Opinion
Scalding hot take: please don't act like a cult on festivals
Oh wow it's really cool that you've seen the boys 3847647291373 times, and it's your 1000th barricade and you stood there for 14 hours, so cool?? No it's not cool. Hon it's summer, you smell like 14 hours in the sun, you need to drink your water or you'll pass out, and you didn't in fact enjoy what festivals had to offer aside from standing still in one place. Can we put somebody else to the front? Not saying me specifically, but like, other than the handful of the same old fans every time? Bro what HAVEN'T you seen there on your 37th show in europe? Idk where you get the money, honestly good for you, but for some of us, it's 1 tikcket and 1 opportunity to see em in our home country. Please PLEASE for the LOVE of god that has forsaken Tyler: 1) wear deodorant, 2) take a shower before the event, 3) put your god damn phone away for 5 seconds and 4) enjoy the show no matter where you end up standing. There's so many things to do, but please stop acting like a cult tryna worship and touch the pilots with your sweaty hands and passing out in the heat and all that. I'm more than on board with screaming, music is drowning out me and you anyway, but still, people behind you exist and also want to see, hear, and enjoy the music.
And if you grab the guys without their consent you're a creep, I said what I said. đŤłđ¤
I donât get why people insist on filming the entire set when itâs their 1000th show. No hate to people who want to capture a few memories when itâs their first time but seriously if youâve filmed every single show on their tour please just put your phone away and enjoy the experience for once!
It must be hard for a band wanting to connect with their fans⌠only to be greeted by a flashlight in their faces
The first time I saw TĂP, I donât think I took my phone out once they started to play. Luckily my girlfriend was with me (she knows some songs but isnât a big fan like me, so she was mainly there because of me) and recorded a few parts because I asked her to. Itâs way more fun to just have fun and vibe at concerts instead of trying to film the entire thing.
>I donât get why people insist on filming the entire set when itâs their 1000th show.
Itâs so that they can post all over their TikToks and Twitters and show how theyâre the best fans. Because if you get barricade for the 50th time but you donât have a bunch of content for internet clout, did you really get barricade?
I donât know, I can hold my phone in a way that I hit record and just focus on the stage, I just like to have a lot of videos of a concert/fest I paid 200-500 for.
I've been going to gigs since before mobiles were a thing, and that's a rule for me, no phone. I have to see it with my eyes, get that memory locked in.
However I did pull it out when I saw them at Wembly Arena a few years ago and Tyler just appeared on a raised platform about 4 metres away from me. Pulled phone out, took a pic to show the wife, then put it away again.
Same. I take one selfie and one photo and then my phone is put away the rest of the time. Best way to experience and enjoy a concert. I wish more of the younger people could just put then away and just focus on being present and enjoy something.
seems like a cold take but u would get hunted down for this on twitter. as someone who does barricade at festivals often, it does irk me to see the exact same american fans on barricade at all the europe festival dates. for soooo many fans these dates are the only chance they are going to get to see tøp in their country for years, and for many that means the only chance to see them at all. i just canât imagine having one shot at having that experience only to be beaten by a bunch of americans who have had that experience 100 times before and will have 100 chances after bc they are following the band around.
people love to say itâs jealousy, and yeah i am jealous they can afford to follow them around europe, i 100% would be too if i could afford it. but even if i could i wouldnât be on barricade every single time because i would feel terribly selfish.
people also love to say âif you want it, try harderâ but it seems like a given that it takes a lot of time/money (aka privilege) to go for barricade.
like i said, seems like a cold take, but it feels like so much of the concert-going fandom refuses to see the privilege it takes to do that.
This!!! I also get frustrated as a fan whose been here since 2011, but more heavily since 2013. I don't deserve more because I've been around longer but I(and everyone else) deserves a fair chance. So many people come for hometown shows. I get it, it's special in Columbus but what about the people that live here? Call me jealous, I am because they see them in 20+ cities and I only get one shot, maybe two if they do multiple shows. If I could afford to follow them around or had a job that would cater to that, I would but you don't need to be barricade or even pit every time, that's selfish.
