So I went and saw the second set of Zorn's Electric Masada show in Seattle last night. What a stellar lineup. I am always happy to see Marc Ribot play, he is one of my three favorite living guitarists (the others being Timothy Young and Nels Cline). The musicianship is undeniable with this group. Besides the jam band feel every once in awhile, one thing really ruined the concert for me-
During the first song there was a guy that was getting really into the music, yelling shit like "Right on!" and "Good beat!"...When the song was over Zorn totally ripped this guy a new asshole in front of everyone there. "Hey, I was wondering who was fucking talking?" Dude says "Sorry man, I couldn't help it!" Zorn continues with "Well keep your big fat fucking mouth shut asshole, we are up here trying to concentrate on some music here, fuck! Goddamn what an idiot" (or something very similar)...
It really created an uncomfortable silence after every other song, people would clap and then there would be absolute silence. Uncomfortable silence, not silence like at a classical concert. I am not sure what to make of this... I have seen this done more tasteful (ala Wayne Horvitz "The music room is in here, the shouting room is out there" when someone was in heavy drunken conversation at an acoustic show) People were no longer clapping when someone would rip into an intense solo in fear we might make bossman mad.
Is music supposed to create an emotional response in the listener? Isn't this what was happening with this guy in the crowd? So Zorn was doing his job right? So why rip into this guy in that fashion if the music you are creating is kicking his ass?
Now I am one of the first people to get irritated at people that do stupid shit at concerts (Talking, trying to start a mosh pit etc.) But I have a feeling Zorn has put himself as more important than his audience. I have to pay $22 fucking bucks to watch you play for an hour, and your gonna yell at me? Fuck you. Who is the employee in a situation where money is exchanged like that? Not the audience. Is he that important? I thought he was into hardcore music like the Accused? Now it seems to me like he is a bitter old fuddy duddy that doesn't want people to enjoy his music. (how fucking radical) He sure made me feel like he had better things to be doing than hang with us.
If the ticket to that show wasn't so expensive I would have walked out at that moment.
I saw someone with a very similar attitude recently, a bus driver in San Francisco. This guy actually does have a shitty job. Zorn's job? Give me a break. Putting out records. I know he has worked his ass off to get where he is at, and that is fucking cool. I totally respect that. But is it that miserable a job that you have to yell at people in your audience?
It's funny, the one time I met Zorn he was a totally nice guy. Oh well. I will for sure not go see his music live again. I like to go to shows where it seems the artist actually wants to be there and wants the audience to have fun.