September 28, 2008
Look Out Young Son
Saw Spiritualized Friday night. Their set just might have been perfect in every way (setlist, sound, smoke machine, minimal stage banter/ bullshit).But that's not why I'm writing this. The opening band was called Grand Ole Party. They are from San Diego. When first seeing them, I was intrigued. The schtick: two nondescript looking indie dudes who play bass and guitar. They also sing pointless backup harmonies. The main attraction, though: the lead singer is this really foxy chick who also plays drums. She looked kinda like Karen O, only more on the cute side than the exotic side. She was wearing a very short black frilly dress. I was up front, and clearly saw her facial expressions (and other things, considering she was wearing a dress and straddling the snare drum) as she was singing and playing drums. I was attracted.
Obviously, some other guy was too, since at one point he shouted "I LOVE YOU" from the back. Then, at the end of the show, she mentioned something about how she was going to sell merch in back if anyone wanted to chat. The same guy yells "OH, I DO!" She turns to one of the nondescript indie dudes/ backup singers and mumbles, "Oh, no..." into the mic. The guy in back just keeps yelling, "OH YEAH!"
Then they played the last song, and it was over.
My queary is this: is it legitimate to like a band, despite the fact that they sound like a rip-off of another band (like a YYYs without any sonic experimentation, if that's possible) and aren't very sonically groundbreaking - only moderately enjoyable, and the studio versions of the songs aren't even that good - just because I have a crush on the chick in the band? (And, before you ask: I pussied out on talking to her at the merch table in back. Fuuuuck...)
Labels: concerts, moral dilemmas, music
by JHitts at 5:04 AM |
10 Comments:
i support your loving the band for the girl. you should have talked to her! but hey.
Define "legitimate"?
"Legitimate" as in, the chick in the band and her attractiveness is the only reason for liking/ following the band, because the other two guys are lame and their music is kinda boring. Probably not the proper term to use, but I couldn't really think of another.
Well, Jack, how do you feel about Times New Viking?
I liked them before I even saw what their keyboard player looked like, asshole...
When you were approaching the merch table, did you think
Gee, I wanna talk to this amazing drummer girl whose legs are spread ON STAGE, there for the taking, but oh wait, I was saving myself for the ORIGINAL—not re-released, I might add—Karen O.
or what? And if so, is that any excuse?
Nah, not really, I just kind of pussied out. Seeing as how I never actually did approach the merch table whilst she was back selling records.
I'd like to tell myself that it was because I didn't want to lose my front row position for Spiritualized. But that would be a lie since I took time in between sets to go outside and smoke a cigarette (something you can no longer do indoors in Houston, even at concerts). Dammnit...
I wonder if Gwen Stefani will ever sell records at her own merch table. And if I'll be there.
This is probably where you and I disagree on music, Jack. I think the need for "legitimate" or "justifiable" reasons for liking music is silly. Seriously, people like music and albums and songs for all sorts fo peculiar, personal and petty reasons. Which is true with every art -- It's not like there's a divine, absolutely true standard by which music is judged.
I don't know why we would want it to be any different.
Especially if we're talking rock 'n' roll, this question of legitimacy is totally off, 'cause in rock 'n' roll, sexual attraction's not just a factor, but the founding (f-ing) reason. Ask your question to Chuck Berry, he'll tell you to follow your ding-a-ling. Ask Jerry Lee Lewis, he'll say you should like this band if it set your great balls on fire.
Right?
So, I wouldn't say you were liking a band illegitamately, I would say you were being a socially awkward dork for not talking to the girl drummer and an indie posuer for questing your right to like a band.
Yes, but the difference is that Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis were actually good innovators of new things. Thus, their sexual prowess is (to me, anyway) acceptable. This band, however, is pretty much a retread of a bunch of different old things that they don't copy well. Seems kinda gimmicky to me. I mean, not that it's not a good gimmick. Since she got me. But if that's the one reason why people are going to listen to your otherwise mediocre music, then you probably have some problems with said music.
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