Careless talk costs lives
Last night – as you’ll be only too aware if you were involved in the nerve-jangling wait for a new blog to appear – I went to watch a band, the New Pornographers, in Camden. It was a sold-out show and the audience were enthusiastic in that mostly-just-standing-there way of London music crowds. Nonetheless, the majority of music listeners in this country are barely, or not at all, aware of this Canadian band, and they’re unlikely to get any more famous than they already are. It’s therefore quite hard to explain to anyone why they’ve had the effect they have upon my recent life.
Despite being a voracious consumer of new music I had been completely unaware of the New Pornographers until about this time four years ago, when I sort of half-heard one of their songs streamed on a website, pretty much by accident. It made an impression and I downloaded two of their more popular tracks and stuck them on my iPod. Several days later I was on my way out of Oxford Circus underground when I remembered the songs and put one – called ‘From Blown Speakers’ – on to play. It’s pretty hard to get a feel for a song the first time you hear it; many of my absolute favourite tunes are ones which took a long time to endear themselves. But this was one of the rare moments in a music fan’s life when you hear something and know, in the two-and-a-half minutes it takes to play out, that it’s going to be with you for years to come. I liked it so much that my heart had actually speeded up by the time I got out onto the street. I listened to the second song, ‘The Bleeding Heart Show’. Again, it was instantly recognizable as being amazing. Walking down a crowded Oxford Street – one of the least romantic places in the UK – my eyes were misting up and I was in the grip of an emotion not unlike love. By that night, I had bought all three albums (there are now five), as well as another handful of solo records by various members of the group. Four years later I am now the kind of fan who counts down the days to their releases. Going to see them for the first time last night, I felt 16 again. In a good way. Not as in ‘no girlfriend and awful hair’. Though I still do have poor hair.
There are several bands I’ve loved, or still love – notably, Radiohead and the Super Furry Animals (the latter band, I saw fifteen times between 1996 and 2001 alone, and were my main inspiration when I became a live performer). But I’d thought my time of being, well, in love with specific bands was behind me, along with other stuff from 1999 like my pager and brown corduroys, And there’s also been plenty of other music I’ve been besotted with in the past few years, by the likes of Arcade Fire, REM, the Flaming Lips, Grizzly Bear, oh all sorts.
But all these are universally acclaimed, and even SFA have a pretty large cult following, just like me, except mine isn’t all that large and doesn’t follow me to some venues, like Stoke. What’s different with the Pornographers is that – critically successful as they are – very few people would have them as their favourite of all, not many are as smitten as me. I’m not even writing this blog to recommend them, because I have very little confidence recommending music as it’s so subjective, and I’m well aware many people would be unmoved by their unique four-way vocal arrangements, offbeat poetic lyrics, propulsive rhythms and breezily unforgettable melodies. (If you are reading, and represent the band, you’re welcome to use this as a press quote. I’ll write it in a newspaper for you. Please can I be friends with them. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.) Moreover, the band themselves are so unassuming, so low-key in their approach, that not even they seem to be expecting this sort of reaction. I imagine if they did meet me, in fact, they’d find it rather embarrassing.
But all this makes it even better, as you will understand if you have your own pet band. It feels as if they are almost writing this stuff specially for me. A feeling which I have tried to cultivate in everything I’ve done myself. Although not to the extent that only one person DOES bother to read it.
And that little joke brings us onto last night’s gig. I was pretty uneasy about seeing them, along with the excitement, because although there are few things in the world as magical as hearing a favourite song played live, there are few things as shit as hearing a favourite song played live with some twat talking loudly in your ear, or blocking your view and texting, or singing along badly, or loudly asking ‘what’s this band called again?’ All of which can easily happen. So I took my brother, merged with the crowd and hoped for the best.
And it was pretty much wonderful. The band were great, the songs were all there, and for most of the evening you could even hear them. All the same there was, inevitably, a point where a pissed-up group came up right behind us and yelled at each other over two songs sung by Neko Case, a woman whose voice could draw tears from a sheet of A4 paper. I didn’t say anything or even look at them; preferred to just pretend it wasn’t happening, which is often more relaxing than getting angry. It did no more than take a little gloss off a glittering evening.
