New Rules: Smartphones and Concerts

I go to a lot of shows. And as an avid concertgoer, I've noticed a near-total loss of common courtesy amongst fellow attendees when it comes to smartphone (and camera) usage at live events. Most recently, I was at an Afghan Whigs show at Terminal 5 when I witnessed some of the most mind-boggling behavior before me.

While the Afghan Whigs were putting on a phenomenal, deep cut-filled rock n roll show, some asshats in front of me were too busy to notice. Why? They were streaming baseball games on their phones. That is, when they weren't busy checking stats on the brightest screen I've seen in my life. During the second song into the set.

After a while, I had to say something. It went a little like this:

Me: "Hey! When you go to baseball games, do you stream live concerts?"
Jerk: "No, but this is the playoffs."
Me: "So?"
Jerk: "So, the Orioles haven't been in the playoffs in 15 years."
[My friend chimes in]: "The Afghan Whigs haven't played in 15 years!" 

Amazingly, I guilted him into walking away. But for every one guy who figures out they're not the only one distracted by his phone screen at a sold-out show, there are tens of thousands who think paying for a ticket (or getting on a guest list) entitles them to act as if they're the only ones in the audience.

Perhaps I'm extra sensitive because of my 5'3" stature and it's hard enough to find an unobstructed view without winding up standing behind That Guy. The problem is, everyone is turning into That Guy. It might be time for some new rules.

The New Etiquette for Using Tech Toys at Concerts

1. Even though you spent two grand on a tricked-out DSLR, you are not entitled to shove past people to get a vantage point to shoot. If you're on assignment, get there early. If you must squeeze in somewhere, ask nicely, take your shot and get out of the way.

2. There's nothing wrong with taking a couple of snapshots for posterity (and Instagram), but quit it after a couple of shots. You're not selling these pics to Rolling Stone. Put down your iPhone and just watch the show.

3. Stop recording videos at shows. In addition to spending all your time staring at the tiny screen instead of, say, the band playing in front of you, you wind up obscuring the view of everyone behind you. And really, do you want to spend the entire night raising your hand like you're Sure? 

4. Oh, is it just your favorite song you'd like to capture? Try holding the camera upward within the frame of your body so the people behind you don't become distracted by this whole ordeal.

5. Turn down the brightness on your phone. When a venue's lights are dimmed, your bright-ass phone becomes that much more distracting. 

6. Save the Facebook and Twitter scrolling for in between acts. Beyond the fact that this is the ultimate insult to the band onstage, aren't you embarrassed to be doing it during a performance? I would be.

7. Learn from the tale of my sports-loving brethren: Live in the moment and leave all other streaming events at the door. So what if you're bored or can "multitask"? The rest of us shouldn't be forced to.

8. If you do any of the above with an iPad, the person behind you should be allowed to take said tablet out of your hands and hit you upside the head with it.

Deftones in Leathers

Today, I used an exclamation point in a personal tweet. Why? "Leathers," the first release from the Deftones' forthcoming album, Koi No Yokan (presumably not named after Gary) became available for free download at deftones.com.

This is promising.

Into Another's T.A.I.L. Video

Not a bad way to cap off the night... and get me excited for their October shows. Below is the recently unearthed video for Into Another's "T.A.I.L." Such wonderful weirdness.

Think Into Another will play a longer set at Saint Vitus the night before their headlining spot at Revelation 25? Still can't believe that event is the same weekend as NY Comic Con.

The Slipper Room is Open For Metal

The Slipper Room circa 2006; photo stolen from Flickr user CocteauBoy

Everyone who visited the Slipper Room had a good time. When it opened in 1999, the Lower East Side lounge was on the forefront of the burlesque movement long before it became a "thing." Over the years, I attended some pretty ridiculous blowout birthday parties and private industry events there—not to mention one lesbian bachelorette party during which a striptease dancer performed a stunning interpretation of her infatuation with a Mr. Potatohead figure.

