The following is a post that a friend of mine Firedancers mailing list decided to post a reply to.. I thought it was well thought out and decided to post it here:

* The << determines already copied text from the original message that she is replying to.

From: SmokeNAshe@aol.com
2.25.99

>> <<<"...Screaming middle-schoolers drown out the band in mid-song.
People puke instead of dance; tapers erect their mic stands in puddles
of vomit. >>
My cousin went to a Horde tour concert last year, and it was the same thing.
It's not just a DMB phenomenon- it's everything associated with popularity. If
you're a popular band who projects the image of grassroots down-and-funky
music, that's the kind of crowd you attract- people who don't go JUST for the
music. Which is, at times, unfortunate, I agree, but it's a tradeoff. I don't
imagine Coran Capshaw would sacrifice 10,000 tickets just for the sake of our
enjoyment.

<>
Sure, you get DDTW, Crash, SMTS>Too Much, and Satellite, but I think you can't
solely attribute this to "new fans" Crash was a fixture on the late 95 tour
even before the CD was released, DDTW has been percolating since 1996, SMTS is
a Pete Greisar compilation, and Satellite began as a finger exercise for Dave.
I don't think you're hearing these JUST because new fans are out there, but
because maybe (just maybe) the band enjoys playing them, and likes the
reaction they get from the crowd.

<>>
I think you can attribute this to overwork- late-tour concerts are typically
shorter. The 1996 tour ran about the same way- most concerts during the
fall/winter ran about 135 minutes, if that. But I think their improving has
still improved. Case in point, 11.21.98 Lie in Our Graves. Also, the setlist
has expanded somewhat, to include older songs on occasion (Proudest Monkey,
WWYS, The Maker, #40 ).

<<  And when you see a show (any show, any band you dig), is it really that
important to know all the words to every song and know that certain rare songs
exist, to prove you're a great fan?  

To some people, yes.

<< IMHO, if you feel yourself floating on the same vibe as the musicians and
savoring the journey they're taking you on through their expression of
combined talents, what else would you need to call it an ideal concert
experience? 

Amen :) I couldn't have said it better. 

<>

I think part of the "oldbie" thing is a certain pride in knowing things about
the band that even the band doesn't know, and the oldbie's irritation is sort
of a broad irritation that people don't, or are unwilling to, understand the
band on the same level that they themselves do. Maybe it's an
insecurity/identity crisis- the oldbie has to continually reaffirm his/her
status by screaming for Blue Water or #34 with words, or complain about the
annoying elements at concerts (thus dissociating him/herself from the
"newbies")

Just my few sleepy thoughts... 

Imitated, but never duplicated,
Smoky

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