Anyone else joining the St. Albans high school crowd on Friday night?
1 minute walk from my house. Im there.
1 minute walk from my house. Im there.
Walkmen 5/20
yup
Noone else is going to see the Walkmen tonight? Surprised I havent heard more people mentioning this…
I've heard mainly negative reviews of their live shows. Plus, I'll be at 9:30 tonight for Go4. I guess I could possibly do both. What time's the Walkmen show?
doors at 8.
i'll be there!!
i'll be there!!
i thought it was a great show. despite the idiots moshing like crazy and making it difficult to concentrate on the band, i thought it was really fun. i met all the guys afterwards and they were all awesome. i go to st albans so id be curious to know what outsiders thought of it all. and please dont think those guys moshing are what all st albans guys are like. i was really annoyed and pretty embarassed. but overall, it was a really good show.
Boy that was a big mistake. Terrible acoustics, tons of little kids and a lot of wailing….
Enough to scare average fans away….Oh well….
Enough to scare average fans away….Oh well….
okay. i'm an outsider. i'll go.
i am sorry to say this, but what i thought was they should have played at the black cat or 9:30 or something of the sort; and not at st.albans. i am glad to hear that not everybody in your school is like that, but let me try to not lose my temper and compose a list of things that bothered me:
1) people rapping as an opener. jesus facking…oh god. that was TERRIBLE. with the student bands, and stuff? and that "if i were gay" song was just ridiculous…so immature, inappropriate. although i'm sure the st.albans kids found it fun and all their girlfriends found it fun because they knew the kids in the bands, the people that were there to see the walkmen were really irritated. all…four of us, right? hah. they needed to keep in mind that we, too, payed money to get into that show.
2) the obnoxious crowdsurfing moshing kids. that was RIDICULOUS. i will expect that at a ska or punk rock show, but i couldn't believe how they couldn't even compose themselves. 99% of the people there didn't even care about seeing the actual band, and were just there to push and be lame. i was right up in the front, trying to sing along, and there were two other guys up there that i could tell were really big fans also. i don't know if they went to st.albans or not, but them and my two other friends were really annoyed. we kept having to push crowdsurfers away. i don't think i have dropped the F bomb that many times in one night.
and, i almost got in a fight with some guys because i kept pushing them off of me and then they started tugging at my hair but flicking them off shut them up. i really hate being a bitch; but it was just…ridiculous. you couldn't even focus on the band. at one point, we just got up and moved to the side of the stage and that made everything okay and super-awesome.
3) like said before, the acoustics. the sound guys had no idea what they were doing and the vocals (among other things) needed to be way louder.
4) just…all the kids there. well most of them. that had no respect for musicians or anything like that. it kind of sucks for a band when you get up and play, and nobody is paying attention to you playing but instead are paying attention to being lameasses and the sort.
they played really well though, and i will see them again the next time they come.
that's just…stuff to keep in mind for next time.
you all did a really good job advertising, because a ton of people were there; but you must realize that enables more assholes to come and mess up the show.
i am sorry to say this, but what i thought was they should have played at the black cat or 9:30 or something of the sort; and not at st.albans. i am glad to hear that not everybody in your school is like that, but let me try to not lose my temper and compose a list of things that bothered me:
1) people rapping as an opener. jesus facking…oh god. that was TERRIBLE. with the student bands, and stuff? and that "if i were gay" song was just ridiculous…so immature, inappropriate. although i'm sure the st.albans kids found it fun and all their girlfriends found it fun because they knew the kids in the bands, the people that were there to see the walkmen were really irritated. all…four of us, right? hah. they needed to keep in mind that we, too, payed money to get into that show.
