Is Damien getting grumpy?

dylanfan · 03-02-2004, 03:53 PM

The latest reviews from Europe seem to consistently state that at some point during the show Damien asked for quietfrom the crowd. When it wasn't forthcoming the reviews indicate that he seemed pissed off. Certainly would take the shine off of a show for me. I mean what would he expect? When you play for several thousand people it is never going to be silent. Newbies will be present and some people will be seated far enough away that making a connection is tough. Thoughts?

GlttrGrrl · 03-02-2004, 04:06 PM

I know that this happened to Tori Amos during her tour in 1996. Before then, her audiences were quite reverent and hardly ever spoke and rarely yelled things out. I think she was really annoyed about it at first, but has since realized that she can't control what stupid people will do. Sometimes she will change her setlist, leaving out special, rare songs, if people are being particularly obnoxious. I think she sometimes adds special songs if she feels a connection with the audience. But in the long run, I think she winds up just talking to the audience much less frequently than she used to. We used to get all kinds of stories, and now we're lucky to get one, regurgitated story per concert. Maybe this progression is bound to happen with any artist with a burgeoning fan base. But maybe Damo will sabatoge his career. Maybe he'll just stop playing bigger venues after this tour. Who knows...

Angela · 03-02-2004, 05:16 PM

I think many artists originally have a problem handling this, especially solo artists. Though I heard the Frames had a problem for a while also (?) before they decided to use the "if you can't beat them, join them" approach. And Elbow, in 'Cast Of Thousands, turned it into "high art".

So, I understand Damien getting pissed off for now. He isn't the only one. I know several bands/songwriters who sometimes truly feel like walking off the stage.

Funky Avocado · 03-02-2004, 10:05 PM

I've watched Ani DiFranco and other singer/songwriters tell the crowd to shut the feck up plenty of times..It's the nature of the beast. You would be surprised the response you would get if you were in the audience and did the same. I was at a Ryan Adams how last year during an amazing "Shadowlands" when someone just started yelling and acting like an arse. Some lovely woman behind me grabbed my drink and dropped it from the balcony onto the head of the asshole below. All of us on the balcony gave her a round of applause and shut the little punk up.

rudy · 03-03-2004, 02:20 AM

Well, he was far from grumpy at the gig in Stockholm the other night. He did thank the audience for being so quite and respectful though, and told us what the crowd was like in London (or part of the crowd, anyway) a couple of weeks ago.A bunch of noisy and drunk w*nkers. But I´m afraid that´s something that he´ll have to cope with now that he´s playing bigger venues.

prague · 03-03-2004, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rudy

and told us what the crowd was like in London (or part of the crowd, anyway) a couple of weeks ago.A bunch of noisy and drunk w*nkers

Not very professional of him though. Bad-mouthing us like that!

rudy · 03-03-2004, 05:31 AM

...but he was very careful saying that applied only to a wee bunch of people in the back.

Mojo_Pin1980 · 03-03-2004, 05:56 AM

The audience in Amsterdam a week ago was quiet as a mouse and Damien was in a fantastic mood![img]smileys/smiley4.gif[/img]

Dannyboyo · 03-03-2004, 06:38 AM

what's his quote in Q magazine regarding people singing/talking through his performance....

"Its like people farting on the tube, you'd rather they didnt but you cant stop it happening!"

Enoch · 03-03-2004, 07:29 AM

lol!

dylanfan · 03-03-2004, 01:12 PM

Certainly would be better iffolks that think that they are sitting in front of the tube watchingMTV would stay home but not realistic. So maybe we all agree that it's alright to tell the ass the just wontstop talking to shut the fu*k up, particularly at the Beacon show in New York.And to our friends in Europe...keep us posted.

Chrysler · 03-03-2004, 01:24 PM

yeah i hate it, people are so f**king ignorant. if they go to a concert they have to shut the hell up. Thats just a question of respect towards the artist and the audience. I also dont brake into their house and sh*t on their carpet. sorry for the bad mouth...

Angela · 03-03-2004, 02:45 PM

I'm already worried about Boston. So far so good on previous gigs but the Boston crowd can be aweful. [img]smileys/smiley5.gif[/img]

Hendrik · 03-04-2004, 10:52 AM

Angela, you should teach them in prussian virtues. [img]smileys/smiley2.gif[/img]

Angela · 03-04-2004, 11:33 AM

A hopeless case, trust me! [img]smileys/smiley11.gif[/img]

merryl · 03-05-2004, 01:08 PM

Yesterday on his gig inHamburg a local venue manager climbed onto stage just before the show started and took Damiens Microfone and told the crowd they should use no flashlights and that the bar is closed during the show, because the artist wants silence. It seems it has been o.k. for Damien but for the audience it looked, as if he was playing a gig in a school and the director is explaining the rules before the concert may start. Pretty strange.

