Vibes blog

I’ve noticed that there is a lack of band introductions these days…

Sure, some bands do it old school — Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Al Green, Janelle Monae and others will have their band play first before being introduced and hitting the stage.

The Evening Muse, depending on who’s at the soundboard or hosting the show, will usually introduce the act hitting the stage.

Kiss is known for their “You wanted the best, you got the best,” introduction that they’ve been doing for years. Does John Mayer, Jane’s Addiction, Brittney Spears, Metallica or Harry Connick Jr. need to let you know who they are? If not, at what point is a band or artist famous enough to skip the intros?

However, a lot of places and people just don’t say a word. The lights go out, the lights come back on and the band is on stage as the first notes ring out. Sure, nine times out of 10, it doesn’t matter. The headliner is a big band and you already know who they are. But what about the opening acts? What about the people who are just there to see a new band and have no idea who they’re watching?

Most bands, even when not “introduced,” will let people know who they are at the same time they tell you there are CDs and t-shirts for sale in the back of the room. What’s your preference? Should a band be introduced before hitting the stage? Should they leave it as a mystery? Should they only say it at the beginning and/or end of the set?

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I try to keep an open mind when listening to music. I look for some kind of intrinsic value or something worthy of saying there’s talent. However, when I heard this song, I couldn’t find a damn thing about it that I liked. It’s like taking an ice pick to the ear drum.

Disagree? That’s fine. But if you do, leave a comment and let me know what it is about this song, particularly the vocals, that give any hint to some kind of talent. Sure, she was married to John Lennon, but that doesn’t mean she should be allowed near a recording studio.

“Enjoy.”

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You know why they call it “pop” music? If you said because it’s “popular,” you’re mostly right. I tend to think it’s also because the music goes, “pop.” As in — here one day and gone the next.

The only difference between a one-hit wonder and a majority of the crap (and most of it is crap) filling top 40 music these days is that one-hit wonders disappear and those with more stick around a little bit longer.

For example, how many of these hit songs from 2007 are you still listening to?

- Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable”
- Nelly Furtado’s “Say it Right”
- T-Pain’s “Buy U a Drank”
- Mims’ “This is Why I’m Hot”
- Akon’s “I Wanna Love You”

My guess is none — and not because you thought they sucked in the first place. If you used to listen to those all the time, chances are that you’ve moved on to the next radio hit and left the others in the past. Hell, Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” is probably over and done with by now — if not for the fact that it’s repetitive and annoying as hell.

Just something to think about…

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Blink-182
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Oct. 6, 2009

The Deal: Reunited punk-pop rockers tear through a whole bunch of songs in quick time. (more…)

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A great night last night at the Neighborhood Theatre, as we passed out more than 350 CDs to people supporting local music.

Thanks go out to the Neighborhood Theatre, Ansley and Eric-Scott and all the staff for helping us put the event on and get everything running so smoothly.

Thanks to Dolph Ramseur, Divakar, Gina Stewart, Brian Reed, Micah Davidson and Hugh Southard for being a part of the panel that discussed the local music scene and what we can do to make sure people know it’s alive and well.

Thanks to the bands — Bums Lie, Actual Proof, Scoot Pittman Trio, Pradigy GT, Raised by Wolves, Evelynn Rose and Heywire — for their great performances.

CDs will be put in stores — still for free! — starting early next week.

Support local music!

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The band Groundation is suing Fergie, stating that her song “Voodoo Doll” stole it’s music from the Groundation song “Waterfall.”

Sounds like the same thing to me. What do you think?

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Apparently, some people are upset (read the comments on this blog) about Shakira’s performance the other night on “America’s Got Talent.” The Colombian singer’s lip synching wasn’t the most offensive part of it, either.

Nope, people weren’t happy about her ass shaking (1:37) and speaker humping (2:40). Personally, I’m more offended that people were watching “America’s Got Talent” in the first place.

