Raul Malo of The Mavericks Barks Down Aggressive Security at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
One of the things that has made live music increasingly frustrating over the last few years is this insistence to put a huge safety space between the stage and the crowd. Big stages in open spaces already unnecessarily dilute the vibe of music, but mandating five to ten feet of space between where the stage ends and the crowd begins is just uncool. I’m sure there’s insurance protocols and other such things in play here, and of course you need an area for stage hands and photographers to work in, but it is quickly getting out of hand.
Even more frustrating as a roots music fan is how they use the same cattle stockades to hold the crowd back no matter if it’s some eepish roots band playing, or Guttermouth. I mean, is stage crashing really an issue at a Milk Carton Kids show? Do The Cactus Blossoms regularly incite crowd violence? Hell most metal shows these days cater to a more docile crowd. It’s the Florida Georgia Line concert where you have to worry about some lug kicking your ass because his girlfriend vomited on you.
In San Francisco this weekend, the massive Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival is going on, and The Mavericks took to the Banjo Stage on Friday afternoon for their set. For whatever reason, the security decided to be extra vigilant, and wasn’t allowing folks to dance some ten feet in front of the already apportioned-off area in front of the stage. But frontman Raul Malo was having none of it and actively told the crowd to civilly disobey the intrusive security staff while telling the security staff to back off.
From Larry J. Simon
Moment yesterday when @raulmalo01 of @MavericksMusic got aggressive security to back off & the party started pic.twitter.com/9I6ROiPMND
Larry J. Simon (@LarryJSimon) October 3, 2015
marc
October 4, 2015 @ 6:15 pm
“Shockingly, nobody died. They just had a really good time.”, The only death I could see at one of their shows would be a heart attack.
Eric
October 4, 2015 @ 6:56 pm
Look, I hate the idea of overly aggressive security restricting fans’ movement, but I also believe that it is counterproductive and somewhat ungrateful to openly harangue those who are risking their lives to protect you. The Mavericks should have quietly talked with security about shrinking the safety space instead of making a scene about it.
Trigger
October 4, 2015 @ 7:07 pm
Please. These aren’t first responders. Half these guys are day laborers who watched a 30-minute training video and were telling people not to be in a space they had every right to be in. This is a perfect example of why you can’t trust everyone just because they’ve been assigned authority.
CountryKnight
October 5, 2015 @ 7:46 am
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.
Abraham Lincoln
I dealt with those types of security cops/parking attendants at the Army-PSU football game this past weekend. They take the little ounce of power that they were ever given in life and abuse it. It is actually tragic.
marc
October 4, 2015 @ 7:09 pm
This isn’t the first time that Raul has chastised security for the fans dancing.
Trigger
October 4, 2015 @ 7:19 pm
Yes, because it is a common problem at venues all across the country where over-aggressive rent-a-cops want to ruin people’s good time when fans are doing absolutely nothing wrong or dangerous. I’m sure it’s a pet peeve of his because an aggressive security staff can totally change the complexion of a show when they’re supposed to be blending into the background, and only there if needed.
Six String Richie
October 4, 2015 @ 7:59 pm
Even though I agree it sucks that they can be overbearing, I try to keep in mind that many of the security workers are doing what they think they should. Even if they are wrong, they thought they were doing the right thing. It’s not like they have bad intentions or anything.
They may have been told by superiors not to let fans past a certain point. So they did that. Maybe fans reasonably could have stood closer. But the security was told not to let them closer. So they followed orders, as they should.
I personally think this issue should be taken out on the venue superiors, not the guys who take orders from them.
But I love Raul Malo more than most people I’ve ever met in this world. The Mavericks are one of my all time favorites.
Eric
October 4, 2015 @ 8:57 pm
Exactly. It’s best to handle these matters behind the scenes and get the supervisors to change the policy instead of publicly embarrassing those who are just doing their jobs.
Trigger
October 4, 2015 @ 9:07 pm
Were they doing their jobs, or were they doing their jobs wrong?
Cindy Martino
October 5, 2015 @ 5:33 pm
You’ll be happy to know that security started dancing too. They just couldn’t help themselves, the Mavericks are that infectious.
Shakey
October 6, 2015 @ 3:30 am
They weren’t doing their job wrong, they were doing their job the way they were told to. It’s not a power thing, it’s a doing what you’re told or being fired thing.
Lance
October 5, 2015 @ 12:32 am
” Publicly embarrassing those who are just doing their jobs “…..Oh no, you mean
someone might get their feelings hurt??? OMFG, now we cant have that in our perfect world now can we!
