Greg's latest post got me thinking; he talks about what artists will be remembered for. It brought to mind something that's bothered me for quite some time now. No one can name band members anymore and by anymore, I mean roughly the last 15 years or so. I know that the average person these days can't name every member of most bands or even their favorite band, but they used to be able to get one or more for certain. John, Paul, George & Ringo. They'd make a fine band wouldn't they, wonder what they'd be called? I bet if Mick & Keith joined up, they could make a good band too. Steven & Joe from Boston could really give blues rock a kick in the ass if they formed a band.
Besides the above examples, the list goes on. I bet you can name more than one member from each of the following bands; The Eagles, Nirvana, KISS, Def Leppard, Guns N' Roses, Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Fleetwood Mac, Mötley Crüe, U2. How'd you do? I'd be surprised if you weren't able to come up with a MINIMUM of two from each of those acts. Maybe even more right? Well let's move on to the hitmakers of the last 15 years or so. Can you name more than one member of any of the following bands? You may find it tough to even come up with one band member name in some cases: Lifehouse, Buckcherry, Matchbox20, Hootie & The Blowfish, Theory of a Deadman, Maroon 5, Hinder, Creed, Fall Out Boy, Daughtry, How'd you do?
Now, one could make the argument that "the average Joe" doesn't really know the names of many band members outside of the lead singer and some guitar players. But I beg to differ, I think that rings true in some cases but for the most part, people are compelled to remember something "real". And I believe that this is the biggest mis-step the music industry has made in the past 15 years. Nothing making it's way to the average consumer is real, they aren't compelled to make a connection, so they don't consume it. I truly believe that if the record industry was pushing out compelling, organic product, that people would still purchase it if it was priced right.
I don't want to tackle the "downloading demon" just yet, but I do care to make the point that I believe people aren't buying music these days because nothing is compelling them too. From the first time Elvis swung his hips on TV and sold a hundred thousand albums the next day, all the way down to when Kurt Cobain sold a million copies of Bleach by opening Nirvana's Unplugged set with the line "This is off our first record, most people don't own it", people have purchased music because they were compelled too. Over the course of the last decade, not one single artist has stood out as "the next...". There's nothing to look forward to anymore. There's nothing keeping us excited about what's next.
When The Beatles hit, they were "the next Elvis". When The Rolling Stones hit, they were "the next Beatles". When Led Zeppelin hit, they were "the next Stones". When Guns N' Roses hit, they were "the next Zeppelin". I could keep this up and/or provide an example from just about every genre but it all ends in the same place; it all dies out somewhere around the last 15 years or so. I could list out how Jackie Wilson and James Brown lead up to Michael Jackson, but again that lineage ends on June 25, 2009. No one even remotely on the horizon to pick up, be influenced, go further and carry it on.
I truly believe that when people identify with something because it's real, they are more compelled to purchase it. In an age where I've watched the record industry literally trip over itself to do quick cash grabs, cutting it's nose to spite it's face (crushing mom & pop record stores, making exclusive deals with Big Box retailers, churning out manufactured acts at record pace, etc) it's unbelievable to me that someone hasn't figured this out yet. For the love of all doesn't suck, STOP releasing half an album of crap, only to follow it up with the same album six months later, now enhanced with more forgettable shit, charging more and calling it a "Special Edition". Stop turning out these crap acts that no one can remember, with songs that were meant to last six months tops.
It all has to come back to something real, identifiable and valuable if they expect it to be memorable.
-Russ
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
What will your favorite artist be remembered for?
Last week Eddie Fisher died, and as i am reading different things about him I almost forgot he was a singer. What I remember was that he was married to Elizabeth Taylor and the he was Carrie Fishers dad... I can't name one of his songs. It got me thinking about today's big name singers and musicians and what we will remember them for when they pass.
Take a guy like John Mayer, I know one of his songs but mostly I know about him trying to be funny on TMZ and all his affairs.
What about Oasis here in the states? Sure they had hits, but much like the Kinks they will be remembered for their fighting with each other.
Then I think of artists like Axl Rose... He was in the biggest band in the world and people are slowly forgetting the music and remembering the antics. Same with the Sex Pistols, one great punk record but they are known for Sid's antics and he wasn't even on that record or was even plugged in when they played.
