We, as in the Digital Grandma Kay and the Digital Old Man, were up late last night at the Crystal Ballroom in downtown Portland. Spied were at least 6 non-Natives there. The rest were clearly Digital Natives.
The floor in the main dance hall was bouncing up and down as the 2137 people gyrated and twisted to the LOUD music. After Grace Potter and the Nocturnals played, Brett Dennon came on stage with his band. Not only did the the audience dance, the stage was alive also with energy and syncopated action. The shear number of guitars and other digital technology in evidence was astounding. No Digital Immigrants, Digital Tourists or Digital Dinosaurs were sighted.Up in the balcony (where one could sit down) the crowd was a bit more sedentary, but very involved.
DIGITAL you say. Yes.
Observed: "Those chandeliers need to be motorized to retract into the ceiling or at least have the ability to change with the music like Digital Christmas Light Shows." At one time six of the six people sitting immediately at our elbows were on their cell phones. Cell phones or digital cameras were almost obligatory to get in the front entrance. A young fellow in the front row near us lost his stocking hat. Found in moments with the use of another young fellow in the second row with the light of his cell phone. I am now in someone's pic as the two young gals in front of me took their own pic of themselves. Scanners to track those that have entered once so no one can re-enter. A light show and pounding music that could only have been produced with technology no one knew existed when I was a youngster.
For people like us, the Laser Light Show was distracting. The sound was good, accoustics in the room built probably at least 100 years ago are incredible. The sudden opening of the ourdoor vents to sub-freezing weather outside just above our heads, perhaps should be another opportunity for them to control digitally the Ballroom's environment. The old, old elevator only goes to the third floor. The balcony is on the fourth floor where the old folks like to sit.
I left this concert and wished I had begun "Concert Going" years earlier. I again made a friend just like at Coldplay. This young Digital Native was appalled at the audience's behavior at the beginning of Grace's performance. At one point their conversations almost overtook her music. It was like the crowd down on the dance floor were in a McMennims' pub and having a good time on Saturday night. But soon after our conversation, we noticed the crowd finally got it. They were jumping up and down, swaying, taking pics up over their heads, and were totally engaged. When we left (O.K., a little before it was over to avoid the crowd on the steep stairs), the rest of them were still enjoying every second.
I didn't feel like a Grandma last night. I felt like I was connected to a fine group of fun loving people having a lot of fun myself. Maybe next time go to a concert (after I get my new knee), I may dance with the best of them.
"Duane took Kay to her second live concert last night. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and then Brett Dennon. Crystal Ballroom in Portland. That floor is like a trampoline. Pretty late for this old lady." Facebook, 5 December 2009
