on a weekly basis. You can also follow me on twitter where I post recent concert photos, venue pictures, and much more music related items.

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The 10 Unspoken Rules of Concerts Part 1

The first concert I ever went to was when I was twelve, and it was to see the band Mindless Self Indulgence in a worn down abandoned cathedral in New York that had been converted into a concert venue. Since then I have gone to over five dozen concerts across the nation. Over the years I have realized there is a certain etiquette that accompanies concerts. While the whole purpose of a concert is to let yourself enjoy and become a part of the music, there are still certain unspoken rules that must be adhered to. A concert is both a deeply personal experience and a communal experience. Since we share a concert experience with others, we must not encroach upon and flat out ruin their experience. So without further ado, here are the top 10 rules everyone should follow while at a concert.

1. Don’t Get Wasted: By all means have a drink or two, or three, or however many you want(you know your limits, not me), but do not get wasted and cause a scene.I remember one time at an Offspring concert, two songs into the performance I felt a steady warm stream hit the back of my shoe. I turned around to see a guy completely obliterated with his genitals out pissing everywhere. He was so wasted that his girlfriend, who was pretty drunk herself, had to carry him away. What’s the point of coming to a concert if you plan on getting that drunk. Why not go to a bar and turn on a jukebox, at that point of drunkenness a jukebox and a live band sound about the same.

2. Don’t Be the Commentator: This one especially applies to classical performances. Don’t be the guy who audibly talks to his friend the entire concert, giving a play by play on what’s going on and his opinion on every note hit or missed. I don’t need to hear you talking to your buddy about how this rendition of Mozart’s Piano concerto n. No. 21 in C major at the Lincoln Center doesn’t measure up to the one you heard played at the Sydney Opera house during your trip abroad. Save it for after the performance, people are trying to immerse themselves in the concert and paid good money to hear them play, not to hear you talk.

3. Don’t Be the Protest Sitter: It’s a concert; get up, groove to the music, rock out, but don’t sit the whole concert and then complain when the person in front of you stands up. Yes, in a seated rock concert you will want to sit down everyone once and awhile or during a slow song and see the band from your seat. I get that and often do that myself. However, don’t fight with the guy in front of you who wants to stand for two, three, or four consecutive songs! I was at a Linkin Park concert a few years ago when the guy behind me started arguing with me and telling me to sit down. I had only been standing for a song and a half before he started picking a fight. About 90% of the thousands of people in attendance were standing, and I tried to explain to him that I was only going to stand for a few songs and alternate between sitting and standing. He wouldn’t have any of it and insisted on arguing with me for three songs straight before my friend pulled me to the side, told me that the guy wasn’t worth it, and we stood in the aisle next to our seats. Long story short, don’t be that guy.

4. Don’t Make Your Own Mosh Pit: I love going to concerts and watching a mosh pit, even though I don’t regularly join in them. The energy, the wildness, the ridiculousness- it’s great. Get in there and go crazy people! However there is a specific place for mosh pits, usually the front-center area of a GA venue and there is no mistaking where it is. Don’t be that guy who decides that he is going to start his own mosh pit in the back of the venue and start pushing and shoving people to get it started. No, we don’t need a big burly guy barreling towards a unsuspecting girl leaning against a pillar just because he crowned himself mosh pit king and decided that it was his responsibility to make a second mosh pit.

5. Don’t Be the Overzealous Mosh Pit Girl: Let me start off by saying that I have seen a few select women who can handle themselves in a mosh pit but those women have been very few and far between. I’m all up for a girl rocking out and going wild but ladies you have to understand that most mosh pits are made up of big guys whose sole intent is to push, run, and shove the guy standing next to them down. In any good mosh pit you’ll build momentum, probably fall down and the closest mosh pitter to you will quickly help you up and you will go right back at it. It is never the intent of any good mosh pit  to hurt someone but let’s face it, if you weigh a buck ten and you get shoved down by a bloated Bluto weighing in at a heavy 240, then it’s bound to leave some bruises or worse. I’ll leave this one as a judgement call but for your own safety ladies, proceed with GREAT caution. It may happen but no one should ever get hurt at a concert.

Click here for part 2 https://consonancevdissonance.wordpress.com/2014/10/15/the-10-unspoken-rules-of-concerts-part-2/

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Imelda May Rocks Irving Plaza in New York City

The night started off as all concerts do, with an opening act trying to get the crowd warmed up. I have found that opening acts usually fall into one of three categories: background music, mildly entertaining performers who are good enough to garner your attention, or show stealers- bands so good that the main act pales in comparison. The opening act The Bellfurries, fell into that second category quite nicely as their fast paced songs got the crowd going and they did their job as an opening act.

Then followed the reason why people convinced themselves to come out on a mundane Monday- Imelda May! I had seen her live about two months ago during the Outside lands festival in San Francisco and was really impressed by her performance skills. I was curious to see if those skills would transfer over or if her excellent performance was just a one shot deal. After her performance at Irving Plaza I can safely say that she is a great performer. She joins that rare group of artists that are vocally better live than they are on record.

The setlist was heavily populated with songs from her new album Tribals with all but “Little Pixie” and “I Wanna Dance” being played. Imelda May’s delivery was lively and dynamic as she had the crowd energetically moving to her fast-paced songs. The transitions from one song to the next were smooth, and she interacted with the crowd well exchanging banter and ushering the crowd into the Hell Fire club-telling the origin story of one of her newest songs. The whole band showcased their skills on a variety of instruments including the drums, guitar, upright bass, saxophone, and even a ukulele which was brought out for two cover songs during the four song encore.

Most of the night was a heart pounding feet stomping performance until a nice switch of pace when she came out for her encore. A quietness and calm settled over the crowd as she covered Cher’s “Bang Bang(My Baby Shot Me Down)” and Blondie’s “Dreaming”. This deviation of pleasant stillness was followed by “Pulling the Rug” and “Right Amount of Wrong” which truly was the right amount of energy to conclude a wonderful night. After having the opportunity to see their performances twice on the same tour, hopefully she brings her talented voice and her rockabilly sound back to NY soon.

Most memorable moment: The drummer Steve Rushton. He was lemon-faced the whole time, smiling from ear to ear as he pounded away on the drums. His excitement and energy was contagious, you couldn’t help but smile when he looked at him and how enthusiastic he was.

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