Last week, I had a small New England trip in which I was able to go to the Portland, Maine and Boston shows.
I was especially excited about the Portland show, since they recorded Wolf's Law in Maine and the venue (Port City Music Hall) had a bout a 500 person capacity. Very intimate. I have to say that this was easily the worst crowd I've ever been in for TJF and perhaps any concert.
My wife and I were the first people in line by a good 3 1/2 hours. That whole scene in Portland is just bizarre. Looks like a nice little community, but I swear every other person on the street is either on some sort of drug binge or insane. I can't speak too highly of the fans, since there were shockingly few of them. Maybe 40 minutes before the show, a few fans (sort of) joined us in line. Turned out they were winners of a radio contest for a pre-show meet & greet. I'm guessing they weren't especially big fans, since Matt Thomas walked by the group quite noticeably twice, and there was zero reaction. We actually ended up getting into the meet and greet because there was a no show.
After the meet and greet, we go back outside (there is about 5 minutes until the doors open), and there were maybe four fans waiting in line. The doors open, and all four fans head straight to the bar.
The two opening bands (Box Tiger and You Won't) were actually quite good. About 10-15 minutes before TJF takes the stage, the guy next to us taps me on the shoulder and points behind us. It looked like there were about 30 people there. Fortunately (and I use that word loosely) it did fill up a bit more, but largely with utter douchebaggery. Most of the crowd seemed to be indifferent non-fans more interested in giving the bands shit and starting fights than seeing one of the truly great live bands out there. I was noticeably distracted (and right on the rail in front of Ritzy) for much of the show after some knob started shoving a few of us around in the front row, jut because it was something to do.
Meanwhile the band is putting on its usual fantastic, full throttle show. But I think they sensed that trying to connect with this crowd was a dead end. The set was limited to 10 songs with no encore. I got Ritzy's setlist after no one else even bothered asking for it. Definitely the strangest TJF show I've been to.
Glad the weather held up (I heard the show in Iowa last night was canceled due to storms). They always put on a great show. I'm seeing them on the east coast a couple times next week.
this band!
I finally get to see them tomorrow night with TATE, and on Thursday. 
