So.. I'm new to this concert thing.

[Skuggen]

Hi everyone...
So just as the title says, I'm going to my first concert EVER. In Flames is playing here in Norway and I am really looking forward to it and I'm kinda nervous too, I really hate crowded spaces. But I'm going with a friend so thats good I guess.

So for the discussion value.. Was your first concert experience any good? Did you like it\not like it? Why? Do you go to concerts often? Did something awesome happen?

 

[laidtorest195]

well when I was nine I went to nickelback. I guess it was okay for the time, as for heavy metal concerts just expect to be pushed often and your ears to ring for the rest of the night. Have much Fun!

 

[Mayhaps]

My friend was spewed on last time he went to see In Flames, and he's not the one to stand at the very front either.

Have a Jolly time!

EDIT: Maybe we shouldn't be so cruel, I had a great time pretty much every time I went to any concert and the rock festival I went to two years ago was great too.

 

[Aris Khandr]

Not sure how helpful I'll be, as all of my concerts have been the mellow, stay in your seat types. My first concert, for my 16th birthday, was Michael Bolton. Since then, I've seen the Moody Blues, the Turtles, Paul Revere and the Raiders, and Billy Joel and Elton John. All absolutely amazing (except for the drunk woman who shouted at the top of her lungs "I LOVE YOU BILLY" every minute or so while he was on stage).

But yeah, not really the kind of concerts where people are too close together. You have a seat, and you sit in it. At least, that's how mine went.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Well expect drunkenness, loudness, crowdedness... that about sums it up.
First time was as a kid being taken along with my parents, that wasn't pleasant, but as an adult I'm allowed to get drunk also so things are much better, also if you don't mind chicks being drunk there is some major ass to score.

Just don't mention my name in court...

 

[Chefodeath]

I used to know a psychopath who would go to concert with a switch-blade and stab random concert goers to help relieve stress. He's still at it as far as I know.

HAVE FUN!

 

[bobmus]

I'm a massive concert fans, but most of the ones I've been to have been stadium gigs, or large arenas. 'Hello Wembley!!
How intimate is this particular concert?

Note: this isn't meant to be negative against small gigs - one of my favourite experiences was dancing to White Lies in a small concert hall in Brighton!

 

[Al-Bundy-da-G]

Dude my first concert is May 5. It is the CAROLINA REBELLION

Look at that fucking line up. 11 to 11. 12 solid hours of rock.

Oh Yeah. Best 75 dollars I've ever spent.

 

[Esotera]

For a band like In Flames you'll probably have a few pits...in order of difficulty/probable harm/fun, you get your standard mosh pit, then a circle pit, then a wall of death.

If that's not your thing stay clear of the middle of the crowd, but it can be great fun even if you don't go in, as you're helping up people who've fallen down.

Concerts are loud expect not to hear anything for a few hours after. Bands are nearly always better to see live though, it's worth it.

 

[DugMachine]

I used to know a psychopath who would go to concert with a switch-blade and stab random concert goers to help relieve stress. He's still at it as far as I know.

HAVE FUN!

Holy crap. Tell me where this crazy lives so I know to steer well clear of those concerts.

OT: Well my first concert experience (I live in a place with only shitty country music) was in a different city where I knew no one except the friend I brought with me. Depending on what type of music (in my case electronic) expect a lot of dancing and drugs. I got second hand high from the amount of weed being smoked there so it made it extra fun

If you go with a friend just stick with them and try not to get dragged into the huge crowds. You don't know what type of people are in there.

 

[Heronblade]

The first time I ever went to a concert was when my father took me to see the Charlie Daniels band.

It was crowded and smelt awful, and the noise was so bad the actual music was barely audible, even from our seats 5 meters from the stage. I've been to a few other concerts since then, they were much the same. Frankly, the only explanation I can come up with for the popularity of concerts in general involve mob mentality, a factor that generally has a much reduced effect on introverts like myself.

 

[Suicidejim]

A good band to start with, I love In Flames. My first concert experience was the Black Crusade tour in the UK, which was comprised of Shadows Fall, Arch Enemy, Dragonforce, Trivium and Machine Head. I went with my best mate, and it was a pretty awesome time.

Be prepared to not hear anything for a few hours afterwards though, or at least have the world sound like you're listening to it from under a thick blanket.

 

[Erja_Perttu]

If it's your first gig and no one's told you yet, keep yourself hydrated. It sounds dumb, but I've seen so many first timers just slam out in the first hour or so, because it's always boiling at gigs, more so if you're going to try and get nearer the front.

