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=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: matilda on August 23, 2005, 12:16:00 pm

Title: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: matilda on August 23, 2005, 12:16:00 pm
Did anyone happen to see the show last night in Baltimore. The Mars Volta is my favorite new thing that a friend has shared with me. I wasn't able to go....lost a bit of sleep over it. How was it?
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: Julian, Alleged Computer F**kface on August 23, 2005, 12:28:00 pm
If the Mars Volta did play, as you claim, I'm sure it was awful since the band is a histrionic shitheap. You're a jar of vile puke for liking them. Drop dead. Welcome to 930.com.
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: pj on August 23, 2005, 12:56:00 pm
such an appropriate welcome to the forum.
 
 
Quote
Originally posted by Julian, faux celeb-porn CONNOISSEUR:
  If the Mars Volta did play, as you claim, I'm sure it was awful since the band is a histrionic shitheap. You're a jar of vile puke for liking them. Drop dead. Welcome to 930.com.
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: amnesiac on August 23, 2005, 01:00:00 pm
They might still be onstage...
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: Bartelby on August 23, 2005, 01:17:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by matildabp:
  Did anyone happen to see the show last night in Baltimore. The Mars Volta is my favorite new thing that a friend has shared with me. I wasn't able to go....lost a bit of sleep over it. How was it?
Really nice, huh?  Well, don't expect anyone here to appreciate that Mars Volta opened for System of a Down at the Arena last night...most of the forum regulars no longer go to concerts except for the Pixies...and there was a major surge in Paxil prescriptions when Guided by Voices performed their last tour...ask your parents who those last two groups are...and welcome to the forum.  There are maybe two people who will be kind to you - used to be three - but one left for the woods...
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: Julian, Alleged Computer F**kface on August 23, 2005, 01:24:00 pm
Mars Volta AND System Of A Down? Same building? Justification for terrorism if ever there was. Why couldn't someone fly a plane into that?
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: HoyaSaxa03 on August 23, 2005, 03:23:00 pm
is anyone else surprised that mars volta became so big in the mainstream?
 
 i'm not really a fan, but their music is pretty inaccessible to the average radio listener ...
 i can think of many other bands of a similar ilk that are much more accessible and "mainstream friendly" than mars volta
 
 i mean, why them and not some other crazy prog-ish psych group? is it their "at the drive-in" pedigree? were they that big to begin with?
 
 any thoughts?
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: ggw on August 23, 2005, 03:31:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
  is anyone else surprised that mars volta became so big in the mainstream?
 
 i'm not really a fan, but their music is pretty inaccessible to the average radio listener ...
 i can think of many other bands of a similar ilk that are much more accessible and "mainstream friendly" than mars volta
 
 i mean, why them and not some other crazy prog-ish psych group? is it their "at the drive-in" pedigree? were they that big to begin with?
 
 any thoughts?
I saw the Mars Volta show at the 9:30 in 2003.
 
 One of the best shows I've seen.
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: HoyaSaxa03 on August 23, 2005, 03:55:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
 I saw the Mars Volta show at the 9:30 in 2003. One of the best shows I've seen.
cool, so why do you think they hit the radio and MTV with such a huge force?  do you agree that they're relatively inaccessible when compared to other "modern rock" or "alt-metal" groups?
 
 this isn't meant to rip on the band, i'm honestly just curious to hear some opinions
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: BookerT on August 23, 2005, 04:00:00 pm
afros
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: ggw on August 23, 2005, 04:03:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
   
Quote
Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
 I saw the Mars Volta show at the 9:30 in 2003. One of the best shows I've seen.
cool, so why do you think they hit the radio and MTV with such a huge force?  do you agree that they're relatively inaccessible when compared to other "modern rock" or "alt-metal" groups?
 
 this isn't meant to rip on the band, i'm honestly just curious to hear some opinions [/b]
I wasn't aware that they had made a big impact on commercial radio and MTV.  
 
 What I noticed about the show in 2003 was that a large number of people had traveled to DC for this show.  I had flaked on getting a ticket and talked to a lot of people while looking for an extra, including a van-load of kids from North Carolina, several dudes from New York and New Jersy and many from Pennsylvania.  Most of these people were catching multiple shows on the tour.  It didn't seem like the band was hugely popular, just that they had a very dedicated fanbase.
 
 I would agree with you that their music is pretty inaccessible to the casual music listener.
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: amnesiac on August 23, 2005, 04:05:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
   
Quote
Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
 I saw the Mars Volta show at the 9:30 in 2003. One of the best shows I've seen.
cool, so why do you think they hit the radio and MTV with such a huge force?  do you agree that they're relatively inaccessible when compared to other "modern rock" or "alt-metal" groups?
 
 this isn't meant to rip on the band, i'm honestly just curious to hear some opinions [/b]
I don't recall any of their songs from the first album being on the radio or MTV. I know there's one from the new album, and it's supposedly the most accessible.
 