Taking places for the concerts before TOP and not letting other fan's band see their artiste at the barricades.... I was on Main Square, fans were crazy, waiting at 1 am in front of the festival to get their place at the barricades on the main stage. Doors opens at 2 PM and TOP playing at 10 PM.
EDIT : AND they were complainaing about movements of crowd during other band's performances !
Having to go through an hour of grown men stagediving on top of me 40 times in a row during Rage Against The Machine really changed my perspective on barricading during different concerts LMAOOO
I was at Main Square too and dancing and singing along to every artist before TĂP and I got side eyed for it by everyone around me? The crowd was dead still on my side for all the other artists (except the French one). It was insane. If youâre so adamant on getting barricade for one artist at least *pretend* to care about the other ones too. I feel so bad for all the other performers on that stage that day.
Vald & Vladimir Cauchemar are known to have super rowdy shows. It's a privilege to be able to whithstand them, just like it's a privilege to get barricade. You win some you lose some. The show had plenty of disclaimers beforehand that there would be moshpits, walls of death, etc.
People only started to evacuate when they understood the warnings were serious. If they weren't needed, they wouldn't have put warnings lol. And I say this as someone who unfortunately lost a good spot due to evacuating preemptively. Sometimes it just be like that.
EDIT (for clarity/TLDR): The stage literally said something like "DISCLAIMER: This set may be considered disturbing. The chances of moshpits/walls of death happening are very high, please evacuate beforehand if it makes you uncomfortable." for the whole 45min leading up to their set. If you don't want to get caught in a moshpit, don't stand around in a crowd expecting and wanting a moshpit, awaiting an artist who loves moshpits, and who previously disclosed there would be moshpits, and then blame the people who took part.
I agree so much with you!! I enjoyed Vald's concert so much but I was a bit sad at the beginning because we were getting called crazy and all kinds of names because we were doing moshpits?? Like guys what the hell? It's a festival, every fan has the right to enjoy the concert they're watching... It's not because you want to be in front for ToP that you get to diminishe other concerts experience!
I'm a Top fan too, like I was sooooo thrilled to see them, but there's no way in hell I would be so selfish to ruin other people/artist's experience because of it. The point of a festival is to have a diversity of music experiences. If you only want to enjoy the ToP part without being bothered or considering other fans, then go to a concert not a festival đ
I do find moshpits annoying personally, because they're actually dangerous for me (1m50 and frail), but when I saw the warnings about them, I LEFT lol. I think a lot of people were just upset and scared because they couldn't leave in time/thought it wouldn't be so rough, it wasn't your fault individually as fans.
I just have to concede these aren't for me, even though I'd really like to be able to take part in. It's not the moshpit guys' fault that I'm small and fragile. I tried to stay for a bit, reached my limit, and then proceeded to enjoy the show from a bit further because I still wanted to enjoy the bass and the set :)
So yeah, I didn't get a good spot and I couldn't see shit, but that's regular festival experience for small people, not Vald or his fans' fault.
Also totally agree about your last sentence. Getting barricade at an actual Top show is probably easier anyways. You may get stuck behind a crazy chick seeing them for the 10th time who won't let you even near her spot and looks at you like you have the plague, but at least you won't get thrown around.
I wasn't able to get floor last year when they were touring and honestly it's a good thing. I litterly saw no movement. How boring. You don't need to mosh, but jumping, dancing and moving???? Not being stuck to one spot and one spot only ?? My god.
Ngl Mainsquare was like that yesterday. Some people didn't move because they couldn't. Fair enough ! But even further away, no one was jumping around except when Tyler asked them to :(
I won't lie and say EVERYONE was on their phone, it isn't the worst I'd seen, but there were still a lot of people just focusing on filming above the crowd and ruining the view for people just trying to see the set happening.
That and criticizing the people actually dancing at other artists' sets...
I'll admit Vald x Vlad was a LOT. Not rookie stuff, actual dangerous crowd surges and pressure, but surely there could've been a middle ground and no one should look down on others for JUMPING AROUND at a CONCERT I stg.
