kosmo
Joined: September 23, 1999 at 05:01 AM UTC
Posts: 16329
Re: Bloc Party on Letterman last nite
June 02, 2005 at 04:35 PM UTC
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The Bloc Party's popularity also illustrates my point that UK indie bands have an advantage over US indie bands here. Take for example Rilo Kiley who as the post reviewer points out took three years to get a soldout 9:30 show, where as it took less than two for the Bloc Party to reach that same status.
Why is this? Because successful UK bands have the advantage of already being established as buzzworthy bands before they come to the US. A UK band getting press coverage over there are more likely to picked up the mainstream media here, then a US band working it's way up the circuit. Sure plenty of indie press give coverage to bands, but not with the impact of other larger media outliets. Had for instance De Novo Dahl been English they would probably selling more albums here and getting better tour slots. Now they have to hope that they can emerge from the clutter of 1000s of other indie bands.
Whats most refreshing is that WOXY is actually breakin indie bands like Cartel and De Novo Dahl to a wider audience in the manner radio should. By picking up on them based on a bands merits and not being by bought off by record companies and independent promoters. Same with Little Steven's show, witness The High Dials getting better exposure.
kosmo
Joined: September 23, 1999 at 05:01 AM UTC
Posts: 16329
Re: Bloc Party on Letterman last nite
June 02, 2005 at 04:50 PM UTC
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Originally posted by xneverwherex:
Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:
The only people suprised by the Bloc Partyy sellout, were those who assumed they were the only ones "hip" enough to know who the band was. Then put off buying the tickets until the last minute which tends to happen for shows at the Black Cat. Unfortunately, for them me included, a bunch of "real" fans got off their barstools and bought tickets to the show within a month after it went on sale. The show soldout before or soon after Pitchfork lauded it…
i just wonder if those "hip" people were smart enough to buy tickets early this time around for bloc party. or are they too cool for bloc party now and jumped on to the next cool band :)
no all the "real" bloc party fans got their tickets early, certain blogs made sure they did so…
HoyaSaxa03
Joined: March 22, 2004 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 7053
Re: Bloc Party on Letterman last nite
June 02, 2005 at 05:44 PM UTC
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Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:
Why is this? Because successful UK bands have the advantage of already being established as buzzworthy bands before they come to the US. A UK band getting press coverage over there are more likely to picked up the mainstream media here, then a US band working it's way up the circuit.
i totally agree with this, but you miss one big point … these UK indie bands get so much press because they ARE mainstream rock in britain … whereas mainstream rock here is aggressive, angsty buttrock
it's actually very similar to the 80s when groups like the smiths were mainstream in the UK and well-hyped "alternative" groups in the US … mainstream US rock just doesn't accept any lack of masculinity
kosmo
Joined: September 23, 1999 at 05:01 AM UTC
Posts: 16329
Re: Bloc Party on Letterman last nite
June 02, 2005 at 06:18 PM UTC
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so why isn't the US mainstream media,etc so willing to pickup on the latest UK act not also out looking for the similiar US acts… There is an "alternative" to the "alternative" ;) oh wait that means actually doing work and listening to stuff instead of reading press releases.
madteletubbie
Joined: April 16, 2005 at 05:01 AM UTC
Posts: 12
Re: Bloc Party on Letterman last nite
June 02, 2005 at 06:24 PM UTC
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Originally posted by Bags:
Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
Originally posted by madteletubbie:
My jaw dropped to the floor when I heard they sold out the Black Cat. Very rarely does a show at the Black Cat sell out
huh? the black cat sells out tons of weekend nights, oftentimes for bands you'd never expect to sell out … granted, it's often a walk-up crowd that sells the show out, but it's still not "rare"
But madteletubbie's point is exactly that it's very unusual for the Black Cat to sell out so far in advance, even for weekend shows.
yeah, sorry for the confusion. I meant shows selling out in advance.
Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:
The only people suprised by the Bloc Partyy sellout, were those who assumed they were the only ones "hip" enough to know who the band was.
I was surprised because I honestly didn't know that many people liked them. I came across their album from someone I know and was unaware they had lots of fans (since I never heard their name before my friend told me).
and if I was "hip", I would being saying they suck just because they are getting even more popular. Which I'm not.