It did look pretty dangerous however when those folks got up and started dancing so violently and with bad intent….you could just see it in their eyes.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
October 5, 2015 @ 7:11 am
I don’t think it’s very fair to the security officers to just reprimand them in front of an audience, it makes them look bad. I’m sure many of them were just trying to do what they thought best. That said, I know that I am a person who should never have any authority, because I get on some crazy power trips and go great distances to correct people over minor stuff, that’s why I’m not the bandleader in my band, that’s why I wouldn’t apply to do what these security officers do, because I know that I’d become unlikeable and insufferable fast. That said, I’ve never seen an audience at a music festival or performance get too out of hand, the worst offenses are dancers being loud and obstructing the view for the people like me in my seat, so the tightened security was really a bit too much.
Ben Milam
October 5, 2015 @ 6:42 am
Did the man with the awesome voice hurt your feelings? Risking their lives? Do you have the vapors?
Charley
May 16, 2021 @ 7:35 am
He did a similar thing at our venue. The fire Marshall will shut us down if folks charge and he encouraged them to charge twice. Was a complete jerk about. But then he left something and we locked his ass out for 45 minutes while he pounded on the door. That was awesome. Would not have them back for free. This biz it too hard to tolerate jerks twice.
Trey
October 4, 2015 @ 7:38 pm
Last weekend at ACL, some jerk tried to interrupt Raul while he was singing a Cuban song… just Malo and his guitar… Was an incredible performance… Anyway… He stopped mid song… Told the to shut the fuck up and that no one gave a fuck what he thought and finished the song. We all cheered as the Mavericks were putting on an awesome 2 1/2 hour show.
Jimmy Vaughn showed up to jam too. Great night of music. Even the bartender commented how Malo was “the best damn singer” they’ve had at ACL in a long time.
Six String Richie
October 4, 2015 @ 7:53 pm
Was the jerk on stage or just shouting? Or was he a security guard? Was the reason of being upset something to do with not wanting to hear music in Spanish or just general drunkness?
musicfan
October 4, 2015 @ 8:11 pm
I’m trying to figure out why any of that has anything to do with it? If you’re lucky enough to be in a live audience listening to Raul Malo, nothing you have to say will ever be more important than what he is singing.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
October 5, 2015 @ 7:12 am
“I have discovered a cure for cancer, but I better wait until this glorious gentleman with the heavenly voice is finished singing before I tell anyone.”
after the show
“Hmm, now what was that cure?”
hahahahahaha
Bear
October 4, 2015 @ 8:48 pm
All this reminds that once at an Otis Redding show in a table and chairs venue he asked the audience why they were sitting down (I wasn’t mind you) and one lady shouted outed half-heatedly we’re be respectful.
Otis Taylor’s response was, “Well stop it!” and that broke the ice half way thorugh the show and people got up and danced… somewhat.
Also saw a famous African band at this same venue who scloded the audience with, “In Africa music is for dancing, in America it is a convention.”
I think it became a convention in part because of power-tripping rent-a-cops. And also because there seems to be this mentality of ownership when you pay for a seat DAMN IT it is YOUR seat and you are going to sit in it. Not to toot my own horn but I hate seats I want space to dance and I will find or make space fire escape plan be damned. And more often then not the act on stage has thanked me or even fellow audience members have thanked me for giving the show more energy. And I’ve been invited back stage a couple times as well.
I get it if you seeing an orchestra play Mozart that is one thing or maybe that great solo guitarist song-writer may not have danceable jams but most concerts I attend I feel the need to dance from Loreena MckKennit to The Stone to Emmylou to Iron Maiden. And wish more venues catered to that ethos instead of just stiff backed seats far as the eye can see. But Bonnie Raitt every was sitting down, Journey sitting, B.B. King sitting…. I can remember only TWO shows I’ve attended in my lifetime that were at seated venues where large sections of the audience danced, Gloria Estefan in 1996, and Daniela Mercury about 3 years ago.
And HSB used to be a great place for that but over the years with its growth in size it has become
1. over-crowded
2. less fun because they are trying to police like it is the Outside Lands Festival
still a stellar line-up this year.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
October 5, 2015 @ 7:07 am
I’m the opposite, I wish the people dancing would go away… They obstruct the view of the stage, they’re frequently loud enough to distract from the performance, and they’re just generally a nuisance for a serious music fan like myself… I mean if you want to dance go to a nightclub with a DJ who plays music for dancing, or better yet GO TO A SQUAREDANCE where the musicians are SPECIFICALLY playing music for people to dance, but don’t just shoehorn your best worm or robot into a Tom Jones concert, or bounce around drunk and loud when Dropkick Murphy’s or Scythian start playing. It’s not about being respectful to the performer, as much as it is being respectful to the rest of the audience. If you can’t have fun simply by enjoying the music maybe a music festival isn’t the place for somebody like you.
