I got in free to the Spoon/Clientele show. Lucky me, I owe a debt of gratitude to Shannon, her friend Chris, and some guy Chris met at the bar in DC9. I could've easily gotten in otherwise—there were plenty of tickets and extra guest list spots for sale outside the 9:30—but I'm glad I didn't have to pay. This show was not worth the fifteen bucks.
The Clientele, who were my reason for going to the show, were pretty good. They played well and played several of my favorite songs. [Though I have to admit it's almost all the same song with them, at least it's a very good one.] It was cool to hear them and be able to appreciate it, as opposed to the first time I saw them and didn't really know their music.
So why was it unworthy of my money? Here's why: the fucking din of background noise I had to put up with was enough to nearly drive me nuts. I shit you not, it sounded like I was in a goddamn stadium. Yes, the Clientele are a fairly quiet band, and yes, they were the openers. But really—do these motherfuckers have to talk so damn much? I'm assuming at least some of them paid to get in. And surely most of them realized there was a live band on the stage. Yet there they were, blabbing incessantly throughout the band's entire performance. Spoiled fucking brats.
So yeah, it basically ruined the show for me. I guess I'm getting old. Or maybe I just really do hate people. Who the fuck knows. I hate to say it, but the Iota show was much better.
6 comments:
I don't feel so bad that I missed that show, then. I feel lucky that the other 2 times I saw Clientele, people were quiet and respectful, and really attentive. Maybe bands like them should only headline, to ensure that the crowd is there for THEM. Though there are no guarantees: At one of the many times I saw Elliot Smith (headlining), the crowd was there not so much for him as for his only hit "Miss Misery" --which he refused to play. The crowd was annoying and talkative throughout the entire (sold out) show, of course. He did play some great covers that night, however, including Lennon's "Jealous Guy"!
When was the other time you saw the Clientele aside from that Iota show?
I guess it's to be expected that people aren't as respectful of the openers as they are for the headliner, but this was just over the top. The audience behaved as if no band was playing and they were just waiting around. So annoying.
I saw Clientele for the first time at a show with The Saturday People at a place called The Garage that used to be next to the 18th Street Lounge. They had a big garage door that they'd raise to reveal the bands. It had upstairs seating overlooking the stage which was really quite nice. At other points, it's been other clubs, including a dance place which featured an Industrial Night.
I was into the show, but I didn't know them real well yet. I guess it was in 2000, maybe before Suburban light was out, or just after.
I've notice this trend in the somewhat crowded shows. That was in San Francisco although i've heard it can be just as bad here in Seattle.
But my first show here was Sam Prekop (I am just a huge fan of his) at Neumos and it was a decent turnout but not huge. He's very mellow too. Either they were just too loud for me to hear other people or the crowd was just mellow. It was very enjoyable though.
The sound system on the other hand...
I hate that too. Show a little respect and talk at the bar or something. When I listen to the Clientele, I always feel like I should be in a drugstore on a rainy day in 1965 sipping an egg cream and listening to "Color My World."
Great image, Jen. Very appropriate.
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