 I would guess their popularity has everything to do with ATDI. They were about to get real big when they broke up. If it wasn't for ATDI, I doubt anyone would care for Mars Volta or Sparta as much.
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: HoyaSaxa03 on August 23, 2005, 04:13:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
 I wasn't aware that they had made a big impact on commercial radio and MTV.  
 
i don't have the complete stats on it, but their latest LP peaked at #4 on the billboard top 200 chart ... pretty damn solid ... their single "the widow" hit #7 on modern rock tracks
 
 first LP hit #39 on billboard
 
 amnesiac, i'm guessing you're right about the ATDI history fueling their success ... but were ATDI really that big to begin with?
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: HoyaSaxa03 on August 23, 2005, 04:15:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by amnesiac:
 I would guess their popularity has everything to do with ATDI. They were about to get real big when they broke up.
ah, i missed that secon sentence ... yeah, i guess you're right, they had a big buzz built up
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: BookerT on August 23, 2005, 04:19:00 pm
i'm telling you, it's the afros. also, they may be "inaccessible," but that's their whole draw. people think they are being avant-garde by listening to it. good marketing, much thanks to the afros. they are the radiohead of prog-metal, or whatever they play.
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: amnesiac on August 23, 2005, 04:24:00 pm
Yeah, their hair did get alot of media coverage...
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: ggw on August 23, 2005, 04:24:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by BookerT:
  i'm telling you, it's the afros. also, they may be "inaccessible," but that's their whole draw. people think they are being avant-garde by listening to it. good marketing, much thanks to the afros. they are the radiohead of prog-metal, or whatever they play.
Certainly the afros and the ATDI lineage play a part, but the show I saw was not an audience of casual fans trying to be hip.  People were actually paying full attention to the show on stage rather than talking on their cell phones or yakking with their bros.  That seems to be a rarity these days.
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: HoyaSaxa03 on August 23, 2005, 04:24:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by BookerT:
  i'm telling you, it's the afros. also, they may be "inaccessible," but that's their whole draw. people think they are being avant-garde by listening to it. good marketing, much thanks to the afros. they are the radiohead of prog-metal, or whatever they play.
i like that theory ... my sister is a "casual music listener" and had their latest CD in her car ... i asked her if she listens to other bands who sound like them, and of course she said no, but she basically picked up the CD because she heard it was hip
 
 i'm guessing it has a lot to do with the marketing of the band, and the buzz they had built up from ATDI helped all of that
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: HoyaSaxa03 on August 23, 2005, 04:26:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
  the show I saw was not an audience of casual fans trying to be hip.  People were actually paying full attention to the show on stage rather than talking on their cell phones or yakking with their bros.  That seems to be a rarity these days.
i'm not doubting at all that they have a hardcore fanbase ... but a niche fan base like that doesn't get you to #4 on billboard, somehow they've convinced hundreds of thousands of casual listeners to buy their record
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: matilda on August 23, 2005, 04:27:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Julian, faux celeb-porn CONNOISSEUR:
  If the Mars Volta did play, as you claim, I'm sure it was awful since the band is a histrionic shitheap. You're a jar of vile puke for liking them. Drop dead. Welcome to 930.com.
Amen! Next time I'll be sure to check with you before I decide what kind of music I should like.
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: Julian, Alleged Computer F**kface on August 23, 2005, 04:27:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
   somehow they've convinced hundreds of thousands of casual listeners to buy their record
Marketing that says TMV is "hip" instead of "utter shit" + 6.99 cd price = #4 on billboard charts.
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: Julian, Alleged Computer F**kface on August 23, 2005, 04:28:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by matildabp:
  Next time I'll be sure to check with you before I decide what kind of music I should like.
I'll give you credit - you learned that quicker then 98% of people do.
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: amnesiac on August 23, 2005, 04:29:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
   
Quote
Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
  the show I saw was not an audience of casual fans trying to be hip.  People were actually paying full attention to the show on stage rather than talking on their cell phones or yakking with their bros.  That seems to be a rarity these days.
i'm not doubting at all that they have a hardcore fanbase ... but a niche fan base like that doesn't get you to #4 on billboard, somehow they've convinced hundreds of thousands of casual listeners to buy their record [/b]
Maybe they had a song on the OC...
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: ggw on August 23, 2005, 04:30:00 pm
You should change your name to "Julian, faux Rhett Miller POSEUR"
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer on August 23, 2005, 04:52:00 pm
Alternative is the new mainstream.
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: Julian, Alleged Computer F**kface on August 23, 2005, 04:54:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
  You should change your name to "Julian, faux Rhett Miller POSEUR"
Oh, horseshit. I don't blast everything trendy, just the Mars Volta, who are legitimately, unlistenably awful. Also, I'm rarely contrarian which might as well be Rhett's middle name.
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: kosmo vinyl on August 23, 2005, 04:58:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by BadSushi:
   
