Here's something you might be interested in.
I know, I know. I've mentioned Stan Ridgway in two previous blogs. But one of my music pet peeves is...people that don't know good music.
My friend Bonnie has great taste in music, yet for some reason she likes Kings of Leon.
I met this very interesting woman last week. We were talking about how great XTC was, and a few other bands. And she tells me her favorite band is Green Day. It totally threw me for a loop, because I hate Green Day.
I've tried turning my friends on to Stew (former LA singer/songwriter now doing the NYC thing). I rarely have luck.
I gave my friend a Randy Newman and Warren Zevon CD for her birthday. She wasn't familiar with their work and always talked about liking great songwriters. That was two years ago, and she's never told me what she thought of them.
And Stan Ridgway writes these songs that are like a blend of Twilight Zone meets Raymond Chandler or Elmore Leonard.
Some people know his hit "Camoflauge." And most people know the hit he had with Wall of Voodoo (Mexican Radio).
I once drove to San Juan Capistriano to see him play, because he wasn't coming down here. I met a guy from La Mesa in line for a beer, that also lamented the trek up north.
So, I show up Saturday night to his show at Acoustic Music San Diego, which might be the best place to see a live show. Aside from the "acoustics" being so nice inside the big church off Adams Avenue...people actually sit and listen to the music. In fact, I felt guilty when I yelled out my song request of "Peg and Pete" (thus breaking a previous pet peeve about idiots that yell out song requests).
I was so bummed that it was a small turnout. Yet, I'm sure 20,000 fans were listening to the Idol singers that were in town that night. And if people don't turn out and support these talented musicians, they'll stop playing live. It's weird...we shell out $11 for a movie ticket, and the movie is usually bad. Yet, I go to see Anna Troy, a local bluesy singer I love. There was no cover, and only five people in the crowd!
And that's a pet peeve. People listening to pop crap, and then complaining when we make someone like Britney Spears rich and famous...and wonder why she goes nuts and shaves her head and dangles her kid out of a car window (okay...wait...I'm probably getting my crazy singers mixed up).
The stuff sold at this show brings up another pet peeve. Why can't other venues and musicians do this?
My girlfriend got a coffee. $1. We bought cookies that were $.50 each. I think a bottled water cost me $1. Usually at venues, things are way overpriced.
Ridgway had the concert tees that were $25, but lots of other items reasonably priced. One CD was $5. A few cool Zippo lighters with song titles, were only $10. Autographed posters were $5. Seeing him and his wife on stage performing a Dylan tune -- priceless! (sorry, that was cheap)
I remember seeing Blondie play in town with The Cars, and they sold signed pictures of Debbie Harry for $250. I laughed as the guy at the merch booth said, "We haven't sold one yet."
At a Styx concert (don't ask...they were free tickets), they sold an autographed poster for $100 (and it wasn't even signed by singer Dennis DeYoung).
For some reason, a lot of up-and-coming bands with buzz seem to do well at the Casbah.
I saw The White Stripes there once and it was packed. I went to see the 4,5,6,7's (I probably got that number sequence wrong), and they were sold out.
The first time I tried to catch Juliette Lewis there, it sold out. The Raveonettes -- sold out.
Yet older musicians come to town and don't get the love.
Lou Reed is a legend. And he only drew about 700 people to 4th & B (and that was before the economy sucked).
A few other concert pet peeeves I thought of:
The guys around you that want to sing. Now, I'm not talking about if the singer asked you, as Ridgway did when he played "I Wanna Be a Boss."
But the person that thinks he's impressing his girlfriend because he knows all the words to the songs. And he's singing so loud (and he's usually not even drunk), we can't hear the singer we paid to see.
Another pet peeve...bathroom etiquette. It's always a line to get in, so try to go in and get out as quickly as possible. Instead, you have to guys having a conversation at the urinal, about a song from the second album that should be played. Hey...go have this conversation with your new pee buddy outside the restrooms. Other people want to go before they miss any more of the songs.
The pusher. They are always a problem. I love when Steppenwolf sings about a pusher, but that's different. This concert goer has decided it's just too crowdy, so he barrels thru everyone in his path. Maybe he's pushing to get to the front, in which case, he should've shown up an hour earlier like the folks there did. Other times, he wants to get a beer, and is tired of being polite and waiting for people to get out of his way.
And, if you clock him after he almost knocks you over...you're going to be the one thrown out of the club. Last time I saw a person like this was at Marilyn Manson at the House of Blues. I thought about telling security, but wondered what they could really do about it.
And that leads to the next person I'll complain about. The ones giving security grief. Come on, already. You're drunk and you have a stupid request. I've seen guys insisting that security let them backstage because they are so-and-so's cousin. Yeah, right. You'd already be on the guest list. Others try to hand CDs to them, or drunk women try to flirt, and when they see that doesn't work, they start cursing.
Security usually has to be pushed far before they 86 someone.
I wonder if security never has to throw people at at Acoustic Music, because it's inside a church. People feel like they have to be respectful, because it's a house of God.
Whatever the reason...it's a great place to see a show.
