I’ve decided that they need to rename Biltmore’s “Summer Evening Concert Series” to the Biltmore “Summer Evening Sit-Down Series.” What is it about concerts at Biltmore, and why does everyone insist on sitting down? Is it a wine-and-cheese crowd, or have they just not had enough local beer or Biltmore wine yet to put them in the mood?
Recently I, along with my wife and two good friends, attended the REO Speedwagon concert at Biltmore. I will honestly say I wasn’t expecting a rousing show. I will even admit that when my wife brought up buying tickets for the show, I was less than excited because I didn’t think REO was cool anymore. Was I ever wrong! Not only were these guys good, it was the best show I’ve seen in a while. These guys rocked and, bucking the trend of the shows I’ve attended in the past at Biltmore, they actually rocked for nearly two hours. This was no jazz trio or string quartet worthy of a good sit.
During most of the show, only about 5 percent or less of the crowd stood during the songs. Rock concerts are supposed to be fun. It’s something you do to get away from it all and forget life for a couple of hours. I can’t tell you how disappointed I was in the town and how embarrassed I was for the band to have to pour their hearts [out] to a bunch of people who just sat there like they had just finished Thanksgiving dinner and were in the throes of a tryptophan coma.
A big shout out to those fellow standers, especially to the lone man to our left who was standing, dancing and having his own private party amongst a throng of other sitters just sipping on their wine.
It’s annoying to stand up to enjoy the show you paid good money for, only to be made to feel guilty for blocking the view of others behind you and hear jeers of “Down in front!” Down in front? It’s a rock concert, people! How about “Up in Back!” If you want to sit during a rock concert, order one up on pay-per-view at home.
I will give the crowd some credit, however. Although it took about an hour and a half, people finally started standing and having fun near the end of the show.
Maybe there is hope!
— Glenn Kavanagh
Asheville
I have to disagree with this letter. The main thing that keeps me away from concerts is exactly this guy’s attitude. Maybe I don’t WANT to stand up for two hours while a perfectly good chairs is just sitting there, unused mere inches below me but I am forced to choose between comfortably enjoying a show and actually being able to SEE it because of Glenn and his friends misplaced ideas about how to express your enthusiasm and enjoyment of musical acts. Great, now we can all see the exact same way we could before we all stood up, only now we have the added enjoyment of feeling like we are waiting in line at the DMV. Thanks Glenn!! I hope you don’t have the same theories about the proper way to show your enjoyment of movies!!