I went with Nikki to a Dresden Dolls concert this past Wednesday in Kansas City. Looking back on the experience, I’ve realized how my age is starting to interfere with my concert-going experience. As the date of the show was getting closer and closer, I was starting to dread it more and more. It’s not that I don’t like the Dresden Dolls. I love them. In fact, they’re one of my favorite bands to see perform live. Whenever I see that a band I love is coming to town, I always feel like I have to go to the show rather than I want to. What I’ve realized is that the dread I feel is based on the pain and suffering of the actual concert experience.
Now, this may have nothing to do with my age. The suffering I feel at a concert may be due to the fact that I’m going to somewhat bigger shows now with bands that may not be on the radio, but they do have a big following. What is starting to kill my love for a live show is the fact that I have to stand outside in possibly inclement weather for an hour. I have to listen to the teenagers around me describe why they are the one true fan of the band we are about to enjoy. Once I have gotten into a concert, I am always somehow standing next to those same excited teenagers who are becoming increasingly more annoying. Once the show has started, a man who despite my own tall stature is towering above me and has stepped in front of me.
At this particular show, the weather outside was nice, and the annoying superfans didn’t end up near me until we were inside the “Ranch Bowl-esque” venue. They became increasingly more annoying when they stepped away and Nikki and I took their spot at the front of the stage which angered them. There were also some other superfans who are part of this Dresden Dolls fan club in which they get backstage passes, but felt that since they were in the club, they had the right to push and shove people to get to the front of the crowd. “It’s okay, we’re VIP.”
I don’t think I’m really asking for too much at a show. There are a lot of things the don’t bother me. I expect to be crowded and bumped into a little. I expect (although don’t understand) people to wave their fists or point their fingers to the beat of the song. I expect people to yell “I love you” to the band members, but sometimes this shit gets a little too much. Someone yelled during this show “Amanda Palmer for president!” which is obviously absurd, but whatever. Then a girl next to me yells “Brian Viglione for president!” Okay, basically, that jokes been done….like it was just done using Amanda’s name. A moment later, this same girl yells “Amanda for president!” Yeah, we fucking get it. You like the band. You think they should run the country just like someone else in the crowd. WE GET IT. This same chick also proceeded to try and get the band’s attention a few times while they were in the midst of playing a song. Jesus Christ, that shit is annoying. Why is it that the biggest fans are the ones who seem to be ruining the show?
The show was pretty good, but incredibly long. There was a KC band called “Medicine of Fury” or something like that. They were kind of odd and trippy. Just a drummer, a guitarist and a distorted microphone. I think I needed to be on drugs to have enjoyed that more. Next, there was some belly dancing group which was interesting. Then there was Smoosh who everyone should go check out. It’s made up of three girls who are like twelve years old from Seattle. They rocked. They have a lot of energy, and it’s good music. After them were a couple of pole dancers. It was more art/gymnastics than stripping. They were pretty impressive. Chicks made of solid muscle.
Finally was the Dresden Dolls who put on a two and a half hour show. They were very excellent. They opened with Pink Floyd’s “In the Flesh” and had a few other covers here and there as well. They didn’t play some of the songs that I would’ve liked to have seen, but they always put on a good show. Brian is always very expressive as he flies on the drum set, and Amanda’s voice is always powerful and emotional. They also make things more interesting by having Brian switch to guitar for a few songs, or adding Smoosh to play a couple songs. By the time the encore came, my body ached so much that I just wanted to go. Every show I go to, I’m wishing I could just skip the encore and leave, but I know I want to see more as well. They played “Half Jack” for their encore which is one of my favorites to see live because it involves a long introduction with some amazing drumming. I also hated it for the same reasons. Just as I am longing to be able to just sit down and relieve my knees and back, they play their longest song.
Looking back on the pain and suffering of the show and being awake for nearly 24 hours by the time we were almost out of gas and hoping to find an interstate exit with a gas station, it was well worth it as always. I do know that I’ll be dreading the next show just as much.