Drink water before you go, especially if you're going to drink beer there, because it'll be hot, you'll sweat a lot, and which can go badly when you're dehydrated.

My first concert was too long ago for me to remember all that clearly, which is probably a good thing because my sister had insisted we go see The Spice Girls. From what my dad tells me, I missed nothing and my younger cousin even fell asleep.

My first rock(pop rock?) concert I went to was The Rasmus. They were surprisingly good for a one hit wonder band and the atmosphere was great in the little place I saw them.

It's also the only time anyone punched me in the jaw and bloodied my nose in a mosh pit. It didn't happen when I saw In Flames, Iron Maiden, Machinehead, Slayer - but bloody hell, get better a teenage girl and her current crush and you better hold onto your jaw. Ouch!

 

[Forgetitnow344]

Truly depends on the venue. If it's stadium seating, chances are you're pretty much going to the movies where everyone is standing up and yelling a lot. I'm not complaining though, my favorite concert ever was stadium seating and I had a fucking blast.

But if you're going to standing room only... You are in for another fucking party, sir. There are always places you can stand if you don't want your ass kicked while trying to enjoy music, but your nose is going to be burning with cigarettes and weed all night, and you'll come home drenched in sweat and blood that isn't even yours. That being said, it's way more fun if you get into it. The bands with cool fanbases will knock you down, pick you back up, knock you down, then crowd surf you to safety if you look like you've had enough fun for the moment.

 

[TheColdHeart]

I've been to a fair few metal concerts and as a few people have already said, you will probably have ringing ears for a few days and get shoved about a bit (or landed on by crowd surfers). Depending how close to the front you are, you will also probably get pretty hot and sweaty. I've left gigs before where my t-shirt was soaked and when I got outside it was steaming in the air.

My first gig was Turbonegro at a small venue near where I live when I was about 15. It still is probably one of the rowdiest gigs I've ever been to and I loved it.

 

[Skuggen]

I'm a massive concert fans, but most of the ones I've been to have been stadium gigs, or large arenas. 'Hello Wembley!!
How intimate is this particular concert?

Note: this isn't meant to be negative against small gigs - one of my favourite experiences was dancing to White Lies in a small concert hall in Brighton!

The building can house about 1200 people as far as I know.

If there is a mosh pit I will most likely be the last man standing as I am a really big guy
Thank you guys for your nice stories and tips

 

[I.N.producer]

I'm still pretty new to concerts, and my first concert was Sevendust at The Machine Shop in Flint, Michigan. I was in the front row and I got to strum Clint Lowery's guitar while he played. That's easily in my top 10 best days.

I highly recommend getting earplugs so you avoid some hearing damage and incessant ear ringing. Probably the reusable washable earplugs if you plan on going to many concerts. Just look up musician's earplugs and they're usually pretty cheap.

 

[Craorach]

At 30 years old, my first concert was Linkin Park.

As a generally boring, play it safe, I don't like public places or people who are drinking kinda guy... it was bloody awesome! The crowd really got into it and they did a great set.

One of the best experiences of my life.

 

[Starik20X6]

Best concert I've been to was Daft Punk Alive 2007 in Sydney. Words cannot express. So far, I've seen:

Daft Punk
Metallica
Gorillaz
Muse
Soundgarden
Faith No More
Rage Against the Machine
Étienne de Crécy
Girl Talk
The Shins
Battles
Eels
Madness

I'm going to see Burt Bacharach later this year, and am seeing Seal in a couple of days.

That list doesn't include other bands I've seen at festivals that I didn't specifically go to see.

 

[ChadSexington]

Hi everyone...
So just as the title says, I'm going to my first concert EVER. In Flames is playing here in Norway and I am really looking forward to it and I'm kinda nervous too, I really hate crowded spaces. But I'm going with a friend so thats good I guess.

So for the discussion value.. Was your first concert experience any good? Did you like it\not like it? Why? Do you go to concerts often? Did something awesome happen?

I saw In Flames not long ago, if it's an outdoor venue or a large venue expect circle pits, if it's a smaller venue (a bar for example) expect more moshing/stage diving.

If you don't have much experience I'd suggest not going to the front. Just run around the pit for a bit, it's more fun in my opinion and the front is punishing, I once threw up blood after a show because I was at the barrier.

*Edit* That being said you get awesome bragging rights for injuries.