Saw a cool thing at local concert
 

Over the years I've been to hundreds of concerts (mostly alternative, punk, indie type music), and have never seen this before! My buddy and I went to see Camper Van Beethoven (CVB) with Built To Spill (BTS) at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC. It was a really fantastic show. Both bands were very tight and played their hearts out! Even though Camper has more years than BTS, Camper was the opening act. Well about 15 minutes into the show (general admission - standing room only), I looked over and saw the lead singer/guitarist for BTS, Doug Martsch, standing right next to me watching and cheering for CVB! He was really getting into it!!! I'll be damned if he didn't stay and watch the entire set!!!!

I know it's no big deal, but fans have this image of the "headlining act" as hanging out in the bus or in the "green room" getting plenty stoned (on smoke and/or liquor) and just sort of patiently waiting for their turn to take the stage as the groupies hang about! Well this guy was just an ordinary fan like the rest of us appreciating a really talented act! I thought it was a pretty cool way for him to get warmed up and feel the actual vibe of the crowd! When the set was over, he just casually walked back stage!

Anyone have some cool concert stories to add?

Very cool.

There's some good quality local bands in Boston and we were frequenting the clubs checking out some of our favorites. A couple years ago we saw Westbound Train (sort jazz, reggae ska band, hard to define)open for Bim Skala Bim.

A year or so after that we were at a Dropkick Murphy's show and saw a familiar face in the crowd walking toward us. I recognized Obie (the lead singer for Westbound Train) and said hello to him by name. He looked absolutely stunned that someone in the crowd recognized him and commented on his music. It was a priceless look....

too bad more execs don't rip a page from that book!

Re: Saw a cool thing at local concert
 

I had a similar experience at Smilefest a few years back. I was enjoying a nice set of music, and noticed someone (who looked vaguely familiar) a few feet in front of me really enjoying it also! The next thing I knew, the band on stage was inviting a guest bass player up to sit in and the fellow I'd observed proceeded to the stage....Oteil Burbage (Aquarium Rescue Unit, Allman Brothers, Oteil & the Peacemakers, etc.)...bass player extraordinaire!

Re: Saw a cool thing at local concert
 

my friend is in a local rock band and since i've known him i've attended a bunch of his shows to hang out and just show my support. maybe it's due to the fact that this is still on a smaller scale than the huge shows, but i've seen plenty of bands hanging out among the crowd during another's performance while waiting their turn. every now and then someone gets more into it and just enjoys it instead of hanging by the bar and chatting. you're right, it is cool to see that.

and just b/c he's my friend, here's a plug for them: "assrockers"
(you gotta love a band w/ a name like that! :D )
http://superbigcool.com/assrockers/

http://www.myspace.com/assrockers

A while ago I went to a Leo Kottke/Michael Hedges show in Seattle and the crowd included just about every grunge band in town including the big ones. I imagine they just were out to see a couple of great players just like we were.

It's easy to forget that at the end of the day, they all have CD collections and favorites just like the rest of us ne'er-do-wells that have to put on our pants one leg at a time!

I saw David Bowie at a concert in Calgary. I mean, not at a concert he was playing in, he was just in the crowd. We were all leaving and I was walking right beside him and I thought 'Holy ****, this guy looks just like david bowie!', and right then a bunch of girls started screaming and rushed him. We kind of looked at each other and I said to him 'If I was you, I would run now' and he just laughed.