Thoughts on "Bootlegging"

[adam_777]

Disclaimer: This post is going to be pretty long winded, but it's a discussion I think some may find interesting.  I want to point out first that I do not feel entitled as a fan to these kinds of recordings.  You won't hear any argument that I have "a right" to create or distribute these bootlegs.  I am not complaining about the situation, but merely trying to express my confusion on the matter and hopefully hear others input and points of view on the topic at hand.  

 

        Last night at the Commodore, I was making an audio recording of the show.  Having previously recorded a few shows on the tour all was going well until I was approached by a security guard who instructed me that "Matt wouldn't appreciate me making an audio or video recording"  He then said I needed to "Prove to him that the recording device was not turned on."  I'm no liar, so I told him it was turned on, but told him I would turn it off at which point I did.  For a moment I thought he was going to throw me out, but instead he opted for a threat.  After reiterating that Matt would not appreciate me recording the show he stated that I needed to show more respect than that.  I was told firmly if I was caught with it on again I would be dragged into the back room to have a "chat." I'm honestly not sure what that meant (I pictured getting the Peter Grant treatment in the back).  I'm sure it was just an intimidation tactic as he probably didn't have the time to continuously monitor me for the remainder of the show.  I turned off my recording and proceeded to watch as people all around me stood there with phones out recording the rest of the concert.  

 

        So I couldn't help but wonder, why is there this policy that completely forbids audio recording of a show by a dedicated fan, when every Tom, Dick and Harry with a cellphone is going to essentially capture the whole thing, in atrocious and downright offensive quality and post it all over youtube anyways?  So I wanted to make some comparisons and contrasts between a bootlegger (in the world of fan made live audio recordings many do not like this term because it is usually attached with the selling of such material, which I am staunchly against, but as it is a common term for what many others call tapers, I will use it during this discussion) and a phone recorder.  

 

1.  Quality.  Bootleggers are typically very precious with their recordings.  They take great precautions to ensure that they are outfitted with reasonably good equipment and located in the best possible locations in the venue to acquire the truest representation of the bands actual sound.  Professionals are mixing this to be an optimal blend of volume and separation and it is a complete disservice to them to not attempt to accurately reflect that in an audio recording.  Many phone recordings are absolutely brutal.  For one they often don't capture an entire performance cutting in and out whenever the operator decided to press record.  Most phones have built in mics with an extremely low tolerance for loud sounds, meaning the mics peak and the audio is distorted into a crunchy wall of sound that is sometimes rendered unlistenable and quite frankly makes it seems as if the band itself has a horrendous sound at live shows in many cases.  Which brings me to my next point. 

 

2.  Distribution.  While bootleg recordings are often shared in limited circles among absolute diehard fans (lets face it, there isn't a single fan out there who owns zero albums, but has bootlegs.  That's like someone jumping off the high dive before they learn to swim, one is a prerequisite for the other.  A fan gets into a band, buys albums and then through a continued building of fanaticism seeks out websites online where they suddenly are exposed to live recordings, I seriously doubt you could find a single example of someone with a collection of bootlegs that they had before they bought a single album) phone recordings are frequently distributed via youtube to an audience of literally billions.  So in many cases these poor quality examples are out there toting that this is what the live experience of this band is like.  I seriously doubt any of the shows I have taped have been heard by more than a few dozen people where as recordings from Matt's shows posted on youtube could generate hundreds perhaps thousands of views.  While youtube videos will most likely be listened to by a mix of hardcore and casual fans, it is almost a certainty that only the hardcore fans will ever hear any bootleg recording of a show.  

