Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Poseurs


This post is not very serious. I realize that. But it's still something that irks me and points to a bigger issue...

People in LA don't dance at concerts. Seriously. Not even a head bob. It's the weirdest, most Stepford-wife thing ever. Eerie. Can't even imagine the bands' view, looking across a sea of still people, staring directly at them like automatans. I'd throw down my guitar and flip the crowd off, if I were them sweating onstage. Somehow, when everyone got off the bus from Ohio, they must have been handed a brochure that said "Hipster Hollywoodians and their ilk do not physically enjoy live music."

I had the fortuitous pleasure of enjoying Elephant and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Monday AND Tuesday night this week at a great little club on Hollywood Blvd. called the Henry Fonda. The bands were AMAZING. And as usual, me and the cool cool people I went with (type of people who know you make your OWN cool, you don't look around the crowd and do what everyone else is doing) were some of the only people rocking out in the audience. So sad. Though an added bonus is, you quickly make friends with the other brave dancers. Sort of like how motorcyclists always wave to each other.

If you ever get a chance to see BRMC live, I highly recommend it. Their live set has an amazing eroticism to it that was captured forever in Michael Winterbottom's fantastic hardcore film "9 Songs." God I love that movie and the BRMC songs they used. I even got my Tuesday night companion Miss C. to do some big hip circles with me...so great. And her friend Jason, a fantastic dancer and great guy, kept picking out songs I should S Factor to (my female friends always end up spilling the beans for me...I swear I don't go around town talking about my pole).

It was such a great two nights, I could tell you a zillion stories from both. But I don't have time. So remind me later to continue this thread, and also that I need to tell you my Michael Stipe tale. It's apropos.

"Now she's gone and love burns inside of me..."

8 comments:

MaryAn Batchellor said...

Congrats on the read!

Shawna said...

My sis and I had the same experience at The Darkness and Queen concerts last year. We didn't care that no one around us danced. We were on our feet dancing and bobbing and singing all night at both concerts.

Stupid L.A. people...just too cool to enjoy themselves.

Anonymous said...

"I swear I don't go around town talking about my pole."

By contrast, in some portions of the San Fernando Valley, such conversations may be legitimately viewed by some as regular business networking.

MIM

Fun Joel said...

FYI, I always dance at concerts as well. But I think from reading this post and the comments that we've learned something we already knew: Scribospherians are just cool. :-)

Lynda said...

I thought of all places, people in LA would dance at concerts.

Kidsis said...

MB, thanks!

Shawna, you're my hero. Queen and The Darkness in the same year? Rad.

RF, yes, I must remember to tell the Stipe story....

MIM, and in those meetings I bring it with me. Long black case, like a musical instrument. Hiding an oozie.

FJ, Hells yeah. Clearly.

Lynda, of all places, LA doesn't do a lot of things. I'm not entirely sure where the wild stuff goes down, because I'm not seeing it. Must be at those Robert Evans parties I'm not invited to...
("Cocaine? Yes. Should I invite the Olsen Twins? Why not?")

God I love how Robert Evans talks. Is anyone else going to get that, or am I just cracking myself up again...

Lynda said...

I know who the Olsen Twins are....and I chuckled. ;)

Anonymous said...

OK, didn't realize the pole was collapsible... Seems like one heckuva James Bond movie contraption.

Traveling S Factor dancer walks into Bond's hotel room. Pulls out long, black case. Three-foot metal rod extends into eight-foot polished metal pole... which dancer uses to pole vault out of room into waiting helicopter...

... or some other nonsense like that.

MIM