Concert Commandments

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Commandment #17: Thou Shall Stop Taking Pictures And Videos Of The Band

If the concert isn’t on your Instagram did it even happen?

We live in an age ruled by Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat. We use these apps to take pictures of ourselves, the things we do, and even the food we eat. With the proliferation of cell phones, and with cell phone camera technology getting better every year, everybody feels the need to take pictures all the time. When it comes to concerts taking a few pictures is ok, but when people are constantly taking pictures and videos it becomes distracting and annoying.

One of the most annoying things at a concert is having to watch the concert through the phone of someone else. On this blog we are big believers in the idea that a concert is a community and that no one should have the right to negatively impact your concert experience. When I go to concerts I do not pay money to view the concert through your six inch screen. Recently I saw Thrice and La Dispute in concert and at one point during La Dispute’s set there were at least seven people in front of me filming the set. I couldn’t see the band without looking through someone else's phone. I became so distracted and frustrated that I moved to the other side of the venue. It wasn’t the biggest hassle in the world to move to the other side of the venue, but this is an issue that didn’t exist 15 years ago. We should use the technology we’re blessed with in responsible and acceptable ways.

Posting to social media during a concert takes your attention away from what’s happening onstage. If you’re choosing between filters, writing a clever caption, and choosing the perfect hashtags you are not paying attention to the concert. The people who do this are more worried about getting likes and proving that they do cool things than living in the moment. Not everyone is as lucky as you are to be at a concert. Take in all the sights and sounds and make memories that are just for you.

In recent years some artists and bands have started asking people to stop taking videos and excessive amounts of pictures during their shows. Besides the fact that bands will lose money when you post their entire concert to Youtube, where anyone can watch it for free, looking out at a sea of cell phones instead of happy fans ruins the band’s vibe. Bands like City and Colour, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and others have asked fans to put their phones away. Karen O has addressed the issue saying that fans are free to take photos and videos during the first few songs, and then she urges fans to put their phones away. Bands want to form a connection with their audience. They want to see your face and feel your energy. This can’t be done if you’re standing perfectly still and your face is hidden behind your phone.

There’s a vast difference between taking a few photos to remember the concert, and taking tons of pictures and videos during every song. It’s important to live in the moment and experience a concert while you’re there. Going to a concert isn’t an everyday occurrence and should be treated as a special event. Put your cell phone away and live in the present because if you’re at a concert it is a gift.

Eric W. Hoffman

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Commandment #34: Thou Shall Go Out Of Your Comfort Zone

Don’t be scared. Step out of your comfort zone. You might like what you find.

Your comfort zone marks the limits on the things you feel comfortable doing before you feel like digging a hole and crawling into it. Everybody's range of comfort is completely different, but everyone has that range. It’s not always easy, but sometimes going outside your comfort zone can be one of the best experiences of your life.

One way of getting out of your comfort zone is listening to new music. However, learning about a new band or getting hooked on a new genre of music is only the first step. When I was in high school I listened to bands like Three Days Grace, Crossfade, and Eminem. So when I met a new group of friends who listened to mostly hardcore/metal types of music; it was a very big difference. Naturally I started listening to this type of music as well, and when I started going to concerts for this new-found genre of music it was way out of my comfort zone. However, it was one of the greatest choices I ever made. It led to to dozens of concerts and some of the best memories of my life.

I have also been to a few hip-hop shows. Going into my first one I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know if a white kid from the midwest would fit in or be looked at funny. I felt like I would be so out of place, but when I got to the show I realized that just like every show I’d been to, everyone is just there because they love the music. It was a great show and I had so much fun at that concert.

While it may be difficult to go out of your comfort zone it is definitely well worth it. You can discover new, awesome experiences that you wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to try. If you think you wouldn’t fit in at a concert you need to realize that most people at concerts just don’t care. They are mostly going to be indifferent to the people around them and like you will just be there to enjoy the show.

Ben Peshek

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Commandment #24: Tips For Summer Festivals

It’s that time of year again. Flowers are blooming, the temperature is rising, and spending entire days outside sounds pleasant instead of punishing. No not wedding season, it’s music festival season! Governors Ball is this weekend, Bonnaroo is the following weekend, Lollapalooza is the last weekend in June, and there are tons of other festivals happening all over the world all summer long. While you’re getting psyched to see Kanye, Pearl Jam, Disclosure, or almost any other band on the face of the planet there are a few things you should keep in mind. Here are some tips that will make your festival experience much more enjoyable.

BRING PLENTY OF HAND SANITIZER. This tip is paramount to any rule or tip we’ve ever discussed on this blog. Porta poties at festivals are the definition of vile. Even the best porta poties are still reminiscent of Jackson Pollock paintings. Then once you exit the nightmare that is the porta potty and dash over to the portable sink you typically find that it's out of water. Oh the horror! If you follow this rule you'll avoid bacterial diseases scientists can't even identify, and you'll get back to enjoying the festival sooner.

Drink plenty of water. Much like Wu-Tang Clan, sun sickness and dehydration "ain’t nuthing ta f’ wit." Don't risk ruining your awesome festival experience by getting sick. Most festivals distribute free water (and if they don't that should be illegal), so you have no reason not to stay hydrated. Drink more water than you even think you need. If you're attending a multiple day festival, and doing all the things that go along with the "festival experience" you're gonna need to take care of yourself a little bit so make sure you drink enough water. Your body will thank you.