 

3.  Demeanour.  People making bootleg recordings are about the least bothersome person in a crowd.  I take great pride in what I do (I dont consider it to be an art, it is not, I am not creating something artistic myself, I am merely documenting the artistic accomplishments of another and preserving them for future fans and enthusiasts) when I record I try and stand still, I don't chatter or sing through songs (although I do involuntarily continue to mouth the words, and will sing if prompted by the band, like in the third verse of Load Me Up).  I don't drink at shows and I guarantee you you will never see a bootlegger in a fight at a concert, or throwing stuff at the stage or causing any kind of ruckus.  The whole point is to remain inconspicuous.  In addition my recording gear is built to be hidden and outside of a couple microphones about the size of a guitar pick clipped to my clothes the rest remains hidden so it isn't even blocking anyone's view.  In contrast, phones are so distracting it is hard to focus on the concert.  All throughout the crowd people with phones are sticking their hands in the air to block the view and holding their phone with their annoying pale glow into the air for minutes at a time, or they consistently whack you while trying to record something from behind you every time they raise their phone for a pic, a selfie or a brief :39 snippet of video.  

 

        So why then with all these clearly positive differences is one form of recording so accepted across the board to not even be of the least concern and other is considered so awful that I was threatened with a proverbial talk in the principals office?  

 

        It comes from a stigma that has long existed that bootlegging is a vile, evil practice that rips off artists, steals food from their families table and ruins the bands reputation.  But do those things actually happen?  Is there any proof that me making a recording of a show is damaging to the artist in any way?  Perhaps there is an angle I am just not looking at and if so I would greatly appreciate being informed about it because I simply do not see this grotesque over the top dark side others seem to associate with this practice.  Here is how I see it.  

 

         While it is true that some bands have a large enough fan base that some people recording actually do sell their recordings, I am completely against this practice.  I would never sell my recordings, would be greatly pissed off to discover someone else had sold one and also believe that there is such a minute portion of the fan base even interested in them that such an opportunity to sell them would not even exist because they can be found for free so easily and I'd wager most people interested in getting a copy would already be members of forums and centers of free distribution such as this one.  I make not a dime from doing this, and I never will.  In fact, I lose money.  Copious amounts of money.  My recording rig alone has cost me close to $500.  As things break or wear out or just get replaced by better equipment it will continue to drain my bank account.  Recording shows has not improved my situation in life financially at all, it's dampened it.  

 

        There is the argument that making these recordings costs the artist money.  Either because people will hear the bootleg and not buy official releases or they will hear it and think they no longer need to attend the show.  I find this claim absolutely absurd.  First I don't know anyone who has ever said "I own a copy of Apparitions on a live bootleg, so I think I'm good, I don't need to buy Underdogs."  Bootlegs are not, nor ever will be a substitute for studio releases.  As hard as I try to get a good quality recording, I will never be able to compete with a studio engineer and their very impressive equipment and invaluable experience.  Bootlegs are at best a compliment to the studio recordings.  When some bands put out live recordings of every show (The Who, Pearl Jam, Metallica and Red Hot Chili Peppers come to mind) bootleging completely ceases because the band is making a better quality version of the recording available for a price.  I am so happy going to those bands shows because I know I don't have to take my recording gear, that awesome quality stuff will be recorded and that I can and will purchase it after the show.  Frankly hauling in my gear and risking being threatened by security guards is not enjoyable and I'd gladly pay for officially recorded live recordings and leave the deck at home.  I realize in Matt's case this isn't realistic, he simply doesn't have the budget to record and release every single live show, nor is there a large enough demand for it to make it financially viable, honestly maybe a dozen or so people would purchase each show and there is just no way that would be worth the efforts, as much as I would love to see it happen.  

 

         As for the second part of that argument, that people don't attend shows because they have a bootleg, I just don't know where this myth comes from.  Most of the fans who even want that kind of recording are going to be such diehards there is no way they forego going to a show because they have some audio recording of it.  Nothing and I mean nothing compares to being there.  Even professionally filmed concert dvds pale in comparison to actually being at the show.  Most here on the forums have even thanked me for my recordings and told me they are holding off on listening to them until after their own shows they are attending so as not to spoil the set.  One person even told me they bought tickets to a second show after hearing it because they were so excited with how good the band sounded and how interesting some of the renditions of songs were.  Many of the few fans who have listened are located in the United States and one in Spain.  They are not attending shows, not because they have my recording, but because geographically it is unrealistic to assume they could.  They love the music so much however that they still want to experience it any way they can.  