So rest in peace Mr. Fisher...
And to the others? Watch yourself or all the hard work and all your creativity will be forgotten for sensationalism and you will be a joke
-G
Take a guy like John Mayer, I know one of his songs but mostly I know about him trying to be funny on TMZ and all his affairs.
What about Oasis here in the states? Sure they had hits, but much like the Kinks they will be remembered for their fighting with each other.
Then I think of artists like Axl Rose... He was in the biggest band in the world and people are slowly forgetting the music and remembering the antics. Same with the Sex Pistols, one great punk record but they are known for Sid's antics and he wasn't even on that record or was even plugged in when they played.
So rest in peace Mr. Fisher...
And to the others? Watch yourself or all the hard work and all your creativity will be forgotten for sensationalism and you will be a joke
-G
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Roger Waters: The Wall
There comes a time when you're leaving a show and your mind in literally blown! For those who attend or have attended numerous shows, by numerous bands, in numerous venues... You know what I mean. Last night it happened to me and it was real...
I witnessed perhaps the greatest show I've seen. I'm not talking about the band or the setlist, I'm talking about the show. The sound, the visual, the production. Roger Waters has always been a purest, his fans know it. His production of the Wall, was brilliant! It's been a mixed bag in the media, but once again it proves that they haven't got a clue.
The evening started with no hassles getting my tickets at will call. Thanks again to Roger for allowing his fans to get pre-sale prime seating, and making it impossible for scalpers to get their hands on the good seats. Arrived in plenty of time to avoid lines, and plenty of time to look at the merchandise.
"8 PM prompt" is a little bit of stretch, lights were out by 8:15PM. It's more than I imagined! The pyro, the sound, the visual! In my opinion the Wall was written to be performed live. The first 5 songs went by in a flash! It wasn't until Mother that things started to sink in. This is ROGER fucking WATERS doing the Wall!!! LIVE! Roger caught alot of shit in the press over performing this song, since he essentially sings it to himself. One of My Turns->Don't Leave Me Now KILLED IT! If you weren't paying attention to the band, you were watching the graphics, and watching the wall get filled in... Goodbye Cruel World.... Intermission.
Second Set started with Hey You, just you and the Wall... Interesting to "watch" a band behind a wall. I'm not going to give away the ending until everybody sees the show! It's everyhing you would expect and then some! Comfortably Numb is the lowpoint is there was one. David's vocal duties are handled by somebody else, and Roger just stands around awkwardly while this is happening. I've heard Floyd do better versions of this song. The last 15 minutes of the night will have you talking for months!
Overall, I would have paid twice as much for my tickets, and still got my money's worth. The United Center has never sounded so good, I don't care how many times Chelsea Dagger is played when the Blackhawks score. The quote of the night belongs to security... "Hey you with the one-hitter you're not 16 anymore so put it away!" I consider this show the end of my summer concert season, 7 shows this summer, got plenty more to write about....
Bottom Line: GO BUY A TICKET AND TELL ME I'M WRONG...
-MD
I witnessed perhaps the greatest show I've seen. I'm not talking about the band or the setlist, I'm talking about the show. The sound, the visual, the production. Roger Waters has always been a purest, his fans know it. His production of the Wall, was brilliant! It's been a mixed bag in the media, but once again it proves that they haven't got a clue.
The evening started with no hassles getting my tickets at will call. Thanks again to Roger for allowing his fans to get pre-sale prime seating, and making it impossible for scalpers to get their hands on the good seats. Arrived in plenty of time to avoid lines, and plenty of time to look at the merchandise.
"8 PM prompt" is a little bit of stretch, lights were out by 8:15PM. It's more than I imagined! The pyro, the sound, the visual! In my opinion the Wall was written to be performed live. The first 5 songs went by in a flash! It wasn't until Mother that things started to sink in. This is ROGER fucking WATERS doing the Wall!!! LIVE! Roger caught alot of shit in the press over performing this song, since he essentially sings it to himself. One of My Turns->Don't Leave Me Now KILLED IT! If you weren't paying attention to the band, you were watching the graphics, and watching the wall get filled in... Goodbye Cruel World.... Intermission.
