For those who may not know what general admission seating is, it's where everyone pays the same price for a ticket to a concert, regardless of whether they're in the front or back of the concert venue.
I remember in the late 70's large venues held concerts that featured
"festival seating". In other words, it was general admission, with
everyone scrambling for a seat when the doors opened.
There were often injuries that resulted from this; and in 1979, at a Cincinnati, Ohio Who concert, eleven people were killed in a stampede for seats.
There were often injuries that resulted from this; and in 1979, at a Cincinnati, Ohio Who concert, eleven people were killed in a stampede for seats.
Despite this tragedy, to me at least, it always seemed once the rush for seats was over, the crowds at any given concert were fairly decent and friendly.
Then again, maybe it was the types of concerts I went to back then.
I was more into oldies, pop and country rock at the time. Probably the most "hard core" rock act I'd seen by then was when Aerosmith opened for Three Dog Night in 1974.
By the 1980's, there were some rock acts that were known for having rough crowds at their shows. Most of those artists and bands though actually catered to that type of audience, so it was almost expected that things would get crazy at concerts. In fact, I went to college with a guy at the time that spent his weekends at various local hangouts. If he didn't have at least one bruise or cut by the time he was back in class Monday, he considered it a bad weekend for fun!
By the 1990's, my concert going was at it's peak. There was always some artist or band, new or old, that I just had to see.
This is when I circled back to listening to country music more, while still enjoying the other music I'd grown up with. It's also the time I started noticing a shift in how concert crowds were behaving.
The rough, rowdy crowds that had once seemed confined to the punk scene, had started spilling over into the more mainstream rock and pop world.
A perfect example was when Weird Al Yankovic performed at the Clark County Fair, in Ridgefield, Washington.
The shows were free then, with fair admission. My son, Josh, was approximately 6 years old at the time, and a huge fan of Weird Al.
I took him to the afternoon show, and got him right up to the stage; unfortunately, we didn't stay for the show.
Before the concert even began, several audience members began throwing things, ripping up stuffed animals, and generally caused a riot. It actually got dangerous enough that we left.
Despite this incident though, most of my concert going was uneventful, as far as the behavior of the crowds was concerned.
Fast forward to about the past 5 years or so; around the time country music really started to be more pop/rock oriented. With this new trend, it seemed country concert goers were also picking up the habits of rock audiences from years past.
At first I didn't really notice it where I live in the Pacific Northwest. Yes, there were always those few in the crowd who would get drunk and rowdy, but were still considered harmless.
My first real glimpse of a rough country music concert crowd was in Fargo, North Dakota. I would never have expected a concert featuring Julie Roberts, Chris Young and Emerson Drive to draw the type of crowd I encountered. These people made the crowd at Weird Al look tame! Poor Julie Roberts was just trying to get through her set, when someone in the middle of the crowd threw a gallon size drink container at her, almost hitting her in the face.
The same crowd pushed, shoved and elbowed people in front of them, trying to make it to the front of the stage. At one point, during Emerson Drive's set, security actually had to stop the show, until order was restored.
At the time, I just chalked the crowd's behavior up to being a "North Dakota" thing, (for lack of a better phrase). Though there had been an incident or two at country concerts in my home territory, they were nothing like in North Dakota. Then came the year the Bull, (KUPL at the time), reintroduced Countryfest.
Unlike the Countryfests of the past, this one was held in the "Ro-Zone" during Rose Festival in Portland, Oregon. The show was general admission, and like usual, concert goers began lining up in the morning for the afternoon/evening show.
The difference with that crowd was, trouble started brewing before the gates were even open. There were those farther back in the line who felt it wasn't fair that they weren't in line first. Several were plotting how they could rush the ones in the front, to get past them and gain a better vantage point; and they very loudly let this fact be known to anyone within earshot.
Meanwhile, there were others who, despite a no smoking rule, lit up while in line, complained about others not liking it, and any number of things they felt should be different so they would be happy. Then the gates opened and the real "fun" began.
I'm not opposed to people drinking; if it makes their concert going experience better, so be it. However, when these peoples' behavior impairs the enjoyment of those around them, it's a problem. Long story short on this incident; all chaos broke lose, and there were some really mean, nasty, rude people there, who didn't care about anything other than that *they* had a good time.
Even after that incident though, I still felt like country concert goers were the best of any other genre; until recently. More and more frequently I find myself not having as good a time as I used to at concerts. It isn't due to the shows not being good; 90% of the time it's because of an unruly, rude crowd.
I really feel that there's a direct correlation between country concert goers now, and the turn towards pop/rock that country music has taken. The way I see it, with the change in country music, it's attracting listeners who used to listen to other genres; genres where crowds can be a bit rougher at live performances.
At first I thought maybe it's just because I'm getting older; maybe I'm becoming less tolerant. I really can't compare how I'm feeling with most of my fellow concert goers, since we're all pretty much in the same age bracket, give or take a few years.
My age is also what held me back from writing this post sooner. I didn't want someone reading it, and thinking exactly that; that it's just the rambling complaints of an old lady.
I emailed Jake Byron from 98.7 The Bull with my concerns, telling him how I felt, and what I wanted to say.
