Sell outs...

Originally posted by Rob_Gee:

Originally posted by HoyaSaxa03:

Better Than Ezra, despite a very interesting and genre-busting 1998 LP and a rootsy-indie feel on their last album, can never be "hip" after that 'good' song.

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I don't really think a band from New Orleans gives a rat's ass about being "hip". They joke about that song ("Good") at most of the concerts I've gone to. That song was and still is "good", and most of the other songs they sing are "good".

"good" bye….For now. :D [/QB]
Rob did you go to their show in 1997? That was a fun show. At the last minute, I ended up at their show on St. Patty's Day (a couple of years ago). I was surprised that after all this time, they maintain a large and youthful fanbase. I have no idea what they have been up to in the past couple of years – I'm assuming new fans have latched onto their recent albums.
At this point, I'd take them over Carbon Leaf or Pat McGee Band. Everywhere I look they are playing. At least BTE reminds me of the 90's heydays.

Heh, just noticed on the 9:30 front page that the Something Corporate show is now sold out.

Originally posted by Rob_Gee:

Originally posted by HoyaSaxa03:

Better Than Ezra, despite a very interesting and genre-busting 1998 LP and a rootsy-indie feel on their last album, can never be "hip" after that 'good' song.

[/qb]

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I don't really think a band from New Orleans gives a rat's ass about being "hip". They joke about that song ("Good") at most of the concerts I've gone to. That song was and still is "good", and most of the other songs they sing are "good".

"good" bye….For now. :D [/QB]

You obviously missed my point, I was merely showing why they're "far apart" from interpol/muse. The music intellegencia will never consider them "hip" because of their mainstream post-grunge success.

That said, I like the direction they took on their last two albums and I'm sure the band could give a shit what people think, they're selling out good sized venues, more power to them.

Originally posted by Random Citizen:
Heh, just noticed on the 9:30 front page that the Something Corporate show is now sold out.

And it's in January! Crieky, I dunno, I don't predict trends.

Well, my mom has placed both Interpol and Muse on recent mix CD's she's made, and she's by no means hip or with it. She hears a song, likes it, and downloads it, and that's across the board and across radio stations.

It just seems odd to me to criticize one band for having a hit on modern rock radio and not criticize another. If that's the criteria, then there is absolutely no difference between Interpol and Better Than Ezra. And to think different is completely elitist.

Originally posted by redsock:
You don't think the average 35 year old woman from Connecticut would find Interpol or Muse a bit too edgy?

Originally posted by nkotbie:
Well, my mom has placed both Interpol and Muse on recent mix CD's she's made, and she's by no means hip or with it. She hears a song, likes it, and downloads it, and that's across the board and across radio stations.

It just seems odd to me to criticize one band for having a hit on modern rock radio and not criticize another. If that's the criteria, then there is absolutely no difference between Interpol and Better Than Ezra. And to think different is completely elitist.

Originally posted by redsock:
You don't think the average 35 year old woman from Connecticut would find Interpol or Muse a bit too edgy?

Well, for one, your mom is not the average mom. My mom couldn't operate a computer much less download music. And lord knows she would not be listening to Muse or Interpol.

I am not being critical towards Better than Ezra, I have two of their CDs. I'm just saying that they are an example of this corporate "safe" music, which is what people seem to want to listen to. As opposed to more interesting stuff. None of this is terribly surprising, since so few folks actually want to challenge themselves, why would they want to listen to different types of music?

Originally posted by HoyaSaxa03:
You obviously missed my point, I was merely showing why they're "far apart" from interpol/muse. The music intellegencia will never consider them "hip" because of their mainstream post-grunge success.
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Ok, sorry, I missed your point. I now get it. :)

Does listening to Muse or Interpol really qualify as "challenging oneself"?

A friend of mine (who is a big Bigger than Ezra fan) worked in post-war Iraq for 9 months. That's challenging yourself.

Challenge yourself by listening to some bluegrass. I don't hear that played much on corporate radio. Or is bluegrass "safe"?

Or are you, or more like the online 'zines you read, the only person allowed to be the arbiter of what is deemed "safe"?

Seems that a person living in a major metropolitan area who listens to bluegrass would be more "edgy" than one who listens to Interpol. Just as an Interpol listener in Demopolis, Alabama would probably be more "edgy" than a Kenny Chesney listener from same location.

Originally posted by redsock:

Originally posted by nkotbie:
Well, my mom has placed both Interpol and Muse on recent mix CD's she's made, and she's by no means hip or with it. She hears a song, likes it, and downloads it, and that's across the board and across radio stations.

It just seems odd to me to criticize one band for having a hit on modern rock radio and not criticize another. If that's the criteria, then there is absolutely no difference between Interpol and Better Than Ezra. And to think different is completely elitist.

Originally posted by redsock:
You don't think the average 35 year old woman from Connecticut would find Interpol or Muse a bit too edgy?

