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Ever fallen asleep at a concert?
Posted at 9:24 AM on December 31, 2008
by Barb Abney
(9 Comments)
Yesterday after playing an Over The Rhine tune, I admitted to falling asleep at one of their shows years ago (Sorry Karen & Linford.) Then I asked if anyone else had ever fallen asleep at a show and got some interesting responses that I thought you might enjoy.
Lou called in to say he'd fallen asleep and actually disturbed people with his snoring at an on-stage theatrical presentation of Jeckyl & Hyde.
Another gent called and said he's fallen asleep back in the 90's during a Bruce Springsteen show.
A gal called in to report she'd fallen asleep at a Trans Siberian Orchestra show.
One more gal had somehow managed to fall asleep at The Who's performance at The Metrodome! (in her defense, she had a sinus infection and had taken too much Nyquil.)
These were a few of my online responses...
Cecilia in St. Paul:
I once fell asleep at a Black Crowes concert, I was like 14 and just not that into them. I only went to the show to see Oasis! I also fell asleep at a Godsmack concert when I was around the same age, I loved them, but it had just been a long school day. Well I guess I didn't really fall asleep so much as I nodded off, I was constantly woken by the insanely loud pyrotechnics!
Stephen in Beldenville, WI (near River Falls):
It must have been 1988? I was in college, and working a summer job as a roofer, 6:30 am to 4:30 pm with lots of overtime. I was a HUGE Joe Jackson fan, and had been to two of his shows since '84. I was somehow out of the loop that he was changing everything about who he was, and was totally unprepared for "Will Power" or "Blaze of Glory" or whatever the new album he was promoting was. It was just when he really turned his back on pop music, which was what I expecting. Instead I got torch song music, and I slept through the final two thirds of the show. Solidly. In Radio City Music Hall. I can't really say I feel bad about it either. He moved in a different direction, and I didn't follow. I haven't really liked anything he's done since then. I guess he's gone back to pop music in the last few years, but as a busy family dude now, I haven't had time to check it out.
Jon in Houston, Texas:
I totally fell asleep in a Jack Johnson concert. He is a great singer but there is no pitch or tone change, put me right asleep like a washing machine.
Jeremy in Minneapolis:
I fell asleep at a Tool concert, box office seats, at the Xcel back in June '07!!! Those seats were so cushy!
Travis in Toronto:
One year my wife and I were at SXSW, and it had been a REALLY long day. We had flown in from Toronto earlier that day (leaving our house probably around 5am), got all set up in our hotel room and then hit the town. Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys were playing at the Continental in the 1am slot. I HAD to see them. After club hopping all night, we arrived, got ourselves a spot to watch them, and my wife promptly fell asleep. The bar staff were none to pleased! Repeatedly told me that she couldn't sleep in the club, and I kept prodding her to stay awake. In the end, I managed to see about half a dozen songs by Big Sandy, and then we had to fall into a cab back to the hotel.
Colin in the Twin Cities
I fell asleep at a Dave Matthews concert in 2002. Actually it was during the opener, i think it was ben kweller.
Sarah in Toronto:
I fall asleep at shows all the time. I'm known for it in my circle of friends. Sometimes I actually find a quiet corner and curl up. I never sleep through an entire concert, I just take a catnap and kind of dreamsurf through the music. It's actually kind of nice.
Here's a sample list: The Dears, The Sadies, Black Mountain, Akron/Family, Thee Silver Mount Zion, TV On the Radio, Goldfrapp, Iron and Wine, The Twilight Singers, Drive-By Truckers.
Michele in Rosemount:
I hate to say it, but I fell asleep at a Van Halen concert once--it may have been Metallica playing as one of the opening acts. It was one of those all-day Monsters of Rock shows back in the 80's or early 90's--it was a long day in the hot summer sun!!
I also fell asleep at a Nataline Merchant show once. The music was just so soothing...
On the flipside, I can't help but wonder how this guy managed NOT to fall asleep at this show!
Dominic in Winnipeg, Manitoba:
July, 2003: Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Canada to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, to see Elvis Costello & Steve Nieve. 2800 miles, 17 hours in transit including 7 hours driving & 2 flights, 1 missed plane, 1 piece of lost luggage, BUT I STAYED AWAKE FOR THE WHOLE SHOW!
