When I was in my early teens, I’d frequent shows held in basements, too-small cafes and the Knights of Columbus hall. I’d watch every song with baited breath as lower-rung Fox Valley bands like Hill Of The Dead and the DPNs (yep, it meant double penetrations) took part in five- or six-band shows, usually costing as many dollars. Once I got my license, I spent almost every weekend I wasn’t scheduled to work driving to concerts at Green Bay’s Concert Café or to The Rave, where I’d do the normal 16-year-old things like crowd surf, mosh and leave hours later, happy and covered in sweat.
Then I turned 21 and all that stopped. Almost without thinking, I took my place beside the herd of disinterested, cross-armed onlookers at the far back corners of bar rooms.
I say this because the stark differences between all ages and 21+ flew at me (along with some drink glasses) during a Cactus Club show last Friday. It was there, during a set by Chicago melodic hardcore band Explode And Make Up, where two small fights broke out between the band’s singer and a cell phone-distracted audience member. And while some of that can be attributed to singer Denis Buckley’s 88 Fingers Louie glory days being about 12 years and an immeasurable amount of trans fat grams behind him, part of the blame can also be shouldered on the contrast in enthusiasm between all ages and bar shows.
Amid my ongoing battle with the flu (an excuse for this column, if nothing else), I put some thought into some pros and cons of each type of show.
More than not, the crowds at all ages shows are exponentially more enthusiastic than their 21+ counterparts. Kids routinely dance, belt memorized lyrics and get unnaturally into things. It seems to be a generally positive atmosphere. Bands feed off the energy and, usually, play better in return. Not having to wage a losing war for dollars with booze, it can be assumed that merch sales are better, too. The, maybe, two all ages club shows I attended last year were among the more memorable ones I’d seen
(Takes break from doing math with an abacus) Have you ever noticed these kids with their pants? Youths, by nature, are annoying. At my age, when I go to a show, I just want to see the bands I paid to see, not be party to the gimmicks of some 17-year-old wearing a jersey of a marginally talented NBA player from before they were born. Yeah, bar shows might be improved if people would set down their drinks long enough to offer performers a legitimate round of applause, but I personally go to shows to relax, watch others do something I cannot and to see friends (both attendees and band members). After a long week of work and last minute Music Notes columns I write because Q&A subjects ditch me, I go to shows as means of escape, a social outlet and a place I can just have a few beers. Bands are still supported through my cover charge. The venue is supported by my boozing. So I, for one, see any less-than emphatic fanfare to be excusable.
Really, each type of show has its benefits and drawbacks. No two shows are the same, but your enjoyment of either depends on what you’re looking for. However, if people examined their own behavior – regardless of age – and made a conscious effort to make sure bands knew they were enjoying themselves, while not ruining anyone’s time, perhaps the canyon-sized gap between the ages of 20 and 21 could be bridged.