But it was really more than just burlesque; the Slipper Room also featured fringe comedy, all sorts of acts that could fit under the "variety" banner—with a fine overlap of the Coney Island Circus Sideshow demographic. It also didn't hurt that I was friendly with the bartenders and we shared close friends who I'd meet there often, so on any ol' Friday night, you could find me on Orchard St. drowning my frustrations in vodka sodas and pasties between puppet acts. Good goddamn times.

Those fond memories were muddled when I passed by the location recently (Slipper Room shut down in 2010) to find that the building had been demolished and a new structure built. That is until a press release came through my inbox announcing a new two-story Slipper Room space at the same address, promising to be one of the only prospective new venues for live music in Manhattan.

The part that really perked up my ears?

"The Slipper Room will feature a wildly diverse range of weekly and monthly acts, including four weekly variety shows produced by co-owner James Habacker with top performers from around the world, accompanied by a live band each night. The line-up will be bolstered by the expanded role of co-owner and music entrepreneur Peter Shapiro (Brooklyn Bowl, Wetlands, Capitol Theater), who will curate an exciting lineup of musical artists, from rockabilly to heavy metal."

No shows are currently listed on the Slipper Room's site, though it wouldn't be surprising if a few CMJ shows were booked there. And as excited as it was to read about an installation of new fly rigs for acrobats in the space—as well as a new sound system—I hope it doesn't automatically make all the drinks cost $15.

For more on the Slipper Room, hit up their site.

Manowar Made a Trailer

There's really nothing like a little Manowar to put some sunshine in an otherwise bleak rainy day. Check out their brand-new trailer for their forthcoming album, The Lord of Steel.

The uber alpha males' lyrics have always been corny, but the ones therein sound like they were written by the Berserker character in Clerks. Has anyone ever tried to determine how many mentions the words "metal," "sword," "steel," "fight," or "warrior" see on an average Manowar release? Sounds like a job for Sam Dunn.

Without further ado, check out the snippet below. So much wrong, it's nothing but right. 

The Power of the Riff Heads East

After three years of hammering away at the West Coast, Southern Lord's The Power of the Riff Festival is making its East Coast debut at Brooklyn's Warsaw this weekend (September 1 & 2). Much like the kind of finely-curated roster we've come to expect from a label that specializes in all things downtuned and acerbic, the fest will feature some of the heaviest acts around today. And since it's New York—plenty of local flavor.

Headlining the two-day event will be Pentagram (set to perform their '80s-era hidden gem, Relentless in its entirety), local legends Agnostic Front—who'll be running through Victim in Pain and United Blood, Negative Approach, Sunn0))), Winter, Repulsion and Double Negative. And though Poison Idea were forced to drop off for medical reasons, MA's Hoax have stepped in to replace them.

Rounding out the bill are buzzed-about up-and-coming bands Xibalba, Coffinworm, Power Trip and a slew of others. It should be interesting to see how the juxtaposition of doom-heavy headliners and hardcore legends balances out, along with the turnout for Pentagram, who are currently basking in the attention of their new well-received documentary, Last Days Here.

For tickets and merch options, check out thepoweroftheriff.com. See you there.

Big in the UK

So this happened.

Last Thursday morning, I got a call from a coworker asking if I'd be willing to discuss Baroness' near-fatal bus accident near Avon, England with BBC News, who were looking for an American journalist to contextualize the band and expound on the Yanks currently recuperating in their local hospital after surviving a 30-foot swan dive off of a viaduct during a rainstorm.

"Sure, as long as they don't expect me to be on camera."

They asked for me to appear on camera. I had a little under an hour to sum up my thoughts before heading up to the BBC's midtown studio for a whirlwind taping. I was mic'd up, given an earpiece and seated in front of a green screen with three giant lights shining at me. It was pretty trippy seeing myself in the monitor; glad I washed my hair that morning.

Watching the segment, especially the shot of the reporter from below that panned out to display just how tremendous of a tumble Baroness' bus took, it's truly a miracle they and their crew survived. Let's hope the band and all involved heal quickly and get back to their families and music as soon as possible.

With that, below is my international television interview debut. Please be kind as I'm not used to being on that side of the camera.