you M F W!!!!
Written by amos dettonville on Sun, 2007-07-15 11:20

i come at this from a slightly different angle (really i agree with what you wrote for the most part - since i don't know a thing about the promoters nor the artist agreements made before hand).

however, after working for a long time to do a local show with 2 local acts and 2 larger touring acts (relatively speaking on the "larger aspect") - i was very excited to get a rather hard playing local band up on the outdoor stage in our neighborhood (in urban philly - which is a population dense neighborhood). their family and friends hadn't really had an easy chance to hear them perform - it would add to the draw - and being friends with the band i really wanted to treat them to some good promotion (food, helpers, assistants, our mega SOA sound system, etc.).

the only thing i asked of them was to keep it clean - being that they were representing us as an org, being that we were getting to use the stage for the first time for something other than a string band concert, being that we were right outside in the middle of a neighborhood, being that it was an all ages venue and show...

bless their hearts - they got up and the first song's lyrics were, "F*** you M***** F***ing Wh***!!! apparently, the only lyric in the song, which was repeated and screamed over and over again - for a good 5 minutes (maybe longer).

btw, they put on an excellent show.

of course, all i could do was laugh - and i honestly don't think the band was trying to break the terms as they understood them ... because their chat was amazingly clean compared to their typical between song banter. knowing them personally, i knew they just didn't get it. to them "keep it clean" meant don't talk crap between songs.

of course, the humorous part was their parents and grandparents had all taken seats on bleechers near the edge of the audience ... and all i got from them was one "thank you so much" after another. even the grannies and the local firemen and people who came from miles around to see what the noise was - and who remained for the show (and all of them did) ... they all were pumping my hand and thanking me profusely for doing something new and putting on a grand show for free in the hood.

while i agree ... promoters need to THINK and not be STUPID about booking a notorious act for the kiddies ... i might also suggest to indie bands (especially) that they also THINK and get a feel for the venues they are playing in.

if they cannot tone down their content for certain venues - without feeling like they are selling out - then they'd be better off not playing certain venues.

even with that said, bands will find themselves - from time to time - playing in venues with moods and groups that they could not have predicted or known about. promoters promise the moon all too often - and neglect so many details.

you do want to do more shows and not burn bridges in certain places ... concerts at fairgrounds and such are good gigs - important gigs many times. i mean, there simply are shows which will give a band or artist exposure to people who would never catch them anywhere else. plus, for my money, a live band sells me on more cd's than the other way around.

so, even while plugging in and positioning the kit - if there's a bunch of kiddos in the crowd (and the band had no idea this would be the case) i suggest it's time for an on the fly re-adjustment.

or to make an announcement. i am a public speaker (often a preacher) and sometimes i have to stop and say, "my talk today is really rated PG [or even R sometimes] - so, i'd like to suggest right now that this isn't the place for small children." it might sound hard to believe - but even in such cases - people bring their kids to many things they should not. it gripes me to no end ... and there have been times i have had to change and others where i have had to give a warning.

good article. this is an age where multi generations will be drawn to shows. it is also a time when some parents don't exercise good judgement. it is also typical for a band to be given the impression they are playing for one crowd - only to take the stage and find a completely different group of faces before them.

peac4d.
amos

next comes fire!

Stage Decorum
Written by The Bushpilots on Sun, 2007-07-15 19:24

Personally, I don't usually swear on stage.

But then again, I'm not nearly as cool as Chad Kroeger.

Kroeger is a moron
Written by Significant Insect on Tue, 2007-07-17 06:51

Why is this even newsworthy? This is just another in a long list of incidents that highlight the incredible "talent" of Mr. Kroeger. From drunk-driving to punching out critics of his music outside a local Vancouver bar, to constantly preaching to non-fans of his music about how wrong they are. Enough already, he's nothing more than a simple moron who got lucky, thats all (although I'll admit he's a hard-working one). There's plenty of other Canadian bands who deserve our attention (Alexisonfire, Three Days Grace, Billy Talent etc.)

Poor Chad
Written by uberbelly on Tue, 2007-07-17 08:52

The man's arrogance and pretension is outstanding. His attitude walks in the door long before that greasy Jesus hair.
The problem is that he might actually believe he is the second coming.
Just might be the alcolhol talking. Hint: rehab time.

Chuck Wanker
Written by Wade Mosher on Tue, 2007-07-17 12:01

First of all, Nickelback are irrelevant. White bred suburban RAWK for music novice meatheads. Just another example of someone trying way too hard to understand the very thing he's supposed to represent. Which is Rock 'N' Roll. Someone needs to give Chuck a history lesson in music, not just the classic rock garbage that he tries to emulate.
You can be a badass & still have respect for the people that are paying to see you. Or don't do the gig.
In 10 years from now, if not sooner, these guys will be viewed in the same light as Honeymoon Suite is today. And their fans will have moved on to some other generic brand, likely new country. See you at the local casino boys.