Six String Richie
October 5, 2015 @ 8:14 am
I have no problem with people dancing at concerts, I’m a huge Latin music fan and most of those concerts involve some dancing, but there is one kind of concert dancer that annoys me: The drunken girl that has become an exotic dancer.
At every show, there’s some girl near me that’s had 4 Miller Lights and suddenly decides she’s gonna put on a show for everybody standing around her.
No, she can’t dance well. Yes, she just sticking out her butt and shaking it. No, nobody wants to watch her dance. But there she goes. Shimmying along to some mid-tempo song that wasn’t even meant for dancing. It gets very old very quick.
Golddust
October 5, 2015 @ 9:44 am
Unfortunately, while you’re standing/dancing throughout the whole concert, there are people behind you who can’t see. My mother loves Alan Jackson. Took her to a concert several years ago and she’ll never go to another one because she couldn’t see a thing. She didn’t need handicap accessible seats, but she’s unable to stand for long periods of time without getting dizzy. What about the 5’1″ girl who has a 6’3″ guy standing in front of her? I don’t mind people standing for the first couple songs, and for a particularly upbeat song now and then, and when you know the concert’s winding to a close, but be considerate and sit down for 75% of the concert.
I love to dance myself, but if I were really going to dance at a concert, I’d go off to the side so I wouldn’t block anyone’s view. And if I’m not doing that, I can certainly move my feet and bob around a bit in my seat. Many times I’ve done a two-step or a shuffle without standing up at all.
Six String Richie
October 5, 2015 @ 12:16 pm
Yes, Golddust, I hear you completely. If I’m at a show and I can tell that the people behind me can’t see, be it due to age or low height, I’ll make sure to be seated for most of the show.
Mainly the shows I dance at are the Latin ones and at those it’s generally understood that much of the crowd will be dancing for most of the show.
I really don’t dance at country or rock shows because I don’t consider that to be dance music. I don’t know how to move to it.
Golddust
October 5, 2015 @ 12:59 pm
Ahh, Richie, you need to go out two-stepping, waltzing, swinging or shuffling with someone who knows what they’re doing. I can’t stand that line dancing and “programmed” couples dancing has taken over the clubs (sure can’t call them honky tonks anymore) around here because it sure was fun to move around the floor to a good country song, ad libbing the whole time!
Six String Richie
October 5, 2015 @ 3:40 pm
I’d love to learn to dance country. I dance bachata, cumbia and salsa with ease and generally hold my own to general pop music but I never feel comfortable dancing country. I went line dancing once in Nashville but everybody there was a tourist and they were all pretty stiff and bad dancers. I could probably waltz if I tried.
Bear
October 5, 2015 @ 9:53 am
Yes I should clarify that I do relegate my dancing off to the side or find a place that doesn’t block peoples views depending on the audience and the show. But if the performer wants me to dance then dance I shall. And at an outside venue I’ll dance where ever people dance. And yes… the drunken girl that becomes the exotic dancer… ugh. Just as bad the dude with the ego who thinks he know partner dance because he took one class and can almost get a woman to do one full turn but ends dropping her on her back halfway through a dip she wasn’t ready for.
Golddust
October 5, 2015 @ 1:03 pm
Yikes! That’s why I never let someone dip me who I’m not used to dancing with, and even then I don’t particularly care for them. If someone I don’t know even tries it, they have a battle on their hands. 😉 And agreed, if the performer wants us to dance, I’d be right there. One time at a Tracy Lawrence – standing room only concert – I was two-stepping in place and because of that got a great dance with some stranger.
I do have to say, though, that when performers ask the people in the back to come up to the front and stand, and the stage isn’t high enough so the people who paid more money for those seats can see over them, that bothers me a bit. But I also hate it when performers have that wide open space between them and the audience. No need for all that room. Don’t know if they still do it in other areas, but here they used to let people go through that area to take a couple pictures and then be on their way. For whatever reason they stopped doing that which is a shame.