 

         As for the argument that bootleggers don't really respect or support the band, an accusation levied at me by security last night I staunchly disbelieve that as well.  I know three tapers on the forums.  One is attending two shows, one is attending three shows and I am attending 11 shows.  In addition to those 11 shows, I am so fanatical about Matt's music and so excited to introduce others to it that I actually purchase tickets for friends to come and experience it.  In total I have bought 20 tickets for this tour.  I have also purchased three VIP tickets.  Ticket prices seem to be averaging around $45 and VIPS $100 so I have spent over $1000 dollars solely on tickets alone to support one of my all time favourite artists.  Add in some T-shirts bought and my travel costs this tour is actually costing me over $2000 dollars to attend these shows and I'm glad to spend it because I truly love the music of Matthew Good.  I own everything released on vinyl and cd that were available for sale and a whack of promo albums and cd singles that were not.  Hell just yesterday I bought a third copy of Last of the Ghetto Astronauts on cd because the barcode on the back is in a different location (Darktown vs EMI).  Well I don't believe that spending that money entitles me to make recordings of shows I do believe it squashes the notion that I "disrespect" the artist.  I literally couldn't possibly support Matt and his art more than I do and I'd imagine there'd only be a handful out there who could say they've supported him to a greater degree than I have in the years I've followed him.  Last nights show was my 33rd time seeing him live in 8 years.  

 

         One thing that has always bothered me about bootlegging is the continued grey area it exists in.  Mixed messages are sent all around the place about it.  The RIAA sues people bootlegging shows, until something gets bootlegged that they can make money off, then they purchase it from the taper for large sums.  That's quite conflicting isn't it? Literally I can cite dozens of times this has happened.  Led Zeppelin is one of the worlds most bootlegged bands, 299 of their 500+ shows have some sort of recording made from them.  The band was definitively anti bootleg, to the point of their security physically assaulting bootleggers.  Peter Grant their manager was reported to have thrown one bootlegger down a flight of stairs.  A famous case occurred right here in Vancouver in 1971 when Zeppelins security smashed a machine believing it to be an audio recording device, only to find out it was a venue sanctioned project to measure noise pollution levels in the Pacific Coliseum.  Recently Led Zeppelin released several reissues of their catalog.  On them were additional discs with outtakes and live performances.  On the Led Zeppelin I album a live show from Paris was offered.  The show was originally broadcast on the radio and the tapes had long since been lost.  Someone made a bootleg recording from the radio and all these years later the band offered to buy it and sold it as part of that set.  Same with several tracks on the new BBC release.  So a band who once assaulted people for making illicit recordings, is now buying them and packaging them with official releases.  There's quite a duality at play there, is it any wonder people are confused.  In fact here are Jimmy Page's own comments from a recent trial to do with bootlegging.  

 

"The legitimate part is where fans trade music, but once you start packaging it up and you do not know what you are getting, you are breaking the rules legally and morally.."

 

So even by Jimmy's own admission he is completely fine with fans recording and trading this stuff, just not the selling of such items.  

 

        Throughout history bootlegs have had an impact on several different things.  The Rollings Stones release "Get Yer Ya Ya's Out" A phenomenal live album of the 1969 tour in response to the live recording bootleg being sold as "Liv'r Than You'll Ever Be"  The Stones wanted to capitalize on the obvious market for a live recording and beat the bootleggers.  So perhaps the best ever Stones live album was released as a response to a bootleg, without the bootleg who knows, maybe we never get to hear that album.  