Tuesday: Hopped in truck at 12:30 am to drive 330 miles from Dawson City to Whitehorse Yukon, arriving for a Wednesday 8:00 am flight to Edmonton Alberta via Vancouver BC
Wednesday morning: arrived in Vancouver to find out e-tickets had not been booked properly and I had no ticket to Edmonton. Bought another one on the spot.
Wednesday afternoon: arrived in Edmonton to find airline had forgotten my luggage in Vancouver
Wednesday evening: Quick trip to the drugstore to buy some necessary personal hygiene supplies, followed by a few pints at the pub to wash away the road gunk, arrived at the venue.
I came very close a couple of times, but dammit, I lasted all the way through that show!
So, have YOU fallen asleep during a concert?
Comments (9)
I haven't fallen asleep at a concert but my husband fell asleep during a Prince concert when we were on a double date with a former boss of mine and his wife. After this debacle, my lovely husband Peter explained that he had also fallen asleep during a Fishbone concert.
About two years ago I was at the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl. Anyone who really loves music should attend this event. The Hollywood Bowl is unbelievably beautiful, the weather is perfect, the stage rotates, so the music never stops. On the first day of the event we brought in enough food and drinks for 3 days. I sat through some terrific music, including the Count Basie Orchestra, so then we finally got to the man I came to see, Buddy Guy. The first time I've ever seen him. It might have been the food, it might have been the rum, it might have been the funny cigar the kind gentleman let me finish for him, but I fell asleep about two songs into Mr. Guy's show and then woke up during the last song of their set.
I fell asleep at the Lynard Skynard concert last summer. It was actually during Hank Williams Jr. I was bored and he was drunk or something and just sang cover songs.
I fell asleep at a Metallica concert in 2000 - they were touring with Kid Rock and... Sevendust, I think. I'd been up since 3:30am or so (I was baking, so 4-noon shifts) and our seats were in the upper level. I was a little tired and they were a little lame.
I was at the '93 Lalapalooza at the St.Paul Civic Center (Harrient Island flooded that year) and Dinosaur Jr. bored me soo much I caught myself dozing. Probably would've fallen asleep if it hadn't been so loud.
I fell asleep at a Yngwie Malmsteen concert... maybe 1987.
My friends and I waited outside of L'amour - The Rock Capital of Brooklyn for about 8 hours to be first in line. Might have helped if I ate some food during the day, but all we had was a case of Budweiser Tallboys and some cigarettes. We made it into the club and rushed to the front of the stage. It was really hot in there and I remember the weight of 100 metalheads pushing on my back. Yngwie finally hit the stage and launched into "Black Star". I reached out and grabbed his shoe as he passed by. Then darkness came quickly. Apparently I took a swift kick to the melon. Next thing I remember is my friend handing me some keys so I could go sleep in the car. So this is really a pass-out at a concert story. Sleep is sleep though and I was out.
I myself have never fallen asleep at a concert, but my wife has, it was about eight years ago, at a George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic show at First Ave. It was a show that started at seven, no warm up act, straight into the fun and funk, and we had prime spots, front and center! After about four hours of tear the roof off non-stop funk and a constantly rotating lineup of singers and musicians on stage, my girl's legs were getting tired of dancing and I noticed a barstool to the right of the stage, previously occupied by a rather large member of First Ave's security, we decided to borrow the stool for a while, and when he returned, he let her keep the seat. Turned out to be another choice spot for watching the show, we had a good view of the backstage area, so we could always see who was coming out next. Yet, even though we had such a geat spot, not to mention close proximity to the speakers, I glanced over at my wife, and believe it or not, she was starting to doze off! She tried to stay awake, but she was wiped out, so even though we hated to leave, I took her home and tucked her in! I'm sure George and the gang played straight on til closing time, but we still had a great time, despite our premature departure!
How could you fall asleep at a concert? Honestly? It's like chucking your already paid for ticket down the drain before you even go to the show!!!!!
TWICE: Once in 1994 during Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds at Lollapallooza. I was 16, it was hot, I didn't know Nick Cave, and, oh yeah, it was the first time I had ever consumed alcohol. Passed out was probably a better term. Then again in 1999 at Black Sabbath, amazingly during Pantera's opening set. I had a brutal sinus infection that had kept me down for about a week prior and I had already seen Pantera's tired and worn act twice before.
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