Dress properly. You might want to look like Pocahontas, a flower child, or whatever bullshit bohemian trend Free People is trying to sell this year, but don't do that. Wear light colored, lightweight clothing that covers more skin than you think is necessary, and is above all else comfortable. While sandals may seem sensible since you're outside and it's hot, that would end up being a mistake. If you wear sandals your feet will inevitably get dusty, muddy, and disgustingly dirty (See the above paragraph about porta poties). Unless you want to end up with feet like Fred Flintstone put on a pair of worn-in Keds, Vans, or the like.

Plan accordingly. Listen to as many of the bands playing the festival as you can before going to the festival. I suggest making a huge Spotify playlist that has songs from all the bands. After listening to the bands, plan out which sets you want to see before you get to the festival. Make sure you share this list with your friends so that you’re all on the same page as far as which sets are must see. Also, plan breaks for eating, and if you're attending a festival for three or more days you're going to need to take some breaks from the music to sit in the shade and recuperate.

Don’t lose your friends. Try your hardest not to split up with your friends because it's nearly impossible to find them later. If splitting up becomes absolutely necessary pick a stationary location and set up a time when you'll meet. Here are some dos and don'ts:

Do: “Meet me at the first aid tent’s big white balloon with the red cross on it immediately after Childish Gambino’s set. Don't leave there without me.” Don’t: “K, meet me by the Whatever stage later. K? Byeeeeeeee.”

Music festivals are awesome! Being outside in a beautiful location, with the sun shining on your face somehow makes the music sound better. If you’re attending a music festival for the first time there can be a steep learning curve. After attending seven summer festivals I learned a thing or two and I hope you take my advice into consideration.

Eric W. Hoffman

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Commandment #35: Thou Shall Not Skimp On Coat Check

If this is you at a concert then you better hit the coat check.

Coat check; another vital part of any music venue. It’s just as important as the merch tables, the bathrooms, and even the bar. At times coat check can seem like a frivolous expense that you don’t need to incur because you could hold your coat and bag throughout the entire show. Sure, you could take that coat check money and use it towards something at the merch table or a drink, but that’s a short sighted decision. You should think about spending your money in a way that will provide the most happiness, and the way to experience immediate happiness is by getting that bulky, hot, annoying coat off your back. Just fork over the money, tip well when you get your coat back, and enjoy a show where you're unburdened and free to dance.

This commandment doubly applies if you have a book bag or big purse. I've gone straight from work and school to concerts before, but I’ve never brought my bag to a concert. Either leave your bag at the office or pony up the dough for coat check. Book bags get in other people's way when you're weaving your way through the crowd, people can trip on them if you take them off between sets, and they can rub up against people when you're jumping around. Bags at concerts are a nuisance.

Concerts are one of the few places where you can be free to sing, dance, and act like a fool. Why would you want to jeopardize that feeling of freedom? Take your coat and belongings to the lovely coat check, abandon your worries, and enjoy the concert.

Eric W. Hoffman

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Commandment #2: Thou Shall Get A Haircut (You Know, If It’s Needed)

Who wore it better?

Shakespeare once said “clothes make the man.” While that’s true we’d like to suggest that hair is just as important as the clothing you wear at a concert. In previous posts we’ve discussed important rules you should follow when it comes to your fashion choices, but your hair is something that needs just as much attention.

Back in the day (around 2005) Emo and all it’s sub genres were all the rage. You couldn’t listen to the radio for more than a few minutes without hearing some lead singer with long bangs in his eyes passionately howl things like “Cut my wrists and black my eyes. So I can fall asleep tonight, or die.” Bands like Hawthorne Heights, Taking Back Sunday, Thursday, My Chemical Romance and plenty of other bands were the most popular bands in the country and many of their members had long hair and long bangs obscuring their views of how popular they actually were. Regular teenage boys wore super tight pants (sometimes actual girl’s pants), more black clothing than they needed to, and refused to cut their hair. This look was ubiquitous at my high school and I assume every high school in the country. These bands inspired this style, and it’s cool if you’re a dude traveling around the country in a van and working only after 7pm, but if you’re a regular person it was stupid. I remember going to a concert during this era where I saw a guy who looked like he stepped right off the cover of Emo Kid Magazine; tight pants, band t-shirt, and of course long bangs that were perfectly cut to cover one of his eyes. I had no qualms with this dude until I saw him go into the mosh pit. During his mosh session he held his “emo swoop” in place whilst moshing! This dude couldn’t bear for his emo swoop to fall out of place even for a second. Obviously, this was completely ridiculous and NOT OK. I would have given anything at that moment to be given a pair of scissors so that I could cut that emo swoop right off his head.

On this blog it is one of our highest creeds that you shouldn’t do anything to harm your fellow concert goer. We’ve talked about the need to smell good, how important it is to keep your opinion to yourself, and how no one should sing louder than the band. Since concerts can be as tightly packed as a dude wearing girl pants, people with long hair can negatively affect their fellow concert goer. Sometimes concerts are so crowded zero personal space is given. If you have long hair, and you’re going to jump around make sure you aren’t hitting people with your hair. It’s just obnoxious. I don’t need to be choking on your hair while we’re jumping around to our favorite songs. Also, if your hair smells bad then it’s a double whammy of unacceptable concert behavior. Maybe you don’t need a haircut in this situation, but at least bring a hair tie or a scrunchie.

