The Mars Volta in Baltimore

[amnesiac]

Yeah, their hair did get alot of media coverage...

[ggw]

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.

[HoyaSaxa03]

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

[HoyaSaxa03]

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

[matilda]

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.

[Julian, Alleged Computer F**kface]

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.

[Julian, Alleged Computer F**kface]

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.

[amnesiac]

Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
   

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...

[ggw]

You should change your name to "Julian, faux Rhett Miller POSEUR"

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

Alternative is the new mainstream.

[Julian, Alleged Computer F**kface]

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.

[kosmo vinyl]

Originally posted by BadSushi:
   

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

[Arlette]

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.

[nkotb]

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?
 
 

Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:
  huh

[ratioci nation]

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