The audience understood the hint and was very, very silent (excluding the applause, which has been frenetic). At a very silent end of a song one handheld rang in the audience and many people laughed and even damien smiled.

However, he wasn#t in a very communicative mood, just saying three or four things. In the end he told the crowd (in german) that it has been a very beautiful audience. Maybe we acted the way he wanted us too, but honest: that was no hard job to do.

Even if it wasn't the best night of Damien it was a fantastic concert.

Merryl

Edited by: merryl

dylanfan · 03-05-2004, 01:33 PM

I can't imagine that a New York or Boston crowd will react favorably to a stage manager asking for quiet before a show. It is a bit odd no? Anyway, thanks for the update Meryl! Were there any surprises at the show? Any covers played?

GlttrGrrl · 03-05-2004, 02:01 PM

I actually think it would be pretty effective. Sure there will be assholes who will still talk (and sing...I f**king hate the singers...I didn't pay to hear them sing, I paid to hear Damien and Lisa sing), but after having a warning at the beginning (or even signs posted around the venue - Cody ChesnuTT does this so that people won't smoke...in bars no less) WE will be even more justified in telling them to shut the f**k up! [img]smileys/smiley17.gif[/img]

unexplainedmuse · 03-06-2004, 01:41 PM

i really really hope that the pittsburgh show doesnt turn out like these shows have been

ill be going down very early for this concert...so im going to spread the word about this stuff..

try to get as many people in the line to be respectful to damien as i can.....and if that dont work and people start actin up pretty bad..

then ill be standin up on my seat holding a huge sign that says

'shutyourself up before i do it for you!!'

well..ok...i probably wont...but yeah..im gonna be totally angered if this show is ruined by some ignorant 'fans'

dylanfan · 03-09-2004, 09:17 PM

[img]smileys/smiley36.gif[/img]I dunno.My vote is for the audience to showappropriate respect but my view that can be done while enjoying and bopping and even singning to the music [for the right songs of course].Damien should lighten up a bit. This is a gig. Aconcert. Over the years I've seen 'em all. And the best shows are ones where you have a mass house party. Everyone finding the same feel for the night.Where the band feeds off of the crowd and the crowd off of the band. The idea of having to sit in silence is absurd. Let's be real what makes this great is more of a collective groove rather then some musical classical masterpiece atLincoln Center where I go to nap. I really hope that Damien finds a middle ground.

Angela · 03-09-2004, 11:57 PM

Talking about middle ground...

Any chance you could use sort of a regular fond size (unless you are vision impaired and need it to be this size)?

dara · 03-10-2004, 03:51 AM

lol

Hendrik · 03-10-2004, 09:50 AM

Ego is the SIZE of the US. [img]smileys/smiley17.gif[/img] [img]smileys/smiley2.gif[/img]

The Kitten · 03-10-2004, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angela

Talking about middle ground...

Any chance you could use sort of a regular fond size (unless you are vision impaired and need it to be this size)?

good work

dylanfan · 03-10-2004, 02:26 PM

Ego is the SIZE of the U.S.?

Meaning what?

Angela · 03-10-2004, 02:32 PM

big</font>

marina · 03-10-2004, 02:33 PM

i think Hendrick meant US (as in ye guys)...i could be wrong

dylanfan · 03-10-2004, 02:34 PM

Apologies for the "fond" size.[img]smileys/smiley18.gif[/img]Just getting experimental here...Now onto substance...Are we as Damien fansreally meant to sit in silence at shows?

Patricia · 03-10-2004, 02:37 PM

If we're his fans, we're supposed to do what pleases the man, no? So the question is: what does Damien want?

dylanfan · 03-10-2004, 02:39 PM

aaahh so my ego is reflected by size of font size...interesting concept...maybe just compensating for other failings...hee hee.

and see angela...font sizes aren't so dangerous after all are they?

03-03-2004, 02:20 AM	#5
rudy Eskimo Regular Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 382	Well, he was far from grumpy at the gig in Stockholm the other night. He did thank the audience for being so quite and respectful though, and told us what the crowd was like in London (or part of the crowd, anyway) a couple of weeks ago.A bunch of noisy and drunk w*nkers. But I´m afraid that´s something that he´ll have to cope with now that he´s playing bigger venues. __________________ The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you've got it made. -Groucho Marx

03-03-2004, 05:31 AM	#7
rudy Eskimo Regular Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 382	...but he was very careful saying that applied only to a wee bunch of people in the back. __________________ The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you've got it made. -Groucho Marx

03-03-2004, 05:56 AM	#8
Mojo_Pin1980 Eskimo Regular Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Holland Posts: 3,280	The audience in Amsterdam a week ago was quiet as a mouse and Damien was in a fantastic mood![img]smileys/smiley4.gif[/img] __________________ Reaching out to embrace the random Reaching out to embrace whatever may come

03-03-2004, 06:38 AM	#9
Dannyboyo Eskimo Regular Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 105	what's his quote in Q magazine regarding people singing/talking through his performance.... "Its like people farting on the tube, you'd rather they didnt but you cant stop it happening!" __________________ Arse faced weasel or weasel faced arse?

