In today's Chicago Tribune former radio personality and current columnist Steve Dahl lamented his weekend visit to the Eagles/Dixie Chicks/Keith Urban concert at Soldier Field. He didn't want to go, couldn't see (despite 23rd row seats), had to park too far away, the bathrooms were a mile away... Wah! Wah! Wah!
He says the way to watch concerts nowadays (for him anyway) is sitting at home in front of his 50-inch TV on Blu-Ray and with a nice sound system. Nothing wrong with that, but the experience is completely different -- so here are a few tips for Steve next time he thinks about taking in a concert.
1. Skip the Eagles (I know, as he does, that they don't like the "the" but it reads poorly without it. Editorial license.) This band is only in it for the money, they don't like one another, they don't enjoy one another's company, and they make every effort to make their live shows sound exactly like their records. Talk about a band that should be watched from a comfy chair at home!
2. Skip Soldier Field. For that matter, skip any (most, all?) concerts in stadium venues -- with the exception of the United Center because so damn many bands play there. Stadiums, especially outdoor stadiums, are not designed for music so there is no reason to go for the musical experience. Most sight lines are terrible, most sound is terrible (okay, U2 at Soldier Field was the exception that proves the rule), and you are likely to be very far away from the ant-size performers and forced to watch it on the huge Jumbotron video screens so you might as well be sitting at home.
3. Pick a band you want to hear that enjoys playing "live." Live music by good musicians brings an energy that you can't get through recorded music.
4. Pick a band that enjoys playing with one another -- and enjoys playing for its audience. Good musicians feed off the people they play for and they take chances playing for one another, challenging one another, improvising, and sometimes screwing up. But it's that kind of tightrope walking that is the major difference that make live music better and more interesting than recorded music.
5. Pick a venue designed for music or at least where music is not just an afterthought. The Chicago Theater, The Auditorium, Park West, The Vic, even The Aragon and Riviera all have their pluses as far as hering live music goes (some of them have their minuses, too). But the sound and sightlines at least (unless you're short of stature and standing at the Aragon or unless you can't get a seat in the Riv's balcony) make them worthwhile places to see live music.
6. Match the performer to the venue. Concerts aren't booked by deciding which band will sound best in which place -- they're booked partly by how big a venue the promoter thinks the band can fill. So if a band is booked into a venue to big for them, skip it. On the other hand, be open to hearing bands who might not be yuor favorite -- if you can find them in the right venue.
7. Don't be shy about seeing bands play in clubs. Chicago's got dozens of places where up-and-coming bands are working out -- and where "older" bands who can't attract large crowds are willing to play. These places often have difficult sight lines but the opportunity for a memorable music experience is great.
Steve says his night was "saved" when Eagles guitarist and Dahl close friend Joe Walsh gave him a shout-out from the stage. Whatever. If that's what makes a "musical" experience then these tips aren't going to help. On the other hand he's not going to get that shout-out from his 50-inch HD TV and Blu-Ray either.
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