2) the obnoxious crowdsurfing moshing kids. that was RIDICULOUS. i will expect that at a ska or punk rock show, but i couldn't believe how they couldn't even compose themselves. 99% of the people there didn't even care about seeing the actual band, and were just there to push and be lame. i was right up in the front, trying to sing along, and there were two other guys up there that i could tell were really big fans also. i don't know if they went to st.albans or not, but them and my two other friends were really annoyed. we kept having to push crowdsurfers away. i don't think i have dropped the F bomb that many times in one night.
and, i almost got in a fight with some guys because i kept pushing them off of me and then they started tugging at my hair but flicking them off shut them up. i really hate being a bitch; but it was just…ridiculous. you couldn't even focus on the band. at one point, we just got up and moved to the side of the stage and that made everything okay and super-awesome.
3) like said before, the acoustics. the sound guys had no idea what they were doing and the vocals (among other things) needed to be way louder.
4) just…all the kids there. well most of them. that had no respect for musicians or anything like that. it kind of sucks for a band when you get up and play, and nobody is paying attention to you playing but instead are paying attention to being lameasses and the sort.
they played really well though, and i will see them again the next time they come.
that's just…stuff to keep in mind for next time.
you all did a really good job advertising, because a ton of people were there; but you must realize that enables more assholes to come and mess up the show.
i apologize on behalf of the school for all the assholes who misrepresented st. albans. me and all my friends were just as annoyed as you were. i think that the sound and light and set guys deserve credit though - sure it wasnt as good as at 930 or something, but these are high school kids and if you ask me they did a damn good job building the stage and setting up all the lights and everything.
I was one of the guys who helped set up the sound, lighting, and set. We spent about $5000 on new speakers for this concert (4 2000 watt and 4 1000 watt), which is a huge deal at our school. We also spent all of the previous week and weekend trying to make a room with crappy acoustics become a reasonable place for a concert. If you noticed, we had custom gobos og the walkmen played on the walls everywhere, and even had a sound barrier of sorts in the back to try and help ease the bad acoustics of the old gym. So plase don't complain about the sound quality, the vocals were pumped up loud and I could hear them fine from everywhere in the gym. We worked hard on that part, and I am satisfied with the result.
I do sincerely apologize for those of my and other schools who felt it necessary to crowd-surf etc. (i was one of many trying to push them away and stop them in vain). But it was not nearly 99% of us, only about 20 drunk seniors on their last day of school. PLease don't exaggerate so badly.
One last thing. If you come to a concert at a high school, be prepared for some funny (to us) opening acts. The majority of the audience enjoyed it. If you wanted to come solely to see the Walkmen, then come later, and plase don't complain..the Walkmen loved the opening bands, and the House Band's singer's older brother was the one who reproduced the Walkmen's CD, so they were on good terms in the first place. Ham's mother is the head of our social service committee, and all but 1 of the Walkmen went to St. Albans. I met them before and after the show, and they enjoyed the whole thing (except for the drunk seniors of course).
So please lay off a little bit.
I do sincerely apologize for those of my and other schools who felt it necessary to crowd-surf etc. (i was one of many trying to push them away and stop them in vain). But it was not nearly 99% of us, only about 20 drunk seniors on their last day of school. PLease don't exaggerate so badly.
One last thing. If you come to a concert at a high school, be prepared for some funny (to us) opening acts. The majority of the audience enjoyed it. If you wanted to come solely to see the Walkmen, then come later, and plase don't complain..the Walkmen loved the opening bands, and the House Band's singer's older brother was the one who reproduced the Walkmen's CD, so they were on good terms in the first place. Ham's mother is the head of our social service committee, and all but 1 of the Walkmen went to St. Albans. I met them before and after the show, and they enjoyed the whole thing (except for the drunk seniors of course).
