If I complain about how the audience at far too many club shows here approaches live music as if they were walking through an art museum, I’ll only be adding to a long-established litany. I may not always want to get up and dance and, yes, there are times when I find what my friend has to say in my ear considerably more fascinating than what’s going on on-stage, but I don’t bother going to live shows to stand statue-still in hushed reverence. You want my silent awe, awe me into it, I say…and how many live bands want that?
Last night at the Sunset was a new low, however. Mark Pickerel, Steve Turner and Stone Gossard all put on amazing sets and then came Ian Moore, a thrilling musician who deserves all the respect he can get. And better fans. The club was about half-filled at this point. My friends and I were standing in the back, talking amongst ourselves while we decided when to leave as they needed to get back to Northern California by a certain time on Saturday. As happens, one comment sparked laughter and a woman alone, also all the way at the back of the club walked over to scold us.
If you were really trying to hear the music, dear, why didn’t you move up front? There was plenty of room.
But, then, if you wanted only the music and no distractions, why didn’t you just stay at home and listen to the CD?
Life is short, people, you’ve got to LIVE it all.