Morrissey meets Chastain
July 23, 2007 at 1:07 pm by Andisheh Nouraee in News 
MORRISSEY AT CHASTAIN: He brought his dinner, too.
Local music lovers know well how Chastain Park Amphitheater’s dinner-theater layout and chatty, disinterested season-ticket holders can suck the life out of a concert. Last Friday, Morrissey discovered the phenomenon for himself.
Accustomed to packed venues with emotionally charged crowds, the English pop legend played to a three-quarters-full audience whose most enthusiastic fans were largely confined to the seats farthest from the stage. He attempted to make the best of the situation, starting the show by strolling up to the mic with Cheez-Its in his hands and deadpanning, “You brought your dinner. I’ve brought mine.â€
He then launched into the Smiths’ 1986 classic “Panic.†But when the crowd largely failed to sing along with the song’s “hang the DJ†chant, the die was cast. He sang the hits and sang them well, but cut his set short by two songs. Annoying, but somehow appropriate. Lifeless Season Ticket Holders - 1. Morrissey - 0. Let’s hope he plays the Tabernacle next time.
(Photo by Perry Julien)
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August 24th, 2007 at 6:37 am
While on the subject of horrible venues to see live music, I must profess my hatred of the Gwinnett Arena. I went once to see a Beastie Boys show and it was horrible. The sound, venue, staging and swarms of OTP ‘country folk’ made the show uncomfortable, boring, lifeless and regrettable that we had paid money to drive to East Jesus to watch this and be in confines with a bunch of racist, Faulknerian rednecks.
Is there a tax break that Gwinnett offers performers that draws them to this venue? I was groped outside by an elderly lady with an oversized jacket with embroidered letters, “SECURITY” on the back. I have to admit I thoroughly enjoyed her touch and would like to call her up some time and maybe return the favor.
At least I have my memories of the best Beastie Boys show I ever witnessed, even beofre I knew who they were. 1984 at the Metroplex opening for Devo. They were a great punk band with notable musicianship. As far as my memories of the Gwinnett Arena, I will never forget the four huckleberries in the bathroom discussing their concern of too many gays and blacks were at the show and one of them was about to get “red”.
Do you think these guys listen to the same lyrics that were written by the band? Who knows. My advice is to take a pass on any shows that seem tempting to make the trek to bumbleweeds OTP and Chastain Park as well.
November 4th, 2007 at 8:35 am
out of the many, many morrissey shows i have seen all over the country, this was the worst, due to the venue. the whole front of the arena was empty (crappy ticket holders) and we had to sneak into that area to get up front! poor morrissey. thank goodness he is going back to the tabernacle!