cdubya said:
Jackie C -
I'm sure a blackout fence is in the works for the Clipper freeloaders if this set-up happens again. Tweaks will be made, you have to keep in mind this was a first run for this set-up. I agree it went off pretty well overall and I was pleasantly surprised with almost everything, but then again I got tickets after I knew about the venue shift. The whole thing felt like one big festival, no different than countless others.
So...
To me, there is no reason to complain. Mumford and Sons have moved way past the 2000-5000 capacity venues, let alone the 450 capacity at the Wexner Center or Beachland Ballroom (both which Mumford played in 2012). That being said, we now know the band's schedule would not accommodate a multiple night stand here, so seeing as they were drawing around 10k everywhere else this tour, the move made sense from Promowest's perspective. If they left it in the LC outdoor set-up, you can bet that you would have an equal number of people bitching it wasn't at Crew stadium or (gulp) the Commons even. People love to complain this much is certain. Point is, you'll either go watch a band that draws the masses like this in your city, or you won't. There is no going back to the Wexner Center for them... which brings me to
A lot of your issues seem to be with the size of the crowd. Wooing during a concert, loud talkers... have you been to a concert lately? That is not a product of this "festival setup" or The LC, not in the least. In fact one could argue if you get cornered by a loud talker - the Basement or Newport would be a much worse experience for you. As far as fighting, with larger crowds come larger chances for assholes and people who can't handle their liquor. (welcome to large outdoor concerts, it happens everywhere, every venue and in every city) Parking lot or not, the show last night was a good value for the amount of music, coupled with the logistics of putting a show this large on. The sound was great, you had 3 capable national acts all do good sets and a headliner that delivered as advertised.
I really do not have a problem with crowd size, I think my complaints can happen regardless of size. Shows inside are generally loud where I usually do not hear anyone else around me and my ears ring days later.
We understood that Mumford and Sons had grown in popularity since we saw them at the Mershon Center and at a small Bloomington venue (think Little Brothers). So we were excited for what possibly be our last chance to see them at a venue with so few people and a clear line of sight to the stage.
AS for the behavior I described again, I do not buy the argument "its a concert/festival/whatever I should expect it. While I may "accept" it on a certain level, I do not think just because a type of behavior is expected makes it acceptable.
When someone's behavior is interfering with the enjoyment of those around them, the person acting should be shown the boot which usually doesn't happen. When we see shows at the LC this seems to happen to us a lot, Counting Crows two years ago was ruined by a drunk guy who kept stumbling into our area screaming "play Mr. Jones" the entire time (when they finally played Mr. Jones he complained the rest of the concert that it sounded nothing like the album). Then also two years ago Avett Brothers had a similar guy who was wooing and spilling his drinks over everyone around him.
This prompted us to check Avett out at the Fraze in Dayton which was amazing. People yelled/wooed at appropriate times, I didn't hear any conversations being held around me and people in front of us even switched where they were standing so my wife could see, it's amazing when people are considerate to those around them.
@Walker, anytime.