Ellington

I've had the fortunate opportunity to see some great concerts this summer, including Wilco, Kevin Costner, Duran Duran and, most recently, Elton John. I had an absolute blast at these shows, and I'm glad such great acts visited the Magnolia State.

However, I did notice how the female fans at these shows misbehaved and acted. It's been bothering me awhile, and I just cannot hold my silence any longer.

Years ago (meaning when I was 33 and younger), I was the rowdy girl at the concerts, literally fighting my way to the front row, getting thrown out for disorderly and totally unladylike behavior—you get the point. And oh, how my friends and I would just about knock your teeth out over a guitar pick or a (usually too-small) t-shirt someone from the band threw out to the crowd. Yes, we acted poorly at rock concerts—it's kind of expected, right?—and pretty much any other concert that wasn't playing classical music.

But now that I've gotten older and been lucky to see a plethora of live shows here in the capital city and throughout the state, I've noticed that it is not so much the younger girls getting catty, it's the ones in their forties and up, who know better yet choose to not act like it.

Case in point: Lots of women were at the Kevin Costner concert. And when I say lots, I mean it. Females of all ages packed out Hal & Mal's big room to see "The Cos." While my friend came up to me to show me a picture she had just taken of him, this other girl lights into her for butting in front of her, when really my friend was there for mere seconds to show me the picture.

I turned around to get a better look at this rudester, thinking it was someone younger and a tad bit intoxicated. But this woman was way older than what I had expected and way more than a tad bit drunk—she was lit. I saw other women that night exchange words in the bathroom over something petty as well. (I think one woman thought the other was going to get the stall she was waiting for, and it just took off from there.)

While at Duran Duran at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Biloxi, my friend and I had balcony seats. And though security told all of us we couldn't stand up, several of us did once the music started—I mean, you can't not dance when Duran Duran is playing live. Some chicks behind us were yelling at everyone for standing up; yet they were standing up telling everyone to sit down.

Once we said to hell with it and went down to the floor where the band was playing, things were much better, yet we still witnessed women catching attitudes and smart-mouthing folks.

The same thing happened when I attended the Elton John concert a few weeks ago. I was lucky enough to get floor seats, and you know if you're on the floor, no one actually sits down. So, while everyone was up dancing and singing away, I felt a tug on my shirt. An elderly lady told me to "sit (my) ass down" because she couldn't see. Why she chose me and not the other people on my row to do the same thing is beyond me, but believe it or not, the older, wiser Natalie ignored her. That rarely happens, but I'm getting better at guarding my tongue.

Women: there is no need to act like a total b*tch at concerts. Yes, people are going to stand in front of you. Yes, people are going to say "excuse me" a trillion times going to either get a drink or go to the restroom. Yes, you are going to encounter other chicks who have been drinking excessively and can't handle their alcohol, and they are rude.

Moms' and Mawmaws' Nights Out are going to be a part of any big show you see, especially when someone as good-looking as Kevin Costner or as talented as Elton John is playing, and you can bet they are going to let loose after being stuck at home, or the retirement home, all day.

Just remember, ladies, that when two people get into a fight in public, it's hard to tell who the fool is. Now, go out there and have some fun—not fights—at live local music shows!