Now get your lighters up MOTHERFUCKERS!

reply | write to author

half a baker's dozen
Written by amos dettonville on Wed, 2007-07-18 06:24

for that, i beg your forgiveness

maybe if this iframe works ... it will make up for the damage done.

peac4d.
amos

next comes fire!

Danger in the frame
Written by Melodic Energy Commission on Wed, 2007-07-18 10:48

This i-frame (whatever that is?) Doesn't work with Firefox. It takes my search and then locks me out of my browser until I close the browser. Which it also stops me from doing.

But what I wanted to say is that Nickelback has one song I like, but only because of the video.
http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=6378622

I was put off by this band when I was hired by BBC Top of the Pops to videotape an interview with Chad at his Estate in the Fraser Valley.
Just imagine a struggling musician all of a sudden being able to buy everything that they could dream of. Add to that, a gin filled slushy machine in the studio kitchenette and a parking lot full of cool expensive cars. An entire country estate that looked like it was just delivered on a convoy of flatbed trucks with the plastic wrapping just freshly removed.
I saw pointless decadence and was not impressed.

Sign of our times.
Written by David on Wed, 2007-07-18 11:10

Chad's not alone. Look at the heat Madonna is getting into for her massive environmental footprint - yet she parades at Live Earth screaming "do you want to save the planet?"

Our whole society is focused on making money to increase consumption. Don't get me wrong. I am all for making money. Lots of it. But the level of our consumption has got to stop being the "be all and end all" of determining our social status on this planet. Sure have a big house. Sure ensure your family is taken care of. Sure have a good life. But for bloody sake do we need 4 summer homes each with 3 SUVs and a Ferrari in the drive way?

Whoa!~ That was off topic. Sorry

BBC
Written by uberbelly on Wed, 2007-07-18 11:10

I think I saw that interview. Big swimming pool with a huge waterfall?
that was you, X? I remember thinking the same thing; everything was so new, you could almost smell it.

Sorry Amos brother, but, against my better judgement, I installed that damn Active-X/Shockwave and it locked me out.

click - Uninstall.
interesting though, what was it?

Anyway you can stop that song from playing? Please? ;-(

Off topic?
Written by uberbelly on Wed, 2007-07-18 11:15

I think that was very on-topic. It's part of the reason that I have a problem with Chad and Nickelback. It's all about product and excess and writing the same song over and over again.
If the dough rises, why change the recipe?

Too much chlorine
Written by Melodic Energy Commission on Wed, 2007-07-18 12:43

I never saw the interview, I was second camera for the interview on their studio sun deck. Because I didn't have a cell phone and they moved the time, I was an hour late and missed the tour of the grounds. When I arrived, they were all waiting for me and draining the slushy machine
It was a huge media entourage consisting of BBC Producer, Scottish TV host, MTV interviewer, Roadrunner Records rep and hangers-on.

This is not indy music, rather a facade for sensationalist TV.

xaliman

sorry MEC & Uber
Written by amos dettonville on Wed, 2007-07-18 15:29

sorry the iframe thing caused you trouble MEC - i meant no harm.

i suppose wealth, like strong emotions, makes a wonderful servant - but a horrid master. many people might want to think long and hard about fame being the main goal of their life as well... too many days on our faces before the fame-god would be foolishness given the many examples of it's slaves that we have to serve as warnings.

apparently, wealth, fame, power are heady drugs - even principled hands must be careful when handling such elements.

i wouldn't think that wealth, fame, power, etc., are evil in themselves ... but withouy form and freedom - checks and balances ... the results are pretty obvious.

like you said,

just imagine how one lives when they have nothing - and magnify it. what's that saying, "wherever you go - there you are."

add riches, wealth, power, fame, whatever - it'll still be the same person amp'd ... but still the same person. i cannot change anybody in nickleback - but i do need to think about the one person i have some hope of changing ... myself.

excuse the ramble and cool that you got to film that ... i bet seeing in in real time was an eye opener - to say the least.

uber here's the link: http://www.onewordmovie.ch/ just open the "new movie" link. it is cool - it grabs images from google (i think) and creates a movie of them based on the searched term. it's flash and will require extra permissions from you - which probably is the source of any problems anyone has in seeing it.

again, sorry if i caused anyone an issue.

peac4d.
amos

next comes fire!

I think it's kinda stupid if
Written by cman on Thu, 2008-04-24 13:26

I think it's kinda stupid if he's only going to curse in front of some audiences and not others if he doesn't normally he shouldn't. I got some Leeds Festival Tickets and doubt anyone would be cursing there.

Bet he doesn't swear in
Written by Carlito on Fri, 2008-04-25 04:30

Bet he doesn't swear in front of his Mum!