But it did make me think. We’re all aware that when your favourite band really makes it big, there are pitfalls for the loyal fan: bigger gigs means less intimacy, more drunks; suddenly you’re ‘sharing’ them with more fans, and feel a tiny bit diminished in your fandom; and your mum has suddenly heard of them. Would I want the New Pornos to become more a household name? Not really, no. Do I want them to enjoy the rewards of excellence, though? Yes, absolutely.
All this is relevant to me because the same sort of questions hang around the career of someone like me. I’d like to continue becoming slightly more successful and drawing the biggest crowds, or readerships, that I can. But would I want to play to 10,000 if I knew there was a good chance 2,000 of them were just dragged there by mates and were mostly hoping to get drunk?
Of course the choice isn’t as stark as that. Bands like last night’s – and various comics and authors besides – show it is possible to do pretty well for yourself without downgrading your artistic ambitions. And in my gigs it’s a bit harder to get away with chatting. Which is just as well, because one day, someone is going to get killed for it.
Posted by Knox on May 24, 2011
ps – you do get some dodgy results when you search for their stuff on youtube…
Posted by Knox on May 24, 2011
of course, i had to go other and have a listen… I actually grinned out loud when the guy put the helmet back on! yes – ‘grinned’ out loud…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH9Q4fsZ1IY
Posted by Knox on May 24, 2011
“the audience were enthusiastic in that mostly-just-standing-there way of London music crowds.” – so true – but what’s with that, exactly?
It is so brilliant to be totally transported by a song/band. When I first listened to Dave Matthews Band (first album I heard ‘Before These Crowded Streets’, when I offered to look after a friend’s music collection while he was on holiday), I got that same ‘oh my God’-ness, and promptly bought a load of their albums. To this day, I still love the sound of Dave Matthews’ voice, and can’t figure why they didn’t make it big over here.
And yes, there is that sort of trying to get a balance between wanting a favourite band to do well, and not wanting to somehow ‘lose’ them to the massiveness of making it very big. I love the band Adrian Roye & The Exiles (they are amazing – check them out – see them live: they are even more amazing live than on youtube), and would love for them to get signed and better known, but I will miss little gigs with not quite enough room, and loads of banter between the band and the crowd. That said, I went to see De La Soul the other week, and they had an amazing connection with the crowd, even though it was massive… I guess all I’m saying is – it’d be great if you made it massive and were able to fill Wembley or something ridiculous like that, but smaller gigs are always much, much nicer.
Posted by Headlines – 28th May « BrittPop.com on May 29, 2010
[...] Mark Watson: Careless talk costs lives Mark’s blog is a delight to read every day, but this article really stood out to me. It’s about music, and how certain bands and artists can affect you more than others – your “pet” bands, per say. And what happens when your favourite band are all of a sudden everybody’s favourite? It just doesn’t feel that special anymore. [...]
Posted by Heather on May 23, 2010
I didn’t know New Pornographers were Canadian. As a Canadian myself, I feel this was a bit remiss of me. They’re a band that’s been cropping up sort of in the background of my life the last little while; I kept meaning to check them out and then I’d forget about it, but I’m going to rectify that now! Thanks for the rec, Mark!
Posted by Rose on May 22, 2010
Since I am from Canada, I am a bit bemused by you guys discovering The New Pornographers. They’re pretty big in Canada, in particular because their members have all sorts of side projects and are connected to heaps of other Canadian indie bands. If you are enjoying TNP, you should definitely delve deeper into our indie scene – there are some AMAZING bands! My #1 recommendation would be Patrick Watson.
I have also had the experience of discovering a musician relatively early on in their career, and then following them to super-stardom. In my case, that musician is Jason Mraz. I started listening to him when The Remedy and You and I Both were on the radio… and now there are all these fans who heard I’m Yours and all of a sudden are in love with him. Luckily, Jason is such an amazing performer and man that there is an abundance of love and music to go around. (I’d still like to go to a concert that doesn’t include drunk ditzy young teens though. Eurgh.)
