Stuff I think about on the drive home

[uberreiniger]

Today I finally sold a bunch of useless old cd's and picked up a copy of Blind Guardian's double-live album. I am officially adding Blind Guardian to my Interests lists, finally.

I was amazingly refreshed to find that they actually _sing_ all the choruses on the songs. One thing I cannot stand at concerts is when the lead singer NEVER sings the chorus of the band's most popular songs, instead holding the mic out to the crowd and having THEM sing it. For some reason, the greatest offenders of this are hard rock and metal bands, and then folk musicians. (Folk musicians will even help you by teaching the audience the chorus before starting the song.) But it pisses me off. In Flames did it and I was not thrilled. I'm like "excuse me, I didn't pay to hear Five Hundred Pound Smelly Kid With Shaved Head standing on my right sing. And I definately didn't pay to hear Ninety-Eight Pound Pot Smoking Mop-Haired Teenager standing on my left sing. I paid to hear YOU sing. Now quit encouraging these mooks and SING, DAMN YOU!

Now as mad as this makes me, you can only IMAGINE how made it makes me when I purchase a live album and find them doing this shit. What the fuck!? COME ON! This isn't Off Key Crowd's live album, gawddamnit!

I know musicians justify this deplorable behaviour by thinking that by letting the crowd participate, they are making the experience more "intimate" and "special" for the crowd, but I don't buy it. I mean, these guys tell the groupies on the bus that they are "special" too, but that doesn't make it so. Basically, it's a grift is all it is; a clever way for the lead singer to get paid the same amount for doing half the work. Who do they think they are with that kind of attitude? ME!?

But you know what? That sh*t don't fly at a Blind Guardian concert, so to the Tolkien Ringbearers from the land of Wagner's Ring Cycle, I say... HuzzaH!

Our first weekend of the show has wrapped and I'm glad. It's been draining. I'd say about a third to a half of our audience has walked out each night due to the sheer length and the old-fashioned language. And that infuriates me, to be quite honest. No actor is ever okay with that. But I seem to draw laughs while I'm onstage and they seem to like me, so if people hate the show, it's not because I wasn't doing my job. But yeah... so tired. Good thing I've got all the weapons in my new metal arsenal to keep me awake!

Comments

[megiloth.livejournal.com]

Yo T-Dawg,

Does crowd background vocals count? Because doing so to Anthrax's "Efilnikufesin" or Cannibal Corpse "Skull Full of Maggots" is exciting. Almost enough to make me wanna shoot blood outta my cock. It's THAT exciting!

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

Oh that's totally acceptable. I encourage that. I honestly can't imagine Efilnikufesin WITHOUT crowd vocals! But I think it sounds like the Cannibal Corpse song you're actually thinking of is "I Cum Blood."

[megiloth.livejournal.com]

Imagine if Pete did that. The place would look like a slaughterhouse!

[cygny.livejournal.com]

So I take it that CD is definitely worth the buy? Damn, now I'm jealous ^_^ But it was about time you added them to your interests as well *nods* Will make sure you add Lacrimosa too one day ;)

As for the show, you still need to rehearse every evening next week? It sucks that people walk out :( But at least you did your part well and it's not in any way your responsibility.

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

Read my interests again very carefully ;) And no, I just have to rehearse on night next week. Got a nice cookout with some folks in the works and a lot of relaxation. I think I've earned it.

[cygny.livejournal.com]

Aha, but you just added that now! Cause I checked them before I posted this :P
And relaxation sounds fun, go you ^_^

[darkemoone.livejournal.com]

I share that peeve with you wholeheartedly. Sometimes it's nice, but when it keeps happening, it gets really freaking redundant and makes me want to jump on stage and slap people. Thankfully, the concerts I've been to in the past four years have not been plagued with those problems.

A crowd singing along, I can handle. I had that problem when I saw Judas Priest in concert some years ago.

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

You know another thing I hate on live albums? When they make you listen to three-and-a-half minutes of the crowd cheering before starting the next song. Again, not Off Key Crowd's album!