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By: rorschach
Date: 7/25/99 10:57:38 PM
# Replies: 30
Well for those of you who's town has not been visited by this tour.... some insights from Houston's showing.
it's funny, this concert was a real study in contrasts. Foriegner which was pretty much intact truly sucked... and Journey with 3 out of 5 being newbies sounded like Journey of old!
the opening act was Foriegner, and they were a MAJOR dissapointment. Lou Gram (I ASSUME it was still Lou singing...it DID kinda look like him... cuz if they had hired a new guy they coulda done a WHOLE SHITPOT better than THAT guy....)couldn't carry a tune with a bucket! the rest of the band was fine.... but the singer (again I assume it was Lou because i have no reason to think otherwise) truly sucked the whole set through....
Journey was a real crowd pleaser. Steve A. is a taller, better looking incarnation of steve perry. and could hit 95% of the notes without noticable strain... hell NOBODY can do the falsetto that Perry usta could do without a sex change anyway....I have heard that when he auditioned to take perry's place that he came in knowing all the songs they had ever recorded word-for-word by heart.... didn't even want sheet music... just started singin.... He DID make one mistake.... in the final encore he tripped up in "Faithfully".... everyone including him laughed about it.... the one thing was that they played like 5 fast songs back to back without stop and they were starting to show some serious fatigue after about the third. It was hot as hell with NO breeze and those spotlights probably weren't helping.... Steve A. was so drenched with sweat that you could see through his shirt from halfway up the Woodlands pavillion Lawn(where I managed to finally stake out two square feet for myself...)
all told, if it weren't for the fct i woulda NEVER found a spot to sit if I had... i woulda been better off not showing up til 8:30 or so.....
Response #1
By: sooz
Date: 7/26/99 12:01:46 PM
Let us take this opportunity, presented by our beloved Ror*.*, to delve into the concepts of musical tastes. Shall we? But first, a rule: We shall not bicker over which music is "better", because, like in the Mac vs. PC arguments (or white vs. black vs. Hispanic vs. Asian arguments), none is better. They're just different.
A friend and I were talking about musical preferences the other day. I prefer current music, she likes 80's and late 70's stuff. 80's music gives me the willies.
We determined that people tend to like music that reminds them of a "better time". For her, the late 70's and early 80's were a better time. For me, right now is the absolute best time I've ever been in, so I like current music.
Also, I think it's hard to enjoy the present if one's busy mourning the loss of the past. Besides, in ten years when the '90's are referred to as "oldies", I'd like to know at least some of the songs.
Your thoughts, please?
Response #2
By: Ralf
Date: 7/26/99 3:25:03 PM
I constantly try to analyze my musical tastes and keep coming up with a mess. I seem to like a little of everything. (And I usually detest people who when asked, say "I like everything" in a dismissive fashion, like they really don't know how to choose, like it's not IMPORTANT. As if you asked them, "What brand of fabric softener do you use, dearie?" Dammit, I'm PASSIONATE about music.)
I like: 50's, 80's, and 90's rock. 60's lounge music. 60's instrumental surf music. 90's surf music (none of that Jan & Dean/Beachboy crap).
A lot of classical music. Not all, but a great deal of instrumental soundtracks.
Some rap, some country (yes, really), some ambiant & techno.
If I hadda pick a favorite, I'd be stuck. Right now I'm listening to Fear Factory/Obsolete. Before that it was Fat Boy Slim. Before that, Aaron Copland.
And of course, the Pixies are timeless. :-)
The only music I won't listen to is some newer country and most of what was produced in the 1970's, including disco.
Dunno what this does to your theory, sooz... any ideas?
Response #3
By: sooz
Date: 7/26/99 8:01:16 PM
Of course I have a theory, beloved Ralf. You just freakin' love life, all of it (ok, except disco), and you're generally a very accepting person. You take other people at face value, and thus, you do the same with your music.
Someone please kick me, as I seem to have gone off into some sort of musical psychobabble land.
Response #4
By: Da Sissop
Date: 7/27/99 7:52:27 AM
I usually can't tell you why I *like* certain music, but I can usually tell you why I *don't* like something, and it's usually for reasons like excessive use of tired cliches, both lyrical and musical... oh no, it's got one of those weepy country slide guitar riffs... oh no, another Power Ballad... oh no, another rapper boasting about himself...