So please lay off a little bit.
i totally acknowlege all the work you guys put into it; and i think it's awesome that you were able to put this together. it was still pretty good.
and i didn't mean to sound rude or insult you, but i guess i was just kind of really irritated by all those obnoxious guys. it might not have seemed as bad to you but as a girl standing in the front trying to see a band that i really like; you just do not want a bunch of obnoxious guys rubbing up against you and jabbing their elbows into your ears.
i'm in highschool too, and i understand that kids can get drunk and be obnoxious and i realize that wasn't your fault, or under your control. it just made some aspects of the show sucky for me. and you DID ask for input :)
the lights and everything were awesome and i definitely give you mad props for setting up something like this. i really don't want you to get discouraged by what i said, because it wasn't really something you could have altered.
awesome
and i didn't mean to sound rude or insult you, but i guess i was just kind of really irritated by all those obnoxious guys. it might not have seemed as bad to you but as a girl standing in the front trying to see a band that i really like; you just do not want a bunch of obnoxious guys rubbing up against you and jabbing their elbows into your ears.
i'm in highschool too, and i understand that kids can get drunk and be obnoxious and i realize that wasn't your fault, or under your control. it just made some aspects of the show sucky for me. and you DID ask for input :)
the lights and everything were awesome and i definitely give you mad props for setting up something like this. i really don't want you to get discouraged by what i said, because it wasn't really something you could have altered.
awesome
believe me, theyre a band that i really like as well but i had to spend half the time looking over my shoulder for people flying towards me. i was probably right near you at the front, so i know how hard it was to watch the band. i had been looking forward to this for a longtime and i was going because i love the walkmen, not just because it was a school event. despite the dumbasses who couldnt give a shit who the band was, i think the event went very well. i feel bad for a lot of people there who didnt realize how important the walkmen are to some people. for example, afterwards i saw a guy come up to paul, the guitarist, and say that he had missed his fifteen year high school reunion for the concert.
that reminds me of the Hi, Blake club.
a group of high school seniors that skipped their prom to see rilo kiley. i would so do that.
anyway, but…yeah. i was the girl in the blue shirt up in the front wearing lots of pearls. i'm glad there were a few fans there.
a group of high school seniors that skipped their prom to see rilo kiley. i would so do that.
anyway, but…yeah. i was the girl in the blue shirt up in the front wearing lots of pearls. i'm glad there were a few fans there.
yeah, id really like to apologize for the drunk crowd surfers. really really embarassing and annoying to the few people there who actually were trying to concentrate on the band.
betty i think i might have an idea of who you are. i was up front leaning on the right speakers for the most time, with the big hair. once agian, really sorry about that.
and speaking of rilo kiley…this saturday
betty i think i might have an idea of who you are. i was up front leaning on the right speakers for the most time, with the big hair. once agian, really sorry about that.
and speaking of rilo kiley…this saturday
not exactly sure who you are yet.
:(
but hey; i'll be at rilo kiley!
:(
but hey; i'll be at rilo kiley!
Chuck….I think we have a love connection!
well, anybody who uses the terminology "love connection" owns my soul.
Hey everybody. I was the lead singer of the houseband, or the if I were gay band if you prefer and I am a soon to be senior at St Albans. I thought that this show was totally kick ass. Ive known Ham since he was in high school with my bro and it was unbelivable to get to open for him. they are some of the coolest guys I have ever met, and it was awesome that I got to sit and chill with them backstage before the show. I understand where you are coming from on the acoustics of the old gym. we all complained about it. I especially did because I had to play. but if you saw the old gym without all the lights and everything you would be impressed. I think we should get before and after pictures.
I didnt only play in the show I was one of techies setting up and keeping things rolling. we also would have done stuff alot different if we had been able to run everything but Ham's mom insisted on taking the reigns and putting up this concert, something which she had never done before. we were a tad annoyed, take it that we had more experiance at 16, 17, and 18 in running a show than she did. we would have had crowd barriers up close to the stage and we did have bouncers and more muscley event staff who already committed to volunteer there time for the concert. but, Ham's Mom said no way. we also prob would have changed around the order of the bands, having the teachers go first and than warming up. we made dew with what we had and I thought it was good.