Your hairstyle at a concert isn’t really about you; it’s more about the people around you and how it can affect them. Don’t distract people with your ridiculous hair, or how preciously you treat your hair, and don’t let your long hair be all over another person’s face. We think Shakespeare is on our side with this one. Clothes (and hair) make the man.

Eric W. Hoffman

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Commandment #33: Thou Shall Support Your Local Venues

Here's a peek inside my favorite local venue Baby's All Right.

It’s Friday night. You don’t have anything planned and all your friends are being lame, but you want to go out. You could go to your local bar and have a regular old Friday night that you’ve had many times before, or you could check out a local venue and see a band. In Brooklyn you could go to Saint Vitus and catch a metal show, Baby’s All Right for an indie rock/pop show, or even Output for some EDM. You gauge your mood, choose your venue, and head off to the show. You get to the venue, some band you’ve never heard of is playing, but it doesn’t matter. Not knowing the band actually makes the night even more exciting. You could be seeing a band that becomes the next Black Keys, Vampire Weekend, or Skrillex.

Whether or not the band is good doesn’t actually matter. Even if the band isn’t that good you leave with a story to tell your friends. Like this one time I saw a band that got on stage wearing really nice suits. I didn’t listen to any of the band’s songs before going to the show so I expected them to play some nice, chill Indie Rock. They were very polite and thanked everyone for coming to the show, and then burst into this super aggressive metal song. For thirty straight minutes they jumped around like madmen and wailed like banshees. It was not a good show, and I don’t think they are going to sell albums like T-swift, but at least I got a good story to tell my friends (and write on my blog). On the flip side you could also see a band that you legitimately enjoy. Maybe you’ll talk to the band, buy some of their merch, and start following their career. On top of that you’ll have had a fun evening, you’ll be helping a band live out their dreams of performing, and you’ll be supporting a small, local business.

Besides ensuring that you’ll have a night that’s much less predictable than sitting at your local bar with the same old regulars, supporting local venues is good for your community. Small clubs are owned by regular people who put their heart and often their life savings into keeping a venue alive. House of Blues, for example, is a huge conglomerate. They have venues in nearly a dozen cities. In 2015 their parent company Live Nation "owned, leased, and had booking rights for and/or had an equity interest in" over 100 venues in the United States. In 2011 they earned a revenue of over five billion dollars. Meanwhile your favorite local venue is probably just making enough money to keep the lights on. When a name brand venue comes to your city there is no question that it affects small venues. Instead of going to your local dive bar to see live music many people would rather go to a shiny new venue that’s pristine, clean, and even has bathroom attendants. I understand that mentality. It’s nice to go to a venue that doesn’t have gum from 1992 stuck to the floor, but at the same time there’s something endearing about that gum from 1992. Maybe the person chewing that gum saw The Flaming Lips years before they became popular and started headlining festivals.

In Brooklyn over the last few years there have been a dearth of local venues that have closed. Rest In Peace to Trash Bar, Goodbye Blue Monday, Glasslands, and others. The main reason for these closures hasn’t been large conglomerates moving in, but the skyrocketing price of rent. These were small businesses run by regular people. They provided many good nights for the local music fan who was looking for something to do, wanted to see a band they were into, or were seeing a friend’s band. It’s sad that these venues closed. It’s worse because this situation wasn’t caused purely by lack of interest from fans, but instead by greedy landlords that would rather make more money selling their property to make way for fancy condos or some other venture that makes them more money. Concert venues are centers for art and cultural enrichment. Their value is so much more than monetary.

Next Friday night (or any night really) check out a local venue. You’ll be supporting small businesses, artists that are on the rise, and will see a performance that good or bad will be memorable.

Eric W. Hoffman

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Commandment #30: Thou Shall Let the Band do the Singing

We have talked about how hard it is to get concert tickets and how expensive they can be, so when I do get to attend a concert I would really like to hear the singer sing my favorite songs.

I am a terrible singer. I know that this is the case and have come to terms with it after years of disappointing attempts. However, when I attend concerts I have found that not everyone has made this realization about themselves yet and they really should. When the band starts rocking out to my favorite song, I don’t want to hear some 15 year old girl screaming it into my ear like a howler monkey. I would much rather hear the band play it and feed off their energy. It is distracting and honestly quite annoying when someone else sings it.

It is even more annoying when someone tries to sing and doesn’t know all the words. Hearing someone mumble line after line when the only words they know are the ones that rhyme can be as annoying as having the WiFi cut out when you're binge watching Netflix. If you are going to sing (which you shouldn’t) at least do it to songs you know the words to.

Now, I absolutely realize that people are going to sing at concerts. I suppose it’s a way to show off how big of a fan you are or something along those lines. However, it’s important to pick your moments. If you are up front and the lead singer puts the mic in your face then sing your freaking heart out (and really hope you know the words). Also, if the song has some sing-along parts then by all means join the crowd and belt it out to your heart's content. Just don’t be the only one singing at top of your lungs and annoying everyone around you.

I know that this may seem like I am trying to ruin your fun when you go to a concert, but this blog is all about making sure you have a great time as well as making sure that everyone around you is having just as much fun. You don’t want to be the reason that someone else has a poor concert experience.

