I am a Los Angeles-based twentysomething. I have a profession, and I have a secret life in music, and this blog isn't about any of that. I like Blogger because I can't read what you're thinking.
Monday, June 21
>>ROBBIE DUPREE, YOU'RE A FUCKING CROOK
THERE'S AN IRONY IN YOUR BIGGEST HIT CALLED "STEAL AWAY" SINCE IT SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE THE DOOBIE BROTHERS' "WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES."
...TELL ME THAT YOU'RE NOT TRYING TO STEAL YACHT ROCK CLASSICS. SAY IT TO MY FACE.
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I get this all the time about my blog: "Dude, it's like every show you go to has some kind of mindblowing effect on you."
And to this I guffaw. Heavily. For every 10 shows I catch:
-1 blows ass/sucks pole/is disappointing -6 are fun, but forgettable -2 are very good, and mentioned on the blog if it's a slow day -1 is insanely good and indefinitely gets a blog mention
There are SO many shows I haven't mentioned; it's part of my "If you don't have anything nice to say about an artist, then, frankly, skip it and focus on the good stuff" mantra. I don't have the time nor do I want to take an effort to completely destroy someone's art. For all I know, I might like them in the future, and my current opinions are based on simply not understanding someone's art.
(Happens to me all the time; for instance, Brandon Flowers is one of my new songwriting heroes. He's brilliant. I don't know what I was smoking in high school with all my hating on The Killers.)
But, for sake of argument, and for all your guys' cheap thrill in feeling better about yourselves, here's a list of sets in my recent memory that have sucked MAJOR ass:
-The XX Trite; laughable in its effort to be as profound as its loyalists swear it to be. Shoegaze? More like "Shoe gayz."
-Kate Miller-Heidke Takes "being ironic as kitschy" to perversely high and new levels. Covered "Toxic" by Britney Spears in operatic falsetto and her confidence ballooned as the crowd ate it right out of her hand. You should have seen my face; I looked like I was watching a puppy get molested. Terribly annoying.
-Airborne Toxic Event More like "toxic to my ears and spirit." Unbalanced, without dynamic, and lifeless in what appeared to be members' boredom.
-The Dead Weather Excellent LP, but incredibly disappointing. I've heard bar bands with more live show integrity. I felt duped.
-Damian Marley Another artist with decent recordings; confusing and all-around way too loose of a show. They had one guy running around on stage with a flag throughout the whole set. WTF.
...and a bunch of others, but, honestly, I block bad shows out of my memory to make room for the good ones. What's the point?
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When I'm at a party, sometimes I get really bored and think, "Man, I'd rather be at home with a glass of wine and a marathon of TED Talks."
Here's one by David Byrne: He talks about how architecture affects our songwriting more than we think.
WOW, RIGHT!? Hey, kids! What kind of venues do YOU write for?