Just back from a blues festival and lots of head bopping but hardly any dancing. Can you enlighten me about this? Was it just a weird cultural phenoneon? Or is there a 'too cool' to dance quotient factor I am unaware of?
2007-08-12 14:43:36 · 10 answers · asked by KayLea 1 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music ➔ Blues
Heck No.
The it's not "the blues" that's at fault here, it's the people playing and watching it. The blues is party music. It should be danced to.
Modern blues was born in the fields of the South during a time when there was some pretty awful stuff (sharecropping, jim crow laws etc.) going on. People were forced to work so hard, yet they still found a way to be joyful and PARTY when the work was done. It's not uncommon to read stories of blues parties in the south or in Chicago going on all night long, and even all weekend long.
Here's my thoughts on why more dancing isn't going on now.
Unfortunately, now blues is an older music form. As a result, many of its fans are older. Older people are less inclined to go out at all, let alone dance.
There was a period during the late sixties when a lot of people "learned about blues" from blues-influenced rockers like Hendrix, Santana, Clapton, Allmans, etc. While those guys studied the blues first hand, many who came after didn't . The result is that now we have legions of mediocre, boring-as-hell middle aged wankers playing diluted music and calling it "blues".
As a blues fanatic, I can tell you that most "blues bands" disgust me. Many don't have the fire that would make anyone want to dance. When i see a good band, there's still no dancing... why?
I think the last reason is commercialization. The blues isn't "pop" anymore. The fans are staying home and the clubs/venues are not making any money. If you do get blues, it's stuck in the corner. It's really hard to dance where there's no room.
If you go to a blues show, please find away to dance. If the music doesn't inspire you to dance, find a band that will.
2007-08-14 03:53:11 · answer #1 · answered by billybudd1313 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is plenty of dancing at the blues joints where I go! But I know what you mean about it being far less than other concerts. I think there are several things at play: first, most fans are very much into the MUSIC and the MUSICIAN. Because of this, they tend to watch the musicians performing, and seeing how something is played.
A side effect of this is that people might want to dance, but worry about blocking the view of the people wanting to watch the show. Sadly, most of the time the dance floor is up next to the band so if you dance, you are going to be between the audience and the musicians. I don't know why the dance floor isn't moved behind the audience since this would seem to fix the situation easily!
Lastly, at least in my experience, the places I enjoy the most tend to be fairly small. The "stage" might be only a few inches off of the main floor. Anyone dancing will certainly block the view of the folks coming to watch the show from the comfort of their tables. Dancing blocks.
I don't think it is a weird cultural phenomenon, but I don't discount the "too cool" factor you mention. There are plenty of blues snobs out there.
2007-08-13 05:47:59 · answer #2 · answered by rich h 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When my band plays there's some dancing. But we play in bars and such.
Could be the venue. At a larger concert joint, it just doesn't seem condusive to dancing except of the hippy variety.
Anyway, did you ask anyone to dance? That usually is a BIG help!
2007-08-12 15:02:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi,i go to a blues jam once a month and there isn't any dancing there either,nobody even hardly taps their feet or even moves their bodies.I get right into the music by moving and taping my feet,but i think people just like to kick back and watch the muso's/bands play.
2007-08-12 19:13:43 · answer #4 · answered by roadhouseblues 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a general rule, blues is not necessarily music to dance to. However, there are plenty of jukejoints and roadhouses that totally disprove that statement! There are certain styles of shuffles, swings, stomps and jumps that are quite danceable and usually impel folks to do so.
But, in a festival venue, you rarely have a dance area, since the crowds usually move right up to the stage. That's one possble reason.
Also, most people go to listen to the music, not dance to it. There really is a clear distinction in genres and the audiences that drives this. People rarely dance at Jazz concerts either.
Personally, at concerts I've been to, I have never appreciated someone wiggling their behind in my face in the row in front of me. I don't spend that kind of money to see bad dancing!
2007-08-13 08:42:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's probably just because people are afraid to get up and dance in front of others and be the only ones doing it until someone else joins in. You gotta love the spotlight!
2007-08-13 10:59:51 · answer #6 · answered by Aaron F 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only been to a handful, but there was dancing at all of them.
2007-08-14 10:30:30 · answer #7 · answered by poorsias 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No rule, just worked out that way. If you are at my gig, I would be THRILLED if you got up and danced - it means you are enjoying what we are providing, and that is the reason we would be there!
2007-08-13 12:24:22 · answer #8 · answered by Paul Hxyz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
THERES NOT ALOT OF DANCES AT ANY BLUES CONCERT I DONT KNOW WHY BUT IT MAY BE AN UNWRITTEN RULE
2007-08-12 14:51:38 · answer #9 · answered by valencya m 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have no clue, maybe everyone was just tired from the summer heat.
2007-08-12 14:51:10 · answer #10 · answered by Nic O 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