I saw gorgeous singer Emeli Sandé perform at Webster Hall on Thursday. Last year, I swore I wouldn’t go back to Webster Hall, ever, after experiencing a Theophilus London rap concert there. Webster Hall has been around in its current incarnation as a dance club and concert venue for 20 years. I used to go there in the early ’90s. As the floor bounced scarily under the pogoing fans directly in front of the stage at the London concert, I thought, “Have they reinforced this floor since the last time I was here in 1993?” My friend Debra asked me more pointedly, “Do you think we’re going to die?” And that was before Theophilus — a tall dude wearing a leather jacket with spikes on it — threw himself into the audience a few inches from our heads.
But I decided I truly wanted to see Emeli, whose soulful album Our Version of Events hit No. 1 on the U.K. charts last year. (She also performed at the opening and closing ceremonies of the London Olympics.) Based on her music, I figured the audience would dance rather than jump, so I got tickets and once again convinced designer/blogger/stylist/partner-in-crime Stacy Lomman to see an artist she’d never heard of. As I hoped, the floor behaved itself — this fan base expressed its enthusiasm by singing every word to every song rather than jumping around — and the concert exceeded expectations.
My one crappy Instagram picture of Emeli performing.
I haven’t been able to stop listening to Our Version of Events for three days. If you haven’t heard Emeli Sandé, here are two of my favorite songs: “Heaven” and “Next to Me.” (I love every song on the album though.)
- Monday: Lucy Liu was my best-dressed at the Golden Globes.
- Tuesday: January’s Jewel of the Month is my Frog and Prince ring.
- Wednesday: How did you celebrate Appreciate a Dragon Day?
- Thursday: What should you wear when you’re over 70? Anything you fucking want to.
- Saturday: Fashion repeats itself.
UPDATED TO ADD: Punk Glam Queen mentioned in the comments that some music venues are built with deliberately bouncy floors. I had no idea! I emailed Webster Hall and asked about that. A nice fellow named Rich told me, “The building is constructed with steel beams that are supposed to bend to spread out the pressure. It’s part of what makes the building’s construction as a dance hall so sound.” To be honest, I still don’t want to be bounced around that much because it felt very weird to me, but if you go to Webster Hall, you’re safe!
I’m so glad we didn’t get crowd bashed! lol.
Loooving that song Heaven. Thanks for taking me 🙂
I’ve been meaning to listen to Emeli, she is getting some great press!
I loved Lucy Liu’s frock (she’s so gorgeous),but kept thinking it would have been awesome as a mini on Gwen Stefani!
X
I could imagine the mini version in Gwen’s “What Are You Waiting For?” video for sure!
I’m glad to hear the floor didn’t drop out from under you. It sounds like you had a great time. I love it when music is so powerful that I can’t stop listening to it.
Webster Hall is still in the same space that was the Ritz, right? If so, that floor got some bashing in the 80s! I never thought of it, but maybe its a “sprung” floor like they have in dance studios & ballrooms? It bounced like crazy back then as well. XXX
Ooh! Maybe!!!! That would be reassuring. Because this was definitely in my mind: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Versailles_wedding_hall_disaster
I recall seeing part of that on the news, so tragic! It does illustrate how disastrous it can be if the wrong flooring is put into a venue. I found this: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/08/fashion/08webster.html?_r=0
Which says it was built as a dance, reception hall originally. I found it funny that Legs mentioned the shaking balcony back in the 80s too, I forgot that was as bad as the dance floor! Lets hope that with the renovation they put in a sprung floor, as it would seem that’s what was there in the 80s (and I imagine originally since it was built for the purpose of large crowds and dancing). XXX
I hope you’re right! I must investigate this more.
I would have questioned the floors 20years ago myself. I’ll have to listen to Emeli – won’t play for me since I’m at work now and shouldn’t even be online haha
Marti
Bad girl 😉