Dead Can Dance

My wife and I went to the Dead Can Dance concert in Chicago last night with a couple of friends from Ohio. DCD was wonderful! After 9 years of waiting, I was hoping the concert would never end. They played two encores of about 3 songs each. Lisa sang a lullaby as her very last song of the night. It was unexpected, but very nice. She has such an amazing voice. When she sings, the gods stop what they're doing and listen.

Just a couple of things that bothered me about the show... the audience! Haven't people been to a REAL concert before? ... one that isn't a rock concert!? Here's some basic rules and things that bothered me.

1) Shut up! If you need to say something, do it during the applause.

2) Turn off your cell phone BEFORE the concert starts. If someone's cell phone goes off during the performance, that person will be embarassed enough as is and they'll turn it off. DO NOT "shhhhh" them or yell at them. You make more noise than the phone did and cause a greater disturbance.

3) Don't "shhhh" people. It's louder to everyone around you than their mumbling is. If you can't wait until the applause to tell them to be quiet, turn to them and TELL them to be quiet.

4) Please don't bring your friend who pretends to have turrets syndrome or who is drunk. If they really DO have turrets, explain it to the people around you before your friend gets their ass kicked for yelling out "Rock and Roll!" in the middle of a quiet symphonic part of a piece.

5) Wait until the applause before getting up to get a drink or use the facilities. Wait until the applause to make your way back to your seat. Don't loiter in the isle while waiting.

6) No flash photography. If you MUST take a picture, don't use the flash. It's distracting to others and all you'll get is a bright picture of the back of hte head of the person sitting in front of you.

and lastly,

7) Put your camera phones away. Don't even bother to take them out during the concert. In a dark concert hall, the screen on the phone is VERY bright and distracting to others. It can be brighter than the stage lighting and catch the corners of your eyes. It's very annoying.