Line Out - Comments on Sick of Seattle-Audience Inertia

Comment by djfits

djfits — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 13:51:19 -0800

thank you!

I was thinking of posting an audience review for the show myself, but it comes off so much nicer from an impartial party.

It's a drag. Seattle notoriously won't cut loose (footloose), and Neumos is a big, empty cave for any show with less than a few hundred people. The intimate space of the Baltic Room is so much better for shows like this.

And it was a great show, each of the bands kicks serious ass in their own way.

Too bad...

Comment by segal

segal — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 14:28:20 -0800

By contrast, the Laptop Battle at Chop Suey was marked by a raucous crowd, but then the competition was partially decided by audience response, so there was a sense of obligation to their vocal demonstrativeness. (I think that's a word.)

Ryan Bird won the Battle, just edging out KFO. Many fantastic noises and beats were heard all night. These Laptop Battles always leave one feeling invigorated and hopeful about electronic music in the Northwest. (Line Out contributor Donte Parks was a judge and may want to say something about the event, too.)

National championship happens here in December. Try to check it out.

Comment by pony

pony — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 23:56:22 -0800

This also wasn't a problem at the Liars show.

Comment by *

Mon, 12 Jun 2006 09:14:01 -0800

Hmmmm.... irritated because the audience doesn't react and then admitting that you we're too intimidated to clap?

You are such a pussy.

Comment by lefty

lefty — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 10:32:34 -0800

band is called Truckasaurus. immediatley know they suck by the name. if they weren't shit, they would have had a crowd. end of story.

Comment by grippo

grippo — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 10:50:05 -0800

I am in truckasauras. I appreciate you sticking up for us, but let's not call people out for not clapping. A good portion of the crowd were our friends and we appreciate anyone showing up. The fact is that this weekend was a busy one for electronic shows. We have two other projects that played this last week. (foscil and specs one and foscil by themselves the night before) and we are actually part of fourthcity who also had the laptop battle going on. To tell the truth it was amazing any of us were awake (including the crowd)

To lefty, I appreciate how judgemental you are by just a name. I will keep my one testicle joke to myself I guess

Comment by jason

jason — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 15:04:38 -0800

if the audience feels like clapping or dancing, then they will. nothing more simple than that. people were fairly loud and supportive at the mountain goats show friday night, even acknowledging barbara morgenstern's set (though i doubt many were expecting german electronica before john darnielle).

Comment by Kathy F. Mahdoubi

Kathy F. Mahdoubi — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 15:58:57 -0800

Asterisk: It IS difficult to be the only one out there spazzing out in a low-energy crowd. If that makes me a pussy, that's fine with me... but I'm a pussy who more often than not pushes herself to be the first to clap, the first to start dancing, etc.

BTW, your "Hmmmm" really emphasizes your mad critical thinking skills. Congrats.

Comment by Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 10:05:40 -0800

This is a problem that seems to pervade nearly all indie shows, from Washington state to Washington, DC (where I'm from). Many kids apparently have a stick up their asses. They stand there as if they're in line for the ATM or something, staring blankly ahead. I don't get it--I for one can't stand still as long as there's a discernable beat, even if the band performing isn't exactly to my liking.

To me, it's all a part of the hipster code of ethics. Don't be too excited about anything. To show enthusiasm is a sign of weakness. Be too cool for school, Ian.

Comment by neo-realist

neo-realist — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 20:13:52 -0800

Occasionally, I will find that attitude of "too cool" to show enthusiasm at a Rat City Rollergirls bout where I will be sitting near the track shouting and cheering and the person sitting next to me looks at me like I'm totally crazy. Yes, there are a few too many seattlites with a stick up their butt.