60's audiences

[merciful-evans]

60’s audiences

 

In truth I have no personal experience as I started going to concerts & parties in 1970, but I do recall that in the uk most people stood (or sat) and watched the bands. This was true for both recording artists and local bands.

The reason I mention this now is because I just got a live recording (of old Fleetwood Mac) on CD ‘Live At The Carousel Ballroom 1968’, and the notes include some Peter Green quotes.

 “In England I get bored, not musically, but the so-called blues fans stand there silently, listening. I wish they would let themselves go. In the Fillmore, the Shrine and the Carousel, which are just dancehalls, people come in to enjoy themselves, they shout and let themselves go. They don’t fight like they do over here when it gets crowded.”

 

We knew of course about the US audiences. We read the music press and knew it was in stark contrast to ourselves.

 

Another interesting snippet “When I was with John Mayall, most fans were just frustrated guitarists”. He goes on to say that he disliked this and wished they listened to the lyrics etc. It’s a bit of a sad indictment of uk audiences back then. 

[duane v]

My first concert was the The Letterman and Doc Severinson opened for them.... (1971) and I was 7 years old. I was actually blown away by Doc. 

My Dad in the same year took me to see Andy Williams..... I remembered what a big voice.

[merciful-evans]

You obviously had pretty cool parents Duane. 

 

 

I was 16 in 1970. I had just left school to become an art student. The first name band i saw was Deep Purple at the local Guildhall.

[Notes_Norton]

My first concert was The Kingsmen, we were the warm up band. We did many after that until the band broke up around 1970.

I've been to concerts in US and Europe, although I've never played a concert in Europe. I've seen the difference. In Europe the fans stay quiet and listen to the music intently as a sign of respect as their way of enjoying the music. In the US the fans seem to want to participate with the band.

I don't think either way is right or wrong, just different. As long as they come out and enjoy it in their own way, it's all good.

We've been playing at a particular Yacht Club a couple of times per year for quite a few years now. The first time we gigged there we thought we were bombing. No applause, no reaction except for a few dancers. Then when the night was almost over, people leaving early gave us smiles with big thumbs up or 'silent clapping' gestures, and many of the ones that stayed, thanked us for providing them with a wonderful evening. When we return it's the same reaction and the same people thank us. We look forward to our gigs there.

Insights and incites by Notes

[Navy Vet.]

My first concert was 1967, Birmingham’s Boutwell Auditorium to see the Rockin’ Rebellions. They were a local band. 

[Navy Vet.]

On 7/26/2019 at 10:30 AM, merciful-evans said:

60’s audiences

 

In truth I have no personal experience as I started going to concerts & parties in 1970, but I do recall that in the uk most people stood (or sat) and watched the bands. This was true for both recording artists and local bands.

The reason I mention this now is because I just got a live recording (of old Fleetwood Mac) on CD ‘Live At The Carousel Ballroom 1968’, and the notes include some Peter Green quotes.

 “In England I get bored, not musically, but the so-called blues fans stand there silently, listening. I wish they would let themselves go. In the Fillmore, the Shrine and the Carousel, which are just dancehalls, people come in to enjoy themselves, they shout and let themselves go. They don’t fight like they do over here when it gets crowded.”

 

We knew of course about the US audiences. We read the music press and knew it was in stark contrast to ourselves.

 

Another interesting snippet “When I was with John Mayall, most fans were just frustrated guitarists”. He goes on to say that he disliked this and wished they listened to the lyrics etc. It’s a bit of a sad indictment of uk audiences back then. 

The original Fleetwood Mac, the band Peter Green founded was the best version of Fleetwood Mac in my opinion. Peter Green along with Danny Kerwin and Jeremy Spencer were stellar.  Peter Green was Fleetwood Mac after he left Bob Welch became Fleetwood Mac, and when he left Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks became Fleetwood Mac. 

[merciful-evans]

18 hours ago, Notes_Norton said:

We've been playing at a particular Yacht Club a couple of times per year for quite a few years now. The first time we gigged there we thought we were bombing. No applause, no reaction except for a few dancers. Then when the night was almost over, people leaving early gave us smiles with big thumbs up or 'silent clapping' gestures, and many of the ones that stayed, thanked us for providing them with a wonderful evening. When we return it's the same reaction and the same people thank us. We look forward to our gigs there.

 

Yes the type of venue matters a lot. We gave up the best paying ones (clubs) many years ago because of lack of interaction with the people. It felt like hard work. Pubs and certain private bookings give us a great experience. We dont make any money. There are 7 of us and we play because we like to. I still spend more on gear than I make from gigs. 

