The All-American Rejects came to Geneseo on Saturday and though their hits were popular with our crowd when we were thirteen, they put on a provocative and entertaining show.
Unfortunately, the first words lead singer Tyson Ritter uttered to the unsuspecting audience involved a welcome to "Sunny University" and multiple, vulgar references to male genitalia.
While we are all adults here at beautiful Sunny U, perhaps the Rejects should re-evaluate their fan base; much of Kuhl Gym was filled with tweens and their respective guardians. And while Ritter's commentary eventually led into the song "Dirty Little Secret," did he actually expect the entire crowd to moan the word "dirrrty" along with him after the first two mediocre songs?
What's worse is that either his rock-stardom or belligerence clouded his ability to remember where he was and to whom he was performing. Geneseo may be a small school and, in his eyes, a lifeless venue, but that doesn't change the fact that our ticket purchases were pumped into their paychecks.
A concession must be made, however, to Ritter, who at one point managed to recognize that he was performing to the Knights. Sadly, this shining moment was diminished by his declaration that Knights should act like animals (as opposed to, let's see - human beings).
These discrepancies may have been more the fault of the people responsible for the show's logistical matters than the band member themselves. After all, it is unrealistic to expect that a band from Oklahoma would have ever heard of Geneseo. Perhaps a short briefing should have taken place before they took the stage.
Saturday night's show should serve as a reminder to artists, publicists and even concert organizers of what a show is all about. They need to recognize how they got to where they are and how to stay there: by pleasing the fans. In order to do that, it'd be nice if artists could manage to remember who those fans are.
Concerts are remarkable means for artists to reach their fans, and it is true that at the end of the night, the All-American Rejects delivered. Through the antagonistic behavior, there was a comical and enjoyable frontman who, after the show was over, led his band back out onto the stage with the house lights up to sign set lists and toss guitar picks at fans. He was even considerate enough to throw a few drumsticks at the screaming crowd.
We just wish he hadn't stuck them down his pants first.