FRICTION NYC

You may have noticed at some point while reading this blog that some of the CU crew enjoy referring to shows as “concerts.” This is something that really irks the hell out of Nghia and prompted him to send out an email to all of us to refrain from using the word “concert.” Basically, his argument was that the word “concert” is dated and homely, like using the word “automobile”, as in ‘I jumped into my automobile and drove to the store,’ or the word “world wide web,” as in ‘I was reading the news on the world wide web all day.’

I was hoping for more of a reaction from the rest of the group, but there was only one rebuttal saying ‘that using the word “show” sounds like you went and saw Mama Mia!, Rent or some other musical bullshit.’

Personally, I like to use the words “show” or “gig” and reserve the word concert for larger scale events, like a “Sufjan Stevens or Tapes ‘N Tapes concert,” seriously, you don’t go to a “Rolling Stones show” or “New York Philharmonic show”, you go to a “New York Philharmonic concert.” I also think it’s laughable when someone says, “hey, get me two tickets to that CBGBs concert.”

Is it taboo to use the word “concert” or does it depend on what you’re referring to?