Muse, Dave Matthews Band, Sting,etc to Headline NCAA Big Dance Concert Series in Atlanta April 5 (White: chapel, amphitheatre)

[tikigod311]

I think Sting, DMB, and Muse are generally well regarded by music fans. None of that is vanilla pop music. Good lord.

[JPD]

Chastain Park Amphitheater disagrees.

[atltechdude]

Originally Posted by tikigod311

I think Sting, DMB, and Muse are generally well regarded by music fans. None of that is vanilla pop music. Good lord.

Agree.

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by JPD

That may be true, but these concerts would not be happening if the basketball games weren't happening. The lineup is intentionally vanilla and safe, because it has to appeal to the general public, and not specifically to music fans.

DMB has been selling out pretty much any and every size venue he has played for nearly 20 years. Obviously some fans there. Sting is going to bring in fans of older music. Muse is going to bring in fans of newer rock (BTW, I can't stand Muse, or at least what I know of them). If Zac Brown is playing, I'm pretty sure that will pull in a good number of people.

So...what do "music fans" listen to, then?

[JPD]

Originally Posted by samiwas1

DMB has been selling out pretty much any and every size venue he has played for nearly 20 years. Obviously some fans there. Sting is going to bring in fans of older music. Muse is going to bring in fans of newer rock (BTW, I can't stand Muse, or at least what I know of them). If Zac Brown is playing, I'm pretty sure that will pull in a good number of people.

So...what do "music fans" listen to, then?

I didn't say they don't have fans. I'm just saying their music is safe and bland. Sting is smooth jazz/adult contemporary. Your grandma likes him. Dave Matthews band is pretty much the same, except his voice is more grating than Sting's, so it seems like there's some edge there even though there isn't.

Most of the people who go to these types of shows probably couldn't name a current band or musician that isn't on the Billboard charts.

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by JPD

I didn't say they don't have fans. I'm just saying their music is safe and bland. Sting is smooth jazz/adult contemporary. Your grandma likes him. Dave Matthews band is pretty much the same, except his voice is more grating than Sting's, so it seems like there's some edge there even though there isn't.

Most of the people who go to these types of shows probably couldn't name a current band or musician that isn't on the Billboard charts.

Ah, ok...yeah, get your point there. I love DMB, and like some Sting, but otherwise... I just looked up the Billboard Top 100. I made it to #50 and still haven't found a band I listen to. But the truth is, if you're putting on a festival with a small number of bands, they generally need to be bands that will draw crowds. Small independent acts don't generally have that pull. Thus, they go with the safe.

EDIT: I made it through the entire top 100...nothing on there appealed to me!

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by JPD

I didn't say they don't have fans. I'm just saying their music is safe and bland. Sting is smooth jazz/adult contemporary. Your grandma likes him. Dave Matthews band is pretty much the same, except his voice is more grating than Sting's, so it seems like there's some edge there even though there isn't.

Most of the people who go to these types of shows probably couldn't name a current band or musician that isn't on the Billboard charts.

Nothing wrong with that, of course, although I am not sure what "safe and bland" means. To me bland implies uninteresting.

[tikigod311]

Originally Posted by JPD

I didn't say they don't have fans. I'm just saying their music is safe and bland. Sting is smooth jazz/adult contemporary. Your grandma likes him. Dave Matthews band is pretty much the same, except his voice is more grating than Sting's, so it seems like there's some edge there even though there isn't.

Most of the people who go to these types of shows probably couldn't name a current band or musician that isn't on the Billboard charts.

Man JPD, talk about hating! Just because you don't like those bands doesn't mean people that do have poor taste. I don't like DMB at all, but I totally respect them as musicians, because they are more talented that just about any one of the non-billboard artists you speak of.

Normally I am right there with you. I hate watered down pop music created just to make money. The top 40 pop crap makes me lose faith in society even more. But these bands hardly fall into that category. This is an extremely respectable line up. Much higher quality than any other free festival with bands that people have actually heard of.

To call Muse safe and bland shows you haven't really heard their music. They are unique and extremely experimental with their music. Just because a band has had success doesn't mean they suck, sold out, or molded their style for the masses.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by tikigod311

Man JPD, talk about hating! Just because you don't like those bands doesn't mean people that do have poor taste. I don't like DMB at all, but I totally respect them as musicians, because they are more talented that just about any one of the non-billboard artists you speak of.

Normally I am right there with you. I hate watered down pop music created just to make money. The top 40 pop crap makes me lose faith in society even more. But these bands hardly fall into that category. This is an extremely respectable line up. Much higher quality than any other free festival with bands that people have actually heard of.

To call Muse safe and bland shows you haven't really heard their music. They are unique and extremely experimental with their music. Just because a band has had success doesn't mean they suck, sold out, or molded their style for the masses.

I admit I haven't heard Muse, aside from their SNL appearance. I thought they were kind of annoying, but I could tell they were attempting something ambitious, so that's cool.

I never said a single word about anyone's taste, nor about the quality of the musicianship of the people in these bands. DMB and Sting's band are all talented musicians. I'm sure the Riverdance folks are talented dancers. See where I'm going?

What I AM saying is that this type of music appeals to people who don't really put much effort into seeking out music. They simply take what is offered by the radio or People Magazine and enjoy it. Nothing wrong with that, but those aren't people with a passion for music.

[tikigod311]

Originally Posted by JPD

I admit I haven't heard Muse, aside from their SNL appearance. I thought they were kind of annoying, but I could tell they were attempting something ambitious, so that's cool.

I never said a single word about anyone's taste, nor about the quality of the musicianship of the people in these bands. DMB and Sting's band are all talented musicians. I'm sure the Riverdance folks are talented dancers. See where I'm going?

What I AM saying is that this type of music appeals to people who don't really put much effort into seeking out music. They simply take what is offered by the radio or People Magazine and enjoy it. Nothing wrong with that, but those aren't people with a passion for music.

The reason I am arguing with you is that I am a person who is very passionate about music. I spend time seeking out new music. I can say with 100% confidence that I have great taste in music. I take pride in the diversity and quality of my music collection. And I generally hate music that resides on the billboard charts.

And the artists on this lineup appealed to me. Really, I was quite impressed. I take serious exception to the idea that these bands are flavor of the week, People magazine bands. All of these bands have been around for a long time, Muse being the youngest at 19 years. They are very well respected in music circles. To crap on these bands like they are just mass appeal bands is just not right.