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Concert review: Explosions in the Sky at The Music Farm, Charleston, SC

Posted about 1 year ago
Grrr. That's what I have to say. Grrr. How was the band? They were awesome. Incredible. If you've ever seen them then you know the power, emotion and energy they can put into a show, and last night was no exception. From the opening sounds to the final moments (ending with "The Only Time We Were Alone," my pick for Best Closing Song Ever) they were flawless.The problem? The audience. They played to a packed crowd of nearly awestruck enthusiasts, and that was fine. It was the not so awestruck enthusiasts that I have a problem with. I was standing closer to the back (I like to stand near the soundboard), and right behind me was the bar area, full of people who I can only assume payed the same amount of money to get in as I did, yet didn't feel like they needed to listen. They talked the whole time, and while there were plenty of loud moments that drowned them out, there were also many quiet moments that were virtually spoiled by the incessant din behind me.Of particular note was the overly drunk fan who decided to set up camp right in front of me. If he wasn't apologizing profusely for bumping into me every three minutes, he was texting in his phone. And then he spent the rest of the time turning to his friend and yelling at the top of his lungs, "ISN'T THIS AWESOME???"The opening act, Lichens, deserves some mention too. Now, I'm a pretty open minded guy, I think, and the guy had some fans who really dug what he was doing, so in that respect I wish him all the best. But it was thirty minutes of him looping two guitar notes, making bird whistles and screeching dissonantly into the microphone. Again, I'm a pretty open minded guy, but I was incredibly happy when he was done.So was it worth the money? Definitely. But it could've been so much better if the rest of the audience had been there for the same reasons I was. Is that so much to ask?
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Comments (22)

