Pink Floyd fans were left furious by some attendees of the David Gilmour gig at Madison Square Garden.
The crowd was dubbed “disappointing” and concert-goer woes were shared in the Pink Floyd subreddit, where fans rightly told members of the public not to talk during concerts. An incensed fan took to the Reddit page and asked people not to talk at the concerts in a lengthy post which had other gig-goers share their horror stories. They wrote: “Please don’t talk at concerts… The amount of yapping on and on during this concert tonight [mid-November] at MSG was so disappointing.
“Also these types of people blatantly and obnoxiously making comments like ‘what’s this fucking song??’ or ‘what’s this shit?’ During solo cuts, even the beautiful performance of In Any Tongue or Between Two Points. Also two middle-aged former frat boys who climbed up to my section where they didn’t have seats to drink and talk loudly before we also told them to fuck off.
“Other than that, what a fucking show. I honestly thought the solo cuts and lesser-known Pink Floyd stuff were the highlights, along with the absolutely GORGEOUS rendition of Great Gig in the Sky. What a lovely show. But yeah don’t talk at shows, JFC. And to others like me, don’t be afraid to stand up for the true music lovers.”
Other fans who had attended shows on Gilmour’s recent Luck and Strange tour agreed with the fan’s request for some respect and quiet. One wrote: “Just made another comment but had the same experience at the Hollywood Bowl, it was particularly bad the last night. I just can’t imagine spending that much money and then being a loud embarrassment during A Boat Lies Waiting and ruin it for those of us who understand the gravity of what we are seeing. Some people are fucking oblivious and selfish!”
Another recalled the bass player of the tour, Guy Pratt, telling audience members not to overuse their phones. They wrote: “At the first night in LA, Guy Pratt – bass player- came out and asked everyone to put their phones down and really take in the show and enjoy it, and respect the people around you- a few photos is fine, but the emphasized in the show and not fixating home phone.
“It was really well said and effective. For the first time in a few years at a concert for me, the crowd was quiet and soaked in the show. Did he do that at MSG?” Other users have suggested gigs may be getting quieter, and that the volume at Hollywood’s Bowl can be “low” the further back you are.
They suggested: “Hollywood Bowl’s volume was very low the further you went back. They don’t supply more sound to the FAR back (why I don’t know, noise ordinance?) and it was quite a low volume. Could hear people talking a row over.” Another user countered: “There are a few quiet moments during the concert and the sound was amazing. It doesn’t have to be loud to sound amazing.”
Praise for the Royal Albert Hall in London was seen, however, with one gig-goer suggesting the staff and sound at the legendary venue far exceeded that of other stop-offs on the tour. They wrote: “At RAH everyone was in their seats and ready for the concert to start 5-10 minutes early. At MSG people kept pouring in for half an hour after it started.
“At RAH I saw maybe 1-2 people get up during the performance whilst at MSG people kept running to and from continuously. One middle-aged woman was out of her chair 5-6 times during the concert and even managed to be 15 minutes late after the break.. She also filmed 2/3 of the concert on her crappy old phone while holding it high over her head blocking the view for people behind…
“And the talking and yapping and talking and yapping. For the entire show. And people looking at their phones for minutes at a time, scrolling mundane stuff. What a disgrace.”
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When smoking in arenas was banned people started drinking to alter their state of consciousness. That’s why I quit going to concerts… the drunk idiots. Well, that and the “cheap” seats being $150. My first concert was Deep Purple in 1972 and for 7th row I paid $12.50. Zoned out stoners chilled and got into the groove. Drunks are loud and obnoxious. I’d rather buy the concert DVD less money and watch at my leisure.
You’re right, it wasn’t until indoor smoking was outlawed did concert goers begin to use alcohol as a method to alter their consciousness during the live music performance
Spoiled rich milenials have ruined pretty much everything especially concerts! Why do you go to a concert just to talk the whole time? They get mad if you stand up to cheer the band on but won’t shut up r(destroying the mood of the songs. Obviously not real fans!