Quote
Originally posted by matildabp:
  Did anyone happen to see the show last night in Baltimore. The Mars Volta is my favorite new thing that a friend has shared with me. I wasn't able to go....lost a bit of sleep over it. How was it?
Really nice, huh?  Well, don't expect anyone here to appreciate that Mars Volta opened for System of a Down at the Arena last night...most of the forum regulars no longer go to concerts except for the Pixies...and there was a major surge in Paxil prescriptions when Guided by Voices performed their last tour...ask your parents who those last two groups are...and welcome to the forum.  There are maybe two people who will be kind to you - used to be three - but one left for the woods... [/b]
huh
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: Arlette on August 23, 2005, 05:15:00 pm
Part of their popularity is due to their cross over appeal.  Rock fans like 'em, prog fans, metal, stoners, jam band fans, indie fans.  They are sort of like My Morning Jacket (not musically), but appeal wise.  Some folks say MMJ is southern rock, but they appeal to a lot of people who would normally not like southern rock.
 
 And the jam band scene, when they find a band,  they are DEVOTED.  Someone mentioned fans going from show to show, typical jam kids.
 
 I saw them at Bonnaroo, thought they were horrible, had to leave the area because of the....ear splitting noize.  I don't think the word melody is in their vocabularly.
 
 But, lots of people really loved them.  The place was packed and they ended up being the buzz band of the festival.  I know a guy who loves everyone from Joanna Newsome to Death Cab to Zeppelin and he is a HUGE fan.  
 
 Weird.
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: nkotb on August 23, 2005, 05:21:00 pm
Not that I want to try to get inside Sushi's though process, but I think she meant to (or should have) quoted Julian's response.  Is the quote function really that difficult to master?
 
 
Quote
Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:
  huh
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: ratioci nation on August 23, 2005, 05:24:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by nkotBaba:
  Not that I want to try to get inside Sushi's though process, but I think she meant to (or should have) quoted Julian's response.  Is the quote function really that difficult to master?
it is for an insane person
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: Bags on August 23, 2005, 05:27:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by BadSushi:
 there was a major surge in Paxil prescriptions when Guided by Voices performed their last tour...ask your parents who those last two groups are...and welcome to the forum.  
It's like a dagger through the heart; you just had to bring that up, eh, BadSushi!    ;)  
 
 
Quote
There are maybe two people who will be kind to you - used to be three - but one left for the woods...
Wait wait, are you saying walkonby was one of the friendly forumites?  I'd say that you have to be able to understand his posts to determine that he's friendly, and that's a stretch for most regulars, let alone newbies!
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: Bags on August 23, 2005, 05:37:00 pm
Okay, the discussion of the ATDI lineage boosting Mars Volta's popularity I find funny -- ATDI does not have the heft to put a related band on the Billboard charts....
 
 I've never even heard a Mars Volta song, that I know of (as an aside, in the midst of a discussion about why they're so popular).
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: vansmack on August 23, 2005, 06:25:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by amnesiac:
  Maybe they had a song on the OC...
Negative.
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: Bartelby on August 23, 2005, 06:53:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by general grievous:
   
Quote
Originally posted by nkotBaba:
  Not that I want to try to get inside Sushi's though process, but I think she meant to (or should have) quoted Julian's response.  Is the quote function really that difficult to master?
it is for an insane person [/b]
Wow, I think we just discovered another one of Hoya's clones....See what I mean about freekin' mean bastards on this website?
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: ratioci nation on August 23, 2005, 07:10:00 pm
Quote
Originally posted by BadSushi:
  Wow, I think we just discovered another one of Hoya's clones....See what I mean about freekin' mean bastards on this website?
you take plenty of shots at people, dont act like you are ms. innocent
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: Bartelby on August 23, 2005, 07:19:00 pm
That's Mrs. Innocent to you; but no, other than Hoya, I haven't. I've accused people of being philistines, intolerant, sexist, bigoted, narrow-minded, mean...but not: insane, cock sucker, demented, stupid or any other of the recently insulting labels I've been called...but, that's what happens when one gets into the sandbox with (patronizing) bullies.
Title: Re: The Mars Volta in Baltimore
Post by: dlcjr1775 on August 25, 2005, 03:52:00 am
Amen! Next time I'll be sure to check with you before I decide what kind of music I should like.
 
 I like this kid already...