  1. annieander
    annieander says I am so sorry those assholes ruined your night...okay, maybe ruined is an overstatement, but when that ruins the atmosphere...gads...I have so been there. Here I am...feeling your pain...like Bill Clinton. Don't get me started on opening band fiascos....two words...Mer Men.
    Permalink posted 04/13/2008
  2. Marigold
    Marigold says great report Chuck. I was at a concert a few weeks ago and encountered the same issue. People talking and one of my favorite bands was up on stage pouring out their hearts and people are talking. grr. ...i hear ya. grr. As for EITS. Yes! they know how to rock. I have seen them twice in the last several years and both times were insane. insane i tell ya.
    Permalink posted 04/13/2008
  3. Groon
    Groon says Mike! Been a long time since I've seen you here. I was starting to wonder when you'd grace these pages with your presence again. I've gone on record as stating that if I were independantly wealthy, EITS would probably be the band I would follow around. annie: yeah, "ruined" might be an overstatement but not that much of one. I just can't understand why someone would pay to get into a show and then ignore the band. And if they were there to drink, why not go to the free bars down the street? I'm not familiar with Mer Men. Sounds like that's a good thing.
    Permalink posted 04/13/2008
  4. Marigold
    Marigold says I have been lurking. But yes, I have not been around as much. In due time...in due time.
    Permalink posted 04/13/2008
  5. Groon
    Groon says Well, it is nice to have you drop by.
    Permalink posted 04/13/2008
  6. ZZTodd
    ZZTodd says i would definitely like to see EITS sometime. hopefully with a better audience. i'll have to check their tour dates.
    Permalink posted 04/13/2008
  7. Groon
    Groon says I know this is close to the end of their current tour, but they seem to tour quite a bit so hopefully you'll get the opportunity soon. It's well worth it, trust me. I guess I got spoiled the first time I saw them. It was at a museum of all places, with seats, and a very respectful honest that was not there for the party, who knew how to be quiet and listen. Too bad that's the exception to the rule.
    Permalink posted 04/13/2008
  8. annieander
    annieander says I speak of the Mermen...one of the loudest bands I have ever heard...and they opened for Nancy Sinatra. I won tickets to that concert, and it was a complete mismatch. Yea, Marigold...nice to hear from you...see ya around.
    Permalink posted 04/13/2008
  9. Doomsayer2001
    Doomsayer2001 says If I weren't broke all the time, I would have went and seen Napalm Death last night and I'm pretty sure that the audience was no match for that wall of noise... stupid audience... who needs 'em?
    Permalink posted 04/13/2008
  10. Groon
    Groon says Exactly! Well, unfortunately the band does, to make money. As Steve Martin once said in Three Amigos, "No dough, no show!"
    Permalink posted 04/13/2008
  11. Charley Rogulewski
    Charley Rogulewski says next time stand closer to the stage. :)
    Permalink posted 04/13/2008
  12. Groon
    Groon says Thought about it, but I've gotten to the point where I can't stand being so squashed in from all sides. Not claustrophobia or anything, just unpleasant. One person moves and I'm jostled by the shockwaves. Going to the bathroom (something I had to do quite a bit, courtesy of the Blue Moon company) becomes an endurance test. Also, the sound isn't as good so close IMO. Still, it would've kept a lot of other problems in check!
    Permalink posted 04/13/2008
  13. 1234chainsaw
    1234chainsaw says I've yet to have a chance to catch EITS, much to my chagrin. About locating oneself, it's true that the sound tends to be worse closer up to the stage, but for all the other benefits, I still second what Charley said. As for opening bands, the young local opener for Pixies in 2004 had the bad fortune of both being called Quitter and not being very good. I still feel kind of bad for them.
    Permalink posted 04/13/2008
  14. earthman
    earthman says We have this discussion at our music club regularly, some people talk seem to talk and listen at the same time which might be fine for them but it doesn't suit me. Our club is in a bar and its the drinking at the bar that goes with the talking and thats seems to be where it gets hard. Dunno how to fix it nicely. Some clubs down here reserve the right to through you out if you wont shut up. You can check our website out at http://www.klmc.org.nz/ cant make the link come alive, I'm a cyber dinosaur
    Permalink posted 04/14/2008
  15. indiepixie
    indiepixie says I actually caught EITS at Virgin Festival in Toronto last year and was rather blown away. Although i completely share your frustration with disrespectful concert goers, I aso can understand- seen as EITS tends to build up one song for minutes that seem like days...how much of the audience lost patience. I like that style but it's hard for ADD kids to appreciate.
    Permalink posted 04/14/2008
  16. Dzendvokh
    Dzendvokh says Bummer about the noise ... I think some people go to concerts just to say "I went to see such and such a band....".... I wish I could make it to see more bands ..... I guess when the kids get a bit older.... Oh and about Lichens.... His latest album (which is basically an example of his live improv) does have it's high points, there are some good songs..... In all likelyhood performing that way is going to give mixed results because after all it is improv. Plus it's more contemplative music, so a noisy crowd probably doesn't help at all.
    Permalink posted 04/14/2008
  17. Groon
    Groon says Dean: a club that throws you out for noise? That's different. I could see so many problems with that, but after the other night I could go for that. I've seen Robert Fripp live and he is known to stop playing if the crowd gets too noise and ask people to get quiet or leave. indiepixie: that's a good point. I would hope that most people would at least know what they were getting into, but it's true that patience would get lost pretty quick. But I don't think that's always the case. I saw them before in a completely different setting and it was hear a pin drop quiet the whole time except at the end of songs. Obviously in a bar/club setting you're going to have a different atmosphere, but still . . . Nick: I actually have two Lichens albums I downloaded from emusic when I heard he was opening. Can't say it did much for me, honestly, but in fairness to him I was listening to it while working, and it's not the kind of music you can have on while focusing on other things. I will also say that there were times during the one thing he did where I realized that what was actually going on in the loops sounded pretty cool, taken just as itself, but the 20 minute buildup complete with dissonant screeches really took a lot away from it. And I'm sure again the atmosphere didn't help. I was glad, though, that the audience (many of whom I imagine felt the same way I did) gave him a very nice ending applause--I mean, no matter what, that guy poured himself out on stage and for the most part people were listening, which is really all that can be hoped for, I guess.
    Permalink posted 04/14/2008
  18. Groon
    Groon says Okay, after rereading this, I realized I made a mistake in the song title for best closign song ever. It's "The Only MOMENT We Were Alone." Woops. some fan!
    Permalink posted 04/14/2008
  19. NorthEast111
    NorthEast111 says Awesome review! I was close to the stage and it was awesome. Here is what I got as a setlist: 1) Yasmin the Light 2) Greet Death 3) Catastrophe and the Cure 4) Memorial 5) Magic Hours 6) [can't remember exactly, pretty sure it was Your Hand in Mine though] 7) Birth and Death of the Day 8 ) Only Moment We Were Alone Do you remember what song 6 was? I'm not sure exactly... :-)
    Permalink posted 04/15/2008
  20. Groon
    Groon says Yeah, I think it was Your Hand In Mine. Were you at the show here in Charleston? Or another venue on this tour? (Your page so far gives no info to your whereabouts, as you appear to be brand spankin' new. While I'm at it, welcome to MOG!) And as awesome as that closer song was, Birth and Death of the Day gave me serious chills.
    Permalink posted 04/15/2008
  21. NorthEast111
    NorthEast111 says Yea I was at the Charleston concert... about three feet away from the stage. Luckily all the people in the front weren't talking and everyone was into the music. . . ! Every song was awesome, but I'd say Catastrophe and the Cure, Magic Hours, or Only Moment were my personal favorites. And yea Im new to MOG... its a pretty cool place!
    Permalink posted 04/22/2008
  22. Sturgell
    Sturgell says awesome review
    Permalink posted 04/27/2008

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