Posted by Seamus on May 22, 2010
I felt I should mention my own “pet” band, Porcupine Tree, who were also my choice for the MP3 player challenge. At one point in time, their sound was very similar to Radiohead (The Bends/Ok Computer era), but the have gradually become heavier. Saying that, they always progress in interesting and unexpected ways. I managed to see them for the first time in the ABC in Glasgow (1250 capacity, and home of the world’s largest rotating disco ball, which they made excellent use of) and it was probably the best gig I have ever been to. I always find it odd that a band who are in many ways more mainstream than other progressive bands (for instance, later Radiohead) and who have been around for such a long time (they formed in 1987) are still so small. I really want them to get the recognition they deserve, but at the same time, I don’t think it would be the same if everyone was trying to get hold of the original print of Voyage 34 with the alternative colour scheme. So, yeah, I agree with you is basicly what I’m trying to say, in a very long winded way.
Posted by lora on May 21, 2010
Really good blog, I share a major annoynace with people talking act gigs and also generally acting like idiots, not good.
I’ve always have a load of pet bands the main three are Midasuno, Dopamine and Straight Lines.
Midasuno have split up like a few mentioned in these comments as it just never happened for them.
And although seeing the other bands in tiny rooms and being there at the beginning is brilliant, I love it when any of my “pet” bands start to get noteriety, cos they’re finally getting the success I think they deserve
(if this makes sense?)
There’s some great bands mentioned in these comments too, when I’ve got time I might go through and check them out…
Posted by Catherine on May 21, 2010
I love Jimmy Buffett. He’s been around forever, and you can’t live in Florida and not know who he is. Last night I was watching a live feed of his sound-check in Houston. It kept going in and out, but I was desperate for a live fix. I usually see him every year, but last year the lack of a job kept me away. This year he didn’t come to my state. His concerts are the best I’ve ever been to. The tailgate parties in the parking lot before the concert are half the fun. Parrotheads (Jimmy’s followers) are friends even if they have never met before.
I also love Frank Turner. Just recently found him on a iTunes by accident. Bought three of his albums immediately. Have been hooked ever since. I’m even going to New York from North Carolina in August to see him. I’ve never even done that for Jimmy.
Both Jimmy and Frank have songs about growing older but not up. Maybe that’s the common element I love. I don’t ever want to grow up.
Posted by MusicalLottie on May 21, 2010
My ‘pet band’ are an A Cappella group, Voces8. I wrote a whole ramble that ended up making no sense (I would blame it on hitting my head really hard yesterday, but my rambles never make sense anyway) … suffice it to say, I hypocritically sympathise with having to share. I’m a latecomer to V8 – last October two of the members started running a workshop-leading course, and I became completely obsessed within the subsequent couple of weeks. Only after a couple of months did I realise how large an international following they attract wherever they perform, and how late I was. But, in my own special way, I shall always be one of their most enthusiastic fans
(Even other a cappella fans don’t always appreciate them – I love them for their performance and musicality. Initially I was blown away by their vocal percussion too, but I’ve since discovered other groups that are better at the glitzy effects. I think what makes V8 special is that their classical background always brings something to their pop and jazz covers, and that their main aim is for people to enjoy themselves. And most importantly to me, they now spend far more time on education work than on performance
)
Posted by max on May 21, 2010
See? even re-reading my comment from 10 mins ago I feel how it distills this “I’m better than the rest cause I knew them way before” feeling we are discussing =)
Posted by max on May 21, 2010
Mark! amazing blog.
I know what it feels to “root” for the small bands and then find yourself a bit jealous when they make it.
I remember seeing Opeth and Porcupine Tree in their ’03 tour in washington DC playing for ~ 500 people.
Then I saw PT in 2008 filling a ~2000 people venue two days in a row and finally selling out a 10k venue in 2009.
Posted by Amy on May 21, 2010
I like New Pornographers but I have to admit I’m not really blown away by them, although I LOVE the song Ballad of a Comeback Kid. My pet band is an indie rock band from smalltown Texas called Eisley and they consist of three sisters, a brother and a cousin. They just write the most beautiful songs with gorgeous harmonies. It’s my goal in life to see them live but, unfortunately, they only seem to play in the US. Hopefully I’ll get to see them one day.