I know, I know. I've mentioned Stan Ridgway in two previous blogs. But one of my music pet peeves is...people that don't know good music.
My friend Bonnie has great taste in music, yet for some reason she likes Kings of Leon.
I met this very interesting woman last week. We were talking about how great XTC was, and a few other bands. And she tells me her favorite band is Green Day. It totally threw me for a loop, because I hate Green Day.
I've tried turning my friends on to Stew (former LA singer/songwriter now doing the NYC thing). I rarely have luck.
I gave my friend a Randy Newman and Warren Zevon CD for her birthday. She wasn't familiar with their work and always talked about liking great songwriters. That was two years ago, and she's never told me what she thought of them.
And Stan Ridgway writes these songs that are like a blend of Twilight Zone meets Raymond Chandler or Elmore Leonard.
Some people know his hit "Camoflauge." And most people know the hit he had with Wall of Voodoo (Mexican Radio).
I once drove to San Juan Capistriano to see him play, because he wasn't coming down here. I met a guy from La Mesa in line for a beer, that also lamented the trek up north.
So, I show up Saturday night to his show at Acoustic Music San Diego, which might be the best place to see a live show. Aside from the "acoustics" being so nice inside the big church off Adams Avenue...people actually sit and listen to the music. In fact, I felt guilty when I yelled out my song request of "Peg and Pete" (thus breaking a previous pet peeve about idiots that yell out song requests).
I was so bummed that it was a small turnout. Yet, I'm sure 20,000 fans were listening to the Idol singers that were in town that night. And if people don't turn out and support these talented musicians, they'll stop playing live. It's weird...we shell out $11 for a movie ticket, and the movie is usually bad. Yet, I go to see Anna Troy, a local bluesy singer I love. There was no cover, and only five people in the crowd!
And that's a pet peeve. People listening to pop crap, and then complaining when we make someone like Britney Spears rich and famous...and wonder why she goes nuts and shaves her head and dangles her kid out of a car window (okay...wait...I'm probably getting my crazy singers mixed up).
The stuff sold at this show brings up another pet peeve. Why can't other venues and musicians do this?
My girlfriend got a coffee. $1. We bought cookies that were $.50 each. I think a bottled water cost me $1. Usually at venues, things are way overpriced.
Ridgway had the concert tees that were $25, but lots of other items reasonably priced. One CD was $5. A few cool Zippo lighters with song titles, were only $10. Autographed posters were $5. Seeing him and his wife on stage performing a Dylan tune -- priceless! (sorry, that was cheap)
I remember seeing Blondie play in town with The Cars, and they sold signed pictures of Debbie Harry for $250. I laughed as the guy at the merch booth said, "We haven't sold one yet."
At a Styx concert (don't ask...they were free tickets), they sold an autographed poster for $100 (and it wasn't even signed by singer Dennis DeYoung).
For some reason, a lot of up-and-coming bands with buzz seem to do well at the Casbah.
I saw The White Stripes there once and it was packed. I went to see the 4,5,6,7's (I probably got that number sequence wrong), and they were sold out.
The first time I tried to catch Juliette Lewis there, it sold out. The Raveonettes -- sold out.
Yet older musicians come to town and don't get the love.
Lou Reed is a legend. And he only drew about 700 people to 4th & B (and that was before the economy sucked).
A few other concert pet peeeves I thought of:
The guys around you that want to sing. Now, I'm not talking about if the singer asked you, as Ridgway did when he played "I Wanna Be a Boss."
But the person that thinks he's impressing his girlfriend because he knows all the words to the songs. And he's singing so loud (and he's usually not even drunk), we can't hear the singer we paid to see.
Another pet peeve...bathroom etiquette. It's always a line to get in, so try to go in and get out as quickly as possible. Instead, you have to guys having a conversation at the urinal, about a song from the second album that should be played. Hey...go have this conversation with your new pee buddy outside the restrooms. Other people want to go before they miss any more of the songs.
The pusher. They are always a problem. I love when Steppenwolf sings about a pusher, but that's different. This concert goer has decided it's just too crowdy, so he barrels thru everyone in his path. Maybe he's pushing to get to the front, in which case, he should've shown up an hour earlier like the folks there did. Other times, he wants to get a beer, and is tired of being polite and waiting for people to get out of his way.
And, if you clock him after he almost knocks you over...you're going to be the one thrown out of the club. Last time I saw a person like this was at Marilyn Manson at the House of Blues. I thought about telling security, but wondered what they could really do about it.
And that leads to the next person I'll complain about. The ones giving security grief. Come on, already. You're drunk and you have a stupid request. I've seen guys insisting that security let them backstage because they are so-and-so's cousin. Yeah, right. You'd already be on the guest list. Others try to hand CDs to them, or drunk women try to flirt, and when they see that doesn't work, they start cursing.
Security usually has to be pushed far before they 86 someone.
I wonder if security never has to throw people at at Acoustic Music, because it's inside a church. People feel like they have to be respectful, because it's a house of God.
Whatever the reason...it's a great place to see a show.