Audio: Michael Gira tells chatty audience members to get off his lawn

Williamsburg is the worst place for talking, I've pretty much stopped going to gigs  - there was one show where some idiot was making noises on his phone so he could "play with the band". 

John Cage was part of a short B/W documentary called "Sound".  He, too, posed the question why audience members came to a musical event in order to open their mouths.  Charles Mingus did a routine before recording sessions in which he would request that the cash register not ring up, no tinkling of glasses, please, etc., as if it was in a club, AND the people abided by the musician's wish for a rare change....a truly great satirical moment.  Insecurity, the knowledge that they have accomplished NADA with their lives, embarrassment--these are the causes of yakky people in public venues.....nitwits all.  They deserved worse than they got; and, I left Colorodor in 1970 to escape the pseudo-intellectual hicks so prevalent in that part of the country. They do NOT know how to behave, feeling much more at home at a Ro-day-OH!

Gira's a gentleman, a pleasure to meet. That did seem a pretty chatty audience. If the audience is so loud that he can't play, then they're probably too loud for me to enjoy listening to him play too, and I paid damn good money to watch him perform. 

A few years ago Dave Herrera proposed (in "So what's with all the talk during shows?" two possibilites for talking at shows:

1) It's a social experience, and people aren't intentionally being disrespectful2) Acts are "underwhelming"

Both of these "reasons" beg questions; what makes a musical performance at a local venue an acceptable place for chatting/being social as opposed to a film, lecture, or a classical performance? and: what constitutes "underwhelming," to whom, and for what reasons?

Personally, if I am at a show and want to chat I will take it away from the stage; if I want to chat more than I want to be around the stage, then it's because the band isn't doing it for me, and also because trying to converse while music is blasting in my ear is stupid, taxing, and disrespectful to the artist. Sometimes I'll be chatting (away from the stage) and the music will catch my ear, so I will conclude my conversation and head back to the stage; it can go both ways.

I think the reason "bar" shows seem to be acceptable venues for this kind of interaction because of the physical space; the spaces are generally open, so people postion themselves freely in the room, and spatial freedom gives people a sense of overall social freedom. This is why elementary schools have "circle time," and why students sit at desks ordered in rows; if one is physically confined, one is more inclined to be focused. Theaters, films, classical performances, and lectures all have this kind of physical restriction in-common; "rock" shows at a bar do not usually conform. Last time I was at the Oriental Theater there were very few seating options, and most of it was open-space.

This whole business of people being "underwhelmed" is way too loaded (and pretentious) to address. I said above that I often choose conversation because "the band isn't doing it for me," but let me be the first to tell you: that's my problem, and not a problem with the band. If I don't appreciate a work of art it constitues a failure of perception and/or education on my part; it's not because the art ("lackluster" songwriting, performers, etc.) is objectively "bad," because that's a ridiculous, contentious, and impossible stance to argue.

I definitely think this is a spatial phenomenon, and people are indeed not being intentionally disrespectful. However, this also does not mean that open public spaces necessarily lend themselves to a lack of focus, nor does it mean that people have a viable excuse to not become more self-aware.

If there's a band on-stage and you find yourself wanting to chat: you obviously have priorities over listening to the music, so do yourself, the people around you, and the performers a favor and take it somewhere else; you'll expend less energy and have a better grasp on the conversation when you're not trying to talk over music, you won't anger people trying to listen, and you won't offend the artist. There are often many places in these venues where you can still hear the music in the background if music is more of a passive experience for you.

As a performer myself I also find that increasing the volume is a nice way to say: "Either you listen or you get the fuck out, because you're not hearing anything other than this right now if you're in here." Unfortunately, this doesn't work so well for the singer-songwriter folks.

The Beatles stopped performing live -- and decided to focus solely on recording -- because of audience noise.

I don't blame him at all, the audience were ill mannered idiots, it sounded like a school assembly

you were lucky you didn't have my neighbour johnny crackinskulls there with a baseball bat.he would make you all quiet and respectful towards performer wich is busting his fucking balls to earn some money to eat.

!!!!AMEN!!!!  I'm so glad he did this.  Why the hell are you at a show, only to shoot the shit and gossip with your friends, while performers are on stage?  Go find one of the 17 Starbucks within a three block radius of wherever you are, and talk one another's ears off there.  I...for one (and it would appear MG would agree),  couldn't give the first shit about your new B43 rims for your fixie...or the fact you found the cutest little neon Ray Ban's for your baby pomchi...SHUT THE F UP and let the rest of us watch the show!!!!

musicians need to get off their high horse. they would be nothing with out an audience. right or wrong the singer over reacted. yelling like that makes him look like he is a child still. and since hes not a child makes him look like a heroine junky. so good job cant even hear yourself when your talking into a mic? must be a junky

 lol you fucking pussies, MG is the man.

I'm more than willing to bounce people's heads off of the floor for in any way proscribing the creation of art. Nina Simone would just walk off and leave them to it. Another way to deal with the fact that as a performer you get paid no matter what you do, but no matter what the audience does you always just want to finish your fucking set!

Fuck them and fuck the people that think MG is in the wrong. Shit got out of hand and the man stepped up and dealt with it. He is a skeleton made of steel.

I'm not crotchety or old, but I also can't stand people talking loudly at concerts.  Gira has every right to be frustrated and call these people out.

 This should be an MP3 download, haha!!

This happens everywhere. Why bother going to a show if you're not there to listen to it?

go Gira!

I think America just has bad concert etiquette in general.  I remember reading an interview with Mono about their impression of the U.S. after touring.  They just said that everyone was talking the whole time.  It's a shame.  Why pay money to see an artist if you are just gonna chat the whole time?  

This man continually sinks to new lows. He clearly has no respect for his fanbase and feels a sense of entitlement (or bitterness, more likely).

At 60, most humans have learned to communicate, and no longer throw tantrums.

He's right-people are generally shit. If you don't want to listen to music don't go to live shows.

Gira is probably one of the most pleasant musicians I've ever met. Very gracious and was kind enough to sign a copy of his book when I asked.

I find it funny, but at the same time completely agree with the man. It's similar to heckling a comic-why fuck with someone trying to work?

Seeing M.Gira is an intimate experience. People should be quiet. Why are you at the show if you aren't there to listen to music? It drives me crazy. Had the same thing happen when I saw him acoustic in Portland. So many hipsters that want to be seen at the right shows.

i do agree. and michael just shared it on the band page Facebook. way to go denver

i do agree. 

I think Gira is a decent guy on stage and this is being taken too seriously.

Right now, I'd just settle for concert venues requiring cellphones to be checked at the door.

Is it too much to ask for a show where one doesn't have to contend with the thicket of iPhone cinematographer wannabes screwing up the view?