 

         Taking a step outside the music world.  In Baseball there is a moment know as "The Shot Heard Round The World."  It refers to a famous walk off game winning home run hit by the New York Giants Bobby Thompson off the Brooklyn Dodgers Ralph Branca in October 1951.  The moment might be the most famous moment in sports history, certainly it is in the top five.  And yet although only 30,000 some odd fans were at the game, the moment is vastly perceived in the public conscious because of a particular recording made of a radio call from Giants broadcaster Russ Hodges broadcasting for WMCA radio in New York.  However this recording is not remembered because WMCA shared it, in fact they didn't even record it.  It would be lost to history if it wasn't for a young man named Lawrence Goldberg who asked his mom to make an illegal recording of the ninth inning while he was at work.  If Lawrence had paused for a second and thought "wait, I don't have the expressed written consent from Major League Baseball, I shouldn't record this."  Then that tremendous moment of euphoria, that has come to define the excitement of the game of baseball, that is used on every playoff baseball broadcast promo to this day would have been simply lost.  That recording is so popular that it helped spark interest for lifelong autograph signings by both Thompson and Branca and has even featured prominently in a Billy Crystal movie (Parental Guidance) where that recording is actually a plot point where Crystal decides to become an announcer in the movie solely because he heard that recording.  In fact, go on youtube and you'll find kids, born 50 years after that pivotal radio call reciting it word for word like it's the Gettysburg Address.  None of that exists without a bootleg recording.  

 

        Even in the past Matt has asked to be sent bootlegs, briefly had a small section of his official site where people talked about bootlegs and when Vancouver was streamed prior to it's release, the feed in addition to Vancouver featured outtakes and a live bootleg recording.  Even the VIP specifically states you are welcome to bring in audio and video recording devices.   To me the making and sharing of such material is the truest definition that as a musician you are truly loved.  Some people go to shows to dance, some to sing, some just to get drunk.  Fans that care to listen to bootleg recordings are usually some of the best most dedicated fans a band could have.  I am so grateful for those who recorded shows before me.  For instance I genuinely feel I am better off having heard the third verse in Suburbia, that totally different version of Strange Days from 2002 and the slowed down version of X-rated.  Even hearing some of Matt's in show comments are things I'm glad I've heard because it makes me feel as though I better understand his thoughts and position as an artist.  It gives me a different appreciation to see things from the other side, but many of these would be unheard by most of us without the bootlegs.  

 

         In conclusion, I feel creating these recordings is one of the only altruistic things I do.  I actually believe I am doing something good for people when I do it.  It is a hassle to accomplish.  I carry in equipment, that I have to maintain and buy batteries for.  I spend time editing and posting them.  I even have to sweat through shows because I wear a jacket and a toque to try and conceal my setup.  But I do it because I appreciate so much the shows I have heard that others have shared.  I have been thanked profusely for doing it as well.  In 2011 I saw Matt perform the song Hornets twice live.  I love that song and I kicked myself repeatedly for not recording those shows.  Not because I need to relive it, I have the memory, but for those who will never get to hear that song, I feel I've let them down.  I feel the fanbase is definitively worse off by not getting to hear that awesome unreleased song.  In an ideal world I would love to be given permission to record, hell I'd even pay for the right to do it, but I suspect that kind of thing won't happen, so I'll continue to have to play the outlaw role and be threatened and accused of disrespecting the artist simply because I love them so much I want to share that magic with others who feel the same.  

 

        After the show last night despite the security guards comments that I was disrespecting the band, four things happened that made me feel quite the opposite.  Peter Fuseo specifically singled me out while Matt thanked the audience and smiled and nodded.  Blake Manning walked over and tossed a drumstick right too me.  Two long time diehard fans, who Matt knows on a first name basis and has singled out in the crowd during shows in the past walked up to introduce themselves and ask with great enthusiasm where they could find my recordings and a lady who had been standing at the other end of the venue and I'd never met before, walked over and specifically said "I'm so glad you got that drumstick, you deserved it, you knew the words to every song, even the brand new one."  Despite the security guards assertion it was nice to know some people saw it a different way.  

 

        If my recordings genuinely are seen as something disrespectful to anyone I would genuinely be interested in hearing about your opinions because as it stands I legitimately fail to see the harm in what I am doing. 

