AIBU to think drunken behaviour is ruining outdoor gigs?

[Mapletreelane]

Went to see Pulp last night at Wythenshawe Gardens. They were absolutely fantastic (as was Self Esteem supporting). I'm a Pulp fan and was really excited. I realise it's outdoor and people are going to have a few beverages and have a chat and a good time but behaviour at outdoor gigs seems.ti be getting worse. It seemed to be full of absolutely hammered middle aged men and women, who clearly only knew 2 sings, couldn't stand up and were just shouting at each other during any song that wasn't Common People or Disco 2000. And they've paid £80 plus £10 a can for the privilege. The group right in front of me (it was too late to move at that point ) had their backs to the stage most of the gig, were shouting at each constantly and kept falling into me. What i don't understand is why they paid to get in...why didn't they just go to the pub or a club. Surely they're not going to remember anything.

One lady decided to hold her phone aloft with the torch on pointed at the back of the crowd to be a beacon to get her friends to the same spot but blinding everyone behind. Someone took offense and asked her to stop as it was in his eyeline and blocking his view and she just had a go at him and started shining her torch in his eyes. Just pure entitlement (this was during the performance).

I realise I'm getting older and less tolerant but it's definitely been getting worse. Genuinely do not see the point of spending a lot money to get hammered and not remember a thing to see bands you're not even fans of (and annoying everyone else).

Anyway rant over. Pulp and Jarvis were incredible as ever (what a front man) but I may stick to indoor gigs from now on.

I went to see Teddy swims and it was £200 for the ticket. One group of people were stood in a circle chatting through my view of the stage. I had to move in the end because they were spoiling the gig for me. Then my brother in law put dd on his shoulders and this woman had a massive go at him!

Also I went to a Biffy Clyro outdoor gig. My DH was pretty drunk but not doing anything wrong. I went to see them indoors in Jan as well and was seated and during one of their quieter more emotional and older songs ( so not recognisable) and these people were laughing and chatting behind me

Exactly! That said Jarvis was magnificent as were the rest if the band and the bonus of Richard Hawley. Just still can't get my head round people spending upwards of £100 on a night and not being interested in the band and getting hammered. Just go to a pub or a club
Much cheaper and quicker to get home.

I've seen Pulp countless times over the last 30 years and last night was very different to all the others. And not in a good way.

Massive groups of pissed-up obnoxious people in their 40s and 50s ignoring the band, talking to their mates, filming the couple of songs they knew and ignoring the rest.

It was a completely different vibe to the last Pulp gig I was at (tramlines last year) when yes people were drinking but were having a good time dancing, singing, being part of something.

Last night didn't feel like a Pulp gig at all; it felt like the lairy blokes who would usually be found down Spoons (or at the oasis reunion?!?) had got lost in Wythenshawe Park.

Yes you expect people to have a few (several) drinks at gigs. And more than just booze! But you also expect them to want to enjoy the music. Last night that wasn't happening... it felt threatening tbh and I haven't had that at a gig before. In fact I haven't been in a crowd that miserable and detached from the music before.

This is the same in our area although 90% are drunk teens

As you say they only knew 2 songs, you could talk to them about the message of some of Pulp's other songs.but it's quite normal for this age group.
I doubt the Help the Aged song will be as relevant for our kids as for those of us in our 40s!

That's exactly how I felt. Crowd felt flat at one point I felt as if I was duetting with Jarvis on Razzmatazz as no one else was singing, and sunrise which is usually euphoric felt so flat (I was giving it my best). Shame as Pulp were on top form. Think I'll go abroad if they tour again. Nearly went to Berlin this year. Wish I had.

@pinkglove84 just realised your username!

Clearly a fan from the user name! I don’t feel as negatively about it as you, but I do agree that there seemed to be an oddly high number of people who weren’t really fans there. Whether it’s because that gig has been part of a series at the park I don’t know. We saw them in Finsbury Park a few years ago and that felt different, even though also a massive outdoors gig. I’ve concluded I’m too old for outdoor gigs. I’m really short, which doesn’t help matters. And can’t bear constantly getting jostled by people carrying their massive rounds back to their mates. Who they have lost. I’m a pretty big drinker but I just don’t see the attraction at gigs. I don’t want to miss the band by queuing for the bar or the toilet. Or spend a fortune on drinks I am quite likely to spill everywhere.