Ben Peshek

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Commandment #31: Thou Shall Respect the Openers

Even if an opening act is as bad as these guys you should still respect them.

Scenario; you walk into a venue to see your favorite band. You are so excited to see them and you just can’t wait any longer. But then you remember that you have to wait through two hours of opening bands that you don’t know and don’t really want to hear. You just want them to get off the stage so the band you love can start playing.

I feel like this has happened to just about everyone who regularly attends concerts, and those two hours waiting for the band you want to see can last longer than waiting in line at the BMV (or DMV depending on what state you live in). Unfortunately, most openers that you haven’t heard of turn out to sound like nails on a chalkboard. It can be excruciating to sit/stand through their set. However, it is important that you at least give them a chance, or at least keep your opinion to yourself. One time I was watching an opener and heard someone in front of me comment on how terrible the band was (and admittedly they weren’t great). However, what the person who said this didn’t know was that they were a local band with some loyal friends and fans around. This comment came close to starting a fight just because this person couldn’t keep their opinion to themselves.

It’s also important to remember that even though a band may not be great they still could have special meaning to an individual. As someone whose life has been saved through music, I can vouch for this. Certain songs and bands can hold special meaning for someone even if they aren’t that great of songs. So it’s important to think about this when yelling out your opinions around other people. If you dislike them just talk about it amongst your friends after they are done playing. There’s no reason to yell out your opinion for everyone to hear.

Now sure there are times when the openers can be really awesome. Either you already know them or they are a band you have never heard of that absolutey amazes you. I can remember going to see the Swedish band Blindside. They pretty much never tour in the US and when they do it’s never near where I live. We drove four hours to go see them and when we got there I just wanted them to play for the full concert. However, that obviously wasn’t the case. There were two openers: INTOHIMO and Write This Down. While those bands didn’t overshadow how much I wanted to see Blindside, I was still amazed at how good and polished these openers were. I ended up buying all their albums just from seeing them that night. It was the first time that an opener has made me want to buy all their music just from one show, and it’s all the more impressive considering from the start I just wanted them to get off the stage.

I’m not saying that you need to like every opening band that you listen to, but it can be very important that you actually give these bands a chance. Even your favorite band was an opener at some point so give them a listen. It’s not easy to write songs and even harder to get up on stage and perform them in front of complete strangers. So if nothing else respect the courage that a band has. You never know when you could find a band that could become a new favorite. You also never know when someone around you could love a band you don’t like, so just be respectful.

Ben Peshek

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Commandment #32: Thou Shall Buy Tickets As Soon As You Can

My first reaction when I don’t get the concert tickets I want.

Say you hear that your favorite band is coming town. It could be a young band that is just on the cusp of becoming a household name, someone like Hinds, or maybe it’s a band that everyone and their mother knows about, say Radiohead. You’re obviously psyched. You see that tickets go on sale at noon on Friday. You set up reminders on your phone, you get your credit card ready, and you’re confident that you’re going to check an item off your bucket list. You get thrown off your game a little and have to get on Ticketmaster at 12:02. Your mind is racing like you just drank a six pack of red bull and let's be honest you're sweating a little bit. You say a quick prayer to the gods of high speed internet, but that little loading circle that keeps spinning while trying to find your tickets makes your heart beat faster than Jordan Mancino playing double kick drums. After what seems like an eternity the cruel sirens that run Ticketmaster tell you that all the tickets are sold out. When it comes to pure joy Ticketmaster giveth and Ticketmaster taketh away.

I can’t tell you how many times this has happened to me. Actually I can; literally two times in the last three weeks when I tried to get Radiohead and LCD Soundsystem tickets. These events may or may not have caused me to cry at my job.

When I moved to New York City among the many important lessons I learned one was that I had to buy concert tickets the day they went on sale. This was completely different than what I had done in Cleveland. I think in all the years I lived in Cleveland I was only shut out of one show I wanted to go to because it sold out. Due to the sheer number of people that live in and around New York City almost every concert that happens at one of the main venues (Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center, and anything owned by Bowery Presents) will sell out. Because of this I’ve trained myself to buy tickets the minute they go on sale. True story: I once bought Arcade Fire tickets the day they went on sale and the show was nine months away. The show sold out very quickly, and waiting for that show to actually happen was torture, but it was an incredible show that I’ll never forget.

Another thing that can happen is shows will sell out before you even like a band. Last spring I got really into Courtney Barnett and Jamie XX. Both came out with incredible albums last year and both played shows in New York last Spring. By the time I found out how awesome they were the shows were already sold out.

Unfortunately, I don’t really have any good ideas on how to get tickets for concerts (and even if I did I’m not sure I’d tell you). Besides setting up calendar reminders in your phone, and being proactive in making sure your schedule is open during onsale times there isn’t much you can do. Sometimes it’s just luck of the draw who gets to buy tickets. It’s a sad fact of life, but all of us will be forced to miss concerts that we want to go to.

Whether it’s because of a lack of available money, you missed the onsale time, or misjudged the popularity of the band and the likelihood the show would sell out it’s possible you can be left out in the cold without a ticket when your favorite band comes to town. After your tears dry and your fits of rage subside there isn’t much you can do. You could try to buy resale tickets, but that’s as risky as trusting Donald Trump with the fate of our country. I’ve had friends that bought bogus tickets, and some tickets now are non-transferable, meaning the original person that bought the tickets must present their credit card and photo ID to get into the concert.