Posted by Lyndsey on May 21, 2010
I know they are well known but I felt exactly the same way when I first heard Elbow’s ‘One Day Like this’. Great track and seems to sum up life at the moment. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0wDYWyYRQo
Posted by Alex on May 21, 2010
Hmm. That link seems to have failed.
I’ll try again…
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Daniel-The-Lion/372151449795?ref=ts
If that doesn’t work- they’re called Daniel and the Lion. Search for them, they’re good.
Posted by Alex on May 21, 2010
This is my pet band…
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Daniel-The-Lion/372151449795?ref=ts
And not only because my sister is in it.
Posted by Andy on May 21, 2010
Really interesting blog (not just today but this is the first time I’ve been driven to comment). I’m a huge fan of James and feel that they have not been credited for their huge catalogue of quality work – most people only know Sit Down and it is so unrepresentative of them that it really annoys me. And inevitably at their gigs once they get SD out of the way all of the non-committed fans start going to tehbar and chatting through the quality slower songs or new stuff – it really annoys me. Mind you I am an enthusiastic singer and that probably p1sses off others around me!
Posted by Dawn on May 21, 2010
I love a band from America called “Grandaddy”. The Lead singer Jason Lytle has the most beautiful voice and almost all of their songs can reduce me to tears.
On my dinner hour in a very noisy canteen I listen to my ipod touch and depending on how the morning has gone I alternate between Muse and Grandaddy!
After an hour of beautiful music the afternoon shift doesn’t seem so daunting:-)
Posted by JoC on May 21, 2010
I feel similarly about The Dears. Amazing Canadian band that aren’t completely unknown, but I just don’t understand why they don’t have the same level of success as the Arcade Fire. Similar sort of stuff, but just beautiful beautiful songs that make me feel alive. I haven’t seen them live, but would sell a kidney to do so.
Posted by LisaD on May 21, 2010
My pet band was/is Moxy Fruvous. I say “was” because they split up a while ago; I say “is” because I will love them forever. They were a Canadian band that started out as buskers. For a while most of their US gigs were right on the Canadian border. I got introduced to them by a friend from upstate New York. Their music could be really funny, bordering on novelty (or actual novelty like the rap version of “Green Eggs and Ham” that was performed at their live shows) and then the next song would be so gut wrenchingly beautiful that I’d have to stop the CD to have a good cry. Their lyrics are fantastic “My Baby Loves a Bunch of Authors” has the rather brilliant rhyme: “Now I’m pounding the ouzo with Mario Puzo.” In addition to loving the music, my (slightly radical) Québécois family liked them because even though they were from Toronto they were behind the notion of Canada being bilingual, wrote several songs in French and got booed at a hockey game for singing the national anthem in both English and French…which apparently is some kind of sin up there.
Posted by Andy H on May 20, 2010
I was at the gig last night, and TNP were truly marvellous. They’ve been my ‘pet band’ for years, since a Canadian friend played me ‘Mystery Hours’, and I decided to listen to some of their other songs. I think the first time I heard ‘Mass Romantic’ I started smiling, and find it nigh on impossible to do anything other than that whenever I hear it. So glad you enjoyed the gig as much as I did (though I must admit to occasional bad-singing-along when I got caught up in the moment).
Oh, and as one of the other readers mentioned, it was the delightful Kathryn Calder doing the lead female vocals for them last night. Sadly neither Neko Case nor Dan Bejar were there last night. Thankfully the rest of the band is just as awesome.
It is weird seeing bands you like transform from being followed by a small band of lunatics to a horde of ‘part-timers’. I remember seeing Damien Rice having a massive strop on stage as people were talking loudly at the bar and it was drowning out all of the quiet, acoustic music, so it’s not just the people looking intently at the stage who feels the effects.
I’m not sure what point I’m making now, and I’m mostly just rambling. Anyway, bravo for increasing the profile of a great band.