I can identify with your Yacht Club experience. We had a very similar experience when we played a charity fund raiser at Southampton Football Club a couple of years ago.

[fretplay]

In the States the audience feel part of the show and not to make noise would be considered rude.  In the UK there is a certain laid back attitude where the audience give off this feeling of, well I could do better even if they don't play themselves they want there fellow audience to think they do.  

[fretplay]

Just an add to my last post, art exhibitions have the same thing. There is a certain kind of person who visit art exhibitions just to say they have been there or as a meeting point before a long lunch with friend.

[Notes_Norton]

In South Florida there are a few concert halls where traveling symphony orchestras from around the world stop while they are on tour.

One is about 50 miles away, and the audience is inconsiderate. They talk during the music, rattle programs, eat candy, leave early, and do other things to disturb Leilani and I who want to hear every nuance of the music. In this community it seems like the people come to be seen instead of to hear the music.

We will drive past this one if they are also playing at another, even as far as 150 miles to be able to hear the quiet parts of the music.

When we hear symphonies in Europe, the audience is always silent when the music is being played. The thunderous applause comes after the piece is finished. This is a better way to listen to classical music.

Perhaps with Europe's longer tradition of classical music than the US, they are in the habit of listening intently during the performance so it just seems like they aren't enjoying themselves.

I guess there is more than one way to enjoy yourself at a concert.

Insights and incites by Notes

[Twang Gang]

What I recall was that the bands were so loud in the sixties it didn't matter how much noise, talking, or beer bottle smashing was going on, nothing was going to drown out the band.  When I was in high school in the suburbs of Chicago there were "teen clubs" places that didn't sell alcohol, and you didn't have to be a minimum age to get in.  Some big names played at them (I recall seeing The Who, and Cream on different occasions) and while there was some dancing and girls screaming none of it was loud enough to interrupt the band.  There were a couple of Chicago based bands that got recording contracts and they played them as well, people like the Buckinghams, and the Shadows of Night.  Once we got to the "stadium" rock shows at huge venues the bands got even louder, you could have 30,000 people there screaming and yelling, but the bands still held the upper hand in volume.

As to my personal experience playing gigs, I played a lot of bars around Chicago and the suburbs.  Some people were just there to drink and could care less if there was a band or not, leave alone what they were playing.  Other crowds wanted to hear some music so if you played things they were familiar with they would sit and listen, or get up and dance.  If you played originals they had better be super good, or you would lose the audience in short order.

[Notes_Norton]

In most of the venues I've played in, the audience prefers memories to originals. However, if you sprinkle in the originals sparingly, among the memories, sooner or later many will warm up to the originals.

Insights and incites by Notes

[Navy Vet.]

23 minutes ago, Notes_Norton said:

In most of the venues I've played in, the audience prefers memories to originals. However, if you sprinkle in the originals sparingly, among the memories, sooner or later many will warm up to the originals.

Insights and incites by Notes

These days I seek out local talent that plays original material. Nashville is a good place to take in local talent. Gil Gann is a local musician in Nashville. Between sets he asked what I wanted to hear, I said original material. He seemed somewhat surprised.

[Notes_Norton]

On 7/30/2019 at 9:54 AM, Navy Vet. said:

These days I seek out local talent that plays original material. Nashville is a good place to take in local talent. Gil Gann is a local musician in Nashville. Between sets he asked what I wanted to hear, I said original material. He seemed somewhat surprised.

That's the difference between a musician listener (you) and the general public.

We listen with musician's ears, and hear different things in the same piece of music.

In most places, the general public wants memories.

Me? I like both, as long as there is something to tickle my brain.

But for the most part, if I go out to hear serious music, it's a symphony orchestra playing a symphony from the romantic era to the present, preferably something dark and moody with plenty of variations of the themes. That tickles my brain.

Insights and incites by Notes

[Navy Vet.]

No doubt music conjures up memories. A certain song will take you back to a particular place and moment. The first song I recall that captured my attention was written and sung by Gale Garnett -We’ll sing in the Sunshine. I was 10 years old, 1964 and my mother kept home from school due to the measles. The intro of the song got my attention and I started to get interested in music. Lots of folks like to stroll down memory lane, I get it.  But I really like to hear what someone can write, sing and preform.  Nothing wrong with covering someone else’s music. But original material is what I like to hear from whomever is on stage.