For decades now, that cringe-worthy hissing sound heralding the presence of nitrous oxide dealers has permeated the parking lots of jam band shows. Neo-hippie burnouts and preppy Trustafarians alike line up to buy balloons filled with the gas for $5 a pop, then drop to the pavement, hit their heads, and start liking String Cheese Incident. It's a revolting scene, one that's now become familiar to concertgoers in NYC, where the "Nitrous Mafia" brazenly sets up shop on the sidewalk outside such venues as Terminal 5, The Music Hall of Williamsburg, and Brooklyn Bowl. How do they get away with it? more ›

A chaotic scene emerged outside last night's O.A.R. concert at Jones Beach where concertgoers "threw beer bottles, stood on car rooftops and tossed young women in the air." Newsday reports that at least twelve people in attendance were brought to the hospital with alcohol poisoning and police said that there were "massive amounts of underage drinking." Rowdy crowds are nothing new for concerts of O.A.R. (which stands for "of a revolution"). Last year 82 arrests were made outside the jam band's live show in Holmdel, New Jersey. more ›