Dang MC,,Thats a tough night and tough stuff to deal with both in the moment, and after the fact, when reviewing what happened, etc…
While you encountered some rough attitudes and protectiveness or whatever it was, I agree with BIX that a huge part of the problem and tension you got tangled into is an oversold venue,,and a venue that is too small in the first place. A 900 capacity venue in Fort Collins on a Saturday night (Valentine’s Day no less!) to close out the tour is an utter and unfortunate misjudgment on the booking management side of the band operations. Not sure what Fort Collins has available but it shoulda been at least 2,000 capacity for that night, especially for the way things are rolling with the band right now.
One perspective to note is that Grateful Shred (a great band) is now selling out venues that DSO has played for years and continues to play even though they are cooking hard at a different level…but the steps up in venue sizes haven’t been happening…yet.
We did 4 between LA and Monterrey and had a fantastic time,,music as good as ever, and managed to at least have reasonable dance space each night (and at times plenty). But it took arriving early, getting in line before doors and staking some sort of claim at the crack of entrance time—all stuff I never imagined necessary at DSO of yesteryear…It’s worth it, but it’s just different…have drifted in closer to show time and struggled so hard to find Dance space and feel at home, that it’s changed how to approach it. Over time have drifted toward the rail to end up with less distractions, feel more connected to the band and music and often end up with surprisingly decent space to move and groove…Can be protective of space and can’t stand when someone suddenly parks in the space Thats being used and danced in and stands there like a tree with no movement but if at least someone is moving with the space and dancing into it and through it with awareness of what’s going on around, it seems to work out…
Your analysis of ye old space vs sound debate on where to be is very familiar territory as well as the challenge of trying to integrate and find the groove into existing pockets of movement…
We damn near jumped out to Colorado for those last two after feeling in Cali how hard the band is cooking right now, musically, in the post Bobby (and Phil and Donna) era…but some life stuff got in the way of making that happen.
Have done the SoCal shows for the last 3 years straight and the crowds were way bigger this time around…Bobby’s passing really changed the game and led to quite a spike in ticket sales and sellouts. 2 years ago in San Luis Obispo, on a Tuesday night the 1100 capacity theater was like 60% sold and endless space available throughout whereas this year it was sold out well in advance, again on a Tuesday night. Not a bigger or better option in that town for a midweek show but the game is changing rapidly right now,,,,and I’m stoked for the band to be selling out even weeknights. Other than LA Wiltern theater on the Friday night, we actually designed this run/vacation around small town midweek shows for the mellower potential…but all sold out now😂🤣. Still had a complete blast and the disco dance party for an hour or so in the street after show in SLO, shutting down traffic in one lane, was another memorable DSO moment (after the rippin ‘77 that night)
I am hopeful that the feedback is making it to the booking management and that larger venues and more 2 and three night runs are on the way (perhaps those last 2 shows of the tour should have just both been in Denver at the Fillmore?) and that the level of tension that you experienced on the dance floor can be alleviated sooner than later…
with growth comes growing pains but also some excitement. The venues don’t need to be crazy huge at all, but anything under 1500, even on a weeknight is becoming a stretch for this band, methinks.