I predict a riot!
Last night I made my semi-annual trek to Camden, NJ to see a concert at the Tweeter Center. I was accompanied by Doug and my cousin, Ben.
The band: Coldplay. This is a band that grew on me. Those that know me well know that I am famous for initially hating a new band (namely, its first single), and then slowly growing to tolerate it, kind of like it, like it a lot, and eventually love it. My Tom Petty (You Don't known How It Feels) & Train (Meet Virginia) obsessions started this way. Coldplay was the same... I HATED "Yellow" when it came out. Then it grew on me. Now I can't get enough of the band.
It was a spectacular show, complete with cool gimmicky props, lighting and video effects. The mix was very good, and the sound was perfect from the lawn where we sat. The view of the Philadelphia skyline across the Delaware River was a nice touch to the experience. The band is certainly on top of their game.
The most interesting part of the night, however, was after the show. For any of you who haven't seen a show in Camden, you have no idea what this location is like... This venue is literally right smack in the middle of the ghetto of the most dangerous city in the United States of America. I am not exaggerating (it has ranked as #1 most dangerous for the past 2 years). The waterfront area is very nice and supposedly safe, being that there are a lot of cops patrolling the concert grounds, aquarium site, and sports complex. Walk two blocks off the main entertainment area, however, and you are in the projects.
Parking is a problem at the Tweeter Center because the amphitheatre seats many more people than the parking lot holds vehicles. So most people end up parking in fenced-in privately owned lots a few blocks from the venue - aka. - the Hood. We lucked out and found a lot relatively close to the Center that only charged $10 (still a rip-off in my opinion) for parking (others were charging $15). After the show, we got back to the car and got in line to exit the lot.
Then, an accident happened a block over from us which completely stopped the flow of traffic from our lot. Only one exit - one way out. The problem was that several cars got impatient and thought they were going to plow their way out of the lot. Neat lines turned into a free-for-all scramble for the exit. Imagine what a demolition derby looks like with cars scattered haphazardly in a gigantic enclosed area. That was the parking lot last night. People were cutting people off left and right, horns were everywhere, pedestrians were dodging vehicles, and it was one big jumbled mess funneling down to the bottleneck at the single main gate (only a single car-length wide). Keep in mind that not only were most of these people hot and tired, they were drunk. Thus, they were crazy. And several of them were from New Jersey.
10 minutes later and still no movement. Guy behind us cranks his music and starts shouting like a traveling preacher to the crowd of cars.
15 minutes later and still no movement. A car 15 feet away shuts off its engine in place, all the kids pile out and set up a beer pong table and start playing.
20 minutes later and still no movement. A guy behind us starts screaming like a madman, "LET US OUT, MOTHERFUCKERS!" (keep in mind there were no parking attendants anywhere within earshot).
30 minutes later and still no movement. People are getting bored and restless. Someone starts beeping. Everyone starts beeping. People start beeping songs. People start "partner" beeping things like, "Charge" and other football game rally cries. It was perhaps the most amazing thing I've ever seen. One big sea of car horns beeping songs in unison.
40 minutes later and still no movement. People are angry and fights are breaking out among cars. Then a group of people in the back of the line get out of their vehicles and BUST DOWN the back entrance gate and cars start trying to BACK out and maneuver to this new, alternate exit. A security guy suddenly appears and sees what is happening. He rushes over and tries to shut the gate (smart choice buddy) and people start screaming at him and threatening him bodily harm if he deters them. He gives up, realizing if he detains these cars any longer, a riot will indeed break out. He goes for reinforcements.
We manage to slip out with the small group of cars that makes it out before a cop comes over to lock the gate. We saw this happening behind us and wonder if a riot may have broken out. All the signs of complete madness were there...
The moral of this story is: Do not go to Camden unless you...
a) ...really really love a band and they aren't playing anywhere else close by
b) ...don't value your life or
c) ...aren't afraid to deal with the bad situations that the place inevitably brings on. I'm 3 for 3 with bad Camden experiences now.
At least Coldplay kicked ass.