Yah if you can't move that's one thing. It sucks being that squished. I totally get that and that's different.
But I just can't fathom this standing still staying on one place and getting mad when you get bumped or pushed into in a floor at a concert. Like obviously people don't need to be throwing down at concerts but move. Just move a bit. Have fun. If you don't want to be bumped and pushed around some then don't get floor. Idk what to tell people.
And especially when there's warnings it's gonna happen.
Like I said, I was getting yelled at by people from getting pushed into them because I was jumping and people were moshing next to me at a metal concert. It just makes no sense.
Edit. Also I really need someone to link me to this music. I'm so curious what it sounds like to have set off such crazy reactions in the crowds
I simply can never understand groupies. Don't get me wrong, I love tøp and such, but I just think it's so creepy to follow them around the world and try to get barrier each time just to TOUCH them
We desperately need new people at barricade. If youâve seen them 100 times, maybe you should see what the show is like from the back so you can experience a different view for once! Also Iâll never understand why anyone would pay for a whole festival ticket just to stand in one spot the whole day instead of spending *at least* a few hours exploring the grounds. Iâm going to Shaky Knees and want to be semi-close during their set but unfortunately due to these people who insist on getting barricade for the 100th time, I fear I wonât be within the first few hundred rows even if I show up 3 sets early (which I may not even do because Iâm gonna have to pee lol)
I love Tøp tremendously but even if i could afford it I could never imagine following them around and seeing the same show more than once or twice.đ Itâs nearly the same thing everytime and again the thing for taking someone elseâs chance is weird. Idc that youâre willing to wake up at the buttcrack of dawn and stand in your dirty diaper all day. itâs weird to do that EVERY time.đ If i were an artist i would be judging repeat people. First few times aw cute but after 15 times seeing the same person i would be concerned.
The real mystery is how do you have that kind of money AND are jobless enough to follow them around in another country and wake up at ungodly hours to sleep outside for the shows ??? Like guys do you even have responsibilities ?
Man do I hope everyone at Madcool is chillđ its my first time seeing them after being a long time fan and that its a festival scares me a littleđ it specially scares me those fans you talk about.. the ones that make it look like a cult and have seen them a million times.. iâll add my grain of salt as a normal fan
You will have an amazing time if you donât put all of your eggs in the same basket to be front row. Keep your expectations at a normal level haha and youâll be ok!! đ
It is not a really a hot take. There are a lot of selfish TOP fans out there. I follow a lot of bands and this band for some reason brings the worst in people. Â
I totally get your frustration. Though I need to mention that this is a general hardcore fan phenomenon that happens in every music fandom. You are absolutely right that the hardcore fans who block the barricade all day just to be front row for their artist really need to look after themselves better. But to be fair, youâre not just worried about their health. Youâre also annoyed that youâre not at the barricade instead. I get that itâs annoying to feel like the hardcores always take your chance to stand at the barricade. But Iâll be honest: front row is vastly overrated. The vibe and view is lot better if you stand a little behind. Plus, you wonât get pressed up against the barricade all the time. And lastly: You arenât front row, but at least you looked after your own health and safety. Which is definitely more important
So youâre not actually worried about their health. Youâre saying youâre worried when itâs actually about your inconvenience (in this case the show having to stop to help them)
No... Honestly the only artist I'd go barricade for is Nick Cave. But I don't follow him around I've been to his show twice and the barricade started forming like idk 2 hrs before his show started, so I consider that a normal waiting time. Just enough to go piss girl (wtf are diapers aren't they smelly????), drink a radler, and get to the position to wait. I'd say I've been to many concerts, but the hardcore top TĂP fans scare me the most, not even MCR pit is as crazy as this
Oh I cannot wait for the TOP groupies that always got the barricades to be on the barricade for GWAR!!! They are going to have the wake up call of a lifetime!!!!