Second Set started with Hey You, just you and the Wall... Interesting to "watch" a band behind a wall. I'm not going to give away the ending until everybody sees the show! It's everyhing you would expect and then some! Comfortably Numb is the lowpoint is there was one. David's vocal duties are handled by somebody else, and Roger just stands around awkwardly while this is happening. I've heard Floyd do better versions of this song. The last 15 minutes of the night will have you talking for months!
Overall, I would have paid twice as much for my tickets, and still got my money's worth. The United Center has never sounded so good, I don't care how many times Chelsea Dagger is played when the Blackhawks score. The quote of the night belongs to security... "Hey you with the one-hitter you're not 16 anymore so put it away!" I consider this show the end of my summer concert season, 7 shows this summer, got plenty more to write about....
Bottom Line: GO BUY A TICKET AND TELL ME I'M WRONG...
-MD
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
2 new releases, 2 different approaches
I just got done listening to two new releases, and those these two acts have less then nothing in common, I was still surprised by how different their approaches were in the recording process.
First was Iron Maiden's "The Final Frontier". First off... Great album! I've never been a huge fan though I do like some of there songs. This disc though had glaring thing... The production, and it is very noticable. It is very glossy and over produced just a tad. The songs are strong and they tried some new things, and what can you say about Bruce Dickenson's classic voice? It sounded great as always, but the production was very obvious and it is something no one is supposed to notice. Stand out tracks: "Coming Home", "The Alchemist" and "When The Wild Wind Blows" among others.
6 out of 10
Then there was John Mellencamp's "No Better Than This". Not such a good album over all. First off Mr. Mellencamp has been going in a rootsy direction for 3-4 records now and it has been really hit or miss. This one was in the middle of these but not as good as his well know stuff. But again with the production... It was so lo-fi that it is close to unlistenable. Very muddy sounding. Stand out track: "Don't Forget About Me"
3 out of 10
I also listened to Hearts's "Red Velvet Car".... Was this released by accident?
-15 out of 10
-G
First was Iron Maiden's "The Final Frontier". First off... Great album! I've never been a huge fan though I do like some of there songs. This disc though had glaring thing... The production, and it is very noticable. It is very glossy and over produced just a tad. The songs are strong and they tried some new things, and what can you say about Bruce Dickenson's classic voice? It sounded great as always, but the production was very obvious and it is something no one is supposed to notice. Stand out tracks: "Coming Home", "The Alchemist" and "When The Wild Wind Blows" among others.
6 out of 10
Then there was John Mellencamp's "No Better Than This". Not such a good album over all. First off Mr. Mellencamp has been going in a rootsy direction for 3-4 records now and it has been really hit or miss. This one was in the middle of these but not as good as his well know stuff. But again with the production... It was so lo-fi that it is close to unlistenable. Very muddy sounding. Stand out track: "Don't Forget About Me"
3 out of 10
I also listened to Hearts's "Red Velvet Car".... Was this released by accident?
-15 out of 10
-G
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Red Rocks
Most people who know me would not understand if I didn't post about my favorite place on earth... Red Rocks Ampitheater in Morrison, Colorado. Having grown up in Denver, Red Rocks was THE place to spend your summers at concerts, or going up there just "to party" when there wasn't a show going on. The great thing about Red Rocks is it's a public park owned and operated by the City and County of Denver. So, it's an open space that is free to the public any other time than on show days....
Back in the day Red Rocks offered an amazing experience (it still does but the rules of the game have changed). Red Rocks didn't have a liquor license ever. That has since changed, but I'm still talking about the good old days. The first 20 rows were all GA, followed by a narrow section of reserved then the back row were GA as well. The parking lots opened at 10am on show days, the gates opened at 2pm on weekends and 4pm on weekdays. You made a day of it. A Red Rocks Day. When peple asked what were doing on you said you're going to see Steve Miller at Red Rocks, then they knew you gone for the day.
They didn't care what you brought in, as long as it wasn't glass. The rest was open for interpretation. The day would start on getting supplied for the day. Food, drinks, ice, maybe a hacky sack or something. You would go and park and hang in the parking lot for a while. Then you would catch just enough of a buzz to determine it was time to make the climb. You had 2 choices to make the climb depending on where your seats were stairs or ramps. Both were brutal especially if you had blankets, and various containers of beverages you're keeping cold. Once you get to the gate you're now ready to make a run for it once they open. During this time, there is more hanging out, you meet strangers, you may even see friends there, but you have lunch, and kinda chill. Knowing that the next step is and it will determine your seats for the show.
