So Webster Hall is hot. Last night it was really sweaty, but remarkably bearable. Sleater Kinney really impressed me after not being too thrilled at their minishow at Merc last year. I'm glad I caught them at the top of their game.
So this heat. This was to be expected. And like I said it didn't really bother me all that much. I like Webster Hall for a number of reasons, but I had one observation on the night...
See, I tend not to drink at shows all that often. Not weekday shows, for sure. It's always expensive and doesn't really make the show any better for me. It's a waste of money and calories to have two or three beers and go home. Also, if I manage to get trashed and have to write about the show later, it usually results in substandard reviews (see siren fest 2006 on Gothamist). So that said, I get water at Webster hall every so often. I go to the club for shows all the time. On a regular night, I walk up to one of the bars, ask for a cup of water and it's poured from the beverage gun into a plastic cup filled with ice. I usually tip a dollar, since that takes about as much effort as pouring a beer. Thing was, as people have been noting all over the internet today, last night they were only selling bottles of water. I paid $4 for one, others have said they paid $5.
Everybody's gotta make a buck, I understand that, but taking advantage of people in dire need of hydration like this seems a bit excessive. Not so different than charging someone for the defibrillator while they're having a heart attack, no? Or more relatable, perhaps, if a diner started only serving bottles of water on certain days instead of a glass when you sit down to eat. I remember at Woodstock '99 they were charging $4 a bottle for water (with reports of some rouge vendors charging $5) and we remember what happened there. At P'fork it was a dollar for a large bottle of this smart water ripoff with electrolytes. (cheaper than NYC bodega prices!)
Anyway, all I'm saying is I didn't mind the heat. I didn't even mind paying for the water, really, and I loved hearing that the staff was on its toes to get water to people in desperate need. My issue is with the conscious decision to not offer cups of water specifically on the hottest day of the year. That's a pretty callous move. I'm not claiming to boycot the club, nor do I want to hate on it as a whole for this one aspect alone. I'm just putting my experience out there.
Next time, maybe I'll ask for a cup of ice and run down to the bathroom to fill up?
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