03-03-2004, 07:29 AM	#10
Enoch Eskimo Regular Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Scotland Posts: 1,698	lol! __________________ Hold me down, hoping that you can explain, little arithmetics, got me down ..

03-02-2004, 03:53 PM	#1
dylanfan Eskimo Regular Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New York City Posts: 311	The latest reviews from Europe seem to consistently state that at some point during the show Damien asked for quietfrom the crowd. When it wasn't forthcoming the reviews indicate that he seemed pissed off. Certainly would take the shine off of a show for me. I mean what would he expect? When you play for several thousand people it is never going to be silent. Newbies will be present and some people will be seated far enough away that making a connection is tough. Thoughts?

03-02-2004, 04:06 PM	#2
GlttrGrrl Eskimo Goddess Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: United States Posts: 1,353	I know that this happened to Tori Amos during her tour in 1996. Before then, her audiences were quite reverent and hardly ever spoke and rarely yelled things out. I think she was really annoyed about it at first, but has since realized that she can't control what stupid people will do. Sometimes she will change her setlist, leaving out special, rare songs, if people are being particularly obnoxious. I think she sometimes adds special songs if she feels a connection with the audience. But in the long run, I think she winds up just talking to the audience much less frequently than she used to. We used to get all kinds of stories, and now we're lucky to get one, regurgitated story per concert. Maybe this progression is bound to happen with any artist with a burgeoning fan base. But maybe Damo will sabatoge his career. Maybe he'll just stop playing bigger venues after this tour. Who knows...

03-02-2004, 05:16 PM	#3
Angela Eskimo Regular Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: cloud #9 Posts: 5,029	I think many artists originally have a problem handling this, especially solo artists. Though I heard the Frames had a problem for a while also (?) before they decided to use the "if you can't beat them, join them" approach. And Elbow, in 'Cast Of Thousands, turned it into "high art". So, I understand Damien getting pissed off for now. He isn't the only one. I know several bands/songwriters who sometimes truly feel like walking off the stage.

03-02-2004, 10:05 PM	#4
Funky Avocado Eskimo Regular Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 204	I've watched Ani DiFranco and other singer/songwriters tell the crowd to shut the feck up plenty of times..It's the nature of the beast. You would be surprised the response you would get if you were in the audience and did the same. I was at a Ryan Adams how last year during an amazing "Shadowlands" when someone just started yelling and acting like an arse. Some lovely woman behind me grabbed my drink and dropped it from the balcony onto the head of the asshole below. All of us on the balcony gave her a round of applause and shut the little punk up.

03-03-2004, 01:12 PM	#11
dylanfan Eskimo Regular Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New York City Posts: 311	Certainly would be better iffolks that think that they are sitting in front of the tube watchingMTV would stay home but not realistic. So maybe we all agree that it's alright to tell the ass the just wontstop talking to shut the fu*k up, particularly at the Beacon show in New York.And to our friends in Europe...keep us posted.

03-03-2004, 01:24 PM	#12
Chrysler Eskimo Regular Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 459	yeah i hate it, people are so f*king ignorant. if they go to a concert they have to shut the hell up. Thats just a question of respect towards the artist and the audience. I also dont brake into their house and sht on their carpet. sorry for the bad mouth...

03-03-2004, 02:45 PM	#13
Angela Eskimo Regular Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: cloud #9 Posts: 5,029	I'm already worried about Boston. So far so good on previous gigs but the Boston crowd can be aweful. [img]smileys/smiley5.gif[/img]

03-04-2004, 10:52 AM	#14
Hendrik Teddy Daniels Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Berlin Posts: 9,693	Angela, you should teach them in prussian virtues. [img]smileys/smiley2.gif[/img]

03-04-2004, 11:33 AM	#15
Angela Eskimo Regular Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: cloud #9 Posts: 5,029	A hopeless case, trust me! [img]smileys/smiley11.gif[/img]