The band: Coldplay. This is a band that grew on me. Those that know me well know that I am famous for initially hating a new band (namely, its first single), and then slowly growing to tolerate it, kind of like it, like it a lot, and eventually love it. My Tom Petty (You Don't known How It Feels) & Train (Meet Virginia) obsessions started this way. Coldplay was the same... I HATED "Yellow" when it came out. Then it grew on me. Now I can't get enough of the band.
It was a spectacular show, complete with cool gimmicky props, lighting and video effects. The mix was very good, and the sound was perfect from the lawn where we sat. The view of the Philadelphia skyline across the Delaware River was a nice touch to the experience. The band is certainly on top of their game.
The most interesting part of the night, however, was after the show. For any of you who haven't seen a show in Camden, you have no idea what this location is like... This venue is literally right smack in the middle of the ghetto of the most dangerous city in the United States of America. I am not exaggerating (it has ranked as #1 most dangerous for the past 2 years). The waterfront area is very nice and supposedly safe, being that there are a lot of cops patrolling the concert grounds, aquarium site, and sports complex. Walk two blocks off the main entertainment area, however, and you are in the projects.
Parking is a problem at the Tweeter Center because the amphitheatre seats many more people than the parking lot holds vehicles. So most people end up parking in fenced-in privately owned lots a few blocks from the venue - aka. - the Hood. We lucked out and found a lot relatively close to the Center that only charged $10 (still a rip-off in my opinion) for parking (others were charging $15). After the show, we got back to the car and got in line to exit the lot.
Then, an accident happened a block over from us which completely stopped the flow of traffic from our lot. Only one exit - one way out. The problem was that several cars got impatient and thought they were going to plow their way out of the lot. Neat lines turned into a free-for-all scramble for the exit. Imagine what a demolition derby looks like with cars scattered haphazardly in a gigantic enclosed area. That was the parking lot last night. People were cutting people off left and right, horns were everywhere, pedestrians were dodging vehicles, and it was one big jumbled mess funneling down to the bottleneck at the single main gate (only a single car-length wide). Keep in mind that not only were most of these people hot and tired, they were drunk. Thus, they were crazy. And several of them were from New Jersey.
10 minutes later and still no movement. Guy behind us cranks his music and starts shouting like a traveling preacher to the crowd of cars.
15 minutes later and still no movement. A car 15 feet away shuts off its engine in place, all the kids pile out and set up a beer pong table and start playing.
20 minutes later and still no movement. A guy behind us starts screaming like a madman, "LET US OUT, MOTHERFUCKERS!" (keep in mind there were no parking attendants anywhere within earshot).
30 minutes later and still no movement. People are getting bored and restless. Someone starts beeping. Everyone starts beeping. People start beeping songs. People start "partner" beeping things like, "Charge" and other football game rally cries. It was perhaps the most amazing thing I've ever seen. One big sea of car horns beeping songs in unison.
40 minutes later and still no movement. People are angry and fights are breaking out among cars. Then a group of people in the back of the line get out of their vehicles and BUST DOWN the back entrance gate and cars start trying to BACK out and maneuver to this new, alternate exit. A security guy suddenly appears and sees what is happening. He rushes over and tries to shut the gate (smart choice buddy) and people start screaming at him and threatening him bodily harm if he deters them. He gives up, realizing if he detains these cars any longer, a riot will indeed break out. He goes for reinforcements.
We manage to slip out with the small group of cars that makes it out before a cop comes over to lock the gate. We saw this happening behind us and wonder if a riot may have broken out. All the signs of complete madness were there...
The moral of this story is: Do not go to Camden unless you...
a) ...really really love a band and they aren't playing anywhere else close by
b) ...don't value your life or
c) ...aren't afraid to deal with the bad situations that the place inevitably brings on. I'm 3 for 3 with bad Camden experiences now.
At least Coldplay kicked ass.
posted by Kristina @ 1:46 PM
2 Comments:
At 9:50 PM,
Anonymous said…
Ah, Camden. The hellhole that never fails to disappoint.
At 11:06 AM,
Anonymous said…
It looks like you've been comment-spammed. You can delete some of these comments, if you choose.
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