Edited February 20, 2017 by adam_777

[AnythingYouWant]

Nice write-up here.  I'm sure the security guard did not know that MG has an account here and is clearly aware of the almost 20 years of bootlegged shows being shared around here.  The problem most likely does not lie with Matt himself, as we would have heard about it well before this show. It's not like anyone was being secretive about the plans to record most of the shows on this tour.  Hell, he posted the lyrics to the new song on a thread where people were clearly trying to figure them out from audience recordings.  It's probably more to do with the venue/promoter/label and that guy's impression of artists' usual stance on bootlegging.  So don't feel bad, give it another go next time, and if MG doesn't want us to boot then he will tell us and we will respect that.

[emmit643]

Yeah no. Guys. That's a venue thing definitely.

 

Last year at the Danforth I had my phone out to record when Holly and Matt were doing Cloudbusting together.

A security guard came over an told me to the put the phone away. And I was very confused. Because I've never had a problem taking video or anything (and keep in mind, this is a phone, not professional equipment even). The guard was hasselling me, and since I was right at the front Matt saw it happening and waved the guy off with a very "what-the-hell-are-you-doing" expression on his face.

The guard backed off, but then another came like 10 sec later. And Matt intervened again saying it was fine.

 

This goes back to the security discussion in the other thread. I feel like some guards just feel the need to overly assert their "authority", put on the muscle and get cocky. Some security guys are great. I've had great experiences with some guards helping me with stuff, keeping me safe, passing me setlists once they kicked everybody out. However I have also encountered my share of douches.

Edited February 20, 2017 by emmit643

[Guest girl]

        After the show last night despite the security guards comments that I was disrespecting the band, four things happened that made me feel quite the opposite.  Peter Fuseo specifically singled me out while Matt thanked the audience and smiled and nodded.  Blake Manning walked over and tossed a drumstick right too me.  Two long time diehard fans, who Matt knows on a first name basis and has singled out in the crowd during shows in the past walked up to introduce themselves and ask with great enthusiasm where they could find my recordings and a lady who had been standing at the other end of the venue and I'd never met before, walked over and specifically said "I'm so glad you got that drumstick, you deserved it, you knew the words to every song, even the brand new one."  Despite the security guards assertion it was nice to know some people saw it a different way. 

 

This is awesome on so many levels.

Edited February 20, 2017 by girl

[Outtahere]

As it's been said that's a venue thing. I get the feeling the venue doesn't want to ask every artist one by one so they just decided it was a basic rule. But that security guard was talking through his ass. Matt used to be against it until he changed his mind around 2003 where he said this: 

 

"I've had a whole turn-around on the bootlegging thing. Bootleg my shows! Listen to them online, I don't give a shit. As long as people are reasonable, as long as they still help support making the records so I can continue to make more music and, obviously, I can pay my bills and uh, you know, come to the shows and that kinda thing, then fine by me. And I'm lucky though because I have excellent fans and smart ones."

 

https://youtu.be/EuahZut7vEc?t=2m59s

 

Maybe show him that next time (if only :P)

[foats]

Adam it sucks that this happened to you. If a venue doesn't want someone to bootleg a show and it is their stance they should maybe put up a sign instead of threatening someone. Total bullshit move especially when everyone has their cell phones recording these days. At least the story had a happy ending for you though. The whole "lets go to the back and have a chat" You should have told them "Sure but can Matt come too since his has been ok with tapings in the past, or how about we bring some of these people videotaping with us"  Seems like it was a prick worker who singled you out.

[hoogie]

Sounds like the security guy likes to be a dick.

 

Is that club owned by the mob or something? Maybe a biker gang? Real tough guy.

[Stwlegend]

There isn't one thing you said Adam that I can think of to go against your points.  Unfortunately you gotta lick your wounds on that one and chalk it up to this guy being a guy abusing his security duty.  Very well written statement and its really so true the negative stigma with live recordings.

[foats]

Sounds like the security guy likes to be a dick.

 

Is that club owned by the mob or something? Maybe a biker gang? Real tough guy.

