"At increasingly risque concerts, parents keep a watchful eye" by James Reed, Globe Staff | July 13, 2010
MANSFIELD — Audiences are increasingly full of teenagers rubbing elbows with Mom and Dad. But parents aren’t necessarily showing up because they like the music; they’re chaperoning to keep an eye on the show their children are seeing....
Sometimes even mindful parents might not realize what’s in store unless they know the full concert lineup. When the Black Eyed Peas headlined the TD Garden, their set was largely innocuous. But the pop group brought two opening acts that weren’t quite as kid-friendly. Suddenly parents were covering their children’s ears....
Like other parents in attendance — many of whom sat way in the back of the audience, talking with one another or reading — Mari Vito of Watertown, Conn., between sets at the Bamboozle tour, said her real hang-up was the R-rated language....
They aren't worried about them being sent away to war over lies, but they are worried about the language?
Then they wouldn't like this blog, would they?
Sarah Goodwin, a 16-year-old from Derry, N.H., and her father, Thom, who sat in the back of the Comcast Center exchanging text messages with her about her whereabouts, didn’t particularly care for the bands.
Texting during a concert?
I'm sorry, but I'm turning the thing off.
But he said attending a concert with his daughter was a rite of passage, even though his own parents would never have taken him to such a sexually explicit show when he was growing up.
What about the MUSIC?
“I think parents are younger today in terms of their acceptance,’’ he said. “To be honest, a lot of times it’s the crowd you have to watch out for, not the bands onstage. When you go to a
:-)
“I think a lot of parents are clueless or just don’t know what they’re sending their kids to,’’ said Michele Borba, an educational psychologist and parenting specialist. “I think the first rule is: Know thy band. It’s really simple: You get a CD and listen to it.’’
Borba said she has noticed that parents’ attitudes toward sexually suggestive music have grown more lax over the years. “We’re learning that music is what’s shrinking the generation gap,’’ she said. “The good news is music can bring us together, but.... Even if you don’t like the music, you can use it as an opportunity to talk about why your kids like it.’’
Jonathan Miller of Worcester said he already does that. Amid a gaggle of giggling teenage girls, he took his daughter to the Bamboozle but knew what to expect.
That's always fun to be around.
“I know what she’s listening to because we usually listen to it together in the car,’’ he said. “To see everyone here having a great time, it’s hard to knock a show like this.’’
And what about some of the raunchier behavior?
Woooooooooohh!!!
Brianna Higgins and Elizabeth Clair, both 16 and of Bristol, R.I., cheered for the band Simple Plan at the Comcast Center in Mansfield. (Erik Jacobs for the Boston Globe)
Woooooooooohh!!! Woooooooooohh!!!
--more--"
No encore please, Globe.