There are only two sensible things to do when you aren’t lucky enough to get the concert tickets you wanted. You can frantically ask your friends if they got an extra ticket and would let you buy it from them, or you could simply wait until the next time the band comes to town. Most bands don’t break up forever. This year alone LCD Soundsystem, Thrice, and Underoath got back together. If on the other hand you missed an up and coming band they will undoubtedly come back, albeit probably at a bigger, less intimate and more expensive venue. Take Courtney Barnett. Remember when I said I missed her last spring? She came to Brooklyn in the Fall and I was lucky enough to see her (you can read about that concert here). Even if you miss a band a couple of times maybe they will be like the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, or Paul McCartney who combined have put on an incalculable number of concerts and will probably tour until they can't sashay across the stage, their fingers can't form guitar chords, and they can no longer hit the notes they used to sing.

It sucks when you can't get tickets to see a band that you have been dying to see, and it's hard to get over that initial disappointment. All that you can do is try your hardest to get the concert tickets you want, and if you get shut out don’t fret because it’s likely that another opportunity will come up to see the band you love.

Eric W. Hoffman

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Commandment #9: Thou Shall Know the Fashion Rules

The Merch Booth. Where our entire paychecks find new homes.

Most rules at concerts are there to keep you safe and make sure you have a good time. This one exists simply to make sure that you look good when you’re having fun at a concert.

Many people who go to concerts have t-shirts from those shows or from the bands that they love. It makes complete sense to showcase your passion for a certain band or type of music all over your clothing. There is however one time that you shouldn’t wear those shirts; when you are going to see the band that is on the shirt.

When going to shows I have always believed in the rule that it is OK to wear band shirts as long as they aren’t for the band you are going to see. Wearing a shirt of a band that is playing that night seems tacky. Everyone knows (or at least assumes) that you like the band playing or else you probably wouldn’t be at that show. No shit you like that band, so does everyone in the room. So wear a shirt of another band that you enjoy that is in a similar genre of music. Or just wear a random shirt for that matter. I have seen people at hardcore concerts wearing hip-hop t-shirts. Be unique and original with it, just whatever you do don’t wear that band’s shirt.

With that said there is one time when it is OK to wear the shirt of the band you are there to see. The only time it is acceptable to wear the shirt is if you bought it at the show. No one wants to stand through an entire show with a shirt on their shoulder or holding on to it. So just throw it on over whatever you are wearing and make your life easier.

The other article of clothing that is never OK to wear to an indoor concert is sandals. While it may be alright to rock some sandals at an outdoor concert/festival (as long as you stay in a more open area away from dense crowds) they should never be worn to an indoor concert. It is always much too crowded and there is a very good chance that your feet will be stepped on and that will definitely hurt. There is also so much moving around at concerts that it seems more practical to wear something that is a bit more comfortable. The last reason to avoid wearing sandals at a concert venue is because the venue floor is generally gross. There's always beer spilled on the floor which probably hasn't been (properly) cleaned since the Reagan administration. It's basically like the floors at every frat house. Would you wear sandals there? (If you answered yes to that question I think you should reevaluate some life choices.) Unless dirty, Fred Flintstone feet are your thing you should probably wear actual shoes to a concert.

It’s pretty simple; these rules will help you look cool and keep your feet from incurring broken toes and keep layers of dirt off them. Both of which are never fun for anyone.

Ben Peshek

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Commandment #28: Thou Shall Support Local Artists

Even these guys were once a local band in Liverpool.

It takes a village to raise a child but it also takes a city to raise a band. I feel a very undervalued element of any music scene is support of its local artists. The idea of supporting local artists bridges both music and any art form, be it painting, poetry or sculpture. Regardless of context, it must be remembered that art in any form is an active experience and participation is never static.

It may be something you’ve never thought of before but, being someone who works with local artists, it bears to mention; all famous artists were once unknowns. Really let that sink in. Art is a labor of love and the fruits of that labor are often seen without knowing the hard work that went into creating it. The hours of toil and struggle, perfecting and refining the skills, honing talent, and pushing the art form forward. The outsiders don't see the blood and sweat that are needed to create your art, and the endless touring and the concerts where you only play for yourself and the bartender. All of these struggles push the mind and body to new heights and some can't take it, but others have the passion to push through. It’s up to the community to seek out these artists, BUY THEIR MUSIC, go to shows, and support what's out there in our own backyard. I stress buying music because that's what enables artists to tour. Sadly, since the introduction of digital recording, reproduction, and the internet, no one collects checks anymore on record sales, and artists are surviving on touring and maybe the occasional royalty check.

Famous French Dadaist artist Marcel Duchamp had a philosophy that an artist’s work is never fully finished until consumed by their audience, be it a crowd listening to music, viewing a painting, or any other artistic act. Without the audience, we cannot exist as artists. The audience to artist relationship is a symbiotic relationship where both rely on each other to survive. Many people do their art for themselves, but there’s no greater feeling than seeing real time feedback of people’s reactions and faces while they experience your art.

