Other bands you just don't "get"

RatherBe

"Ants Marching" is one of the ones I like from DMB (that I've heard), another band I don't dislike but have never felt any strong compunction to get into.

Thirty Bills Unpaid

Gern Blansten wrote:

liljoey90 wrote:

To some of you saying DMB, I'm curious to hear you're reasoning why? I'm not even just asking because they are my favorite band… Just curious as to why you don't get them. I can understand if they aren't you're thing, they are obviously a different band than Pearl Jam… Just not sure why people don't get them. Their musicians are top notch, and Dave is an incredible song writer

Kind of forgot about this thread but I'll repeat what I posted a few pages back.

I saw them live and while I agree they are great musicians and the songs were tight, they are plain vanilla.

They played a song that would have to be equivalent to a PJ song like Inside Job and I was floored that literally 60% of the audience was not even paying attention. I saw them at Klipsch outdoor music center in Noblesville, IN and was in an elevated VIP section at the back of the covered pavillion so I had a great view of the crowd.

I am not a fan but liked a few of their songs that I heard from the radio (except Ants go Marching...what an absolutely stupid tune) but this song they played live was one that I would probably consider one of the best DMB songs I've ever heard. And as I said at least 60% of the audience was just socializing and not paying attention.

That I ran into a bunch of my high school daughter's friends there tells me all I need to know about DMB.

But I wouldn't base much of my opinion about a band based on the clientele they attract to their concerts.

There is some truth to the stereotyped 'drunken-frat-boy' fan base, but the band has much to offer a listener who doesn't concern themselves with the a group of idiots over to their right or left.

If all you have heard is the songs the radio plays, I would speculate that you haven't heard many of the songs that makes DMB great. In my world, they are awesome and the fact that I can see them every year places them right near the top of my favourite bands.

There are a lot of bashers on this site. I don't spend much time at all at the Warehouse, but interestingly enough, there are a lot of PJ bashers there. Point being: music is individual. I have participated in this thread revealing my personal dislikes, but it is almost unfair for any of us to do so: if a band creates a song that gives someone joy listening to it... who are we to piss on it?

Driftin'Along

The point of this thread wasn't to piss on anything but just to have a discussion around some of the bands that meet the criteria for the listener. Maybe someone out there is a fan of that band and can direct somebody to a song or album that may change their mind.

Thirty Bills Unpaid

Driftin'Along wrote:

The point of this thread wasn't to piss on anything but just to have a discussion around some of the bands that meet the criteria for the listener. Maybe someone out there is a fan of that band and can direct somebody to a song or album that may change their mind.

Speaking for myself... I spoke to strongly about the bands I 'don't get' and as a result (through extension), I likely offended some avid listeners.

As for your suggestion, to those who do not 'get' DMB... I offer the following songs (hardly the definitive collection- just my personal preferences) as evidence to their strength:

More mainstream:
Satellite
So Much To Say
Crash
#41
Lie in Our Graves
Don't Drink the Water
Grey Street
So Right
American Baby
Why I Am
Rooftop

Less Mainstream:
The Song That Jane Likes
The Last Stop
Big Eyed Fish
Bartender (awesome)
If I had It All
You Might Die Trying

SVRDhand13

Muse

Gern Blansten

Thirty Bills Unpaid wrote:

Gern Blansten wrote:

liljoey90 wrote:

To some of you saying DMB, I'm curious to hear you're reasoning why? I'm not even just asking because they are my favorite band… Just curious as to why you don't get them. I can understand if they aren't you're thing, they are obviously a different band than Pearl Jam… Just not sure why people don't get them. Their musicians are top notch, and Dave is an incredible song writer

Kind of forgot about this thread but I'll repeat what I posted a few pages back.

I saw them live and while I agree they are great musicians and the songs were tight, they are plain vanilla.

They played a song that would have to be equivalent to a PJ song like Inside Job and I was floored that literally 60% of the audience was not even paying attention. I saw them at Klipsch outdoor music center in Noblesville, IN and was in an elevated VIP section at the back of the covered pavillion so I had a great view of the crowd.

I am not a fan but liked a few of their songs that I heard from the radio (except Ants go Marching...what an absolutely stupid tune) but this song they played live was one that I would probably consider one of the best DMB songs I've ever heard. And as I said at least 60% of the audience was just socializing and not paying attention.

That I ran into a bunch of my high school daughter's friends there tells me all I need to know about DMB.

But I wouldn't base much of my opinion about a band based on the clientele they attract to their concerts.

There is some truth to the stereotyped 'drunken-frat-boy' fan base, but the band has much to offer a listener who doesn't concern themselves with the a group of idiots over to their right or left.