I may be mistaken but isn't this the same venue where Tony and his girlfriend were also treated like shit?  Maybe someone needs to contact venue management about their asshole employees.  Think of it like this  Tony and Adam are two people that we know for sure got shit treatment  what about the hundreds of other concert fans who aren't on this forum?  If people didn't know any better they could think that these jerks work for Matt and stop going to his shows over it.   It's a travesty that people would abuse power.  They probably took the lyrics to X Rated literally.

[mgb4life2]

You make great points Adam.  It's tough not to take that personally but you keep moving on.  I would want to personally thank you and anyone else that has recorded MGB/MG concerts and shared them.

[gursky]

Well written Adam and I agree with everything you've said.  It's a shame that you got targeted at the show, especially when others around you on cellphones are more disruptive and obvious in what they are doing than you are.  Unfortunately when tapers go to a show they know they are in a possible gray area and don't have much grounds for an argument.

 

I believe foats is on to something, the way Tony and his girlfriend were treated and how you were singled out are probably more to do with the venue staff than anything.  The comment Tips found from 2003 about MG's thought on taping is useful but unless the venue is told about those wishes each time an artist comes through the staff will enforce their own policies.   

 

The music industry has adapted to constant changes, but taping/bootlegging seems to be an area that has remained in the past and continues to have negative connotations associated with it.  It's not fair that someone on their cellphone or "prosumer" digital camera can capture visuals and possibly decent audio, but the fan with concealed microphones is the enemy. 

[Jessafur]

The same guy who accosted Adam over his recordings did so to me during soundcheck too. Pat and Stu started jamming on Highway to Hell while everyone was at merch so I figured I'll stick around and record it for you guys. Pulled out my phone and started taping and the guy starts walking towards me gesturing that I leave while there is still a huge line up at merch. I only got a 10 second clip because of that. In the video you can even see him walking over to me like I was some kind of threat he needed to distance from the band.

Edited February 20, 2017 by LostAndFoundAndLostAgain

[Guest Idioteque]

Yes and I mentioned the situation about a security guard dragging out a guy for using his lighter during Strange Days, the drunk guy had his hands up like he's being arrested & this particular security guard who I recognize from lots of shows had the man by his throat. The whole crowd in my area watched, I hope someone caught that on film.

 

I applaud the commodore ballroom for caring so much about the artists, but at the cost of fans getting mistreated? I don't know what Matt thinks of weed during his shows but there was joints going right infront of security & they didnt care. I figure that would be more of a priority than someone recording the show.

 

Bootlegging for $$$ has given a bad rep for genuinely wanting to capture a show & not make money off it. Almost like how scalpers have made it really hard to genuinely try to sell an extra ticket if your friend bails lol.

[adam_777]

I must say I am impressed how many took the time to read through that, I kind of prattled on, but its something I've often thought about and as Gursky pointed out, its not like the 1970's where only one person at the show is recording something.  Probably 50% if not more of the crowd will take some form of photo, video or audio recording, so I fail to see why to this day there is still such an issue.  

I do plan to continue to record shows for you guys because I know the appreciation is there.  This experience hasn't deterred me any, it just makes me question why this perception exists and I wanted to get some feedback from others.  As for the security guard, I wasn't intimidated, if I had been at the show alone I might have even pushed to see just what this private back room conversation was apparently going to entail, but when you're at the show with someone else, its best just to zip the lip so they don't have their night ruined over it.  

As Jess pointed out this was the same security guard who asked us to move along during the soundcheck.  The funny part about that was that we had been standing over there after the group photo and the band actually approached us to chat.  The band started into a fun rendition of Highway to Hell and we were asked to move along, but as Jess pointed out most of the VIP's were still there at merch, so we ended up just being moved back there to stand in line for another three minutes, so I don't see the harm in just watching them jam for a couple more minutes.  

I understand these guys have a job to do and I feel for them honestly they have to deal with a lot of idiots.  I just don't see how in a crowd where people are starting fights and so forth that a guy enjoying the show with a couple mini mics out to make a recording is deemed an issue.  The point that irked me wasn't that I was busted, it was that clearly there is this prevailing belief that someone taping a show is someone with no respect for the band, where in my experience with myself and other tapers it is quite the opposite.  

