The Post in Which I'm a Grouchy Old Woman

I like music. I like music a lot. I also like attending concerts. However, some concert experiences are marred by stupid and annoying people.

I’m no stranger to pop/rock concerts. My first concert was Maroon 5, with Sara Bareilles opening for them. It was the day after I turned 16. Needless to say, I felt so cool.

Later that summer, I saw Chicago with my mom. Yes, that Chicago. Gotta love rocking out with all the baby boomers.

My mom had to bail on the Fleetwood Mac concert, so my dad took me. I remember him with his back turned and fingers in his ears. I found out just last week that he did, in fact, enjoy the concert. However, he has sensitive classical ears, hence the look of pain throughout the guitar and drum solos.

Since then, I’ve seen James Taylor, Billy Joel (!!), Mika, The Fray (with Jack’s Mannequin), Snow Patrol (with Plain White T’s), Modest Mouse, She & Him, SHeDAISY (not sure if this really counts since half the crowd was children, but I’ll include it), and Ellie Goulding.

At the James Taylor concert, there were a group of college-aged kids, who were probably drunk. They were dancing and singing and yelling during James Taylor’s performances. As an avid James Taylor fan, my mom was irritated that they were so disrespectful during the songs. She didn’t understand why the kids were yelling during songs. At the time, I dismissed because I thought she obviously didn’t understand the way concerts work.

However, at the Ellie Goulding concert this past weekend, I think I agree with my mom, which brings me to the topic of this post.

I hate teenagers at concerts.

Actually, this probably isn’t limited to teenagers. It’s Gen Yers.

I hate Gen Yers at concerts.

After this weekend’s adventure, I feel like I’m a grouchy grandma (not a commentary on my mother, I swear) among my fellow Gen Yers.* Please allow me to complain a bit about kids these days as if I were the irritable old woman who everyone's afraid of.

1. The Confessioner
I do not think it is appropriate to yell and scream throughout songs. By yelling “I love you, Ellie!” during a song, you ruin the otherwise poignant song. She isn’t listening to you. She’s listening to her band and trying desperately to sing (in tune) because you paid to see her perform live. Also, she probably already knows that you love her because you are at the concert.**

1a. The Screamer
It is disrespectful and selfish to scream when the performer has explicitly asked the audience for quiet during a song. You are not thinking of others and their concert experience; you are only thinking of yourself. And you wonder why people hate your generation... (Side note: This was for Ellie’s cover of Elton John’s “Your Song,” which is one of my favorite songs. Thanks for ruining it, screamer.)

2. The Wannabe
Related to number one, I find it terribly annoying when people treat the concert like karaoke sing-a-long. I’m not talking about, singing along to yourself. I’m talking about yelling the lyrics, off key, like you’re in your car alone. I’m sorry; I thought I paid to hear Ms. Goulding. No? Oh well, let me know when you and your friends tour next, and I’ll be sure to grab some tickets for that chorus of screaming cats.

3. The Packer
In standing room/general admission concerts, we’re all packed in like sardines. We get that. That’s what we expect. However, when some kid makes the comment “If you’re that close to the stage, you should not be able to put your hands up like that” that is not an excuse to get your friends to make a massive push toward the front. I was comfortable up until that point. Then I just had an annoying shorty with her shoulder unabashedly rammed into my back for the next hour. Not cool, dude. Not. Cool.

So, if you ever go to a concert, please be considerate of the other concert-goers. They paid good money to experience the concert. Please let them.

And since you’ve made it through this rant, I’ll leave you with the music of St. Lucia, the opening act for Ellie Goulding. Think 80s electronic meets African beats meets 2013. Seriously fantastic.
 

My favorite is "Closer Than This," but "September" is also great for a more dance music feel. It will probably be their break-out single.


*In all likelihood, I probably will be that old neighbor yelling at the kids to get off my lawn.
**I realize that this was probably made worse because of the setting we were in. If we were in an outdoor or stadium venue, I don't think this would have as bad. But it's still an issue.