Bloc Party

Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:
So what do lower middle class kids listen to…

Nelly.

Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:
Could it just be possible that the band managed to generate enough buzz that people went out and got the CD and bought tickets.

LOL. Yeah, that's possible, I suppose. I'm not hatin', but it does seem a bit odd to see so many young people at a show for a relatively new band. When I've seen it before, it's usually because the band has gotten into heavy rotation on MTV or "alternative" radio. Doesn't mean the band or the fans suck, just an explanation. Someone was telling me they were on TRL the other day, so…

Originally posted by brennser:
I guess I wasn't quite as taken with the show as Hoya and Kosmo, although I was quite tired and grumpy

how long did they play - an hour tops? on the one hand I thought the crowd was into it but on the other the interval between the 'last' song and the encore was one of the most insipid live moments I've ever witnessed - half-hearted at best - at time I wondered if they would bother to come back out, even knowing that they had 4 more songs to play

They played 42 minutes before the encore, then came back for a 12-15 minute encore, so about an hour.

Brennser, I also was pretty beat (not cranky, though) after a couple hours at a Capital Hill bar then the DC United game, so I sat in the back, which I've only ever done once before. But, it worked out well as Skeeter found me there and sat at a table with me. What was impressive was that Bloc Party was good, even from that vantage point. I liked how they played (that slightly messier edge folks have mentioned), their energy, etc. Definitely a good show – I was impressed. The crowd was really into it as well, which makes for a more fun outing.

I was up in the middle of the crowd for the first five Ponys songs (looking for Kurosawa, to no avail); I liked them a lot. They had a little bit of a Rosebuds vibe going, goodmusic, good energy – I bought a CD…

that show was fucking fantastic. sound was great, the pacing of the show was so that the energy never let up. it was one of those rare occasions where my buzz was supplemented by what was going on onstage. one of the funner shows i've been to there.

and what do high school kids need to listen to in order to get a pass? beethoven? if it's good charlotte they get ragged on, eminem they get ragged on…bloc party they get ragged on.

pretty much everyone there seemed to be having a great time. who cares what the median age is.

didn't get that memo regarding the change in definition for indie… so alternative becomes indie whats next underground?

well i was in the mix of things and didn't get elbowed,etc which yes would have annoyed me. by rabid i mean those fans who were there to see and enjoy the entire show verses those who show up to hear the hit and generally ruin shows for everyone else involved.

Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:
agreed on the encores… i don't quite understand the go off stage and wait for the roadie to tune the guitar pause either. do a 60 minute set and move on… and let the audience demand the encore if it's warranted, or split the set up.

See the Ok Go thread in a few minutes on encores…they handled it better than I've ever seen, in all my hundreds of shows.

Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:
Wonder how long it will take for clubs to start sorting fans at the door and giving them their own area of the club. Rabid, Casual, Indifferent, Dancing machines and Cameraphone carrierers. That way there would be less complaints about the audience. Taking it would step further there could be contests to determine which groups gets the best placing in the club.

Or maybe everyone should just get to pick the audience they want to see the band with…

The Black Cat could have been filled with people staring blankly at the band.

It could have been filled with people waiting for the hit and otherwise busily chatting with or texting their bestest friends. This I fear will happen at the Kaiser Chiefs show, because they have a hit.

Frankly, the audience of rabid fans made the show more interesting to be at.

whoever said that the crowd sucked because they were animated? i mean, sure, it sucks when a guy starts pogo-ing for no other reason than to start a fight, but i thought overall it was a fun crowd …

Considering that radio aims for advertising dollars, the richest of which are aimed at the young upper middle class demographic, and "alternative" stations are routinely dropping that format (WHFS, Y100, New York KROCK), it would appear there is little evidence that indie is the new mainstream – for upper middle class kids or any other large group.

well my comments were a bit of a over reaction to 10:15's but now i can see where they are coming from.

i was curious as to what kind of crowd would be at the show given that it wasn't neither an instant or last minute sellout. and plently of people were still looking for tickets having been caught off guard by the sellout. it was nice to see the crowd that was in to the band and yes youngish, suprised i didn't turned away at the door.

my comments were also generalized about how people seem to react to audiences these days. i see comments all the time about how lame audiences are in other cities. so dc surely can't be the "lamest".

Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
Considering that radio aims for advertising dollars, the richest of which are aimed at the young upper middle class demographics, and "alternative" stations are routinely dropping that format (WHFS, Y100, New York KROCK), it would appear there is little evidence that indie is the new mainstream – for upper middle class kids or any other large group.

100% agreed. rhett is just wrong on this one, and his stubborness is just getting annoying

In case it got missed before; I had a great time, loved the show, and they are definitely one of my favorite new bands. I was just commenting generally on someone else's gripe about shouter/clappers. No pains in the ass at the show, but after ToD on Thursday, I was a bit tired, and so was well out of the crowd up front. I think by all accounts these guys put on a truly great show.

so I sat in the back, which I've only ever done once before. But, it worked out well as Skeeter found me there and sat at a table with me

darn, I was standing at the soundboard - sorry I missed you guys

Clapping and singing along when appropriate be a Guster, Brittney Spears, Bloc Party is just a sign there is a connection between audience and band. And the post is overstating the disconnect between the singer and the audience. But then again he's probably just wants to get the backlash started.

do you have to be a certain age before you can get credit for going out and finding your own favourite bands to listen to? anyone under 21 that likes a band MUST have heard them on MTV?

man, you people sound really old saying that.

(maybe its just Rhett)

i dont know, all this may have been true 15 years ago, but with the internet and what not, seems like anyone with a high speed connection has access to hear any band on earth, with pretty great ease…..

I though it was an overall great set from Bloc Party and agree with most of what has been said already, especially the wait on the encore. They were very impressive live for a young band. And that was cool of them to take an audience request for Pioneers at the end of the encore. Does anyone know why they were videotaping the concert? Is their a DVD we should be anticipating?

White man, I discovered Siouxsie at the age of 16 because "JuJu" was in a cut-out bin at a record store near Univ. of South Florida. Isn't that what musically-inclined teenagers do? (Though I suppose now it's internet discoveries, but the premise is the same…)

Originally posted by Bags:
White man, I discovered Siouxsie at the age of 16 because "JuJu" was in a cut-out bin at a record store near Univ. of South Florida. Isn't that what musically-inclined teenagers do? (Though I suppose now it's internet discoveries, but the premise is the same…)

right, bags!

so when we were 16 going to the shows of bands we loved…did we just go cause we heard the song on the radio or MTV??? no! (i know i didnt) so why do we assume the 16-18 year old kids do that now?

Originally posted by white man from town:
anyone under 21 that likes a band MUST have heard them on MTV?

Not what I said or meant… I'm not passing judgment, I'm glad people of all ages like the band, and Bloc Party may be the exception that proves the rule. I'm just saying that when there is a large percentage of under-21 fans at a show it typically points to airplay on MTV or the radio.

If that makes me sound old, well… okay… I guess I am. I've been going to shows for a long time, and a general observation of mine is that when there is a noticeably large contingent of young people at a show, there has been a concurrent "buzz" on MTV, in Rolling Stone, the radio, etc.

That doesn't mean young people are stupid, unhip, corporate-rock-zombies, or anything of the like. Just an observation. Sheesh.

Originally posted by white man from town:
right, bags!

so when we were 16 going to the shows of bands we loved…did we just go cause we heard the song on the radio or MTV??? no! (i know i didnt) so why do we assume the 16-18 year old kids do that now?

I think it is safe to say, when a new band sells out a venue, it didnt happen because a bunch of kids found it on the internet. Normally there is something driving attendance, especially when it sells out in advance. There are many things that can drive attendance from indie scene hype to a single story in a mainstream outlet. And I am not saying that something driving attendance is a negative thing.

It seems to me that Friday/Saturday shows in general are drawing younger crowds. I think it's just a matter of kids discovering that it's more fun to hang out at a club with a good band, rather than hang out at the mall (or whatever kids do these days). I'm sure most of them were excited to see Bloc Party (which is why it sold-out early), but I'm also pretty sure they just think the Cat is a cool place to hang out.

Originally posted by Bombay Chutney:
I'm also pretty sure they just think the Cat is a cool place to hang out.

Cuz it is! ;) Man, if I were a teenager or young 20-something today, I'd be at the Cat *all* the time.