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Post by frankiet on Jan 9, 2009 13:55:09 GMT -5
I've seen a few references to "when THS gets big" and gotten a little confused. I don't want to accuse anyone of anything but I wouldn't expect or desire a huge spike in popularity for the band. They seem to be who they are because of their relatively underground following. With their lyrical content (drugs etc.) I don't think they would stand a chance in the mainstream, which is currently flowing with extreme materialism and promiscuity, and that's exactly how it should be. The Hold Steady are who they are because people, such as on this forum, think they rock. Period. Fuck the mainstream!
Just some thoughts, Frankie T
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Post by lilhan on Jan 9, 2009 14:25:47 GMT -5
yeah, but no one is gonna begrudge them the success! i think that is what people are saying, really.
yeah, mainstream can suck it but if my favourite band make it big then i am gonna celebrate. massively.
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barx01
Cityscape Skin
collossal expectations...
Posts: 49
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Post by barx01 on Jan 9, 2009 15:15:50 GMT -5
The only problem with mainstream (and, by that, I take it that you mean wealth and notoriety) is the peril of selling out.
And I reckon THS has way too much integrity for that.
So...more power to them.
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Post by stuckbetween on Jan 9, 2009 16:31:51 GMT -5
I have to confess that I do get a little uptight when a band I like gets really big as something goes missing.......that personal touch, I think! But no, I wouldn't begrudge THS that though because they would deserve it.
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Post by missalabamanobody on Jan 9, 2009 17:27:12 GMT -5
I can't imagine what selling out would mean for this band. They stop writing about drugs and sex and redemption? That's what every rock band does, they just do it better, more intelligently, and with more humor than most.
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meoskop
True Scene Leader
Posts: 709
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Post by meoskop on Jan 9, 2009 17:44:13 GMT -5
I love it when my bands sell out. It means they can pay their bills.
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Post by frankiet on Jan 9, 2009 20:37:27 GMT -5
I guess we are all looking for a defintion of selling out...I see it as something that compromises an artist's integrity when they go straight for the $$$ and do anything they can including change their art in order to make the $$$. THS obviously is not cold broke but they are not the biggest band in the world. I love their music and don't think they should be any less or more well known, I just think the idea of the mainstream and selling out are interesting things to ponder.
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Post by gushingblood on Jan 9, 2009 20:44:04 GMT -5
popularity =/= selling out
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meoskop
True Scene Leader
Posts: 709
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Post by meoskop on Jan 9, 2009 23:23:05 GMT -5
Selling out = making music I don't like. That's the general definition. Take U2 - I don't like much they've done since Joshua Tree. Some people say oh, they sold out, Bono wanted to be the biggest rock star - activist, blah blah blah. But to others they just evolved, like many acts evolve, and they went in a direction I don't want to follow.
I'd be hard pressed to name a band that 'sold out' in the definition of doing something against their beliefs or inclinations in pursuit of riches. 'selling out' is very interesting because I've followed any number of bands over the last umpteen decades that were labeled that way just because they got paid for a change. THS may not be cold broke, but they've only just been able to let go of their day jobs - that's not the kind of bank you need to buy houses and live your life. I would like to see them gain in popularity, me.
Dylan plugged in, he's a judas, man.
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Sunny D
Midnight Hauler
"We've gotta try a little harder..."
Posts: 1,900
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Post by Sunny D on Jan 9, 2009 23:46:27 GMT -5
popularity =/= selling out True words. Not every popular band sells out.
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Post by elitheiceman on Jan 10, 2009 3:20:20 GMT -5
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barx01
Cityscape Skin
collossal expectations...
Posts: 49
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Post by barx01 on Jan 10, 2009 3:39:12 GMT -5
Every so often selling out plumbs a new nadir.
That duet between Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson...must I say more?!
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Post by nosferatu on Jan 10, 2009 5:02:44 GMT -5
the thing that annoys me most is when record labels sell the band out on the band's behalf by re-releasing everything all of the fucking time.