Posted by Ben Draper on May 20, 2010
I must say that I don’t really get your obsession with The New Pornos. They are quite good but I’m not blown away really. I am, however, a big fan of the underdog.
I’ve always lived in awkward places for gigs, it seems that if you live outside London, Bristol or Manchester you very rarely get to see the bands you like, you just have to make do with what’s around. Maybe I’m not trying hard enough.
The title of best gig I have ever seen is split between two. The first was in the Bilston Robin Club and it was an old punk band from Ireland, peaked in fame in about 1978, 13 years before I was born and naturally we were the youngest people there by about a decade. There was maybe 500 to a thousand people there and they were all die hard fans, having stuck with them through the decades and me and my friend who had gotten really into them by chance aged 14 or so and the energy was incredible. Everyone really wanted to be there, everyone knew the words and when to join in and everyone was well up for a good dance and to listen to and experience the band.
The other one was Jose Gonzales who is quite well known I reckon and could probably draw a big crowd to the right place. Luckily for the crowd, this was the wrong place in a small seaside town in the south of Italy at a tiny festival that seemed to comprise largely of dodgy european heavy metal bands (though Wildbirds and Peacedrums, the Wave Pictures and Glasvegas also played) and it was obvious the crowd was there for them. Jose, who was on last, spent quite a while clearing the outdoor stage so that it was effectively a huge gazebo with a raised platform and an amp on it. You could even see the vans out the back where he would go after the set. Anyway, during the tidying up, a lot of the people left and we were down to about 200 people, two deep at the stage on a warm and very early sunday morning about 2500 miles from home. His songs just reverberated in the openness and everyone loved them.
These two experiences suggest that the perfect gig hangs entirely on the percentage of the audience enraptured by the performance. At these two it was 100%. It is particularly bad when you are with someone who isn’t really into it and you have to spend half your time worrying about them not enjoying themselves.
The worst though is when some precocious twat spends the entire gig getting the performer trying to sign his T-shirt and shouts at him through the songs and waves his shirt and a pen at them non stop. He didn’t care about the music, he just wanted a signature. As soon as he got it he crowd-surfed right out of there the knob. GRRRR
Posted by Ally on May 20, 2010
I only got into my ‘pet band’ around two years ago, I guess. They’re quite a big name in Australia (The Whitlams) and I saw them last year playing at the Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. That was an amazing night. So much awesome music. But even though they’re so amazing and so (mostly) well known lots of people around my age are too young to have really heard of them and refuse to try them because they’re Australian!! I believe there is a very special place reserved in hell for people who refuse to see anything Australian cause they automatically think it’ll be “shit”. Movies, TV shows, bands, sometimes even comedians. Damn the cultural cringe thing.
Posted by (Magnificent) Josh on May 20, 2010
Can I first apologise for what I’m about to do. It’s a sickening, disgusting self-promotion. I’m actually ashamed of it, but here goes.
I did a blog post about the album that contains From Blown Speakers.
http://auralsexual.blogspot.com/2010/04/special-new-pornographers-electric.html
Urgh…
Anyway, my pet band have also split up. They were The Broken Family Band. I was so upset….
Posted by PyroclasticFlo on May 20, 2010
Lucky devil! We had tickets and were going to spend a couple of days in London especially for them and the Conchords. Worth it for Bleeding Heart Show alone! Sadly had to cancel due to sick doggie (now on mend – yay!), but lovely to hear about it.
Posted by Laurs on May 20, 2010
Now, I have a pet band, but they are very well known. But this still causes me issues. I have a very ecletic taste in music, name a genre and I will have something in it (except jazz, I hate jazz). But my favourite band of all time and always will be is Westlife. Now, I am prepared for and accept that people will take the piss. I can even accept people’s comments about them being a bland cover band who are pointless (I don’t agree, but everyone is entitled to an opinion)
My issue is with people who won’t give them a chance. I get that they aren’t ‘cool’ or that liking them is seen as something for losers and children who don’t know any better but actually, they are a boy band who have been successful for 12 years now and I saw them at yet another sell out gig on Monday. I have my own personal reasons for liking them, mainly to do with the fact that when I was 15 and I first heard Swear It Again, it saved me from suicide and I will always be grateful for that.
