When Good Music Goes Bad

This May a fight broke out at a Boston Pops concert. I worked for the Pops (and BSO) as an usher while in college and I know for sure we were never trained in how to deal with this. One TV station ran it with the headline, “Boston Popped”. Having lived in Boston, this could have been a fight that broke out over something as simple as a discussion on who was a better college quarterback, Tom Brady or Doug Flutie.

I once went to a series of fights at Fenway Park (a baseball game happened to be going on as well) where to make it a more enjoyable time for all, one section decided to yell “Tastes great!” and another section would yell back, “Less filling!” As they tried to outshout each other, it quickly degraded into “Eat sh@#!”, and the other section responding, “F#@$ You!”

…good times.

Here’s Jimmy Kimmel’s take…very funny (my favorite…”It’s a viola!”)

Crowded House - live in K.C.

If you are not familiar with Crowded House, shame on you…  This is one of my favorite bands simply because they understand the beautiful craft of songwriting.  Last night, I had the opportunity to see them in concert at the Uptown Theater here in Kansas City (thanks, d, for scoring the fifth row tix).  I came away with some observations.

1. music is such an awesome gift.  It brings us joy, soothes our spirit, lifts our countenance, stimulates our senses and truly sparks our imagination.
2. alcohol can really make people kooky.
3. Crowded House fans are awesome.  They know the songs, the harmonies, and interact with the concert in a very cool way.  In an interesting way, there is a connection that happens with an entire group of people around the music that is somewhat spiritual.
4. I love the direction that musicians are taking these days:  forming community through the internet, interacting more with their fan base, being willing to connect more musically and relationally with those around them.  I’m finding that bands are gathering a smaller, but more loyal following based on this new model.  It’s cool.
5. Liam Finn is a freak!  (in a very good way)
6. 16 Frames is a very good, upcoming band.
7. The cost of concerts is getting out of hand.