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Post by stuckbetween on Jan 10, 2009 5:26:49 GMT -5
There was an interesting spread in the Daily Mirror last week about selling out featuring Lemmy, Iggy Pop, Johnny Rotten et al doing TV adverts and what not. I saw the Iggy Pop advert for the first time last night. Swiftcover car insurance! Nice. I bet most people in the UK who see that advert have no idea who he is. uk.youtube.com/watch?v=yYnydYrZPp8
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Post by mike on Jan 10, 2009 5:45:32 GMT -5
they're not the biggest band in the world but they're mainstream already. suck it up.
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Post by stuckbetween on Jan 10, 2009 5:53:08 GMT -5
I agree. Indie is big nowadays. Bands get talked about all over the place.
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Post by lilhan on Jan 10, 2009 6:36:16 GMT -5
does this not all depend on how you define mainstream? actually, fuck it, i don't care. i still love this band whatever anyone says about them. mainstream or not, this band continue to make me happy.
that is all that matters.
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Post by mike on Jan 10, 2009 7:13:04 GMT -5
don't get me wrong, i wasn't saying it's a bad thing, just that it's a bit silly to assert that they're "underground" at this point in their career.
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Post by gushingblood on Jan 10, 2009 8:17:44 GMT -5
I saw that Iggy Pop advert as well. I thought it was really funny.
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Post by frankiet on Jan 10, 2009 9:28:42 GMT -5
You're right Mike, it is kind of silly to call them underground. Especially today with the internet and all its magical and wonderful advantages. I'm going to go blast Almost Killed Me on my parent's stereo and not think about what other people think of them...
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Post by hoodrat on Jan 10, 2009 9:31:40 GMT -5
*yawn*
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Post by mike on Jan 10, 2009 9:33:20 GMT -5
You're right Mike, it is kind of silly to call them underground. Especially today with the internet and all its magical and wonderful advantages. I'm going to go blast Almost Killed Me on my parent's stereo and not think about what other people think of them... that's the spirit!
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Post by motörben on Jan 10, 2009 9:55:35 GMT -5
If Iggy Pop wants to come round your house, drink your beer and piss in your shower, you better fucking let him.
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Post by Elwoodii on Jan 10, 2009 12:55:42 GMT -5
I saw the Iggy Pop advert for the first time today. What I can't believe is that Swiftcover actually wanted him in their advert. With his top off no less. It's not as if he's softned his public image with a fly on the wall MTV show, he's still Iggy Pop! Self mutilating, drug taking, godfather of punk. Not exactly the profile I look for when I buy insurance.
"Selling out" (whatever it is?) is cool!
Bob Dylan taught me that.
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ct
True Scene Leader
Posts: 624
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Post by ct on Jan 10, 2009 13:05:56 GMT -5
having mainstream appeal/being popular does not equate selling out. when i think of selling out, i think of a band that has completely changed their music and approach just to fit in with a trend. the one that crushed me the most was the Metallica change in the 90's. everything they did was to go against what made them a great band. they changed musical styles. they weren't fan friendly anymore(yes there was a time when Metallica let fans shot video and record concerts). they wanted to be rock stars.....
sometimes popularity of a band happens because the general population finally caught up with a certain type of music. it just takes being at the right place with the right hook for that moment. if Nirvana had released "Polly" as the single instead of "Feels Like Teen Spirit", would grunge have exploded like it did?
as for the impact of the internet on bands becoming popular, it really has not made a huge impact in the general population. the people on this board are very different than the general population. we are always seeking out new music and the internet is the perfect place to do that. we are the minority. yesterday, i read a stat that the average person sees 1.5 concerts a year. the average person buys less than 10 cd's a year.
there may be a time when one of our favorite bands finds that perfect convergence and they blow up overnight. we may not be able to see them up close and personal again. if they maintain their integrity and do what made us love them, how could we fault them for their success? we always have those years when they were "OUR" band and we knew what everyone else was missing.
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