This sounds like an asinine request, but I genuinely plead with everyone who reads this blog to never go to a concert that you really don’t want to go to. That sounds too simple, but a Disgruntled Dude recently wrecked a concert experience for me.
A little over a week ago, my girlfriend and I went to a Shins concert. After the senselessly superfluous Ticketmaster charges, we paid nearly $100 for our two tickets, which is a fair chunk of funds to dish out for a concert.
I hadn’t seen the band since they were touring as a four-piece for the Chutes Too Narrow album. This would be my girlfriend’s first time experiencing the band in a live setting. We were both excited for the show.
As we headed to our seats, a woman was hastily exiting our row and not being considerate of the fact that other people (us) were already on the stairs to that row. She had to leave her seat and she had to leave it now.
We took our seats. There was an open seat next to us and some dude, some guy who apparently didn’t want to be at this concerto, sitting next to the vacant seat. As we waiting for the band to start, this Disgruntled Dude finished his drink before picking up the drink belonging to the empty chair and helping himself to his guest’s alcohol.
With more time left before the Shins took the stage, the woman returned to her seat. That’s when things get heated. They were fighting, but trying to do so somewhat civilly. They were not yelling at each other or causing a big scene. But things were getting uncomfortable. The woman started crying. She kept repeating the phrase, “Just stop yelling at me.” Whatever was going on was not going to be resolved during this concert.
My girlfriend and I were put on edge and our attention was being drawn to the couple sitting beside us. Then the lights dimmed and the Shins walked onto the stage. Everyone is the audience applauded and screamed with anticipation. Everyone except the Disgruntled Dude. He started booing.
The woman tried to enjoy the show, but the Disgruntled Dude did not want to be there. His comments and attitude made that very clear. It’s difficult sitting next to an asshole like this. We paid good money for some good seats and wanted to enjoy the show, but our experience was getting tainted by Disgruntled Dude.
The woman got up and left for a while, but the Disgruntled Dude continued to exude his displeasure. The woman came back and things didn’t get better. Then the pissed off concertgoer himself got up. Throughout the first 30 or 40 minutes of the show, this happened a few times. Eventually, Disgruntled Dude left for good. And eventually the heartbroken woman left as well.
This Shins show did not compare to my previous experiences with the band. I’d like to think that it wasn’t because the band didn’t perform any more emphatically as past performances. I want to believe that my enjoyment of the show was flat out ruined by the Disgruntled Dude.
So I implore all of you, if ever you have tickets to a concert and you really don’t want to go, please don’t go. Not just because you will be doing something you don’t want to do. You may actually ruin the evening of those around you.
Maybe I should just stick to less expensive, general admission concerts that don’t have Ticketmaster charges.
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