The opening act, Robert DeLong, was pretty spectacular to see. If you get a chance, watch a YouTube video of him playing. It is one guy, a bunch of sound makers, a drum set, a keyboard, a Wii remote, and a joystick. Watching him make music from several "random" noises was captivating. Two Door Cinema Club was pretty darn good. Not much else to say about them other than I can't wait to see them again (ACL perhaps?).
I've been going to concerts since I was 18 (yes, I was a late bloomer when I started going to shows) and it is something I truly enjoy doing. There is nothing like being at a live show with a group of people who listen to the same music as you do. It really is an experience. I've been to several dozen concerts and each time you see or hear something new. Last night's show was no different.
This was the first time I have seen a good portion of the audience use their cell phones to videotape or take pictures of the show throughout the performance. I'm not sure if it's because it was a "younger crowd" or what, but at any given time you would have at least 30 people directly in your line of sight using their cell phones. When did this happen? All I could think about these people was, "Are you really enjoying the show? Are you really that afraid you are going to "miss" something? Are the people in front of me just really drunk? Or am I getting old and these are just the musings from a snobby concert goer who still adheres to a strict audience etiquette code of conduct?" Has anybody else experienced this cell phone phenomena at a concert recently?
Afterwards Justin and I talked extensively about how much cell phones can ruin a moment. People are becoming more and more dependent on their phones, often to their own detriment. With a cell phone you have instant access to a video camera and a camera. Your cell phone is always ready for action. There is no privacy for anybody anymore because somebody is always capturing the moment whether it is important or not. You don't want to be the person who wasn't videotaping that minute where something incredible happened and then you weren't able to tell everybody else that yes in fact you were really there! Look, you have proof!
I think parents can be guilty of this as well, myself included. I'm becoming more aware of it, and that is the first step of changing bad behavior. You get so fearful that you are going to miss the first laugh, the first crawl, the first step, that you get irritated or scared that you won't capture a moment when it happens. Don't worry if you miss that moment. I promise, the moment will live in your heart as my mom so sweetly put it. Take the time to recognize and appreciate the moment and don't get so caught up in the implications of not having captured that moment.
Like I said, it was a unique experience at the show. The music was amazing, and we really enjoyed the concert as a whole. Oh, and don't worry, we did manage to get one picture in-couldn't live without it ;-)
