Sam Smith....evidence rock and roll may finally be dead

mwplum
mwplum Posts: 1,544
in Other Music
How is this guy headlining music festivals? I'm 34, so not as old as a lot of PJ fans, but I feel like this is going to be a bit of an old man rant.

While different festivals have always catered to different demographics, I've always enjoyed the diverse genres represented at festivals like Lolla, ACL, Coachella, Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, etc. and while those festivals ebb and flow into hip hop or dance music from time to time (as may be the flavour of the day), they have always stayed the course of having a solid grounding in rock n roll.

However, this year (and last year to a certain extent with Bruno Mars), it seems that many of the festivals are starting to pander to the (evil) POP dollar. Sam Smith headlining festivals??? A guy styled after George Michael, who admittedly ripped off Tom Petty is headlining massive festivals?!!! Just because he has like a billion hits on youtube? I always felt like those festivals would never consider booking the likes of Bieber, but who knows? maybe that's fair game now. Oversaturation of festivals is part of the problem, but these are well established industry leading festivals booking the likes of Sam Smith, or Drake for that matter.

This is appalling, it makes the crowd lamer and it makes the experience lamer (cue to kids taking iPhone vids of his one song and uploading to various social media outlets). I can't imagine a festival being closed down by a dude with one song, one slow slow slow song.

Thoughts?
1992-07-21 Vancouver
1993-9-4 Vancouver
1996-9-16 Seattle
1998-7-19 Vancouver, 7-21 Seattle, Memorial Stadium
2000-11-6 Seattle
2001-10-22 Seattle
2002 -12-09 Seattle
2009-8-17 Manchester, 9-25 Vancouver
2011-6-16 Seattle (EV), 9-3/4 PJ20, 9-25 Vancouver
2012-6-27 Amsterdam (#2!)
2013-11-29 Portland, 12-4 Vancouver, 12-6 Seattle
2014-AUS - 1-26 Sydney, 1-31 Adelaide, 2-11/12 EV Sydney State Theatre, 2-13 EV Opera House
2014 - USA - Memphis, Detroit, MOLINE, St. Paul, MILWAUKEE, Denver, 25/26 Bridge School
2016 - Lexington, Philly x 2, MSG x 2, Quebec City, Ottawa, Toronto x 2, Pemberton, Fenway x 2, Wrigley x 2
2018 - Seattle x 2, Missoula, Fenway x 2
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Comments

  • Tim Simmons
    Tim Simmons Posts: 9,993
    Why is pop evil?

  • Tim Simmons
    Tim Simmons Posts: 9,993
    I think it makes sense to book popular acts to sell tickets to festivals.
  • buck502000
    buck502000 Birthplace of GIBSON guitar Posts: 8,951
    wrong on so many levels
  • Tim Simmons
    Tim Simmons Posts: 9,993
    What is?


  • buck502000
    buck502000 Birthplace of GIBSON guitar Posts: 8,951
    this guy headlining music festivals
  • Of The Aggie
    Of The Aggie The ATX Posts: 1,550
    Rock has been dead for a while now. Pop is what's insanely popular so of course they're going to book whomever's going to sell tickets.
  • 63schoefflin
    63schoefflin Posts: 2,581
    Most festivals aren't geared towards people like us. The sooner you realize and accept that, the easier you will sleep at night. ;-)
    '08- Camden 1-2   '09- Chicago 2; Spectrum 1-4
    '10- MSG 1-2   '11- PJ20
    '12- MIA; DeLuna '13- Wrigley; Pitt; Brooklyn 1-2; Philly 1-2; Baltimore; Seattle
    '14- Denver   '16- Philly 1-2; MSG 2
    '17- Pilgrimage Music Fest (Eddie)
    '18- Fenway
  • badbrains
    badbrains Posts: 10,255
    Did somebody say rock in roll is dead?

    http://youtu.be/GqzzAyGl3zA
  • SD48277
    SD48277 Posts: 12,243
    badbrains said:

    Did somebody say rock in roll is dead?

    http://youtu.be/GqzzAyGl3zA

    ^^^Nice!
    People have been saying rock is dead for ages. Don't see it happening.
    ELITIST FUK
  • Tim Simmons
    Tim Simmons Posts: 9,993
    Its not dead. It wont ever be dead. Its just not popular. Its what jazz was in the 60s.

  • 63schoefflin
    63schoefflin Posts: 2,581
    There's so much great music out there right now. It's hard to keep pace with it all.
    '08- Camden 1-2   '09- Chicago 2; Spectrum 1-4
    '10- MSG 1-2   '11- PJ20
    '12- MIA; DeLuna '13- Wrigley; Pitt; Brooklyn 1-2; Philly 1-2; Baltimore; Seattle
    '14- Denver   '16- Philly 1-2; MSG 2
    '17- Pilgrimage Music Fest (Eddie)
    '18- Fenway
  • 2-feign-reluctance
    2-feign-reluctance TigerTown, USA Posts: 23,462
    Pop and rock need to stay in their fucking lanes.
    www.cluthelee.com
  • Tim Simmons
    Tim Simmons Posts: 9,993
    No way. Mix it up. Make things interesting.
  • Tim Simmons
    Tim Simmons Posts: 9,993
    If Sam Smith does latch live like the Disclosure record, that's reason enough to make him headline.

    Also if this is in reference to the V fest announcement, just go see Kasabian instead. They aren't very good, but there is your rock.
  • josevolution
    josevolution Posts: 31,827
    Easy just don't go to these festivals , i won't attend any festivals at all i don't care who is headlining those days are way over give me a small act at a good club i enjoy that way more .....
    jesus greets me looks just like me ....
  • weddingparade
    weddingparade Posts: 1,179
    josevolution is right. club shows are way better for rock n roll
    edm is killing music worse than sam smith. imo
  • tempo_n_groove
    tempo_n_groove Posts: 41,636
    weddingparade said:

    josevolution is right. club shows are way better for rock n roll
    edm is killing music worse than sam smith. imo

    I got to see Skrillex and Diplo and they both killed it. Some of the better shows at ACL this year.
  • Tim Simmons
    Tim Simmons Posts: 9,993
    The only thing killing music is everything that Music is competing against for people's attention. No genre of music is making things worse for music.
  • DewieCox
    DewieCox Posts: 11,432
    Pop music seems to have more musical talent on display than what is popular with rock music. People like Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars are insanely talented musicians. The same can't really be said for the many rock acts that make a big splash.

    I realize thats a little off topic, but as others have pointed out, festival organizers are trying to sell tickets first and foremost. It would be a revolving door of the same dozen or so names, most of them basically dinosaurs in this day and age, if festival organizers stuck to rock acts.

    I'd like to see a resurgence of actual musicians on stage.
  • Red Lukin
    Red Lukin Canada Posts: 2,994
    mwplum, I totally agree with you. Amazing to see so many people on here with different opinions. I guess that's why artists like Sam smith are headlining festivals.

    Rock and roll, however, is not dead. There are a lot of great smaller bands; we just have to search harder to find them. My last 3 live shows were antemasque, ty segall, and Sleater Kinney. Great shows

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