Went to see Ani Difranco play last night..

[indigo32]

the concert was good (I've seen her in better form... but she was still Ani), but the experience was strange.
We were in a concert hall... not a bar and not some concert arena, yet during the opening act, with the lights were low and people inside clapping and enjoying it the people behind me were carrying on a conversation at normal volume and talking on cell phones like nothing was happening. Ughhh.
Then, while Ani was on stage someone lit up, I swear it set of a smoke detector because suddenly there was this buzzing sound from behind us. It seemed to disapate and the noise went away, but I was amazed and annoyed. My girlfriend, who is in recovery from a number of substances and gave up weed 18 months ago, turned to me and whispered how good it smelled. Now I've nothing against people who smoke but we both choose not to (she finds the lethargy/apathy it induces to be debilitating), and I for one was surprised to encounter it there.
Am I just getting too old and crabby?

[TheBlob]

1. Have we reached the point

where we question weed at concerts?
I'd be more annoyed at the damn cell phone user during the show.

As far as the lethargy/apathy assessment - I agree about the lethargy but apathy? Guess your girlfriend had never smoked a joint and surfed DU LBN!

[indigo32]

3. In a concert hall?

I know I've never come across it. Sure at an arena or outside whatever. Maybe it's just me.

[jonnyblitz]

2. pot does just the opposite for me.

It makes me focus, I get paranoid about procrastinating and get things done that i have put off and boy can I EVER get into some serious house cleaning! Music sound so much better when I smoke also. One thing though, if i go to a movie stoned I dont remember much the next day.

I saw Chomsky last night speak at MIT in Cambridge,MA and a baby kept yelping and cell phones went off. THAT was annoying.Nobody lit up joints though. :)

[TeeYiYi]

4. Concerts. Pot. Pot, concerts . . .

It should be one word. Pot is to be expected at a concert. If it was as bad as you say, I'm surprised the perps didn't meet Mr. Handcuff. But sneaking some reef at a concert is pretty normal stuff.

On the other hand, the cell phones and talking would have brought me to my feet. I would have stopped the concert to make sure these assholes were escorted out.

TYY

[ulysses]

5. the first time we saw Ani

was in 1994, at a very small venue in Decatur (Eddie's Attic, if anyone's familiar). Upwards of 300 lesbians and my wife and a friend of ours and myself in the room - we were sitting *on* the bar. It was just Ani on stage, no band. We were all far too rapt to have lit up even if we'd wanted to. Best show I've seen and am likely to see.

The last four times we've seen her have been much larger venues, with heavy overcast, and nowhere near as impressive, although still very good.

[TeeYiYi]

6. The first time I saw her . . .

. . . she was onstage by herself in a small auditorium and you could have heard a pin drop. There may have been a guy doing light percussion. Or not. I really can't remember since I never took my eyes off her. It was amazing. Surreal. The audience was blown away. They never made a peep while she was singing. And after the concert, she signed my CD with a sharpie. Very kewl.

That concert was about 10 years ago. Probably the same tour as when you saw her. I've seen her since but it's never been the same.

TYY

[indigo32]

7. She's touring alone this time too

but the venues are probably bigger, so it' not quite the same. I saw her at Northrup before, and open for Bob Dylan.

[TeeYiYi]

9. I prefer the smaller venues with certain artists . . .

. . . but that's just not possible once an artist catches on. Good for the artist, bad for me. Then as they get older, the venues get smaller again. Which is probably nice for both the artist and the audience.

I saw Tori Amos play solo in a small outdoor amphitheatre in '91 or '92. The moon was full. It was a beautiful summer night. And again, you could have heard a pin drop. One stupid guy yelled something while she was in the middle of a song and she stopped playing while he was removed. Then she went on playing. It was another magical, surreal experience enhanced by the fact that it was outdoors during a full moon and I was in love. That evening is forever etched in my mind.

TYY

[ulysses]

8. it was right after "Out Of Range" came out

That sounds about right, ten years. (Dear god...) Pin drop, yes.

The "Sloth and Indolence" ticket on DU owes a lot to Ani's The Past Didn't Go Anywhere CD with Utah Phillips.

[ulysses]

11. speaking of which...

I'm listening to the "Holding On" track now. :thumbsup:

[youngred]

10. I've seen Ani 7 times

but then again, I'm from upstate NY, and saw her in her very early early days.

Absolutely amazing musician and person

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

13. wow,

i'd love to see her at least once :(

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

12. hey now

your girlfriend should probably never even bother stepping foot into a Dave Matthews concert! :D