03-05-2004, 01:08 PM	#16
merryl Eskimo Baby Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1	Yesterday on his gig inHamburg a local venue manager climbed onto stage just before the show started and took Damiens Microfone and told the crowd they should use no flashlights and that the bar is closed during the show, because the artist wants silence. It seems it has been o.k. for Damien but for the audience it looked, as if he was playing a gig in a school and the director is explaining the rules before the concert may start. Pretty strange. The audience understood the hint and was very, very silent (excluding the applause, which has been frenetic). At a very silent end of a song one handheld rang in the audience and many people laughed and even damien smiled. However, he wasn#t in a very communicative mood, just saying three or four things. In the end he told the crowd (in german) that it has been a very beautiful audience. Maybe we acted the way he wanted us too, but honest: that was no hard job to do. Even if it wasn't the best night of Damien it was a fantastic concert. Merryl Edited by: merryl

03-05-2004, 01:33 PM	#17
dylanfan Eskimo Regular Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New York City Posts: 311	I can't imagine that a New York or Boston crowd will react favorably to a stage manager asking for quiet before a show. It is a bit odd no? Anyway, thanks for the update Meryl! Were there any surprises at the show? Any covers played?

03-05-2004, 02:01 PM	#18
GlttrGrrl Eskimo Goddess Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: United States Posts: 1,353	I actually think it would be pretty effective. Sure there will be assholes who will still talk (and sing...I f*king hate the singers...I didn't pay to hear them sing, I paid to hear Damien and Lisa sing), but after having a warning at the beginning (or even signs posted around the venue - Cody ChesnuTT does this so that people won't smoke...in bars* no less) WE will be even more justified in telling them to shut the f**k up! [img]smileys/smiley17.gif[/img]

03-06-2004, 01:41 PM	#19
unexplainedmuse Eskimo Regular Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: United States Posts: 184	i really really hope that the pittsburgh show doesnt turn out like these shows have been ill be going down very early for this concert...so im going to spread the word about this stuff.. try to get as many people in the line to be respectful to damien as i can.....and if that dont work and people start actin up pretty bad.. then ill be standin up on my seat holding a huge sign that says 'shutyourself up before i do it for you!!' well..ok...i probably wont...but yeah..im gonna be totally angered if this show is ruined by some ignorant 'fans' __________________ if we were things born, not to shed a tear, I know not how thy joy we ever should come near -percy bysshe shelley

03-09-2004, 09:17 PM	#20
dylanfan Eskimo Regular Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New York City Posts: 311	[img]smileys/smiley36.gif[/img]I dunno.My vote is for the audience to showappropriate respect but my view that can be done while enjoying and bopping and even singning to the music [for the right songs of course].Damien should lighten up a bit. This is a gig. Aconcert. Over the years I've seen 'em all. And the best shows are ones where you have a mass house party. Everyone finding the same feel for the night.Where the band feeds off of the crowd and the crowd off of the band. The idea of having to sit in silence is absurd. Let's be real what makes this great is more of a collective groove rather then some musical classical masterpiece atLincoln Center where I go to nap. I really hope that Damien finds a middle ground.

03-09-2004, 11:57 PM	#21
Angela Eskimo Regular Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: cloud #9 Posts: 5,029	Talking about middle ground... Any chance you could use sort of a regular fond size (unless you are vision impaired and need it to be this size)?

03-10-2004, 03:51 AM	#22
dara Eskimo Regular Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: United States Posts: 271	lol

03-10-2004, 09:50 AM	#23
Hendrik Teddy Daniels Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Berlin Posts: 9,693	Ego is the SIZE of the US. [img]smileys/smiley17.gif[/img] [img]smileys/smiley2.gif[/img]

03-10-2004, 02:26 PM	#25
dylanfan Eskimo Regular Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New York City Posts: 311	Ego is the SIZE of the U.S.? Meaning what?

03-10-2004, 02:32 PM	#26
Angela Eskimo Regular Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: cloud #9 Posts: 5,029	big</font>

03-10-2004, 02:33 PM	#27
marina Eskimo Regular Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: London Posts: 3,411	i think Hendrick meant US (as in ye guys)...i could be wrong __________________ lights will guide you home mark, r.i.p

03-10-2004, 02:34 PM	#28
dylanfan Eskimo Regular Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New York City Posts: 311	Apologies for the "fond" size.[img]smileys/smiley18.gif[/img]Just getting experimental here...Now onto substance...Are we as Damien fansreally meant to sit in silence at shows?

03-10-2004, 02:37 PM	#29
Patricia Eskimo Regular Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 3,213	If we're his fans, we're supposed to do what pleases the man, no? So the question is: what does Damien want? __________________ "To do is to be" - Nietzsche "To be is to do" - Kant "Do be do be do" - Sinatra

03-10-2004, 02:39 PM	#30
dylanfan Eskimo Regular Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New York City Posts: 311	aaahh so my ego is reflected by size of font size...interesting concept...maybe just compensating for other failings...hee hee. and see angela...font sizes aren't so dangerous after all are they?