Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Dear Melissa Etheridge: The Concert was great, sorry your audience was so lame.
After all, things didn't quite go according to plan the last time I drove across state lines to see a concert with Dustin.
But seeing as they are two of my favorite people and I'm always up for a chance to hang out with them, and also because Melissa Etheridge does put on one heck of a show, I said let's do it and they said let's do it and this past weekend we met up in Primm, Nevada (aka: The Middle of Nowhere).
Unlike our last experience, this time we had reservations at a real hotel, and tickets with seat numbers on them.
I met Dustin and Emily at our hotel (the not-terrible Whiskey Pete's), took a minute or two to change into something more presentable (although it's pretty close to impossible to be underdressed for a Melissa Etheridge concert), and then we road the monorail across the freeway to Primm Valley, found a dinner buffet (also not terrible), before making our way to the third hotel to find the Star of the Desert Arena for the show.
Our seats were pretty decent, though the arena was so small that I don't think there was a bad seat in the house. Except, apparently, the ones directly behind us.
When the band stepped onto the stage, we stood up. Crazy, I know.
The very large man behind Dustin was mad. Angry. In fact, I think he turned a glorious shade of purple at one point.
"SIT DOWN!" he
"No way!" Dustin said back. "Show some respect for the band."
"SIT DOWN!"
"It's a ROCK CONCERT. People stand up at ROCK CONCERTS."
The guy was having none of it. And now his cohorts were joining in, demanding that we very rude rock concert goers glue our butts to our chairs as if it was Yo-Yo Ma.
(For whom I would also have stood when he was walking onto the stage.)
(It's called Concert Etiquette.)
The guy punched Dustin on the shoulder. Punched him. On the shoulder.
Dustin smacked the guy's hand away and said something about sending him home in a body cast if he did that again.
Or something. It was kind of hard to hear at that point since the ROCK BAND was ON STAGE performing loud ROCK MUSIC.
The rest of the lame,boring audience around us sat back down, so with great reluctance, we did too.
The music was great, Melissa sounded better than ever, and we watched with envy as the people down in the front got to enjoy the concert on their feet.
I had to snap these pictures on the sly since an obnoxious twelve-year-old security guard kept patrolling back and forth right in front of us, blocking the view every few minutes.
 |
| Lame audience sitting through a ROCK CONCERT. |
By the end of the show, we were pretty sick of sitting, so we got on our feet for the last song. I glared over my shoulder at the obnoxious guy behind us and he very reluctantly (and laboriously) stood up too. The rest of our section didn't move.
Which was fine with us because we were having a good old time, ignoring the lame sitters-down around us. And that's when it happened. The Moment.
She saw us. We were hard to miss, being that we were the ONLY PEOPLE STANDING. She saw us. She waved. She blew us a kiss.
Dustin was in heaven.
When the band exited the stage and we were cheering for an encore, the guy and his cronies left. We thought maybe they were waiting to jump us in the parking lot, but I'm pretty sure they grumbled something about getting to the good slot machines. Or something.
Melissa and her band came back for an encore, sang one very slow, mellow (and beautiful) ballad, and then it was over.
While enjoying some Häagen-Dazs a little later, we were disappointed to realize we didn't have that after-concert high. I think the audience kind of ruined it.
I guess we'll just have to catch her next tour.
Shame, really.
For a more complete story of our experience, you should read Emily's account here. Since she was sitting a little closer to the action, she *might* have heard things a little differently...Maybe...
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Nice to know where 12 year old security guards stand on taking photos vs. punching. LAME.
ReplyDeleteWow, that IS lame.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I think it's all of Nevada that is lame. We went to a concert in Vegas (Yes, VEGAS of all places!!!) a few weeks ago and the crowd was so tame, it was absurd! I wanted to shout, "Get up off your asses, people, and freaking clap!" But I thought I would have caused a scene ... at a rock concert. Crazy, I know, but you've been there, so you know exactly what I mean.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad they weren't waiting for you out in the parking lot. It's amazing how self-centered and rude people can be.But, she never would have seen you if everyone was standing up.
ReplyDeleteOh man I totally would have punched the fat man back. What a jerk! I'm sorry he ruined it for you:(
ReplyDeleteIf Momma Bear would have been there she would have caused a scene and probably been escorted off the premesis by the 12 year old security guard...but ONLY after I kicked the jack-a$$ in the teeth! NOBODY treats my baby like that! But all in all....I guess Melissa is worth it!
ReplyDeleteI hate it when other people ruin things like that. Although, once I was at a basketball game when my kids were babies. We were sitting in the second row from a railing. The people in front of us (right in front of the railing) insisted on standing the entire time. Not just the beginning, or when the team scored. The entire time. Which irritated me, because I was holding two kids, and there was no way I could stand. But the only loud music there was "Who Let the Dogs Out."
ReplyDeleteI went to see Noel Gallagher Saturday (he was half of Oasis) and there was a fight near me over the same thing.
ReplyDeleteSomeone was standing and they were asked to sit down and a verbal fight started.
It was a rock concert!
The audience can be more energizing than the show itself under the right circumstances and as in your case can suck out the excitement that should be there. Too bad that you had to deal with that, but I'm guessing that the casino concert goers are a different breed. I don't know having never been to that type of venue, but that's my guess.
ReplyDeleteNever stayed in Primm although I've thought about it. Seems like once you're at that point you might as well keep going to Vegas. I've done many stopovers there but never stayed more than a couple of hours. Maybe I'll reconsider some day after hearing your review. The rooms can tend to be cheaper.
Lee
Ann Carbine Best visits Wrote By Rote on Saturday 11/12/11
That sucks. What an insult to poor Melissa! She's so awesome, and clearly the people of Nevada are lame!
ReplyDeleteWait... people sat?!? For an entire concert?!? Lame! Good on you for taking a stand! ;)
ReplyDeleteI would have been annoyed. To sit down for a concert like that? Mega lame!
ReplyDeleteWas the guy drunk? Or just obnoxious? That is annoying!
ReplyDelete'Standers' are the reason I don't (usually) go to concerts. Having said that, the handicap seats for the E, W & F concert I recently went to were down in front...as it should be.
ReplyDeleteAnd I still miss that Stateline is now called Primm, NV. How boring.
It was still an awesome concert! I loved every minute of it, especially when we did finally give it to the man and stand up at the end!
ReplyDeleteWhat the HECK? I would be so pissed! You gotta get up, scream, dance to have a good concert experience, right? Right!
ReplyDeleteUgh, I'm so sorry. That totally sucks. I also like to dance and rock out a concert and I'm sorry the audience was so lame. Makes for an entirely different concert experience.
ReplyDelete