I just wish people would give them a chance. I’ve reluctantly dragged four different people to their concerts over the years, all of them claiming to not like them and by the end of it proclaiming that they are brilliant.
That’s the beauty of music. No matter what your preconceptions, music can still blow you away.
Sorry that turned into a rant. I’ve needed to vent about that for some time now!
Posted by issey on May 20, 2010
oops…(cont) around other people knowing that they’re not just playing for you
Posted by issey on May 20, 2010
i’m the same when it comes to new music. i love it when i discover a band that no one else has heard but then get annoyed when they’re all over the radio. it’s even worse when someone who has just heard their music says that tat hand is yheir favourite when i’ve been listening to them years before them. although i’m glad of the bands success, it’s not quite the same listening to them around the people knowing
Posted by Laura on May 20, 2010
I shall get my boyfriend to download some stuff (I have major issues with itunes – it hates me). Totally agree about the talking thing, except I always pick people up on it; one of these days I will pick on the wrong person and have to get rescued. My ‘proudest’ moment was telling some twats to shut the fuck up or leave during ‘Say it Ain’t So’ at Weezer’s gig in Hammersmith a few years back. Turns out they were in the Kooks who were supporting them. They promptly left. Hurrah!
My pet band split up a few years ago; they were called Terris and had some excellent write-ups and great things were supposed to happen, but the singer was a bit of a druggie and they split up before the release of their second album. I was lucky enough to see them at ULU in 2000 and it was fantastic, even though most people left by the time they came on as everyone was there for the support band. ‘Who was it?’, I hear you ask. Coldplay. Just not fair…
Posted by Gabi on May 20, 2010
Thank you for an introduction for a fantastic Band. Over recent months I have found 2 which stuck me as insanely brilliant when their songs and lyrics instantly made so much sense to me, and these are Belle and Sebastian (possibly a slight late comer) and Emmy the Great. Both of these bands produce music which make me display a cornucopia of emotions all in the space of a few minutes. Quite impressive and quite a treat for the ears
Posted by Jon on May 20, 2010
My pet band were Cake. Big enough in the US for Weird Al to have parodied them, but almost unknown over here. I saw them twice which is pretty good going for me. I never managed to really get any of my friends to appreciate them though my girlfriend humours me by having “Ain’t No Good” as her ringtone.
As a pleasantish surprise, I just checked Spotify and noticed that what I consider my favourite tracks fall largely out of their popularity top-ten so I guess I appreciate them in a different way to the great unwashed. Which makes me their specialmost fan. Be my friends, Cake! I love you more than your own mothers!
Posted by Megan on May 20, 2010
Back to add that the title of this has given me a fierce urge to play the HHGTTG Infocom game again.
Posted by cymruangel on May 20, 2010
My ‘pet band’ have also split up – they were called Easyworld, and I met them because a friend of mine was a local radio DJ and they were doing a new music live set.
Finding out that a friend from Unviersity had actually heard of them was very thrilling!
Posted by Beth on May 20, 2010
My pet band isn’t really a band; her name is Jose Vanders and she has a beautiful voice. It’s lovely being able to introduce something you love to people that haven’t heard it. However, I agree that when acts start to gain popularity and fans that aren’t really proper fans, it can ruin the magic a little bit. I’ve found that with comedians that I’ve liked for awhile that have suddenly become really popular and are playing massive gigs rather than little back room gigs. It’s great for them, but saddening for the fans that’ve been around from the beginning.
Also, thank you for The New Pornographers. I bought two tracks from itunes, fell in love and then bought 4 albums (Twin Cinema, Challengers, Mass Romantic and Together). Brilliant.
Posted by Megan on May 20, 2010
I’m still snobby in that 15-year-old “Yeah, well, I liked them BEFORE they were famous” way sometimes, even though I’m about 800 years behind on music these days.
That having been said, I’m seeing Jonathan Coulton at a venue for 500 people next week and I can’t wait.