The local artist makes it a point to be in the local scenes, bringing up artists with them and opening each other's shows. This creates a base of artists that can be openers for more established bands, which in turn exposes young, up-and-coming bands to audiences that might not know them. Thus is the circle of life for a band. A good friend of mine started Jam and Band Practice Nights to allow bands to experience each other’s talents and audiences. It’s about harboring each other's creative talents and showcasing skills as well as creating a sense of community and mutual respect for each other's art.

We need to be there to support our artists, help in their push for fame, and help them achieve their goals. If you like their music, meet the bands, buy their records, support them and spread their music to others. There is no better feeling than being told “Hey, I really like your music and my friend so-and-so told me about you guys.” When your hard earned cash is helping others support their dreams, those dollars go farther. Remember, your dreams require work and the support of others, and an artist’s is no different. So, next time you’re out and about and see a local kid putting on a show, just stop in and look around. You’d be amazed at the quality that’s out there. If you take some time to open your mind and ears, you can find superstar talent right in your own backyard.

Joshua Suhy

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My First Concert: Vol. 4

Remember the good ole days of Six Flags?

Michelle Branch and Vanessa Carlton June 2002 Six Flag Worlds of Adventure in Aurora, Ohio

My first live music concert was actually by accident. I wasn't exactly cool in June of 2002. I was just finishing my freshman year of high school and working on a learner's permit, but what my best friend and I did think was cool was riding roller coasters every week with our summer passes to Six Flags.

So first off, apparently the roller coaster fanatics called our local park SFWoA... Or Worlds of Adventure (while the purists would call this park Geagua Lake). It was only 30 minutes from home and just about the best place to spend a summer.

Anyway, about the music! Six Flags was having free concerts during the summer (when you paid admission to the park). The park brought in Michelle Branch and Vanessa Carlton to SFWoA this particular summer. Without knowing what to do at a live show or knowing either of the artists, we filed into the metal bleachers and sat for the show. We soon became the perfect teens for a female pop-rock show. Instantly we started dancing, clapping, and even "wooing" in between sets. Vanessa Carlton was very "tough girl cool" and Michelle Branch was the good girl of pop. We left the show with a new energy and passion for music, singing the new songs we learned on the car ride home, and running into FYE (that was a CD store, remember those?) to buy both of the albums to share with our friends. We then of course went on to be 15 year old high schoolers bragging to our friends when their songs were on TRL (Total Request Live, remember Carson Daly, or MTV when they occasionally played music videos?!), and that we saw the artists live x-number of months ago. As for any details of the music and the songs they played, we were young, it was fun, and that's all I remember.

Whether you remember all the songs or not there is always something that you remember from a first concert. It may be the energy of the crowd or the way the band plays together, but it will always remain with you for the rest of your life.

Leigh Ann Fisler

[concertcommandments-blog]

Commandment #27: Thou Shall Match the Energy of Those Around You

If you’re this into the band that's playing you better make your way to the front of the crowd.

People generally congregate in specific parts of every venue. A simple rule of thumb is that the more interested/passionate you are the closer to the stage you are. It stands to reason then that the most passionate fans are at the front of the venue, right on the stage. They got to the venue hours early, never leave their position at the front of the stage (no matter how bad they have to pee), and will actually fight you to retain their place. Never try to take someone’s place at the front of the stage unless you are prepared to battle them.

In the middle of the venue there are two types of people. These people are either interested in the band that’s playing, but not interested or energetic enough to get to the front of the stage, or these are the people that are moshing. Both groups of people know their spot in the venue and are comfortable staying in their zone.

In the back of the venue you have casual listeners. These people mostly came to the show to hangout. They know the bands that are playing, and are excited to see them, but they just want to relax and enjoy the show.

This is the set-up I’ve experienced at almost every show I’ve ever seen. Most of the time it works out really well for everyone. People can enjoy the concert in whatever way they want, with people who are just as enthusiastic as they are. Occasionally, there will be a few people who are outliers and are seemingly oblivious to this agreed upon venue layout. It happens most often when I’m in the back of a venue just hanging out and watching a band I like. All of a sudden the person right in front of me will get all hyped up, begin screaming lyrics to their favorite songs, and dance like a drunken toddler. While I’m glad this person is having a good time it kind of ruins my concert experience. I just wanted to chill and the person in front of me, usually surrounded by tons of other people who want to chill, is having a one person rager. I’ve also been at concerts, completely minding my own business and just hanging out, when people will try to start a mosh pit around me. Once again, there is a time and more specifically a place for moshing. That time and place is not at the back of a venue during a relatively chill song. It’s not that I’m annoyed or offended by these people's’ behavior, it’s that behavior like that is completely acceptable and encouraged in a different part of the venue. If you’re really into a band that’s playing then try to get closer to the stage or find your way to the middle of the venue where everyone is moshing. It’s really not that hard.

It can be difficult to find your place in this world, and the same can be said for finding your place at a concert. If you adhere to the venue layout discussed in this post you and everyone around you will have a better time at the concert.

Eric W. Hoffman

[concertcommandments-blog]

My First Concert: Vol. 3

Slipknot, Fear Factory, Chimaira, 40 Below Summer April 17, 2004 Tower City Amphitheatre in Cleveland, Ohio

I grew up listening to classic rock and oldies with my family. My mom’s favorite band was The Beatles and so, not surprisingly, my favorite band became The Beatles as well. As I grew up I branched out to more of an alternative rock catalogue, and it wasn’t until my freshman year of high school when I first heard the song "Linchpin" by Fear Factory which opened my mind to the world of metal. I had never heard anything so equally devastating and infectious. From that moment I was hooked.