Once the gates opened, the rush was on! Tickets taken, bags and blankets checked for glass. Then you would start at the bottom of the venue find you seats. If was done properly, you were in the first 5 rows everytime, the first 2 if you were there early enough. I was lucky enough to sit in the first 10 rows for most of the those days... First row for Stevie Nicks once, Fleetwood Mac, Don Henley(row 2), and lots of others. I fell during Soundgarden and busted my knew wide open, moshed during Metal Church when they opened for Judas Priest, took dates there and puched my wife in the accidentally while grooving to Stone Temple Pilots (we were just friends at the time, but yet still married me!). I've sat in the top rows and viewed the sklyline of Denver only 20 miles off in the distance, and once I fell out of the back of a pick-up truck and landed on ly feet... magical place indeed.
If you were going to see somebody you REALLY liked this was the day... You planned it, executed it, and lived it! It added to the actual show experience. There is NOT a bad seat at Red Rocks, but front row is front row! This has mostly gone away these days... Reserved seating for mostly all shows, Coors now has a piece of it (so they serve Coors products), and just like EVERYWHERE else the same rules apply. They've also manage to add a gift shop and restaurant within the venue itself. So, I won't say the've ruined it, but please stop messing with perfection!
I encourage everybody to at least once and see band there! Alot of bands have made their Live DVD's here, and it's no wonder. The Beatles have played here, and every Easter Sunday Sunrise Service is breathtaking! I've attended a wedding the chapel there once, climbed the rocks, and even got attacked by a racoon up there while hanging out... It's Red Rocks, and it's awesome!
-MD
Back in the day Red Rocks offered an amazing experience (it still does but the rules of the game have changed). Red Rocks didn't have a liquor license ever. That has since changed, but I'm still talking about the good old days. The first 20 rows were all GA, followed by a narrow section of reserved then the back row were GA as well. The parking lots opened at 10am on show days, the gates opened at 2pm on weekends and 4pm on weekdays. You made a day of it. A Red Rocks Day. When peple asked what were doing on you said you're going to see Steve Miller at Red Rocks, then they knew you gone for the day.
They didn't care what you brought in, as long as it wasn't glass. The rest was open for interpretation. The day would start on getting supplied for the day. Food, drinks, ice, maybe a hacky sack or something. You would go and park and hang in the parking lot for a while. Then you would catch just enough of a buzz to determine it was time to make the climb. You had 2 choices to make the climb depending on where your seats were stairs or ramps. Both were brutal especially if you had blankets, and various containers of beverages you're keeping cold. Once you get to the gate you're now ready to make a run for it once they open. During this time, there is more hanging out, you meet strangers, you may even see friends there, but you have lunch, and kinda chill. Knowing that the next step is and it will determine your seats for the show.
Once the gates opened, the rush was on! Tickets taken, bags and blankets checked for glass. Then you would start at the bottom of the venue find you seats. If was done properly, you were in the first 5 rows everytime, the first 2 if you were there early enough. I was lucky enough to sit in the first 10 rows for most of the those days... First row for Stevie Nicks once, Fleetwood Mac, Don Henley(row 2), and lots of others. I fell during Soundgarden and busted my knew wide open, moshed during Metal Church when they opened for Judas Priest, took dates there and puched my wife in the accidentally while grooving to Stone Temple Pilots (we were just friends at the time, but yet still married me!). I've sat in the top rows and viewed the sklyline of Denver only 20 miles off in the distance, and once I fell out of the back of a pick-up truck and landed on ly feet... magical place indeed.
If you were going to see somebody you REALLY liked this was the day... You planned it, executed it, and lived it! It added to the actual show experience. There is NOT a bad seat at Red Rocks, but front row is front row! This has mostly gone away these days... Reserved seating for mostly all shows, Coors now has a piece of it (so they serve Coors products), and just like EVERYWHERE else the same rules apply. They've also manage to add a gift shop and restaurant within the venue itself. So, I won't say the've ruined it, but please stop messing with perfection!