Regardless, Lady Gaga’s outfits are a lot more scandalous — she prances around without pants on a regular basis. Get your complaints straight when it comes to Top 40 female singers.

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I was all set to post some thoughts about last night’s Video Music Awards, but I can’t do that until I voice my opinion on Kanye West’s antics of last night.

First off, it’s sad that Kanye is getting exactly what he wanted and everyone is talking about him. I’m glad that it’s all negative towards him though. One person said, “He was just stating his opinion.” That’s great, but hijacking the acceptance speech of a young woman (Taylor Swift) who had just won her first award was not the time or place to do it.

Kanye should have posted it on his blog or Twitter feed so that only the people who give a shit about this arrogant asshole would have cared what his opinion is. I don’t care if Kanye West loves bacon sandwiches, thinks Eminem is fantastic or wants to share his opinion that Beyonce had the best video. This isn’t the Kanye West Awards.

Swift was apparently backstage hysterically crying after the incident. Well done, Mr. West. May your next album and concert be a flop.

Put simply — Kanye West has no class. The question is, for how long are people going to continue to put up with this crap? It should be noted — there are some people defending West and saying he just made a mistake — “it’s not like he killed someone” — but it’s also not the first time he’s hijacked a show. Remember “George Bush doesn’t like black people”?

If only he stood by his words from a few years ago when he said he’d never return to the VMAs because he didn’t win any awards that year.

And kudos for Beyonce for giving her spotlight back to Swift who was allowed to give her acceptance speech. (more…)

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They’ve announced Paula Abdul’s replacement… and it’s… Ellen?

That’s right, they’ve replaced the incoherent blabbering of Abdul with a comedian/talk-show host. Great choice.

That’s like putting David Hasselhoff as a judge of a talent competition. Oh, wait…

So, now you have record executive Simon Cowell — the only one who gives constructive criticism and tells it like it is, Randy Jackson — a former Journey bass player and record producer who prefers to just call everyone “dawg” and say “it was alright for me,” Kara DioGuardi — a songwriter who wrote a horrendous first single for last season’s winner, and Ellen who prefers to make jokes than offer any real opinion.

DeGeneres will sit on the judge’s panel after the auditions are completed.

Nice choice, Idol. Looks like you’ve finally jumped the shark… (if Sanjaya’s run didn’t do it for you already).

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Traveling Circus and Medicine Show — Counting Crows with Michael Franti & Spearhead, Augustana
Uptown Amphitheatre
Aug. 21, 2009

The Deal: The Traveling Circus and Medicine Show — Counting Crows, Michael Franti & Spearhead and Augustana — stopped by Charlotte’s Uptown Amphitheatre for a unique night of music. Hopefully, if you went, you knew that it was getting started at 7:30. Adam Duritz posted this on the tour’s Web site:

Dear Everyone-Who-Happens-To-Read-This,

I know you’re all used to showing up at 8:30 or 9PM for concerts that started at 7. It’s understandable. You’re there to see YOUR band and you’re showing up when you think they’re gonna play, right? Well, starting on Thursday July 16th at Marymoor Amphitheatre in Redmond, Washington, that’s all going to change.

Ladies and Gentlemen, at 7:15PM, when the curtain goes up on The Saturday Night Rebel Rockers Traveling Circus & Medicine Show, Augustana AND Counting Crows are all going to be walking out onstage together and that show is going to start with EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US onstage singing and playing our brains out. We’ll do a few songs together and then it may be Counting Crows that plays the first set alone. I don’t know exactly how the shows going to run every night. It’ll definitely be different a few days later in Friant, CA when Michael Franti & Spearhead join up. It’ll probably be different every night. The only thing I know for sure is that EVERY show on this tour is going to start with EVERYONE onstage together and we’re going to all be running on & off stage all night playing on each others songs and playing songs all together and basically just playing whenever we feel like playing. So you get my point, right?

GET HERE ON TIME!

Cuz when the curtain rises…THE CIRCUS BEGINS

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So, how did it turn out? (more…)

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