If all you have heard is the songs the radio plays, I would speculate that you haven't heard many of the songs that makes DMB great. In my world, they are awesome and the fact that I can see them every year places them right near the top of my favourite bands.

There are a lot of bashers on this site. I don't spend much time at all at the Warehouse, but interestingly enough, there are a lot of PJ bashers there. Point being: music is individual. I have participated in this thread revealing my personal dislikes, but it is almost unfair for any of us to do so: if a band creates a song that gives someone joy listening to it... who are we to piss on it?

I don't disagree with you. There are some PJ songs that I despise but others consider their favorites.

I guess my point about DMB was if that many people show up to socialize and ignore what's going on musically it suggests that their popularity is more like Jimmy Buffet than Pearl Jam. I can only compare them to other bands that I've seen live and while musically they were great it was probably the most boring live show I've ever been to. I've never seen a crowd that distant from the artist.

**and I'm pretty sure they sold out both nights they played in Indy...definitely a popular show

Thirty Bills Unpaid

Gern Blansten wrote:

Thirty Bills Unpaid wrote:

But I wouldn't base much of my opinion about a band based on the clientele they attract to their concerts.

There is some truth to the stereotyped 'drunken-frat-boy' fan base, but the band has much to offer a listener who doesn't concern themselves with the a group of idiots over to their right or left.

If all you have heard is the songs the radio plays, I would speculate that you haven't heard many of the songs that makes DMB great. In my world, they are awesome and the fact that I can see them every year places them right near the top of my favourite bands.

There are a lot of bashers on this site. I don't spend much time at all at the Warehouse, but interestingly enough, there are a lot of PJ bashers there. Point being: music is individual. I have participated in this thread revealing my personal dislikes, but it is almost unfair for any of us to do so: if a band creates a song that gives someone joy listening to it... who are we to piss on it?

I don't disagree with you. There are some PJ songs that I despise but others consider their favorites.

I guess my point about DMB was if that many people show up to socialize and ignore what's going on musically it suggests that their popularity is more like Jimmy Buffet than Pearl Jam. I can only compare them to other bands that I've seen live and while musically they were great it was probably the most boring live show I've ever been to. I've never seen a crowd that distant from the artist.

And honestly, what you write is a slight source of irritation for my wife and I when we are at shows. Watching DMB at the Gorge each summer, the experience is so much better in the pavilion as opposed to the hill for exactly what you write. Without fail, we move spots on the hill 2-3 times each night trying to get away from the fools that spend their evening relentlessly high-fiving and fist-bumping each other while yelling, "Yaaaaaahhhh Daaaaaave" every :30 seconds.

But in the pavilion, fans are more than enthusiastic and the amount of singing and dancing on cue is almost incomparable. A great time!

PJForceofNature

Coldplay. Like DMB, I did try, but just couldn't get into either band. I know it's just a matter of individual taste. I have found that when DMB play at the Bridge School, my husband and I both have to leave for either a food or bathroom break!

23scidoo

muse

Bevington

gotsome420 wrote:

Kings of Leon and muse

Agreed!! KOL I dont understand. I do like Muse but last 2 albums have been S H I T but their most popular. Huh?

Bevington

PJStatTracker wrote:

Driftin'Along wrote:

This is more or less a bump but wanted to add Vampire Weekend to the discussion. I will say that I haven't heard their latest but have heard the first two and they are not terrible but not sure I get the hype. I still have to hear the new record though. Any thoughts?

in the exact same boat. Not impressed with the stuff I've heard...they new album has been very highly acclaimed, though. Haven't gotten around to checking it out yet

Hell yeah! These guys are awful with a capital ORF!

thefunkygibbon

The Beatles.....

Which was a real problem when I lived on Penny Lane

PJStatTracker

Driftin'Along wrote:

The point of this thread wasn't to piss on anything but just to have a discussion around some of the bands that meet the criteria for the listener. Maybe someone out there is a fan of that band and can direct somebody to a song or album that may change their mind.

I love this thread...people have been very respectful.

I haven't kept a running tally, but it seems like Muse, Radiohead, and Arcade Fire top the list here. Three of my favorite bands!

Chad Grattan

I know this is sad, and I have given my best shot to liking all of this stuff that has been so influential to all of my musical heroes....

-The Beatles
-The Rolling Stones
-Led Zeppelin
-Pink Floyd

I could name 20 more recent acts, but these 3 make me feel like I am missing something. What the fuck is wrong with me? lol

And I am certain, many, if not all of my favorites were influenced by those 4...