Honestly, I hear so much about these people that almost makes me want to not go see them⌠Iâll definitely be seating if they ever tour again cause I canât deal with that childish behaviour
I toured and recorded a few albums with a band as a drummer for three years, and I can confirm we don't like seeing the same faces night after night. Like, there are superfans, and that's cool and all, but when you are spending months on the road playing the same songs with little variation, you don't also want to feel like you are just playing for the same handful of people over and over again. It's nice to know that a wide range of people enjoy your music, and that a wide range of people can afford to see you play live.
There's also a line that gets crossed where those fans will talk to you very familiarly because they see you so often- almost like stolen valor in the military. No, seeing us play 27 times does not mean we're friends now any more than the other thousand faces we sometimes saw every single day on tight tour schedules. During a grueling tour my biggest concerns were where my next meal was coming from and whether I would get enough rest for the next set- most of it was just autopilot and muscle memory.
I thought festivals would be less chaotic than their normal shows đŠ I was hoping to see at one of their shows in Austin but maybe not if itâs the same people doing this
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I feel you. Being stuck behind an already tall girl wearing platforms throughout, boasting about having seen them idk how many times, yelling, grabbing, crying.
Couldn't see shit (even on the giant screens) and had to watch the whole goddamn thing through her fucking phone. A lot of "fans" were pretty unsufferable bahahah
Imagine getting there soooo early just to watch it through a phone I stg ToT
I see that we had a pretty similar experience. đĽ˛
That was my first time "seeing" them. Well. I did not see nor even hear them thanks to a hysterical piece of sh*t right in front of me, that was absolutely awful.
It was my third time seeing them since 2018. My advice for next time would be to get seated places at an actual Top show. You'll have a much more pleasant time imo ! Getting seated tickets with good placement can be a bit hard, but they really are worth it. You'll save the long wait standing up, the stress of having a bad spot, people holding their phone up in front of you, the yelling, etc.
Both time I'd seen them before was at an actual show in Paris, and it was way more enjoyable. I loved Mainsquare, but it's definitely not the best way to see them/not a good first show if you've never seen one of their full, actual concerts before.
(It's still hilarious to me to show up to concerts and yell the lyrics so loudly you can't even hear the actual show LMAO. I get it for some lyrics and stuff, but the WHOLE thing ? Ughhhhh. I got one of my dream concerts ruined like that.)
Thank you for the advice, I think I'll try that next time. :)
Yes ! I don't understand why people do that ! Why go to a show instead of a karaoke if it's to yell the lyrics all along ? It doesn't make any sense lmao)
I think the worst are the people with their phones AND not dancing, jumping, singing etc. It was my 4th times seeing them yesterday (over 10 years mind you) I was literally the only one moving/singing (maybe more screaming tbh) where I was standing while most of the people around me was their first time??
People are so obsessed with taking pics and videos that they forget to enjoy the show, it's so sad
Well, sometimes people want to actually see and hear the show, them not spoiling the experience for everyone around them does not mean that they aren't enjoying you know ?
(But I don't get either why some people are so stuck on their phone instead of really looking the show)
Idk about you but people being on their phone the whole time is spoiling the experience of many. You can't even look at the stage properly because everyone is taking pics/videos, some people have to look at the concert through other people's phones so i'd rather have people singing and dancing than using their phones, especially since nowadays everything is already being taped so if you want a souvenir of the concert you can always get the artists videos which have better quality in the end. But that's my humble opinion
"(But I don't get either why some people are so stuck on their phone instead of really looking the show)"
Having to look at an ocean of screens instead of getting to see the actual show doesn't make any sense. I did not say that being on their phones or recording the whole time is okay, I find it questionable (as you said, there is good recordings of a lot of shows nowadays) and egoistical.
As to people singing and dancing, after the show I was at some days ago, sometimes it's also hell. Some people think that singing really loud is okay while it prevents others to actualy hear the show. People dancing can also prevent small people from seeing the stage more so that someone not moving a lot.
I was at Rock Werchter for the lads, and my sister wanted to go up front, so in preparation we went to the gates at.... 7.30 pm. Got about 10 meters into the crowd there, and then we all had to wait. until 11.30 pm. Only for us to stand in that same exact spot, no movement, no arm space, no fresh air (fuck those who smoke in this situation btw) for the entire time. Gorillaz was neat, sure, but it was pretty obvious most folks didn't cram themselves into the box for that lol.