(Also, seeing Mark at a Just for Laughs cabaret-ish venue was deeply awesome compared with seeing him in a (comparatively) giant theatre in Edinburgh. Just sayin’.)
Posted by Bloomability (Beth) on May 20, 2010
Another quick note… we have some awesome pet bands collectively!
Posted by Beth (Bloomability) on May 20, 2010
I just wrote out a really long comment, but thanks to Sod’s law, my PC decided to shut itself down at the exact moment I was writing the last word. In summation, I completely agree with you. I love my pet bands too much for them to escape from their little boxes with yellow tags on (one of them is Matchbox Twenty).
PS. I’m coming to Stoke in October ^_^
Posted by Abbie on May 20, 2010
Imogen Heap at Shepherd’s Bush Empire was the last gig I went to. The crowd down in the pit was largely well behaved but there were these girls standing in front of me (the floor is flat so I couldn’t see over their heads) who recorded almost every song on their Blackberrys, which I would have minded a little less if they didn’t have a blinking red light the whole time they were held up. I saw more of that light than I saw of the stage that night. I don’t mind people recording a song or two, particularly as it means I don’t have to and can find it on YouTube later as a reminder of the concert, but every single song? Maybe just live for the moment and try not to worry about remembering every single detail later.
Posted by Ig on May 20, 2010
Great blog – I know what you mean about the idiot quota at bigger gigs. I saw Ben Folds a couple of years back (a definite pet artist for me), and the couple on front of me not only talked the whole way through, but did it facing the wrong direction. I can only assume that they had somehow wandered unnoticed into the venue thinking it was a pub.
Never heard the New Pornographers, but I’ve just put them on Spotify and so far everything I’ve heard has been fantastic. Quite a find, this – The Jessica Numbers stands out as a great tune.
Posted by John on May 20, 2010
Great blog about a very true phenomenon.
I feel this all the time.
Snow Patrol is the one that hurt the most. From ‘Downhill from Here’ to ‘Chasing Cars’ in a few years. I still, still despite a lot of their output being horrid, have a massive soft spot for them though.
Most recent one is The National who’ve gone from a band I saw with about 10 people in Leeds to selling out the Albert Hall!
Posted by Katy on May 20, 2010
I have had conversations along the same lines of what you were saying in this here blog. I’ve had many a “pet band” but most recently its Volbeat. I saw their song on one of the music channels and fell in love. I went to see them in a tiny venue in London and had the best night of my life. I even went to Amsterdam to see them, and tried by hand at learning Danish, their native tounge.
Last year they played London again, but a larger venue. Not massive by any means, but to me it was just too large. Too many people suddenly fighting for the object of my affection. It was awful and I felt very sad and my friend who was with me pointed out that if I loved them then I’d want them to earn money and be more successful. Which I do, but I’d still like them to play intimate gigs, just for me you know.
Also re the talking at gigs. I was also at a gig last night. A very small gig with about 100. It was a mix of a book reading and song singing thing and it was the singers debut novel (Storage Stories by Jim Bob, buy it, its excellent). And the amount of people stood around me chatting, even when he was reading from his book. I find it so disrespectful. I know everyone isnt going to know all the songs, but you dont need to interrupt my enjoyment of the evening just because you came to hear him do a Carter USM track that you only know the chorus to.
Posted by Kathryn on May 20, 2010
I wish I had a pet band, it sounds like fun. Most of my friends are quite mainstream, so I get to feel cool for having heard of quite prominent indie bands first while everyone else is listening to Rihanna or the Glee soundtrack.
My pet thing is probably comedy in general; I told some friends I was going to see Dara O Briain a few weeks ago and they gave me blank stares.
I shall endeavour to check out New Pornographers, they sound like my sort of thing (“four-way vocal arrangements” are always appealing) and I’m in desperate need of something new to listen to while studying.
Posted by adamgilder on May 20, 2010
Hay, wonderful entry.
I know the selfish disappointment of fanboyism well, as a favourite band or an act really makes headway. How dare they spread themselves out they are mine.