I think another thing about this venue was just the concept in itself. If you havent noticed all the walkmen's gear is old……really old. we are talking amps from 1964 which almost didnt work that night a half dead beaten up piano, and a chipped up 1956 fender jazz master guitar. the walkmen have embrassed that vintage sound. they went as far as recording songs on anolog tape instead of digitally because in there words, it just sounds warmer. what cooler place for a band like the walkmen to play in than a falling apart brickhouse gym thats been around since almost as long as the school (over 100 years). I thought it was the perfect venue. also the thought of coming back to your highschool and rocking it out is pretty sweet too. I thought the venue just added to the concert. I do agree alot of people in the crowd were being extremely stupid, I do apoligize for that but I did the same thing you did betty. went to the side of the stage and it was all good.
One more thing and im done. with all due respect to the outsiders who came, we did decide to open the tickets up to the public which we didnt have to do. I enjoyed having everyone there but you guys gotta realize that we turned that place into a venue in less than a week. also please don't complain about too many kids. it was held at a highschool for christsake what did you expect. we arent the 930 club or the black cat. those places are built for concerts. we're a small private school that was lucky enough to have some great guys come back and play there songs. but dont knock the student bands. Im telling you as hard as it is to believe the walkmen did the same crap that we did back when they were recoy and jonathan fire eater. we didnt want to give up our regular battle of the bands so we decided to open for the headliners. It was one of the coolest experiances of my life and I will never forget it. thanks to everyone who came out. it was for a great cause
I didnt only play in the show I was one of techies setting up and keeping things rolling. we also would have done stuff alot different if we had been able to run everything but Ham's mom insisted on taking the reigns and putting up this concert, something which she had never done before. we were a tad annoyed, take it that we had more experiance at 16, 17, and 18 in running a show than she did. we would have had crowd barriers up close to the stage and we did have bouncers and more muscley event staff who already committed to volunteer there time for the concert. but, Ham's Mom said no way. we also prob would have changed around the order of the bands, having the teachers go first and than warming up. we made dew with what we had and I thought it was good.
I think another thing about this venue was just the concept in itself. If you havent noticed all the walkmen's gear is old……really old. we are talking amps from 1964 which almost didnt work that night a half dead beaten up piano, and a chipped up 1956 fender jazz master guitar. the walkmen have embrassed that vintage sound. they went as far as recording songs on anolog tape instead of digitally because in there words, it just sounds warmer. what cooler place for a band like the walkmen to play in than a falling apart brickhouse gym thats been around since almost as long as the school (over 100 years). I thought it was the perfect venue. also the thought of coming back to your highschool and rocking it out is pretty sweet too. I thought the venue just added to the concert. I do agree alot of people in the crowd were being extremely stupid, I do apoligize for that but I did the same thing you did betty. went to the side of the stage and it was all good.
One more thing and im done. with all due respect to the outsiders who came, we did decide to open the tickets up to the public which we didnt have to do. I enjoyed having everyone there but you guys gotta realize that we turned that place into a venue in less than a week. also please don't complain about too many kids. it was held at a highschool for christsake what did you expect. we arent the 930 club or the black cat. those places are built for concerts. we're a small private school that was lucky enough to have some great guys come back and play there songs. but dont knock the student bands. Im telling you as hard as it is to believe the walkmen did the same crap that we did back when they were recoy and jonathan fire eater. we didnt want to give up our regular battle of the bands so we decided to open for the headliners. It was one of the coolest experiances of my life and I will never forget it. thanks to everyone who came out. it was for a great cause
hell yeah, i agree with everything you said here … if you go to see a group playing an unconventional show like the band's old high school or a college spring festival or something, you've just gotta expect a different atmosphere and roll with it … if you feel like an outsider then the event was just obviously not designed with you in mind (unlike a show at the cat or 930)
Originally posted by Christmaspecial:
One more thing and im done. with all due respect to the outsiders who came, we did decide to open the tickets up to the public which we didnt have to do. I enjoyed having everyone there but you guys gotta realize that we turned that place into a venue in less than a week. also please don't complain about too many kids. it was held at a highschool for christsake what did you expect. we arent the 930 club or the black cat. those places are built for concerts. we're a small private school that was lucky enough to have some great guys come back and play there songs. but dont knock the student bands.
I think that some of us older people forget we were drunk and obnoxious in high school too.