PJ Lacking Desire To Be The Best?

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Comments

  • Tim Simmons
    Tim Simmons Posts: 9,662
    relevance has nothing to do with sales.

    PJ, while great, don't necessarily move the conversation forward anymore. Yes they are still very popular, yes they sell out large and small market shows. Yes they get number 1 albums. But that doesn't mean relevancy. They have moved from cool hip musically progressive thing, to dependable rock band aimed at an older demographic.

    The Rolling Stones or Paul McCartney haven't been relevant for decades, and yet tour in/tour out they sell out all the time. Doesn't mean they weren't relevant. Doesn't mean they aren't popular. They are solid and dependable and still a great show. But lets face it, they aren't the cool thing anymore.

  • Tim Simmons
    Tim Simmons Posts: 9,662
    The band isn't in their prime anymore. But there is nothing wrong with that. We still enjoy them so who cares if it carries nostalgia or if they aren't relevant. Is that even important? And if so, neither is a bad thing.

  • BS44325
    BS44325 Posts: 6,124
    vedpunk said:

    Agreed but a band that isn't relevant can't sell out (or close to sell out) HAMPTON, GREENVILLE, RALEIGH, and LEXINGTON. Not possible. Pearl Jam are still a relevant band because there are still a ton of people outside of the Ten Club going to shows. A few hundred of us Ten Club members going to multiple shows isn't moving the needle. These venues average around 18K capacity so there has to be a huge percentage of casual fans.

    Yet they can't sell out Telluride. Hmmmmm.
  • rummy
    rummy British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,466
    Is music itself even relevant anymore?

    Maybe I just don't give a s**t what any of these "relevant" artists have to say.
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,694
    rummy said:

    Is music itself even relevant anymore?

    Maybe I just don't give a s**t what any of these "relevant" artists have to say.

    You've got a good point. Now that I think about it, all that matters is if the music is relevant to ME. I couldn't care less if it's relevant to pop culture.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • vedpunk
    vedpunk Posts: 960
    edited March 2016
    I hear what you're saying but that's just stating something really obvious. The band is turning 25, of course they aren't culturally relevant anymore in today's manufactured pop market. The music business typically drives what is popular by shoving media down our faces. Pearl Jam are an anomaly, they came from a genre and music scene that THEY created and not the music industry. The music business had to rush to find a way to monetize and market this new music. (they did a good job) I'm just saying Pearl Jam are so unique that music relevancy doesn't really apply to them in the same way as popular acts. I also disagree that Pearl Jam aren't "cool" anymore. My wife teaches High School in Austin and Pearl Jam are very much respected and appreciated by more kids than you think. Also, I might be in the minority here but I do think they are in their prime from a live show prospective....The band has never been tighter.
    Post edited by vedpunk on
  • weddingparade
    weddingparade Posts: 1,179
    BS44325 said:


    Yet they can't sell out Telluride. Hmmmmm.

    if you have been to telluride you will know it's in the middle of nowhere and very hard to access. very few hotels for the traveling kind, no major cities nearby etc etc. yes a campground is near by but pj fans aren't wsp fans and don't do n2o

    to the OP i would say what's wrong with striving to be # 2
    i've had many many of my fave pj songs come out in the last 10 years
    nothing is broken.

  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,694
    edited March 2016
    There are tons of young people at PJ shows. I don't know how relevant that makes PJ and don't care, but plenty of young people do obviously listen to them. The demographics at live shows pretty accurately reflect a band's normal audience.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • mcgruff10
    mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 29,130
    I ve read a few times that in order to attract a younger crowd pj needs to play outside venues. Why would outside venues attract a younger crowd? When I was 17 and saw steve miller on the grass of an outside venue I was so drunk that I couldn't tell you one thing about the show.
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • rustneversleeps
    rustneversleeps The Motel of Lost Companions Posts: 2,209
    weddingparade said:

    BS44325 said:


    Yet they can't sell out Telluride. Hmmmmm.

    if you have been to telluride you will know it's in the middle of nowhere and very hard to access. very few hotels for the traveling kind, no major cities nearby etc etc. yes a campground is near by but pj fans aren't wsp fans and don't do n2o

    to the OP i would say what's wrong with striving to be # 2
    i've had many many of my fave pj songs come out in the last 10 years
    nothing is broken.

    are you saying the hippie crack will be flowing like the San Miguel? i'll take 3...
  • rummy
    rummy British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,466
    edited March 2016
    vedpunk said:

    I hear what you're saying but that's just stating something really obvious. The band is turning 25, of course they aren't culturally relevant anymore in today's manufactured pop market. The music business typically drives what is popular by shoving media down our faces. Pearl Jam are an anomaly, they came from a genre and music scene that THEY created and not the music industry. The music business had to rush to find a way to monetize and market this new music. (they did a good job) I'm just saying Pearl Jam are so unique that music relevancy doesn't really apply to them in the same way as popular acts. I also disagree that Pearl Jam aren't "cool" anymore. My wife teaches High School in Austin and Pearl Jam are very much respected and appreciated by more kids than you think. Also, I might be in the minority here but I do think they are in their prime from a live show prospective....The band has never been tighter.

    Yes.

    Relevant to today's music? Probably not - and who cares?

    Cool? Most definitely.
  • BS44325
    BS44325 Posts: 6,124
    As per Gene Simmons Pearl Jam is "a long in the tooth band"

    http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/gene-simmons-skewers-pop-charts-is-looking-forward-to-death-of-rap-20160317
  • Tim Simmons
    Tim Simmons Posts: 9,662
    I get the impression Gene Simmons is a Trump supporter
  • pjalive21
    pjalive21 St. Louis, MO Posts: 2,818
    BS44325 said:

    As per Gene Simmons Pearl Jam is "a long in the tooth band"

    http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/gene-simmons-skewers-pop-charts-is-looking-forward-to-death-of-rap-20160317

    the title from Rolling Stone is misleading...if you read the whole article he give respect to rap, but admits that he can't relate to it because he didn't grow up in the culture...I completely agree with that statement, its better than some people listening to rap and saying they relate but never grew up in that environment...interesting read to say the least I agree with what he said about some of those acts and he isn't far off with what he said about Foo's and Pearl Jam

  • fortyshades
    fortyshades Posts: 1,835
    What is best? Chart rating? Relevance (and what is the criteria to that)? If it comes down to live shows (three hours, changing setlists) I think that they are more on top of their game than ever. It all kind of reminds me of a certain grammy Award speech; how do you measure and compare art?


    Ps; I believe that U2 article eas referencing to Pearl Jam non-commercial stand at that time. (No interviews, videos, live shows etc.)

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