I'm going to go see Yellowcard (with Mae and Over It) at the Cal Poly Pomona Kellogg Gym tonight. (Actually, in two hours from now.) I plan to bring my [lame] camera and take pictures, so if you see me, say "hello", m'kay? Rock on!
This'll also give me another chance to see a professional band in action. I definitely need to make some mental notes so I don't look like a dork next Thursday at our show.
The aftermath: Gabe and I left late, but fortunately traffic was pretty smooth coming from the west. Thanks to Esther, I borrowed her parking permit to save five bucks. The line was extremely long, but we made it inside without missing any of the bands. Over It, Mae, and Yellowcard all put on a fantastic show.
We bumped into Gabe's cousin before Yellowcard came on, and he told her about our show next Thursday. (Hopefully she'll come and bring a bunch of people.) When Yellowcard finally came on, I got split up from Gabe. After the show, we met up outside the gym. No broken nose, and I was stunned to hear that he went body surfing. So crazy! I think I'm much more cerebral when I hear music or I'm at a concert. I may not jump around like a maniac, but I'm loving the moment.
Notes: What could you get out of watching a professional performance from a band like Yellowcard?
- Thank everyone – You may have made it, but you need to stay humble. From what I see, people don't like cocky performers.
- Play immediately – If you don't have much to say, move onto the next song. But don't leave 30 seconds of silence. To me, I get bored in those times, watching a band tune. In transitions, say something meaningful. (See bullet point one)
- Get the crowd into the show – Make them feel like they're a part of the band, adding energy to the show. Yellowcard requested a circle mosh pit for a song, and everyone was getting crazy.
Do you have any other tips for musicians in a new band? As a music lover, what do you like to see on stage?