HoyaSaxa03
Joined: March 22, 2004 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 7053
Re: Bloc Party on Letterman last nite
June 02, 2005 at 06:29 PM UTC
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Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:
so why isn't the US mainstream media,etc so willing to pickup on the latest UK act not also out looking for the similiar US acts… There is an "alternative" to the "alternative" ;) oh wait that means actually doing work and listening to stuff instead of reading press releases.
hey, i agree that UK bands definitely have an edge, but i wouldn't completely blame the US media for that … when these UK bands make their "invasion", they already have a leg up on their US counterparts because they have:
a) commercial and popular success under their belts, which seasons them for US media and fans and helps their confidence
b) a completely media-sensitized image which is easy to pick up and transfer over to the US markets
i also think you're kind of overstating the advantage the UK bands have … there are plenty of US indie bands making waves, they just have a lot of competition here for a much smaller pot of money, fans, and media coverage
kosmo
Joined: September 23, 1999 at 05:01 AM UTC
Posts: 16329
Re: Bloc Party on Letterman last nite
June 02, 2005 at 07:13 PM UTC
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being "hip" to a band isn't necessarily the same as being "hip(ster)"… what it comes down to some people underestimated the popularity of this and lots of others bands. it should be called an "oops" sellout, as in "oops i should bought my tickets right away instead of waiting". at least the band came back right away so the "real" and also procrasticating fans could get a chance to see them do a 45 minute set…..
buddha
Joined: May 13, 2004 at 05:01 AM UTC
Posts: 1203
Re: Bloc Party on Letterman last nite
June 02, 2005 at 07:29 PM UTC
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Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:
The Bloc Party's popularity also illustrates my point that UK indie bands have an advantage over US indie bands here.
Yup, all it takes is a covershot on the Hype Machine:
<img src="
http://www.nme.com/media/images/cover_150405_L.jpg" alt=" - " /> =
Sold out show
bags
Joined: October 30, 2001 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 8545
Re: Bloc Party on Letterman last nite
June 09, 2005 at 09:09 PM UTC
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LIVE CONCERT - BLOC PARTY: The british art-rock band Bloc Party is the next featured group on All Songs Considered's LIVE concert series. Hear a full concert by the band, streamed live from Washington, DC's 9:30 Club next Thursday, June 16th. You can hear a cut from Bloc Party's latest CD on All Songs Considered Episode 85.
Keep watching NPR.org for LIVE concert details.
bags
Joined: October 30, 2001 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 8545
Re: Bloc Party on Letterman last nite
June 15, 2005 at 05:56 PM UTC
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So, I don't have the time to read all the Bloc Party threads…looks like I'll have a couple extra tickets. Any boardies miss out and wanna go?
xcanuck
Joined: November 19, 2001 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 648
Re: Bloc Party on Letterman last nite
June 16, 2005 at 02:14 PM UTC
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I need to crawl out from whatever rock I'm under. I still have yet to hear this band. All that will change tonite when I go to the show. I'll make up my mind then, though I'm worried about the FF comparisons. FF doesn't turn my crank.
So who IS going to the show tonite? Anyone know anything about the openers (Automato and Engineers)?
Rhett Miller
Joined: November 15, 2001 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 17762
Re: Bloc Party on Letterman last nite
June 16, 2005 at 02:19 PM UTC
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They have a black lead singer. White people love it when a Negro sings whitey music.
Originally posted by Ellis D. Fleischbach:
What's the big fuss about Bloc Party?
Arthwys
Joined: February 22, 2003 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 623
Re: Bloc Party on Letterman last nite
June 16, 2005 at 02:44 PM UTC
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Automato is some sort of indie hip-hop group, they've released some stuff on Dim Mak.
Rhett Miller
Joined: November 15, 2001 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 17762
Re: Bloc Party on Letterman last nite
June 16, 2005 at 03:10 PM UTC
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What was racist about my comment? If it's racist, it's racist against White people, not Black people.
I'm sure a lot of white people (guilty white liberals) give bonus points to rock bands when they are/have black members. This theory helps explain the popularity of mediocre crap like Living Color.
Originally posted by sonickteam4:
Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer:
They have a black lead singer. White people love it when a Negro sings whitey music.
Originally posted by Ellis D. Fleischbach:
What's the big fuss about Bloc Party?
racist Rhett is back in action! missed your slanderous comments, buddy! (or should i say libelous)
ggw
Joined: December 16, 2001 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 14237
Re: Bloc Party on Letterman last nite
June 16, 2005 at 03:11 PM UTC
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*yawnnnnn*