What do you mean it was "too late to move"? That doesn't make sense?

Oasis last year was ridiculous. Middle aged men coked off their tits, group photo shoots with their backs to the stage and then the worst one of all, people videoing themselves performing along to the songs.
There should be a law against the number of sad pathetic wankers allowed in any given area at any one time.

I went to see Taylor Swift and there was a group by us who just had shouted conversation the whole way through knew about 3 songs and were constantly just taking photos of each other and necking cider, it was so annoying, we had an amazing view luckily and were right by the stage so still had an amazing time but dirk g Champagne Problems they just screamed and laughed together so I could barely hear it, entitled little pricks!

The difference between last year at the Co-op arena and last night at Wythenshawe park was staggering. I loved every moment last year. This time though there were definitely pockets of antisocial arseholes who had no interest in the music and spoilt it for those who really wanted to see the show.

As others said, people were barging into people (not dancing, just drunk), shouting conversations between themselves throughout the gig and sloshing beer everywhere. Pulp were fantastic as always though👌

We had a really good view and it was really crowded and the gig had started so made no sense to move away.

Same, I was there, had a great night and didn’t see any problems whatsoever, if I’d been near people who were being annoying I’d just move, that’s the beauty of an outdoor gig rather than a seated venue.

Luckily I live really close so didn’t need to deal with the carpark!

You can still move, that’s the beauty of an outdoor gig.

I was there and nobody was being annoying near us so there’s really no need to be a martyr and stay in one place if the people around you are annoying.

I’m not sure it’s just an issue with outdoor gigs , frankly the behaviour at most large concerts I’ve been to in the last couple of years indoors and out has deteriorated to such an extent that I’m getting increasingly picky about where I will go . Far too many people who just do whatever they please with no regard for anybody else .

Definitely this. It annoys me that there are people that don't seem interested at all in the gig and there will be people that couldn't get tickets for it that really wanted to go.

Years ago at an outdoor gig (Bon Jovi, Sunderland), two pissed up women in front of me were flailing around and kept stepping backwards and knocking into me, hard. I ended up having to stand with my arms crossed, police officer style, braced up just to keep my balance.

One of the women noticed how I was stood, then had the temerity to scream 'WHY IS SHE STOOD LIKE THAT, FUCKINELL, STUPID BORING COW' ! 🙄

Sorry for trying not to fall over whilst you repeatedly slammed your entire body into me!

Never again!

I thought the whole point of 'Sorted for Es and Wizz' was about how dreadful the drug comedown was and how people behaved pretty badly on drugs at festivals? It always struck me that Jarvis's lyrics often took an arch swipe at people doing things mindlessly because everyone else appeared to be doing them.

Saying it was 'the culture' suggests everyone in Britain in the 90s was getting very messy and acting like twits all the time, which of course wasn't the case

So you're complaining that your view to the stage was ruined but you have no problem with your DD ruining the view of others because she was on you BiL's shoulders? Righto. IMO people on shoulders (and the person whose shoulders they are on), should be chucked out.

How muddy was it op? Im going tomorrow, not mega fussed about a bit of rain but I dont have wellies and its too late to get any now 😩

I've just read the lyrics! Brilliant.

It seems to be a thing now just to want to 'be there' so you can put it on your socials or brag. Same on holidays, people only interested in having their photo taken but not really taking any notice of anything.

When we went into the Mezquita in Cordoba you barely got inside before hitting a wall of people looking at it through their phones.

I was there. I think you were unlucky, and tbh indoor gigs can be just as bad.

We had no drunk people but instead (and given that we were nearly near the front), one of those annoying gig men who stand ridgidly still with a smack arse face if anyone dancing (literally everyone around them) so much as brushes him. Bugger off to the back mate.
It was such an amazing gig and thought Self Esteem was absolutely brilliant too.

I completely agree and @pinkglove84has hit the nail on the head.

Pulp were superb, however it was near on impossible to enjoy the music due to the majority of the crowd being hammered and giving not one shit of consideration to people around them who actually wanted to focus on the performance.

People staggering around with 4 cans each, the constant smell of weed, idiots banging into me, I ended up in three different spots trying to get away from it but everywhere seemed to be the same.

This isn’t a case of people having a good time and me being a misery, they were there to get hammered and not pay attention to the gig, and in doing so spoiled everyone else’s enjoyment.