Bear
October 5, 2015 @ 1:19 pm
That’s why I like setups like The Warfiield or The Fiollmore in SF you have this standing/dancing space but the seats are all behind and raised up so those they need or want seats can sit. There is really no one perfect solution because some people want to be real close like at Freight and Salvage or Yoshi’s but can’t stand for two hours.
And I too have met some great people dancing and shows and once was invited on stage to dance with Emeline Michel a popular Hatian singer. But Ok like a great example of a show I’d sit down at would be Richard Thompson because there I’m watching that cat masterwork a guitar or somebody like Joan Baez I’d probably sit down. Conversely I can also watch Brian Setzer masterwork a guitar while dancing.
LOL! Dips. One issue is the guy doesn’t support the woman, the other issues is the woman doesn’t know what she is doing and lastly some women are not flexible enough for the usual dips guys try to do and do sometimes when there is no room.
Well I’m sure if we met at a show we’d hit it off and dance and drag other down with us.
Joco Blake
October 4, 2015 @ 9:20 pm
Rent-A-Cops man gotta love it ,only slightly more annoying than real cops.
lisa
October 5, 2015 @ 7:19 am
I went to a Kenny Chesney show at Gillette Stadium about a month ago. In the parking lot, they have “Team Ops” security (the Mall Cops of Gillette Stadium) as well as groups of state troopers walking the parking lots. My friend pointed out that whenever the state troopers came through, she felt nervous although we were doing nothing wrong and are in our thirties, but when the Team Ops came walking through, she just wanted to laugh at them. They were high school kids! Like they are going to combat underage drinking, and general obnoxiousness?
TX MusicJim
October 5, 2015 @ 9:33 am
Good job Raul ! It’s gotten silly the intrusive “crowd control” these days! Hell twenty years ago I saw George Jones tell the crowd screw security dance all you want! Then proceed to tell the sound guy to turn his mic up and after a few failed attempts threatened to kick his ass if he was ignored one more time on mic for all to hear. Aww the good old days!
Stephanie G
October 5, 2015 @ 2:50 pm
I know this wasn’t the point of the article, but thanks for the mention of the Cactus Blossoms. Fans of good country music should know about them!
Trixie
October 5, 2015 @ 3:02 pm
I saw the Mavericks recently in Washington. I was able to circumvent the overly helpful ushers and get a spot right at the stage, literally with my elbows resting on the stage. Here’s the the thing. In the absence of good security, which this venue lacked, several people interrupted the show by leaping onto the stage to either dance or kiss Raul. It was annoying as hell.. and eventually he had to tell them to stop.
The security staff in these venues has no choice. they are hired by the venue to do their jobs, which is keep people at whatever distance the venue or other acts deem acceptable. They are just doing their jobs. Those of you that rip on them for being losers, or whatever, aren’t fair. Why are you such elitists? These people are just doing what they’re told to do. Ask Katy Perry how great it was to have some drugged up chick attack her onstage…
I LOVE the Mavericks, and love Raul, but man.. he has a quick temper. He’s berated people at many concerts. At the concert I went to, it was very clear on the site and ticket page, that people would be dancing… Perhaps the Mavericks need to work out an agreement with security in advance, rather than browbeat the guys making not enough money to be humiliated like that. For those of you that think it’s no big deal, how about someone come and humiliate you in front of thousands of people at work?
fiona
October 5, 2015 @ 3:17 pm
Raul stopped mid song many years ago at a Mavs concert in Edinburgh when i stood up to dance and security told me to sit down ..who can sit through one of their concerts !!
Big Cadillac
October 5, 2015 @ 3:29 pm
Raul did the same think last night at Humphrey’s in San Diego and called everyone up front, telling those with “a stick up their a##” to shove it. Having worked in a public venue; Security is only doing as-briefed before the show based on venue policy, fire marshal regulations, previous experience/artist history, insurance/loss prevention requirements, etc. I think it is classless and dangerous to make the people who are there to protect the public and talent and keep order irrelevant. In addition, the people in the front sections (not me) payed more to sit up close. To bring everyone up front seems “democratic”, but is actually anarchy. Nobody has died….yet. And that is what most safety regulations are based on (prior injury or loss of life) and are in effect to prevent. When someone is tramples or suffocated in a crowd, who will take the hit? SECURITY.
Trigger
October 5, 2015 @ 3:33 pm
No doubt there has to be some order and people to keep it. But there’s a line that can be crossed by security too. It seems to me that the security in the specific instance at Hardly Strictly were being extra aggressive for no particular reason.