I went to the first MSG show and you could here a pin drop. The reviews even mentioned a well behaved crowd.
I was at MSG the 9th, and must have been near good people- it was mostly conversation free, other than brief comments after some songs.
I’ve started a one person campaign to get that tour to the Sphere in LV for 6 weeks- and I hate LV.
Thus far, his people haven’t reached out to my people (me), but I can dream. ;)
Ever since the infamous “play all night” at the ABB at the Filmore East, heard on the record clearly, that was the end of courtesy. The floodgates opened. I have seen live, Hendrix, Joplin, Bowie, Yardbirds. Airplane, Blind Faith, up to Framptons Fairwell tour and for the most part, rudeness and all manners of lack of respect for others has always been there. Listen, on headphones to Gilmour at Pompeii. The crowd noise is like people at a Yankee game ordering peanuts. A 1974 Renaissance live CD, (not a Bootleg) you can clearly hear the sound board techs BS’ing thru the song. WTF ?? After so many concerts, just like movies now, the best seat in the house is now in my sofa with surround sound. Learn why Bill Graham closed the Filmores.
It wasn’t only money, it was the piss and vomit in the seats and general disgust and disillusionment.
This is the most Pink Floyd thing ever. Trained not to spit on the fans.
Who was taught, not to spit in the fan? Who was dragged down by the stone?
( Animals lyric)
People can be idiots. I’ve confronted a number of concert-goers over the years to shut up! Why go to a concert just to talk?! Go to a coffee shop! No respect for others, including the artist!
I get possed when a guy with a huge head sits right in front of me, blocking my view. If you have a big head, sit in the back.
Big 🗣️ Head Todd!
Had the same thing happen at the Hollywood Bowl. 2 guys in front of us just kept talking. One would decide to go get a beer, stand up and talk, then leave. Few minutes later he’s back, running of at the mouth about the line to get beer. I came so close to throwing something at him. I know how much we paid for tickets and how you can pay that much and then not pay any attention to the show is beyond me.
Went to both Rome and Hollywood bowl shows 4 times. In Rome just about everyone was respectful and quiet except for a few Ammies in front of us. At the HB, I swear most people spent more time getting up and walking around then sitting and enjoying the night – and we were quite nearby the stage. Europeans know how to enjoy a performance. Americans are all about themselves.
Well said. I’m a Brit living in Barcelona and that’s my experience (at quite a few concerts) too.
I don’t understand this. I’ve always stayed quiet and watched any concert I was at but, people have always talked or made noise at concerts. I think I stay quiet because I’m an amateur musician and want to hear everything. The talking, cheering and other noise never bothered me and I remember a few bands complaining years ago about the crowds in Japan. They sit there, enjoy the songs and cheer when they’re over which is basically what I do. Don’t go to a Pantera, Guns n Roses or Nugent show, you’ll be really mad.
What an absurd take to not talk at concerts. I understand if it’s like a small intimate show, or acoustic but like it’s a stadium show. Any concert you go to there’s going to be drunk people talking so like that’s not something new
Paying to hear the artist on stage, not about your day chief. Have a chat about it before the show, have a chat about the gig after. Just bad manners to chat when you’re meant to be watching and listening. Do you apply this rule to the cinema and theatre?
I went to the Hollywood Bowl to see him. Only one fan was noisy, but he was a happy drunk.
Great concert.
Went to concert in Milwaukee. Not Pink Floyd. Several people so high on drugs that they came from their seats and sat on the carpeted aisle stairs. At another concert, a lady and her husband brought in 2 large oxygen tanks and put them on the flour in balcony where we sat. They have every right to be there but mgmt should made accommodations for them . If there was a fire, we wouldn’t have been able to get out for tripping over tanks and falling over the railing to main floor. Just saying.
The rude factor at concerts has hurt some fantastic performances. Want to talk. Go to a bar or just shut the fuck up. I pay good money and I actually actively listen unlike the newer generation of spoiled brats. BTW play deep cuts. I heard all the hits. If u are a true fan of the music u would get that sentiment