PJ
Incubus
DMB
John Mayer
Billy Joel
Faith No More
Tool
Toad the Wet Sprocket

Driftin'Along

PJStatTracker wrote:

Driftin'Along wrote:

The point of this thread wasn't to piss on anything but just to have a discussion around some of the bands that meet the criteria for the listener. Maybe someone out there is a fan of that band and can direct somebody to a song or album that may change their mind.

I love this thread...people have been very respectful.

I haven't kept a running tally, but it seems like Muse, Radiohead, and Arcade Fire top the list here. Three of my favorite bands!

Yeah, those do seem to be the top 3. But (dis?)honorable mentions go to RHCP, Foo Fighters & Nirvana. The Beatles have been mentioned a few times. The Rolling Stones & Led Zep too. I am not overly surprised by the bands mentioned through 24 pages. Thanks to everybody for keeping it respectful and let's keep it going for another 24 pages.

SVRDhand13

Mumford

RhinoJam

For me, it would have to be Phish. Not that I dont "get" it, but for me they are just not that pleasing/good in concert. I have seen them twice, and they are all musical "geniuses", but to me it seems like they start a song together, and then all ramble off and "jam" on their own for a few minutes, to at some point come back together and conclude/go on to their new song.

I get the fan following, and the gap that they fill with the Dead being gone, and the appeal for Phish and all of their dedicated fans. But from a musical, audio, and aesthetically pleasing experience I don't dig their music. They are all great musicians in their own right... but to me that means they should play with more cohesion, and not create such a jumbled sound live... it takes a lot more than just technical skill to be great musicians, and even more challenging to be great live... another reason why I love Pearl Jam so much, there is nothing better for me than a live PJ show... at a Phish show, the most appealing/interesting thing to me is the people watching not the music, and at a PJ show, it is all about the music...

anyone else feel this way about Phish?

PJSEMPRE

Coldplay
Kings of Leon
RHCP

PJ_Soul

RhinoJam wrote:

For me, it would have to be Phish. Not that I dont "get" it, but for me they are just not that pleasing/good in concert. I have seen them twice, and they are all musical "geniuses", but to me it seems like they start a song together, and then all ramble off and "jam" on their own for a few minutes, to at some point come back together and conclude/go on to their new song.

I get the fan following, and the gap that they fill with the Dead being gone, and the appeal for Phish and all of their dedicated fans. But from a musical, audio, and aesthetically pleasing experience I don't dig their music. They are all great musicians in their own right... but to me that means they should play with more cohesion, and not create such a jumbled sound live... it takes a lot more than just technical skill to be great musicians, and even more challenging to be great live... another reason why I love Pearl Jam so much, there is nothing better for me than a live PJ show... at a Phish show, the most appealing/interesting thing to me is the people watching not the music, and at a PJ show, it is all about the music...

anyone else feel this way about Phish?

I do. I agree completely. And the only thing i really remember from their show is the crowd. I don't have a memory of when I even looked at the band on stage, although I guess i must have. I definitely do remember that not a single one of the songs they played affected me in any emotional way or even made me really stop and take notice. It was really more like random background music. I didn't mind that it was there, but ibdidn't care about it either. I was too busy watching the GA pit dance and have a giant glow stick fight. :P

MagnumPJ

RhinoJam wrote:

For me, it would have to be Phish. Not that I dont "get" it, but for me they are just not that pleasing/good in concert. I have seen them twice, and they are all musical "geniuses", but to me it seems like they start a song together, and then all ramble off and "jam" on their own for a few minutes, to at some point come back together and conclude/go on to their new song.

I get the fan following, and the gap that they fill with the Dead being gone, and the appeal for Phish and all of their dedicated fans. But from a musical, audio, and aesthetically pleasing experience I don't dig their music. They are all great musicians in their own right... but to me that means they should play with more cohesion, and not create such a jumbled sound live... it takes a lot more than just technical skill to be great musicians, and even more challenging to be great live... another reason why I love Pearl Jam so much, there is nothing better for me than a live PJ show... at a Phish show, the most appealing/interesting thing to me is the people watching not the music, and at a PJ show, it is all about the music...

anyone else feel this way about Phish?

I agree with you and I don't. I saw them this past summer with a bunch of friends who are big "Phans". I knew it wasn't my scene, but that's okay from time to time as I like seeing what the hoopla is about different bands I would not normally proactively see. And I left before the first set was over. Not for me, but they loved it. Had to hear about it these past couple days with the MSG shows going down.

While I agree wholeheartedly that we probably don't get this band for the same reason, I disagree with how you said since they are such skilled musicians that they should play a certain way. I don't need them to appeal to me the way Pearl Jam does. They have a very strong fanbase that get as excited for Phish shows as we do for PJ. They play to their fanbase as much or more than really any other established band. There is something to be said for that.