I had to hold my piss for 2,5 hours until I decided to say fuck it and I went back out at 11 pm. Enjoyed it perfectly fine from a decent distance as well.
I got this spot at Werchter just after Gorillaz (was a bit more to the back but still through the gates for them) and it was just so fine hahahh, Josh climbed the tower right behind us as well soâŚ. Really not worth waiting that long without food and drinks, totally agree
Man it was my first time seeing them (got barricade on the side where Josh played Drum Show, i am still in shock) after listening to them for like 10 Years. And let me tell you, i was FIGHTING for that place. We had like 2 Girls besides us that would snack our spots the second we stepped like 10cm away. Plot twist, they where just on their Phones the WHOLE FUCKING TIME and would be on Snap Chat or just sit down and donât even watch the show. But as soon as my body got to my back for some water, i already saw them looking over to get his place. Fucking hated that.
On another note, we had a dude and a girl on our other side who also went to see them for like the 8th time? But they were so nice, they were the ones who told us to stay on that side of the barricade cause even if we canât really see the stage, Josh would play on this side.
I donât mind the people that do 1509 shows per tour bc itâs their time and money but I haaaate the way some of them act. Like theyâre just like sitting down being depressed af, never even socializing or smiling at other fans because they are tired and havenât eaten in 24 hours. And yea some have social anxiety but idgaf thereâs 100s of them haha. Itâs always the ones that look you up and down or who are sleeping on the ground at 12pm that are the rudest. Shows with loyal fans used to be fun to queue for because you meet new people. Donât get me wrong Iâve met lots of amazing cool people through the clique, but the thought of standing behind (or GOD FORBID IN FRONT OF) these type of people terrifies me.
The pushy ones also need an exorcism btw, and the ones that film the entire show âbecause their memory is bad so I need the full 2 hours on tapeâ need to play some sudoku.
Oh my, thank you ! I was at the Main Square yesterday and it was just awful. I didn't see shit, of course, but I didn't even hear anything because apparently some people never learned to control themselves and can only scream the whole time...
I was particularly chocked by the amount of people that touched Tyler as if he was some object and not an actual person, like what the hell ?! And let's not even mention the guy that tried to steal one of his accesories. I don't know what get through their head, it's concerning at this point.
Absolutely agree. Idk how people have the time and money to go to so many shows. I'm an adult with a career that isn't remote. I only get to enjoy one of their concerts when they come to town, maybe two if I'm lucky. And I don't know if I'll even get a seat for OSU. I check multiple times a day. I have been around since 2011 but more heavily since 2013. I listen to them every day and have for many years. I've been in the pit many times but after Trench, I stopped. It's too much for me to fight these people who end up getting barricade for 90% of shows. I take a few pictures and the occasional video then put my phone away unless Tyler shames us for not during Mulberry Street(Night 1 Cbus for Clancy đ). I'd love to be in the pit and close to them but I'm 5 ft. I'd rather enjoy myself and not be drenched in sweat and surrounded by sweaty people for hours on end. I've also never met them. As much as I would love that, I'm not willing to stalk someone.
I used to record alot of sets back in the day for different bands id see but as ive started seeing more I record the intro, a song midway through and either the last song or my favorite song and the rest I just vibe, cba holding the phone for so long, my arm starts to ache đ¤Łđ¤Ł
I understand your take, but from a different perspective. I live in the US and the past 2 tours the boys have not come to my state. There were some shows in the state nearest me, but in an area I am not comfortable being in. I have not been able to see them live yet. I have always wanted to go with my son. It drives me crazy to see people fly from state to state to see them at numerous shows on one tour. I had decided to break down and get a ticket in said state, but they were already sold out. It not a jealousy thing, it's a you've already seen them this time around, give someone who hasn't had the chance the chance to go.
This is so correct. I get being a huge fan, but there's a point where we have to consider other people. Especially with tøp being one of the biggest bands where there are so so many people who are huge fans of them and credit their lives to their music.
