I love The Tabernacle. It’s one of my favorite venues in Atlanta. It has just the right blend of history, sound quality and danger. There’s something about being up on one of the upper balconies when it’s going off and (just for a second) the thought “what happens if this collapses?” pops into your head. It wobbles. It moves. It gently sways. Part of the floor even collapsed once. And that’s what makes it fun. It’s got its own secrets. Backstage is a maze. Regulars know the difference in sound that 2 feet makes between standing under the balcony overhang, or in front of it. They know which bartenders pour the strongest drinks (Chris/Don), and the fact that the place was once a church which just adds to the luster.
I’ve seen so many legendary shows there. Too many to mention. I’m British so most of my favourites are bands from home that you get to see in front of 2,500 at the Tab compared to 25,000 if you were in England. Oasis. Robbie Williams. Sasha. Digweed. Arctic Monkeys. From the first days when it opened during the Olympics as the House of Blues to The Tabernacle we know today. And let us not forget, its little brother The Cotton Club. The Strokes. Muse (when he whacked himself with the mic). Snow Patrol. Elbow Karaoke (when he was too pissed to sing – sorry, I meant had to “save his voice for a more important SXSW showcase”), Stereophonics, South, Doves, The Super Furry Animals (with full surround sound) and of course, my old band Film.
But tonight there was something in the air.
Lily Allen’s in town. She’s pop. She’s cheeky. Everyone should be up for a boogie. But there was something in the air that night. We blagged our way into the VIP section upstairs in the center. Granted not my usual choice, but we had some friends to meet. We sat like everyone else, between the opener and Lily. And then the first song came on. She opened with Sheezus. Most of the crowd got up in the section beside us.. but not our section.
That awkward moment. Do you stay sitting down, or do you stand up?
You look around… Try to feel it out..
Let’s wait until the second song. And the second song’s a good one. Not Fair. Lily’s having fun now.
(side note, and even weirder… the couple in front of us are Face-timing the song with their kids who look all of 10 years old. If you don’t know what Not Fair is about, look it up. But suffice to say, my daughter will be not be listening to that song until she’s er.. married)
So two songs in we stand up. 30 seconds later someone threw ice at the Mrs. We knew it was awkward to stand up when no one else in our section was standing, but everyone in the section to the right of us was standing. Why couldn’t we? Maybe if we stood up, others would stand up. Not so much. More ice. Bollocks to this. Downstairs.
It’s an age old question and I know it depends on the show, but in general what is the etiquette on standing vs. sitting at a concert?