Response #5
By: Jerichos Burlap
Date: 7/27/99 11:56:40 AM
Nothing wrong with just liking what you like. It don't have to make sense, or meet someone else's standard - its my money and time, neighbor. Kinda fun to push people's buttons about their pet of the week, tho. [snicker]
Response #6
By: Ralf
Date: 7/27/99 12:02:13 PM
"Pet of the week"? What, do you use them up?
I just thought of a musical form I hate: Opera. I hate opera.
Except for most of Wagner's stuff.
Damn, I'm a bundle o'contradictions.
Anyway, I like the "liking what you like" part; pretty well sums it up. Musical taste is like any other kind o'preference... there's just no accounting for what'll turn somebody on.
Response #7
By: sooz
Date: 7/27/99 3:27:21 PM
I told Richie I'm gonna run him over with the truck if he ever finds it necessary to put his own name in a song. "Richie L in da house, Richie L in da house!" There'll be a death in Austin, indeed.
Response #8
By: Tess Trueheart
Date: 7/28/99 5:17:57 AM
I like whatever is popular at the time.
Response #9
By: Ralf
Date: 7/28/99 6:44:30 AM
Sooz: Sounds like a challenge.
Richie: I double-diddly-dog DARE you to write a song with your name in it. (But feel free to use a pseudonym if it'll save your life, man...)
Tess: So what's popular now? Whatcha listin to, girlfren?
Response #10
By: Da Sissop
Date: 7/28/99 6:54:54 AM
She's livin' la vida loca.
Response #11
By: Tess Trueheart
Date: 7/29/99 5:25:55 AM
Yep..and I want to get away, I want to get away..yeah!
Response #12
By: Shadow Sprite
Date: 7/29/99 12:48:25 PM
Is that still popular? I always thought that once a song (or any other trend for that matter) made it into commercials, it was on the cusp of being passe. ...Even if the Xterra is a really nifty looking SUV.
Case in point: Now that Blockbuster has released their 'Goth girl who plays console video games is cooler than preppy sunbathing blonds' commercial, the goths have become an underground movement again. Or at least I don't run into one on every street corner anymore - and I for one am grateful to Blockbuster.
Response #13
By: Da Sissop
Date: 7/29/99 8:50:34 PM
I had mixed feeling about hearing The Nails' "88 Lines About 44 Women" used in, I think it was a Mazda commercial. On the one hand, I think the Nails (an obscure band from the 80s that had the one semi-underground hit, but released one largely unknown GREAT album) *deserved* to get some widespread familiarity... but on the other hand, the original *charm* of the song was largely due to the fact that most of those lines about those 44 women had some sort of kinkiness to them, and that kinkiness had to be completely wiped out for use in a commercial...
...So I watch the commercial and I still hear "Tanya Turkish liked to fuck while wearing leather biker boots," but I lament that most folks are hearing something about somebody who "liked that slacker misery."
Response #14
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 7/29/99 10:29:25 PM
Licensed to Sell: Why the Jingle is Dead and Commercial Pop Rules
I like music that is the result of someone pushing their own boundaries, or that is obviously the work of an inspired craftsman, or is so heartfelt as to almost be embarassing, or any combination thereof.
Turn offs: Songs where I can guess the drum machine, Mixes where I can easily figure out how the sounds happened ("What, gated reverb? In the 90s??"), Derivative-ness.
sooz is right, in that some flaws are forgiveable if they have a nostalia factor, but my patience is wearing thinner and thinner of late. You should have seen the load of CDs I got rid of a while back... I can easily picture the day a few years from now when I'll be throwing my Orb CDs out, questioning my sanity in buying them.
Response #15
By: Ralf
Date: 7/30/99 9:42:27 AM
I have CD's I bought in the early 80's (ZZ Top: Eliminator was the very first CD I ever purchased, 1983) that I still listen to. Some of them make me wince, tis true. But others are just as engaging as before.
Some CD's I grew into, having bought them for one track and learning to love the whole thing (but for a lone clunker, perhaps).
