“Hey, Asshole!”: More Idiocy In The House Of Winehouse

Ah, the perils of attending the “big” shows at SXSW–long lines, crummy opening acts, and, of course, other members of the crowd. Our report on bad behavior at Friday’s Amy Winehouse show triggered this response from Idolator commenter JedTheMime:

I couldn’t believe when I read your “Hey, Asshole!” on the Amy Winehouse show at SXSW. I actually had my worst ever concert fight at that very show!

Because I was a lowly wristband-wearer, I got there extra-early and waited through Seth Lakeman (who was awesome) and the guy who replaced snowed-in James Morrison (who was not) so that I’d have a primo position near the stage for Amy, Razorlight and Mika. I was center stage, about three people back. Probably the closest I’ve ever been to an artist at a concert that wasn’t just some friends of mine playing in their backyard.

And then, halfway through Winehouse’s set, these two obnoxious British chicks pushed through the ENTIRE crowd and stood DIRECTLY in front of me and everyone else who’d been there for hours. Instantly, my view of Winehouse, her John C. Reilly-esque trumpeter and her obscene tattoos was ruined. Without being too rude, I’ll just say that these birds weren’t the easiest people to see around, either.

When I asked them to move, they acted like they couldn’t see how anyone could possibly question their behavior and then spewed forth a torrent of chavvish venom that ranged from the offended (“Are you SERIOUS?!”) to the illogical (“Well, we have to stand in front of SOMEONE!”) to the sarcastic (“Thank you for this lovely welcome to America!”).

I know it must’ve been exciting for them to see Winehouse in such a relatively small venue compared to the places she must play in the U.K., cut come on! I wouldn’t do this at a John Mellencamp show in your country!

We argued through half a song before I realized it was probably better to let it go than to be so disruptive so close to the stage. Guess Winehouse doesn’t just play the badass, she attracts them, too.

Still a great show, though.

Earlier: “Hey, Asshole!”: We Tried To Make Them Shut Their Pieholes, But They Said, “No, No, No” Hey, Asshole! archives