[ebick]

One of the more recent shows I went to was Tom Petty here in Orlando. I was amazed.....sitting next to me were a couple about my age (which is closing in on 50). The guy was trashed......stinkin' drunk, and talking talking talking......until finally (thankfully) he past out (and stayed that way for just about all of Petty's set).

Really?

It's like grow up already. Holy smokes!

[Dozin]

Yikes, not happy at all

[NWPines]

Pretty sad that it's come to this. While some folks think what he did was totally unprofessional and not ok, I say right on Bob! (although Jeff Tweedy in the vid on page 1 did a more tactful job of getting the message across). Loud talkers at shows have bothered me for years, but it really seems to have gotten worse in the last couple years (or I'm just getting increasingly cranky now that I'm over 40). I understand that people go to concerts for a lot of different reasons, but if your main goal for the evening is to socialize then go to a freaking bar. Just because you paid big $ for a ticket does not give you the right to do whatever you want and impinge on other people's right to hear the music clearly. So I agree with Bob on this one, STFU!!

</rant>

[Phil Lesh101]

Why talk when you can dance man!

[Phil Lesh101]

SHHH!

[tigerstrat]

Knock knock:
"Who's there?"
"Interrupting Bobby"
"Interru-"
"STFU!!!"

[myoung6923]

Knock knock:
"Who's there?"
"Interrupting Bobby"
"Interru-"
"STFU!!!"

Hahaha!!!!!!!

[darkstar74]

Of course these people aint embarresed for making bobby do that.they're drunk.And their idiots who should have stayed in their living room.

[Dozin]

That's what happens when you play in a bar, the same bar over and over again. People get use to it and they stop appreciating the music as attentively as if it were the first time. West cost, San Franciscans are spoiled right now with Sweetwater and Terrapin Crossroads in their backyard. I'm sure this is built up on Weir's chest over time and he finally said enough is enough.

One thing is for certain, he just set the rule in those bars. The STFU rule is now in affect. It's a good thing for the many acts that play there and the people who really do come to absorb the music.

Bravo Bob for putting your foot down.

[Grateful Dad]

I agree with Bobby. If you want to talk remove yourselves, go to the bar, lobby, outside or wherever to talk, away from those who are listening, singing along, and dancing. Respect the music.

Could Bobby have handled it better? Fuck yeah!

But he's only human!

[jahozer]

Hmmm. Ive been both the talker and the shusher in my life. Most recently, I shushed a couple high school girls at Furthur right in my ear with OMG! Do you think he likes me??? blah blah. Once I yelled at the opening band for talking during Tuck and Patti at the Tin Angel in Philly. Very intimate setting with a very quiet performance.
But then I got shushed for 1 comment during a Robert McGuinn opener for Doc Watson. The dude in front of me turned around and shushed me as loud as he could in my face. It was really uncalled for, and I have to admit, he did not have a good experience after that...Of course I was completely silent for Doc...

Zappa used to routinely tell the audience to sit down, relax and enjoy yourself.

How far is the bar from the stage at Sweetwater? I dont know that I would be completely silent during a Knockin Encore. If they were right up at the stage that would be one thing, but I dunno. To demand rapt attention may be a bit overkill.
I think taliking is ok if its not disturbing the performer (as this obviously did Bobby) and if its not in bothering those around you. If its that quiet, you can talk quietly. But I guess the volume control gets wonky with more alcohol.

[WildEye]

Alcohol does mess with volume control (guilty as charged). But Bobby makes a great point and I hope the story reaches more ears. The saying "it takes a village..." is true and I think most of the offenders are unaware of what they are doing. Somebody quoted somebody this weekend on "tales" saying (to the offenders) "Hey man this is a really great song" and it was a great disarmer. I guess my point is that as audience members ourselves we can help make a difference without being dicks ourselves...