Take Me Out Tonight, Because I Want To Ignore Music and Just Stare at a Screen

Saturday night I went to the Johnny Marr http://www.johnny-marr.com/messengeralbum show at the Phoenix, a small, intimate concert hall, which I think is the best way to enjoy live music. Huge arena shows are something to experience, but if you really love live music, nothing beats a small venue.

  

Being rather short in stature, I climbed up to the balcony where I could get a bird’s eye view of the stage rather than the backs of a sea of heads. From my vantage point I could see the stage perfectly and the crowd of people below filming the concert on their mobile phones.

We’ve all seen YouTube clips of mobile phone recorded shows and shut them off as soon as we realized what they were. The sound quality is crap, and the video is a motion sickness inducing shaky, blur. Which begs the question, why would anyone buy a ticket to a show, take the trouble to get dressed up, go downtown and watch the entire concert through the tiny screen of their mobile phone instead of larger than life on stage in front of them?

Many people were not dancing because they had to hold their phones still, and with the task of recording, couldn’t offer much in the way of applause at the end of each song. I can’t imagine how the band kept their energy up and pulled off such a tight and fun show with so little feedback from the audience.

I’m sure those fans all went home raving about what a great show it was. If they didn't like the music they would have stopped recording the show so intently, but in the process of recording a very poor quality version of the evening, they missed out on enjoying what was actually happening live directly in front of them.

Meanwhile, up in the balcony, farthest from the action, people danced and sang, cheered, bopped and had a great time because the show was really entertaining. The new album The Messenger is great and I actually prefer Marr’s versions of The Smiths classics to Morrissey’s iconic whine – heretical statement, but that's the way I feel.

Here’s the one photo from my mobile that I had a taller friend take. It’s a terrible photo but a good example of the standard mobile abilities (and mine has a pretty good camera).

I don’t hate mobiles and modern technology; I just think they are overused. What should be a tool of convenience has become a life-support that most people seem to be unable to effectively live without. Which is ironic because it is exactly the living part they are missing out on.

I recommend any fan of jangly guitar hooks to check out Johnny Marr's new album The Messenger because it rocks, and if anyone finds the red “Johnny Fucking Marr” tour t-shirt in a women’s extra small, please send one my way because they only had tents available at the Phoenix

Respect Anachronism

I’m not generally prone to nostalgia. Quite the opposite, I tend to assume things will continue to improve otherwise what is the point in continuing? I have no use for the days of “good old family values" which allowed a man to beat his family without fear of the neighbours calling the police and saw young women enter university with the sole purpose of getting an Mrs. before their names rather than a designation after it. I do, however, believe in respect and that apparently makes me very old fashioned. Here is my quick guide to etiquette:

Lateness: When you are chronically late you are telling others “I think my time is more valuable than yours and thus it is ok to make you wait.” You may very well think you are more important but that is not how others perceive you. They see you as disorganized, unreliable and flakey. (Kudos to Anna, who is always punctual, if not early).

Mobile phones: Take a lesson from emergency nurses and triage your communication with others. The person who has taken the time to physically be with you deserves top priority and your undivided attention. Next, phone callers and last, texters. Having a phone conversation or texting when you are with someone tells the person who actually made the effort to see you that you would rather be spending time with someone – anyone else. If that is how you feel by all means go spend your time elsewhere, we’ll both be better off. (Shaun, Mike K, Paulina and Jaime thanks for always making me feel like I am the reason you left the house whenever we meet up).

Meals: It is never ok to begin eating before everyone at the table is served. Period. Also, body fluids and dinning spaces don’t mix; when you are around food keep them on the inside. Please excuse yourself to blow your nose; you’ll want to wash your hands immediately after anyway....won’t you? (I wish everyone could experience dinning with Hien, always the consummate gentleman at table).

Baseball caps: They are not fashionable and wearing one does not make you an athlete. Unless you are painting, renovating or it is required as part of your food service industry uniform, take it off indoors. (None of my friends wear baseball caps; they’re a stylish bunch with great hair).

Doors: It’s very simple; he or she who gets there first holds it open for the person behind them even if that person is a stranger. (As a side note, my friend Nick still offers a lady his arm when taking a stroll and yet very much seeks to associate with women who will challenge him. I’m trying to convince him to come to Canada and hold workshops).

Here’s one that is perhaps a little nostalgic and most likely to meet with disagreement. I do miss the days when someone picked you up by getting out of their car and knocking on your door and got out of the car again to say goodbye when dropping you off. A text from the driveway is the digital equivalent of a honk. (I bow respectfully to Jennine and Craig, possibly the last two people on the planet who still do this).

To those of you seeing your manners in this blog (whether specifically named or not), I appreciate your refinement and how wonderfully aware you are. Thanks for being charmingly you.