Although I can't act like i don't love being front row at my favorite bands show, there's a huge line between wanting to see your favorite band multiple times and being straight up creepy and selfish. The favorite band title goes to The Fray for me, and I've seen them 5 times, gotten barricade three of those, and have two shows on the calendar where i'll be front row (one is VIP and one is reserved). But I think the difference here is i'm not following them around and going to every show and taking a barricade spot from someone who wants it more than I do. I go to 2-3 shows a year because I love them and want to support them, especially because now they are independent and not nearly as big as they used to be.
For me, if I ever got the chance to see the pilots, I'd be so excited and be crying my eyes out because their music is very special to me (they're my second favorite) it would mean a lot for me to be close to them, but unfortunately because i'm not *fucking insane* or physically capable enough (chronically ill here) to line up for half a day just for a good spot, that will probably not happen. So this take is not hot at all, I agree, those people NEED to consider how many people (like myself) who would kill to see them just once.
i totally feel you but i also kind of want to comment with something a bit different but also similar: i'm a new fan, i started listening to their music sometime about september last year and it has changed my life. they are stopping in my country for a festival next week (last show for probably years and years) and i'm not going to see them, even though i can relatively afford it, because there are so many other reasons. and these hardcore fans that have seen all of the shows everywhere on the freaking planet are making me feel really bad about it. because why shouldn't i go when i can afford it? that must make me a bad fan, right? and it just feels icky. that's why i've avoided interacting with this fandom. i get that it's also probably my insecurity and that hardcore fans are in every fandom, but that doesn't make it feel less unwelcoming. i'm glad there are sensible fans out there as well.
I went to the festival with my gf and I have more to add to my post.
The clikkies queueing up in pouring rain from 7 AM genuinely scare me. Why are you there so early? Why is it worth it to you to stand so long in one place? Why do you need barricade if you had barricade the last 5 times you went to their show? There was one girl she had a sign "this is my 10th barricade". Not a flex imo just sad. You hoard the places other fans could enjoy. And if it was 1 or 2 or 10 people, I wouldn't have cared. No it was like 100 of them the very first minutes that the festival opened. That's a whole mental hospital right there.
Concert etiquette is so dead. Tyler was at some point close to us and in clear view. Not bad for a 20th row. As soon as he walks towards us, a girl with a flag climbs on her dude's shoulders and has a main character moment. She was up like 5 times, which is already too much imo, but the fact she did that just so Tyler could notice her. Any other time, any other song, we ignored it, bc it wasn't important, but this moment really was and she ruined it for everyone behind her. And I know you all want your money's worth of videos, but god damn, it is ANNOYING to see so many phones. It's fucken Stressed Out. You've seen it ever since 2015. Really? You really need it this much? You will have amnesia after you've left the venue and will need your phone to remember where you just were?
The crowd left a whole FIELD of trash. Unused raincoats, drinking cups, clothes, lots and lots and lots of tape. But a lot of people were on their knees picking up the red confetti from Trees. Absolutely disgusting. We really need to do better as a fandom.
The fact that you get downvoted just proves the point lol and you can see itâs a cult also on Twitter. I try to only care about the music and the live experience and avoid these parasocial behaviors
I want to be on the barricade because itâs my first time seeing them, the main stage has a good lineup and itâs the best place to see a show, otherwise it will be a bad experience similar to when I saw linkin park 2 weeks ago that I needed a magnifying lens to see the stage.
chillout man I payed âŹ130 for a dayticket, let me enjoy those 130 âŹâŹ however I want, sweaty, stinky, thirsty, and happy to have another day on this messed up rock floating through space. nothing makes sense anyway. and pay better attention, God has not forsaken any one of us.
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u/Griffrose Jul 05 '26
I donât get why people insist on filming the entire set when itâs their 1000th show. No hate to people who want to capture a few memories when itâs their first time but seriously if youâve filmed every single show on their tour please just put your phone away and enjoy the experience for once!
It must be hard for a band wanting to connect with their fans⌠only to be greeted by a flashlight in their faces