Well, for one, your mom is not the average mom. My mom couldn't operate a computer much less download music. And lord knows she would not be listening to Muse or Interpol.

I am not being critical towards Better than Ezra, I have two of their CDs. I'm just saying that they are an example of this corporate "safe" music, which is what people seem to want to listen to. As opposed to more interesting stuff. None of this is terribly surprising, since so few folks actually want to challenge themselves, why would they want to listen to different types of music?

You Goddamned momma's boys!

Originally posted by El Tee:
Rob did you go to their show in 1997? That was a fun show. At the last minute, I ended up at their show on St. Patty's Day (a couple of years ago). [/QB]

I just moved to the area in 1999 and probably didnt start hitting the concerts til the middle of 2000. One of my bosses from work is a HUGE Better Than Ezra fan so I went to the group, was quite suprised about how many songs I actaully knew and just kept going every time they came. Well except this time. But I'll catch them again the next time they come here.

Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
Does listening to Muse or Interpol really qualify as "challenging oneself"?

A friend of mine (who is a big Bigger than Ezra fan) worked in post-war Iraq for 9 months. That's challenging yourself.

Challenge yourself by listening to some bluegrass. I don't hear that played much on corporate radio. Or is bluegrass "safe"?

Or are you, or more like the online 'zines you read, the only person allowed to be the arbiter of what is deemed "safe"?

Seems that a person living in a major metropolitan area who listens to bluegrass would be more "edgy" than one who listens to Interpol. Just as an Interpol listener in Demopolis, Alabama would probably be more "edgy" than a Kenny Chesney listener from same location.

I agree with all of your points, accept that I am not the only person capable of deeming what is safe. I'm sure bluegrass challenges lots of people in a good way, and would challenge far more if folks gave it a chance.

I'd say that living in a major metropolitan area like DC and listening to Kenney Chesney would be most challenging of all…

Why does music have to be challening?

I thought it was entertainment.

My mom likes Rogue Wave.

I'm sorry, Interpol is good, but there's really nothing "challenging" about it. It's all been done before.

Originally posted by HerrDoktorDoom:
I'm sorry, Interpol is good, but there's really nothing "challenging" about it. It's all been done before.

Compared to Sonic Youth or your average noise rock outfit, no they are not. But compared to Better than Ezra?

To 35 year old women from Connecticut, Interpol probably sounds wayyy too much like the college radio bands they listened to at their elite private universities back in the 80's to ever be regarded as "challenging".

To me, there's nothing really challenging about Sonic Youth. Perhaps 15-20 years ago, but certainly not at this point, no? I have never heard Muse or Bigger than Ezra, so really can't comment on them.

I don't think most people ponder whether the music they are listening to is "challenging". Most people want music that sounds good to them and entertains them. Which, unless you're a complete music junkie, seems sufficient to me.

Bands that sell out show in NYC do so because there are like 10 million people in NYC, compared to a much smaller population in DC.

Originally posted by redsock:

Originally posted by HerrDoktorDoom:
I'm sorry, Interpol is good, but there's really nothing "challenging" about it. It's all been done before.

Compared to Sonic Youth or your average noise rock outfit, no they are not. But compared to Better than Ezra?

I don't know about all this "challenging" stuff either. I like Better Than Ezra because there's no other band that I listen to that comes close to their sound. I'm sure there are alot of New Orlean bands that might sound like them but I haven't heard them and probably don't want to.

When I lived in Norfolk a few years ago, I saw Better Than Ezra draw upwards of 6000 people at $10 a pop for an outdoor show, despite not having a current hit on the radio at the time. They brought out all kinds of people, kids, college students, somewhat hip looking young adults, families, older folks…so, seeing how this show is on a Friday, I'm not the least bit suprised it sold out a day in advance.

Plus, alot of the people I know going are just coming back into town after finishing up the fall semseter at colleges out of town and using this as a back in town celebration. I mean for alot of people, the only options they saw were this and the dude from Rancid playing at the Black Cat.

Originally posted by alex:
I'm not the least bit suprised it sold out a day in advance.

Plus, alot of the people I know going are just coming back into town after finishing up the fall semseter at colleges out of town and using this as a back in town celebration. I mean for alot of people, the only options they saw were this and the dude from Rancid playing at the Black Cat.

Are they all home online and that is why Something Corporate sold out a month ahead?

something corporate = trendy warped tour band

no suprise either seeing how other warped tour bands like taking back sunday and that coheed band sold out well in advance too.

Originally posted by redsock:

Originally posted by HerrDoktorDoom:
I'm sorry, Interpol is good, but there's really nothing "challenging" about it. It's all been done before.

Compared to Sonic Youth or your average noise rock outfit, no they are not. But compared to Better than Ezra?

Well compared to Hootie and the Blowfish, Creed sounds challenging. If you're setting your standards that low, why bother?