For the subsequent years I constantly begged my family to let me see some of these bands live. I was always greeted with the explanation that I could not attend these shows because they were in bars and my family didn’t want me in places like that. I then heard of a show that was taking place at Tower City Amphitheatre and knew it was my opportunity to FINALLY see some of my favorite bands. My family finally relented, most likely to stop having to deal with my constant requests, and allowed me to attend the Jägermeister Music Tour on April 17, 2004. Playing that show were four bands that I had grown to love: 40 Below Summer, Chimaira, Fear Factory, and Slipknot.

I arrived to Tower City with a large contingent of friends and just had to take my time looking around in order to take it all in. Here was a sea of people who were all equally as excited for this event as I was, were dressed in all black or at least wearing a band shirt of their choosing, and were there because they too felt an attachment to metal. As 40 Below Summer began to play I remember just being overwhelmed with how LOUD everything was. I knew their songs, but had never heard them like this. Then the hometown heroes Chimaira took the stage and I felt I had never truly experienced chaos before that moment. The band ripped through their crushing brand of thrash and industrial infused nu metal which gripped me and wouldn’t let go. It was during their set that I experienced my first “wall of death” and it was an experience beyond words. To have an entire venue split in two and then launch themselves back into each other was a terrifying rush that ended with pulling my friends out of piles of other people only to get ready for the next song and the next moment to mosh. Fear Factory played as main support and I felt like I was the only one of my friends who really cared about them. This was the band that was THE reason for me being involved in this scene at all, so I took in every pummeling note and relished every shift from guttural growl to soaring melodic chorus. It was the first time I saw a group that I considered to be heroes and it’s a feeling that I still haven’t gotten used to.

Finally, it was time for the headliner and I didn’t feel I was prepared for it. I had listened to Slipknot for years, but I had never experienced Slipknot. The band opened with “(Sic)” and the entire venue went completely insane. There wasn’t an inch of the giant place that wasn’t moving in some way. Crowd response to this band’s ferocity was awe-inspiring. I was too far back in the crowd, and too involved in the massive mosh pit to see everything that was going on, but I could hear the massive sound coming from all around me. At that moment, I knew I had found something that I truly loved. I had never felt freer, I had never felt such a catharsis, and I had never experienced more comradery with a multitude of complete strangers. This was the original concert moment that would be followed by what has literally become more than thousands of incredible moments in my life.

If you’ve never seen a metal or hardcore show, do it. You have been missing out.

Matt Hayward

[concertcommandments-blog]

Commandment #20:Thou shall know the bands playing the concert

If your friends jumped off a bridge (to go see a concert) would you jump?

It’s always awesome to be invited to a concert by a friend. Even if they're trying to get rid of an extra ticket they bought it still means on some level that they want to hangout with you at a really fun event. While I'm a proponent of the idea that everyone should say yes to every experience or opportunity they're offered (ok maybe not every opportunity, but at least say yes more often than no), going to a concert is one scenario where discretion should be advised.

I've gone to shows with people and the only thing they knew was the name of the headliners. Always listen to a band before you decide to go see them. With services like Spotify, YouTube and Soundcloud (heck, go to their MySpace if that’s still a thing) almost every band or artist out there has some music online. Check out as much of their music as you can before deciding to go to the concert. This applies for opening acts too. Take time and learn what the bands sound like, otherwise you're just going on your friends loose endorsement of the bands (and I've met your friends, you should be weary of their advice). If you don’t listen to the bands you’re about to see there is no way of knowing if you’ll like them. You may even hate their music. This could result in a waste of your time and money.

Even if you’re ok with wasting your time and money there’s another reason you should listen to bands before you see them. If you go to a show with a friend who is having the time of their life, and you’re just hanging out you may not realize it, but you are harshing your friends mellow. Don’t be a Debbie Downer around your friend when they’re trying to enjoy a concert. If you’re not having fun at a concert a good friend will feel guilty and try to make you happier. Don’t force your friend to remove themselves from the concert and check-up on you. As a wise man (Kendrick Lamar) once said, “Bitch, don’t kill my vibe."

Lastly, if you don’t listen to every one of the bands that are playing one of the openers could sound nothing like the headliners. This happened to me once when I decided to see a show while on vacation in Kingston, New York. The headlining band was this cool indie rock band, so I assumed the rest of the bands would sound like that too. What I did not know was that the first band to play was a hardcore, metal band. I was not offended by the band’s musical stylings, but the girlfriend I was vacationing with was not super pleased. It didn’t ruin the entire concert for us because the other bands were pretty cool, but we should have done our due diligence and listened to all of the bands before committing to the concert.

Going to a concert is making a commitment, and because of that you should not waste your money, your time, or your friends time. Before committing to a concert you should absolutely know what you’re getting yourself into. Give all of the bands a few listens before you decide to spend your time and money on them. If you do, you and your friends are bound to have a better time.

