Slog News & Arts

Line Out

Music & Nightlife

« "This is a mighty indictment M... | Reading Tonight »

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

You Can Never Have a Bad Show

posted by on April 8 at 10:15 AM

theconcert.jpg

I found this picture of Leslie Hall’s recent Seattle show in my phone last night. My boyfriend dragged me to Hall’s show on his birthday last month and I loved it—and so did all the other fags in the room—bears and twinks, young and old. Just more proof that homosexuality has a genetic component, I think. But Hall didn’t inspire me to take this crap picture. I took it because I was mesmerized by all the cell phones and iPhones and digital video cameras being held up during her performance.

Does anyone else remember when “recording devices” were banned at live shows?

Hall played to the cameras—er, phones—a little too much, I thought. Playing to the cameras pulled Hall’s focus down to the front of the dance floor. Still, she gave a kick-ass show—she had to, what with all those people documenting her every move.

RSS icon Comments

1

Well, it's not like anyone is going to get a decent bootleg from :15 of crappy 3mpx video from a cellphone anyway, so I seriously doubt it's that pressing of an issue.

Besides, holding up your cellphone at a concert to take a crappy low-rez picture or video has now become the post-milleneum equivalent of hoisting a Bic disposable lighter over your head.

Posted by COMTE | April 8, 2008 11:01 AM
2

who the fuck is leslie hall?

Posted by Bellevue Ave | April 8, 2008 11:08 AM
3

i am so glad you love leslie hall. another reason to love dan.

www.leslieandthelys.com

Posted by b | April 8, 2008 11:33 AM
4

I've been looking online for one of those portable cell phone blocking devices. They're pretty pricey. I dream of buying one. WHY? Because I love to dance and I am so gawddamn tired of twinks on the dance floor at the Cuff (other places, too, I assume) STANDING stock still, checking their gawddamn cell phone messages.
I'm too young to sound like one of those "stay off my grass" codgers, but for gawdssakes HANG UP and DANCE or GET OFF THE FLOOR!!!

Posted by bucket | April 8, 2008 11:42 AM
5

Um...excuse me, but didn't online digital videos make Leslie Hall as big star is she is today? She is not on VH1's top 20 list as one the biggest online sensations for nothing. Funny, one of her biggest causes is against web censorship.
My gay review of the show was here:
http://gayseattle.blogspot.com/2008/03/shazam-leslie-hall-bedazzles-seattle.html

Posted by Gay Seattle | April 8, 2008 11:45 AM
6

Please, you think that's bad, go to Japan sometime.

I just came back from 5 months in Tokyo, where EVERY cell phone has a camera with a decent resolution. If something ever happens, be it an outdoor performance or Godzilla attacking, you can bet that there'll be at least 30 Japanese people standing in front holding out their cell phones.

Hopefully, that's not where we'll be in five years when the technology catches up over here.

Posted by SR | April 8, 2008 12:17 PM
7

I thought that was a photo you took at a KISS show.

Posted by superyeadon | April 8, 2008 12:18 PM
8

SHUT UP, DAN!!! I just downloaded her newest album! One of my favorite lines goes something like this: "And when I'm gonna make a mix tape. I'm gonna call that mix tape gold. How gold? How gold? Country Music Legends Gold!" And it's a rap.

I love Mother Gem.

Posted by Michigan Matt | April 8, 2008 12:28 PM
9

Dealextreme has a good cell phone blocker. Since it is highly illegal i will not comment on it, nor the benefits of having one on the bus or trying to eat. But if i did have one, that would be awesome.

Cellphotos are pretty fun. We have a custom cellphotobot called stakbot. Send a cell photo to stakbot@gmail.com and it pops up in my forum minutes later. Always fun to see where people are ie mountains, shows, surfing, jail etc. No weeners please.

www.sleestak.net/forum

Posted by bobcat | April 8, 2008 12:31 PM
10

It's all about the fire laws that don't let us use Bic lighters or Torches anymore.

Bygones. Our fire spinning days killed by the anti-American fire nazis.

Posted by Will in Seattle | April 8, 2008 12:32 PM
11

Oh yeah, if I had a cell phone blocker it would often work well at packed coffee joints where fucking idiot students sit for 6 hours doing their homework not buying anything. Especially the ones that take up a 4 seat table by themselves.

Posted by bobcat | April 8, 2008 12:36 PM
12

@4: Are you the same Bucket who spilled my drink at the Eagle on Saturday?

If so, maybe you shouldn't be throwing stones about unpleasant bar behavior?

xoxo.

Posted by Dawgson | April 8, 2008 12:44 PM
13

She's the gem sweater woman....

Posted by JTContinental | April 8, 2008 1:00 PM
14

@12 Hmmmm...did I spill your drink at the Eagle? If I did, perhaps I didn't realize it. I usually apologize when I inadvertantly bump into guys in bars. Did I not apologize? Did you not demand an apology?

As for my glass house (or is that a glass soapbox?) my rant is about intentional selfish behaviour - not legitimate accidents.

I'd be a total hypocrite if I spilled your drink while I was waving a cellphone - I'm sure that's not the case.

Sorry about the spill - catch me at the Eagle sometime and I'll buy you a beer.

Posted by bucket | April 8, 2008 2:01 PM
15

Agreed, Will. I miss my concert torch. I used to wave it around and also pump it up and down all concert long.

Posted by Liston | April 8, 2008 2:45 PM
16

@14: I left to escort a friend outside and when I came back my drink was spilled and my friends pinned it on you.

*I* apologize for getting all passive aggressive on the Slog. I'm with you: Inappropriate cellphone use at bars and concert pisses me off too.

Posted by Dawgson | April 8, 2008 2:56 PM
17

@15, what you did with your "concert torch" is nobody's business but your own.

Posted by Irena | April 8, 2008 6:28 PM
18

@11: If all the tables are taken and someone's sitting alone at a 4 seater, you should say, "Mind if I sit here" (not really as a question but as a statement), as you pull out the chair across from him or her and sit down.

Posted by David | April 8, 2008 6:44 PM
19

Hey!! There I am on Stage left NOT in anyone's way! YAY! Dan, I'm so happy you made it out to see Leslie. She's an absolute doll.

Posted by Kristen Truax | April 9, 2008 10:41 PM

Comments Closed

In order to combat spam, we are no longer accepting comments on this post (or any post more than 14 days old).