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Post by jaicee on Apr 7, 2013 18:42:20 GMT -5
Hello all,
I'm finally going to my first real concert on April 14th! Punk legends Bad Religion at the Roseland Theater in Portland! I'm so excited! However, I couldn't find a friend to go with, so I'm going alone. And I don't really know what to expect since I've never been to a live show. Would anyone care to share their first concert experience?
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biko
Junior Member
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Post by biko on Apr 7, 2013 22:40:27 GMT -5
Hello all, I'm finally going to my first real concert on April 14th! Punk legends Bad Religion at the Roseland Theater in Portland! I'm so excited! However, I couldn't find a friend to go with, so I'm going alone. And I don't really know what to expect since I've never been to a live show. Would anyone care to share their first concert experience? What to expect? It will be loud, drinks are expensive and if you're in a standing area, it will be squishy. My first concert experience was Primal Scream back in '09 and it was all of the things above, but also fantastic |
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Post by jaicee on Apr 8, 2013 0:22:08 GMT -5
"Squishy", eh? Probably not worth it to take a camera then. I probably can't get a good view anyway since I'm somewhat short.
Would you recommend being close to the stage? I do NOT want to end up in a mosh pit, but I want to have the best view I possibly can.
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biko
Junior Member
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Post by biko on Apr 8, 2013 2:25:37 GMT -5
"Squishy", eh? Probably not worth it to take a camera then. I probably can't get a good view anyway since I'm somewhat short. Would you recommend being close to the stage? I do NOT want to end up in a mosh pit, but I want to have the best view I possibly can. Hm, if it's Bad Religion, moshing will probably happen near the front/middle so, it's your gamble. Depends on the venue too, a good venue will have the back area elevated so you can see from a distance. It doesn't hurt to take a camera, but, to be honest, I've rarely taken good photos and I'd rather concentrate on the show itself. |
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Post by thegl0r on Apr 8, 2013 15:00:40 GMT -5
Wow, good choice for a first "real" gig. My first "real" gig, other than seeing bands play in the back room of a pub, was to see The Damned play at The Winter Gardens in Malvern back in 1978. (Oh my aching old bones) The gig was in a rather large hall with a heaving throng of sweaty punks packing the place out and pogoing as if there was no tomorrow - or at least that was what it was like down near the front where I was. The bar was more of a heaving crush of bodies than it was in front of the stage. It was a suitably loud volume  , but no problems with shouting into a mates ear who was standing next to me. Damn good fun! I'd suggest that you google the venue for a layout of the place and check out a few other similar types of gigs that have played there on YouTube to get a feel for the place. At a guess, for Bad Religion, it will be all standing only - but it looks like that venue has a balcony. So if you don't fancy risking being down the front by the stage in case the moshing gets out of hand, then get yourself up there. For the best sound quality and view, the ideal spot would be towards the centre of the balcony in front of the stage. You may need to grab your spot there fairly early. If you're going with a friend, you can guard each others space. Don't stand under the overhang of the balcony 'cos the sound in that position is often crap. The sound is also generally rather bad if you're too close to the side-walls of the venue - or if you are stood in front of one of the speaker stacks. But if you do want to be down the front up against the stage, then a position towards the sides of the stage is generally less of a crush. Do take a camera, preferably one with a wrist strap and anti-shake. I promise that you'll regret it if you don't - no matter how bad the pictures come out. It's not much effort to just "point and shoot" and then stick the camera back in your pocket. But most of all, have fun. |
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Post by jaicee on Apr 8, 2013 17:30:18 GMT -5
"Squishy", eh? Probably not worth it to take a camera then. I probably can't get a good view anyway since I'm somewhat short. Would you recommend being close to the stage? I do NOT want to end up in a mosh pit, but I want to have the best view I possibly can. Hm, if it's Bad Religion, moshing will probably happen near the front/middle so, it's your gamble. Depends on the venue too, a good venue will have the back area elevated so you can see from a distance. It doesn't hurt to take a camera, but, to be honest, I've rarely taken good photos and I'd rather concentrate on the show itself. I'm not even going to try to get pictures. I want videos! But just for maybe 3 songs MAX because I want to enjoy the show. |
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Post by jaicee on Apr 8, 2013 17:37:10 GMT -5