While Jake said that there will always be those who will see my post as one from a cranky old lady, my feelings, and those of my fellow older concert buddies are valid. He then validated my feelings more by letting me know that *he* feels the same way I and my friends do.
Jake is only in his 30's, (the average age of current country music listeners), and doesn't like the rough trend that's entering the country genre. That was good enough for me; it was time to write my blog post, which you've just read.
It's not that I don't understand wanting to have fun; I totally get that. I also understand that an artist feeds off the vibe of the crowd. The more worked up the crowd, the more energized the performer. I just wish it could be both ways. I know it's possible, it's been done before.
Then again, maybe it was the types of concerts I went to back then.I was more into oldies, pop and country rock at the time. Probably the most "hard core" rock act I'd seen by then was when Aerosmith opened for Three Dog Night in 1974.
By the 1980's, there were some rock acts that were known for having rough crowds at their shows. Most of those artists and bands though actually catered to that type of audience, so it was almost expected that things would get crazy at concerts. In fact, I went to college with a guy at the time that spent his weekends at various local hangouts. If he didn't have at least one bruise or cut by the time he was back in class Monday, he considered it a bad weekend for fun!
By the 1990's, my concert going was at it's peak. There was always some artist or band, new or old, that I just had to see.
This is when I circled back to listening to country music more, while still enjoying the other music I'd grown up with. It's also the time I started noticing a shift in how concert crowds were behaving.
The rough, rowdy crowds that had once seemed confined to the punk scene, had started spilling over into the more mainstream rock and pop world.
The shows were free then, with fair admission. My son, Josh, was approximately 6 years old at the time, and a huge fan of Weird Al.
I took him to the afternoon show, and got him right up to the stage; unfortunately, we didn't stay for the show.
Before the concert even began, several audience members began throwing things, ripping up stuffed animals, and generally caused a riot. It actually got dangerous enough that we left.
Despite this incident though, most of my concert going was uneventful, as far as the behavior of the crowds was concerned.
Fast forward to about the past 5 years or so; around the time country music really started to be more pop/rock oriented. With this new trend, it seemed country concert goers were also picking up the habits of rock audiences from years past.
At first I didn't really notice it where I live in the Pacific Northwest. Yes, there were always those few in the crowd who would get drunk and rowdy, but were still considered harmless.
My first real glimpse of a rough country music concert crowd was in Fargo, North Dakota. I would never have expected a concert featuring Julie Roberts, Chris Young and Emerson Drive to draw the type of crowd I encountered. These people made the crowd at Weird Al look tame! Poor Julie Roberts was just trying to get through her set, when someone in the middle of the crowd threw a gallon size drink container at her, almost hitting her in the face.
At the time, I just chalked the crowd's behavior up to being a "North Dakota" thing, (for lack of a better phrase). Though there had been an incident or two at country concerts in my home territory, they were nothing like in North Dakota. Then came the year the Bull, (KUPL at the time), reintroduced Countryfest.
Unlike the Countryfests of the past, this one was held in the "Ro-Zone" during Rose Festival in Portland, Oregon. The show was general admission, and like usual, concert goers began lining up in the morning for the afternoon/evening show.
The difference with that crowd was, trouble started brewing before the gates were even open. There were those farther back in the line who felt it wasn't fair that they weren't in line first. Several were plotting how they could rush the ones in the front, to get past them and gain a better vantage point; and they very loudly let this fact be known to anyone within earshot.
Meanwhile, there were others who, despite a no smoking rule, lit up while in line, complained about others not liking it, and any number of things they felt should be different so they would be happy. Then the gates opened and the real "fun" began.
I'm not opposed to people drinking; if it makes their concert going experience better, so be it. However, when these peoples' behavior impairs the enjoyment of those around them, it's a problem. Long story short on this incident; all chaos broke lose, and there were some really mean, nasty, rude people there, who didn't care about anything other than that *they* had a good time.
Even after that incident though, I still felt like country concert goers were the best of any other genre; until recently. More and more frequently I find myself not having as good a time as I used to at concerts. It isn't due to the shows not being good; 90% of the time it's because of an unruly, rude crowd.
I really feel that there's a direct correlation between country concert goers now, and the turn towards pop/rock that country music has taken. The way I see it, with the change in country music, it's attracting listeners who used to listen to other genres; genres where crowds can be a bit rougher at live performances.
At first I thought maybe it's just because I'm getting older; maybe I'm becoming less tolerant. I really can't compare how I'm feeling with most of my fellow concert goers, since we're all pretty much in the same age bracket, give or take a few years.
My age is also what held me back from writing this post sooner. I didn't want someone reading it, and thinking exactly that; that it's just the rambling complaints of an old lady.
While Jake said that there will always be those who will see my post as one from a cranky old lady, my feelings, and those of my fellow older concert buddies are valid. He then validated my feelings more by letting me know that *he* feels the same way I and my friends do.
Jake is only in his 30's, (the average age of current country music listeners), and doesn't like the rough trend that's entering the country genre. That was good enough for me; it was time to write my blog post, which you've just read.
It's not that I don't understand wanting to have fun; I totally get that. I also understand that an artist feeds off the vibe of the crowd. The more worked up the crowd, the more energized the performer. I just wish it could be both ways. I know it's possible, it's been done before.
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