I started listening to the New Pornographers about a year ago after reading about them on a blog of yours (or perhaps twitter), so if they become household names soon, you are partly to blame.
Good band suggestion.
Cheers.
Posted by Miss Blue on May 20, 2010
Go and see bands at The Luminere in Kilburn. They have signs up all through the band room saying if you want to talk while the band’s playing, get out. And people obey them. Venue for music fans, not people who went to say they did.
http://www.theluminaire.co.uk
Posted by Anna Lowman on May 20, 2010
Hadn’t finished! Sorry!
…on Q Music channel. I’d never seen him before but I just *got* him straight away. My journey into his back catalogue was much like Mark’s, I bought the single instantly (in fact, I think my parents bought me it, wonderfully) and then bought his new album and all of the Ben Folds Five albums. Then I sought out all the rarities, hit up YouTube, got involved on the forums etc etc. Now I have to go out and buy (not pre-order, not download) the albums on the day of release, and am anxiously awaiting his return to the UK. He’s a beautiful, raucous piano player, writes hilarious, deep, silly lyrics and has a Southern accent to die for.
Posted by Anna Lowman on May 20, 2010
Fantastic blog, thanks Mark. They’ve been recommended to me various time and yet I’ve never really done much about it – I will this time. Ben Folds (and his Five) is my pet musician without a doubt. Two others get special commendation – Rufus Wainwright and The Divine Comedy (all three toured together in America, something I’ve never quote got over missing) – and The Beatles are very special to me, but I’m not sure I can really call the biggest band ever my ‘pet’ band.
I only came across Folds in September 2001 when his first solo single, Rockin’ The Suburbs popped up on Q
Posted by Mark D on May 20, 2010
The New Pornos are a great band, (started listening to them about a year ago), I don’t have all of their albums but I do love their music.
Posted by Al Kennedy on May 20, 2010
(Also, I should have said, really glad you enjoyed the gig, I love gigs like that where it’s a band you really, really love and they knock your socks off.)
Posted by Al Kennedy on May 20, 2010
Neko Case was there? I thought Kathryn Calder was singing Neko’s parts for this tour, and Neko wasn’t joining them for the international leg? I’m going to see them in September in Glasgow, I hope she’s with them at that point.
Posted by Rachael on May 20, 2010
P.S. did you forget to pick a mistake to undo?
Posted by Rachael on May 20, 2010
I get abit jealous when people suddenly like someone I like but fortunately that doesn’t happen alot! Gigs are easily ruined by twats, I like it if there is hardly any one else there, but then i feel bad because I worry that if noone else cares they might not come back, especially as they aren’t British. Luckily, so far he always returns and always seems to be able to make up for the twats, like when he dedicates a song to me and I nearly die.
Posted by Misha on May 20, 2010
If anyone was interested by the way they’re still on myspace http://www.myspace.com/envyandothersins (the tracks)
Posted by Natalie on May 20, 2010
when your favourite band really makes it big, there are pitfalls for the loyal fan: bigger gigs means less intimacy, more drunks; suddenly you’re ‘sharing’ them with more fans, and feel a tiny bit diminished in your fandom; Would I want the New Pornos to become more a household name? Not really, no. Do I want them to enjoy the rewards of excellence, though? Yes, absolutely.
–
That is a feeling that can be emphasised by every music fan. When you discover a relatively unheard of band and have such a connection with their music you do begin to get the feeling that it BELONGS to you, and no-one else. As you pointed out above – one of my biggest pet peeves is witnessing a band that I had previously seen at a dingy 200 capacity venue in the backstreets of Camden, take the gut-wrenching and commercially high-lighted steps into an arena; worst of all the O2. Not because I think they’re a “sell-out” or don’t want them to experience success, but because now I have to SHARE them. And I just don’t want to *clings*
Great piece yet again Mark
Posted by Misha on May 20, 2010
Another interesting blog. I had a “pet” band for a while, Envy and Other Sins. They’ve since split up which is sad but there is something wonderful about hearing the music you love, live, in a tiny room, 3 foot away from the stage.
Same with comedy really too, that’s good fun in a tiny room 3 foot from the stage as well.