Cindy Martino
October 5, 2015 @ 4:57 pm
@ Hardly Strictly, after Raul made the call, security started to dance too. It was a wondrous thing to witness and be a part of. Nothing even came close to getting out of hand or dangerous. Everyone was too happy for that.
MamaDel
October 5, 2015 @ 5:55 pm
Was at the Humphrey’s show last night for the Mavs. Attended other Humphrey’s shows as well. Their security are what I refer to as gestapo. I know for a fact that Raul did talk with the venue before the show and they agreed to allow fans up to dance for the last several songs and the encores. The guard on our side of the venue still acted like a nazi and literally held back the crowd when Raul’s invited them up to dance. When Raul kept trying to get his attention the goon ignored him until the crowd started yelling at him. He finally relented placed himself with his back to the stage, arms crossed, and glared at the crowd the rest of the night. The only downer of the night, as usual, was the security. The issue of someone being trampled in the crowd is ridiculous and if you’ve ever been to a Mavs show. So if you want to dance do so.
HiHoSilver
October 5, 2015 @ 7:14 pm
Raul did the same thing at a concert at the Fox Theatre in Tucson a year or so ago. Got into it with security. There is very little room between the front row seats and the stage. The people in the first few rows couldn’t see a thing. And yes, that is a shame for them because some of the fans weren’t able to stand and dance for the entire concert. The way Raul did it was not cool. Unnecessary profanity directed at security. An open conflict with the manager of the venue in front of the audience. Raul got his way, but at the cost of not ever performing there again (and yes it’s a fantastic venue). Surely there is a middle ground when it comes to bands like The Mavericks?
MamaDel
October 5, 2015 @ 10:47 pm
HiHoSilver. After Tucson last year, the band began posting dance alerts so fans can choose seats in an area where they can see. As someone who doesn’t get up and dance, I began buying seats in the balcony. Win-win for me and the dancers. I say if the Fox in Tucson will not book The Mavericks, too bad for them. I’m driving over from San Diego and will happily see them at the Rialto from my balcony seats. Let the chair dancing begin. Whoo-Hoo!
Jack Williams
October 6, 2015 @ 6:10 am
Interesting. I saw The Mavericks in early 2014 in a tables-and-chairs listening room type venue in the DC area (Birchmere – Alexandria, VA). I was surprised to see that they were in the area again later in the year, but they were playing at the State Theatre (Falls Church, VA), which is all standing on the main level and has theatre seats in the balcony. They’re playing there again (two nights) later this month. My guess is that they see the State Theatre as a better fit for what they do.
Van carara
October 5, 2015 @ 3:41 pm
Really looking forward to your show in Denver this thursday. Hope there’s room to dabce!!!!!!☺
Van carara
October 5, 2015 @ 3:43 pm
Dance!!!!!
Cindy Martino
October 5, 2015 @ 4:14 pm
I was there and one of the dancers. It was nothing but pure joy. Funny thing was, after Raul’s announcement, security started dancing too. Some things in life just need to happen, and they did.
Barry from San Pedro
October 5, 2015 @ 7:35 pm
I was there. I believe the area that many have commented on was an ADA mandated area, made so those with disabilities can have a spot to view the show. I know this because I asked security about it. Rather than give hastily-trained security grief, I suggest the festival have signs pointing people to a “dancing area” and an ADA area.
And as far as the headline for this article, I find it a bit inflammatory. Click bait, if you will.
Tim from NJ
October 6, 2015 @ 9:37 am
Saw the Mavs in Morristown a couple of months ago. Raul asked that dancers please stay in the side-aisles so as not to obstruct either viewing by the seated or emergency crews down the center aisle if they were necessary. The staff was great, the show was great, the audience was great and a whole lot of dancers were invited onstage for the last couple of songs. Give respect, get respect.
Then again, who can stay seated at a Mavs show?
Jerry
October 6, 2015 @ 12:01 pm
Same thing happened in Phoenix, people wanted to dance but the security was telling them to go to their seats, after about 20 minutes Raul stops singing and starts yelling to the security “let these people f@cking dance!”
We love these guy’s and seen them about 6 or 7 times, the minute they start to play all you can do is stand and dance through their whole concert. They are a great band!
emfrank
October 6, 2015 @ 2:17 pm
On a related note, almost all of the HSB sets are archived for streaming, unless the artist(s) asked not to be streamed or was on one of the smallest stages. You can see last 2 years as well … it is a treasure trove.
http://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/2015/webcast/
emfrank
October 6, 2015 @ 2:24 pm
Looks like they are still working splitting the livestream into the individual videos… but you can see some and the others should be up soon.