Wow, good choice for a first "real" gig. My first "real" gig, other than seeing bands play in the back room of a pub, was to see The Damned play at The Winter Gardens in Malvern back in 1978. (Oh my aching old bones) The gig was in a rather large hall with a heaving throng of sweaty punks packing the place out and pogoing as if there was no tomorrow - or at least that was what it was like down near the front where I was. The bar was more of a heaving crush of bodies than it was in front of the stage. It was a suitably loud volume , but no problems with shouting into a mates ear who was standing next to me. Damn good fun! I'd suggest that you google the venue for a layout of the place and check out a few other similar types of gigs that have played there on YouTube to get a feel for the place. At a guess, for Bad Religion, it will be all standing only - but it looks like that venue has a balcony. So if you don't fancy risking being down the front by the stage in case the moshing gets out of hand, then get yourself up there. For the best sound quality and view, the ideal spot would be towards the centre of the balcony in front of the stage. You may need to grab your spot there fairly early. If you're going with a friend, you can guard each others space. Don't stand under the overhang of the balcony 'cos the sound in that position is often crap. The sound is also generally rather bad if you're too close to the side-walls of the venue - or if you are stood in front of one of the speaker stacks. But if you do want to be down the front up against the stage, then a position towards the sides of the stage is generally less of a crush. Do take a camera, preferably one with a wrist strap and anti-shake. I promise that you'll regret it if you don't - no matter how bad the pictures come out. It's not much effort to just "point and shoot" and then stick the camera back in your pocket. But most of all, have fun. Thanks for the advice! I can't be in the balcony because it's 21+. I think I'll avoid the center on the floor and try to get as close as I can so I can get good videos. But I guess I won't really know for sure until I get there. |
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Post by thegl0r on Apr 9, 2013 22:34:11 GMT -5
That's right, you never really know 'till you get there. Every gig is different, even if you've previously seen all of the same bands playing together at that same venue. Personally I like to see the support bands. I've got friends who moan when we get to the gig in time to see all of the support bands. I have been known to lie about door opening times and when the bands are likely on. But one of the good things about support bands, apart from the joy of more live music, is that you can try watching them from a number of areas in the room before deciding where you want to try and be for the head-liners. (That's if the head-liners are your personal main band of the evening). And you'll still probably find yourself in the wrong place. |
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on Apr 10, 2013 21:13:17 GMT -5
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Post by Nuclear Seagull on Apr 11, 2013 16:32:30 GMT -5
Bad Religion, cool! Saw them once on a festival a few years back. Take my advice; WEAR EARPLUGS! Don't listen to people who say it looks stupid, it's for your safety. If you don't wear those, your ears will be buzzing for at least one and a half day. And over time, it will cause permanent damage. And try to get some shoes with steel toes, because everybody will be standing on your toes! You don't want that. So do yourself a favour and learn from my mistakes.  Have fun! PS; I don't know if crowdsurfing is allowed there, but keep in mind that the audience is at least 70% male, so you will be touched. Yes, even there.  |
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Post by jaicee on Apr 12, 2013 0:41:32 GMT -5
I remember reading that! I'm surprised that was your first concert since it was only a couple years ago. I suppose Shonen Knife was the only band worth your time. |
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Post by jaicee on Apr 12, 2013 0:44:54 GMT -5
Bad Religion, cool! Saw them once on a festival a few years back. Take my advice; WEAR EARPLUGS! Don't listen to people who say it looks stupid, it's for your safety. If you don't wear those, your ears will be buzzing for at least one and a half day. And over time, it will cause permanent damage. And try to get some shoes with steel toes, because everybody will be standing on your toes! You don't want that. So do yourself a favour and learn from my mistakes. Have fun! PS; I don't know if crowdsurfing is allowed there, but keep in mind that the audience is at least 70% male, so you will be touched. Yes, even there. Thanks! I'll take some earplugs, but I don't have any steel-toed shoes. I'll probably just wear my converse. And I don't want to crowdsurf, so I won't have to worry about that. I want to be as safe as possible. |
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on Apr 12, 2013 5:50:49 GMT -5
I remember reading that! I'm surprised that was your first concert since it was only a couple years ago. I suppose Shonen Knife was the only band worth your time. Well, Buddy Holly was dead and the Beatles split up... not interested in anyone else, at the time... hoping Mikabomb will do NA soon... they were supposed to do a USA/Canada tour (even announced it), but, have put it off , for the time being... their Euro tour is still on, so far as I know |
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Post by jaicee on Apr 12, 2013 16:48:47 GMT -5
I understand. I'm sad I'll never get to see the Ramones. And all my favorite bands are starting to get old, so I need to see them before they retire or die. As I grow older, I won't have anyone else to see! I'm just not into a lot of the new bands coming out.
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Post by Nuclear Seagull on Apr 15, 2013 5:46:23 GMT -5
How was it? Was it like you expected it to be? We would like to hear the whole story. I also go to concerts alone most of the times. Because none of my friends share my taste of music. So don't worry about that. You will lose each other in the crowd anyway. PS: When I return from Japan, Bad Religion will be playing in Amsterdam. So when I still have some money left, and don't have a jetlag, I think I'm going to see them again. |
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, but no problems with shouting into a mates ear who was standing next to me. Damn good fun!
