Sell outs...

[redsock]

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.

[Celeste]

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.

[Herr Professor Doktor Doom]

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

[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?

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

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? [/b]

[Guiny]

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.

[alex]

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.

[eltee]

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?

[alex]

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.

[Herr Professor Doktor Doom]

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? [/b]

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

[HoyaSaxa03]

all this better than ezra talk reminded me of one of my favorite norm mac-donald lines from weekend update:
 
 (paraphrasing)
 
 "this week, better than ezra holds the top spot on the billboard charts ... in second place: ezra."
 
 ahh, the mid-90s, how i miss ye

[bellenseb]

Gotta love Norm. My other favorite line:
 
 "This Wednesday Jews celebrate Yom Kippur. Or as the rest of us know it as: Wednesday."

[Guiny]

Both very funny....LOL

[Bags]

Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
  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.

Wow, i was going to make these exact two points.  As Rhett.  Same points!
 
 I'm a music junkie, but I love the music I love....just because it sounds good go me and I love it.  I love Tegan and Sara, I think Bright Eyes sucks.  Can't get in to Luna at all, but I think Snow Patrol is resplendent.  I like stuff that gets indie cred, and I like stuff that gets mocked.  It's really quite visceral, and because I love music so much, I've become quite aware at how music inspires a reaction -- there's not usually that much brain involved.
 
 Do I understand why so many people love OAR or Something Corporate?  No.  Same way I don't understand why the Replacements weren't as big as the rollling stones.
 
 Ditto, also, to the point on Manhattan.  There are 10 times as many people there (probably twice as many if you compare NYC to DC metro, which is probably an apt comparison...though a lot of folks are densely packed nearer the venues, etc).  Shouldn't be unusual they sell out far more often and faster than DC shows.
 
 NYC: 8 million (city only), 22 million (metropolitan area as defined by US census 2000)
 
 L.A.: 3.7 million (city only), 9.5 million (metro area)
 
 D.C.: 575K (city only), 3.9 million (metro area)

[Herr Professor Doktor Doom]

Originally posted by Bags:
  Wow, i was going to make these exact two points.  As Rhett.  Same points!
 

even a stopped clock is right twice a day.