I encourage everybody to at least once and see band there! Alot of bands have made their Live DVD's here, and it's no wonder. The Beatles have played here, and every Easter Sunday Sunrise Service is breathtaking! I've attended a wedding the chapel there once, climbed the rocks, and even got attacked by a racoon up there while hanging out... It's Red Rocks, and it's awesome!
-MD
The doomed record industry
Every couple of weeks we see articles about the end of the record industry and it is coming because of zero for thought. Instead of adapting they spent time suing their biggest supports, the fans. And why? Because, like most businesses they did not care for them, they only worried about the almighty dollar and had no long term vision. In the end all they did was create animosity towards them and their artists.
You see.... The record industries success is predicated on selling product, physical product. Take a band like the Beatles... First you bought the LP in the 60s thinking it was awesome, then in the 70s you bought the same album on 8-track so you could listen in the car, Then on cassette so you didn't have big clunky tapes and fade outs in songs, then on CD so it would sound better and your player wouldn't eat the tape anymore, so now you have bought the same album 4 times. Then when a band who is not putting out new material starts to have stale sales what do you get? REMASTERS!!! GREATEST HITS!!! Anything to squeeze one last dime. But now...Now there is no physical media to sell. the cost of one CD is less then a dollar yet at one time they charged $15 for the newest releases, there is no profit margin for MP3s since there is no physical media.
The best thing in all of this? Bands can control their music. I hear bands still talk of record contracts....Why? I know it sounds good, but why would you want one? Bands now have opportunities they never had in the past as do fans. Think how awesome this would be as a band and as a fan.. You put out several songs on a website for a small fee per song, no executive saying "I don't hear a single" or any other misguided help to make a quick buck and you know what the fans want to hear by the number of downloads and listens. How awesome would it be to see a band in concert that knows what their fans want to hear?
My advice to fans right now is to cruise the websites of you favorite bands because with Best Buy and Wal-Mart eliminating shelf space there will be no CD sales soon. Subscribe to feeds so you can know when your favs put out new material, bands like radiohead, The Smashing Pumkins and Nine Inch Nails already do this and have had major success. Soon a CD will be like an 8-track, Piles and piles in garage sales...Heck..Your garage sale may have more media shelf space then a current Best Buy soon.
-G
You see.... The record industries success is predicated on selling product, physical product. Take a band like the Beatles... First you bought the LP in the 60s thinking it was awesome, then in the 70s you bought the same album on 8-track so you could listen in the car, Then on cassette so you didn't have big clunky tapes and fade outs in songs, then on CD so it would sound better and your player wouldn't eat the tape anymore, so now you have bought the same album 4 times. Then when a band who is not putting out new material starts to have stale sales what do you get? REMASTERS!!! GREATEST HITS!!! Anything to squeeze one last dime. But now...Now there is no physical media to sell. the cost of one CD is less then a dollar yet at one time they charged $15 for the newest releases, there is no profit margin for MP3s since there is no physical media.
The best thing in all of this? Bands can control their music. I hear bands still talk of record contracts....Why? I know it sounds good, but why would you want one? Bands now have opportunities they never had in the past as do fans. Think how awesome this would be as a band and as a fan.. You put out several songs on a website for a small fee per song, no executive saying "I don't hear a single" or any other misguided help to make a quick buck and you know what the fans want to hear by the number of downloads and listens. How awesome would it be to see a band in concert that knows what their fans want to hear?
My advice to fans right now is to cruise the websites of you favorite bands because with Best Buy and Wal-Mart eliminating shelf space there will be no CD sales soon. Subscribe to feeds so you can know when your favs put out new material, bands like radiohead, The Smashing Pumkins and Nine Inch Nails already do this and have had major success. Soon a CD will be like an 8-track, Piles and piles in garage sales...Heck..Your garage sale may have more media shelf space then a current Best Buy soon.
-G
So much new stuff to listen to!
With some time to myself, I'm finally gonna check out some newer records. I've got a Jamie Cullum album from 2009 to get to still, a new Santana album of "The Greatest Guitar Classics Of All Time" and a double album from Jamey Johnson that I'm really looking forward to digging into.
Anyone have some other suggestions?
-R
Anyone have some other suggestions?
-R
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