Unlike Homer, I am blessedly ignorant of most of the tools o'the trade. So while I can recognize a hackneyed power-chord or whatever, I couldn't tell you how they achieved it, nor do I care.
And I can live with cheezy lyrics if the music is good.
A LOT of my collection is instrumental, for play whilst programming. Vocals are too distracting when you're trying to think.
Response #16
By: Tess Trueheart
Date: 7/31/99 7:37:38 AM
I like to listen to Barbara while driving in traffic. Acutally, I like to sing with her while driving in traffic. I cup my hand at my ear so I can hear just how far off I was on a note, but to outsiders it looks like I'm on a cell phone, screaming at someone. I hope it helps to curb the road rage in those around me.
Speaking of which it is getting bad around here. I've run into road rage twice now in a matter of a couple of months. The 1st one followed me until I parked, pulled up behind my truck so I got out and started walking to the back of my truck. I don't believe he expected an Amazon, he became slightly more polite. The second one kept pulling in front of my truck and slamming on the brakes?! People remember to breath! Sheeze!!
Response #17
By: Ralf
Date: 7/31/99 1:54:25 PM
So.... what're you doing to piss these folks off?
(WhoooOOOP! WhoooOOOP! Evyasiff manyoovers aye, keptyin!)
Response #18
By: rorschach
Date: 8/26/99 12:11:44 PM
talk about topic shear..... well at least music was in there somewhere still....
Anyway, I agree with the general consensus that "I like what I like and I really don't care why or who disagrees...." MY point in the beginning was that if you go to a concert of a band that is as successfull as foriegner at least WAS at one time, you kinda expect some technical competency. it doesn't have to sound like the studio version, but it really shouldn't make you wince in pain either. the band itself met this standard, lou gramm did not.... he should have realized that his days in the spotlight were over and accepted it, alas he did not.
Response #19
By: Ralf
Date: 8/26/99 10:24:49 PM
Ah, the lure of a paycheck. The wistful desire to recapture the past. Few men have been able to resist that powerful combination.
Response #20
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 8/27/99 3:16:34 AM
Yeah, I know that's how *my* comeback tour went... In retrospect, I should have just kept on with the personal appearances on TBN, preaching the gospel to the unsaved.
Response #21
By: Ralf
Date: 8/28/99 10:30:11 AM
Hey! You were in that Holy Man movie, right?
Response #22
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 8/28/99 3:42:30 PM
Yes. I'm actually Eddie Murphy.
Response #23
By: Da Sissop
Date: 8/28/99 10:15:09 PM
I like your stuff, but really now, do you *have* to use the profanity?
Response #24
By: Gowan McGland
Date: 8/29/99 11:02:07 PM
What's Steve Martin really like?
Does your girl really have to "Party All the Time"?
Response #25
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 8/31/99 3:31:19 AM
Not a lot of people know this, but the actual lyric is 'My girl likes to potty all the time, potty all the time, potty all the time...'
It was Rick James' idea.
Response #26
By: Capt. Spastic
Date: 9/12/99 10:35:06 AM
Steve Perry wasn't with Journey? That's weird, on the CD they put out last year, he was still doing vocals for the band????
Response #27
By: Gowan McGland
Date: 9/13/99 12:14:25 AM
Styx is on tour and Dennis DeYoung is on the new album, but he isn't touring with the band.
Don't ask me how I know that.
Response #28
By: Ralf
Date: 9/13/99 5:38:25 PM
What you think of as Dennis DeYoung is a cunning animatronic with looped vocals from 1978. He can't tour with the band because it would damage the illusion.
(What, you think Mr.Roboto was just a story???)
Response #29
By: Gowan McGland
Date: 9/14/99 12:36:32 AM
Would that be The Grand Illusion that was shattered?
Response #30
By: sooz
Date: 9/14/99 9:59:47 PM
Speaking of horribly old has-been groups, did anyone else see Sheryl Crow on FOX tonite with Stevie Nicks, Chrissy Hynde and Keith Richards? (Allegedly Clapton was there, about whom she wrote "My Favorite Mistake, but I turned it off before then.)