For those wondering I did still tape about half the show...and because I taped the VIP I do have a recording of Advertising on Police Cars.  

[foats]

The same guy who accosted Adam over his recordings did so to me during soundcheck too. Pat and Stu started jamming on Highway to Hell while everyone was at merch so I figured I'll stick around and record it for you guys. Pulled out my phone and started taping and the guy starts walking towards me gesturing that I leave while there is still a huge line up at merch. I only got a 10 second clip because of that. In the video you can even see him walking over to me like I was some kind of threat he needed to distance from the band.

yeah I think this issue needs to be addressed with the management of the arena. This is now 4 people (the guy in Tony's post also)  who were treated horribly by staff at the venue. 3 of whom are huge MG fans and post here regularly.  Maybe we can trend it #boycottcommodore      #commodore64

[Guest Idioteque]

#NotMyCommodore

[adam_777]

you guys are a riot haha.  I love the venue and still love the shows.  My experience isn't dampening that for me.  Seeing this show three nights in a row there was absolutely awesome.  

[foats]

#voguetheatreorbust    #notmycommodore

[Guest girl]

Yes and I mentioned the situation about a security guard dragging out a guy for using his lighter during Strange Days, the drunk guy had his hands up like he's being arrested & this particular security guard who I recognize from lots of shows had the man by his throat. The whole crowd in my area watched, I hope someone caught that on film.

 

Aw, the guy had his hands up like he was being arrested?!?  Poor guy. Drunk or not drunk, there's no excuse for that. He must have been traumatized and wondering what the hell's going on. This all sounds like an episode of COPS or Border Security, where they take you to the back room and grill you until you break and tell the truth.

I was think of going to Commodore Ballroom, at least once in my lifetime, for a concert. It was on my bucket list. Now, I'm not so sure. haha

Edited February 20, 2017 by girl

[Crusader]

The Commodore is kind of a night club and we all know how nightclubs only employ the best people as security.

[adam_777]

Aw, the guy had his hands up like he was being arrested?!?  Poor guy. Drunk or not drunk, there's no excuse for that. He must have been traumatized and wondering what the hell's going on. This all sounds like an episode of COPS or Border Security, where they take you to the back room and grill you until you break and tell the truth.

I was think of going to Commodore Ballroom, at least once in my lifetime, for a concert. It was on my bucket list. Now, I'm not so sure. haha

Honestly Girl, don't let these experiences deter you.  For instance, if I hadn't been recording, I would have had a perfectly enjoyable experience.  And even though I was recording on night one I had a fantastic experience too and wasn't busted.  Everyone always screams bloody murder when something goes wrong, but for 98% of the audience I am sure they had no issues what so ever and just a fantastic time.  Seeing a Matthew Good show at the Commodore is awesome and Matt even said on his final night of all the Vancouver venues the Commodore is essentially the cream of the crop.  

[foats]

I remember when I became a fan of MGB  seemingly the bootlegs I would find would be from the Commodore.  As a young boy in the States I kept thinking of how cool a venue it must be.   I may be wrong but the big 3 seemingly were Commodore, Vogue, and the warehouse.  I would love to see pics of all 3 from the outside and in  just to ease my curiosity over the years.

 

#switchingtoapple

[mrjason]

I guess I'm glad I was in the middle of the crowd a few rows back. Nobody ever bothered me about shooting all of those videos I posted on youtube, not once. I wasn't putting my phone in front of people or anything, it was always just in front of my face (or a little higher sometimes without worry b/c i'm tall, nobody behind me was taller than me). 

 

Matt's still cool with people bootlegging/videoing a few songs here and there, or?

[Guest Idioteque]

I love the history from the Commodore, you can find lots of photos of legendary bands playing there (Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam etc), my friend who used to play in Bif Naked has alot of war stories from the backstage.

[adam_777]

Thanks Matt. I didn't expect a reply to this but appreciate your support and glad to know we aren't recording against your wishes. Also glad to hear you guys find them useful