Eric W. Hoffman

[concertcommandments-blog]

My First Concert: Vol. 2

Atreyu, Unearth, Norma Jean, Scars of Tomorrow 3/15/05 House of Blues in Cleveland, OH

My early musical tastes, like many people’s I imagine, came from what I listened to on rides in the car with my parents or what my older sibling listened to. So going into my first years of high school I was a big fan of alternative rock (Third Eye Blind, Our Lady Peace, etc.) from my parents, and rap (Eminem, Dr. Dre, and Nelly) from my brother. When I met my group of friends in high school they changed my taste in music. I went from slow, alt-rock to the heaviest music that I had ever heard in my entire life (and now I realize that wasn’t even that heavy). So when my friends invited me to go to a hardcore concert I figured why not?

Driving to the venue with people who had been to many concerts before, I felt like the outsider. They talked about their favorite concerts and listened to all their favorite songs from the bands that we were on our way to see. I, meanwhile, sat in the back seat and didn’t know any of the songs or have any concert moments of my own to share. But from the moment that we got to House of Blues I felt that camaraderie that people feel when sharing a bond. I understood how they had all the stories about the concerts that they had shared.

Once the bands started to play there was an energy in the room that I had never felt before. The sheer loudness of the first notes were shocking. Scars of Tomorrow was the opener and I really don’t remember much from them because at the time I was just trying to take everything in.

When Norma Jean came on I was much more excited. I knew some of their songs, and based on movies that I had seen, I was expecting the songs to sound exactly like they did on their albums. I was in for a big surprise. Norma Jean was absolutely insane. Their album O God, The Aftermath had just come out which was the craziest album they had ever released. Within the first song the members of the band were climbing on top of their speakers, jumping into the crowd, and throwing their instruments up in the air. It was a sensory overload that my mind was not ready for. When they played the first song that I knew, I didn’t even recognize it until more than halfway through the song. The feedback and distortion made it like a brand new song.

By the time that Unearth hit the stage many of my friends had been hit in the head by people in the mosh pit or kicked in the face by crowd surfers wearing combat boots. I was exhausted just from the sheer energy of Norma Jean, however unlike Norma Jean, who was barely controlled chaos, Unearth was much more methodic metal. With lyrics much easier for someone just getting into screaming music to understand, they had a much chiller vibe about them (which I didn’t think possible for heavy music).

It was then Atreyu’s turn to play and they caused a whole different type of sensory overload. They traded the brutal chords and absolute insanity of Norma Jean for a lightshow that made it impossible to even see the band. They had strobe lights behind the band that made everyone in the crowd see nothing but sunspots and reduced the band to nothing but silhouettes. Even with that they were the first band that the crowd was able to sing along with. They were the only band that night that sings as well as screams and it completely changed the dynamic of the crowd. With the crowd singing along and seemingly everyone knowing the words it was so loud and there was so much happening that I couldn’t take everything in. Everywhere I looked was something that my sheltered brain had never seen before. It was madness and chaos that I had only seen in giant movie brawls. Everybody was moving around whether it was in the mosh pit or just jumping in place.

After leaving this show I just wanted to go to another. There was, and still is, nothing like the energy and feel from a live show. I will always recommend that every person attend a live show no matter what their taste in music. It is a memory that I will never forget and it will always be one of my favorite nights of my life.

Ben Peshek

[concertcommandments-blog]

Commandment #3: Thou Shall Not Mosh Just to Look Cool

Mosh pits are something that everyone who has gone to a heavy metal show has experienced. Sometimes the experience is just watching the chaos from the outside and other times it’s saying screw it and jumping into the fray (which is not always planned). But the fact is that mosh pits (much like crowd surfing) has restrictions on when they should be enjoyed and who should enjoy them.

First off, it’s important to be prepared for a mosh pit. You should think about if there is a chance that a mosh pit could erupt at a show so that it can be avoided if you don’t want to be a part of it. Generally if you are trying to avoid the mosh pit stay out of the middle of the venue floor. This is the most likely place for a mosh pit to erupt, but there is always a chance for a pit to appear anywhere so you need to keep your head on a swivel. Also if you are standing on the outside edge of a mosh pit know that you are going to have to watch the people in the mosh pit and not the concert. So if you are there to just watch the show the edge of the mosh pit is not going to be the best place to stand.

If you do decide to join in the melee, there are some rules that should be followed. First of all, and just to get it out of the way, mosh pits aren’t really the best place for women. I know this sounds sexist, but it’s not. The fact is that when it gets crazy in the mosh pit it isn’t easy for someone to see when flailing limbs are rocketing towards their face. It’s entirely possible that you will get punched and no respectable guy would ever want to hit a girl.

Another rule for moshing is one that makes me love the atmosphere of concerts. It happens that people get knocked down in middle of mosh pits. It can be a terrifying experience I would imagine. But every time someone gets knocked down people always help that person up. It is the same if someone loses a wallet or a shoe people always hold it up so the person can find it. It’s that kind of camaraderie that makes concerts awesome.

A very important thing to also remember is that mosh pits can be great fun in the right setting. However there are people who think that any concert is a good place for a mosh pit. This just is not the case. I have seen people try to start mosh pits at shows for bands like mewithoutYou and Murder By Death. Some types of music just aren’t right for moshing and others are. If a band isn’t heavy it’s a safe bet that you shouldn’t be moshing.

So the most important thing to remember is that if you don’t want to be a part of the mosh pit then keep your eyes open and stay away from the middle of the venue. If you do want to mosh then enjoy, be safe, and remember to help people who fall down or lose things and hopefully people will always do the same for you.

Ben Peshek