Three Forks, Montana (Ed K and Candlebox), Friday August 10, 2012 Options

[SJN1279]

Ed Kowalczyk and Candlebox are coheadlining the Rockin the Rivers Festival on Friday August 10th. The Sick Puppies who had a rift with The Gracious Few are also performing that night.

Awkward!

Tickets are on sale now:
http://store.rockintherivers.com/servlet/StoreFront

This post has been edited by SJN1279: Apr 5 2012, 2:31 pm

[OutToDry]

Nickelback is the most hated band in the world.

[SJN1279]

Nickelback is the most hated band in the world.

And Chad Kroeger sleeps on a huge pile of money every night and doesn't care.

[dancing queen]

And Chad Kroeger sleeps on a huge pile of money every night and doesn't care.

Alright, Nick, I'm going to try. If you don't understand, that's fine (in the same way I can't understand eating squid on purpose, sometimes our minds just work differently) but I'm going to try.

Chad Kroeger may in fact sleep in pools of money and be satisfied with that. If money is what he wants. If, however, musical success is what he wants (as in, making quality music) that he might just commit suicide after Nickelback releases 4 or 5 more identical cds.

I will try to explain.

There are artists - writers, painters, musicians, actors, etc... (I'd even throw in Walter Payton)

and then there are celebrities - JK Rowling, (insert awful/sellout painter), ROCKSTARS, MOVIESTARS, Snookie, etc...

those in the first category - artists - have talent and passion and are motivated by the art. Purely by the art. They are waiters and tax accountants and grocery clerks for years until they get discovered and maybe never get discovered or get a deal or make it big. They don't care about that. They work to live - but they live to MAKE ART. To make something beautiful that moves people (not the same as entertains a crowd). They want to help people get outside themselves and feel awe and wonder - like a child or a mentally retarded person (I mean no disrespect but this is a perfect example - I worked in a special Ed classroom and I damn near cried at the pure amazement and wonder of those kids, and I was jealous that I can't get outside of myself so easily) at the zoo - just amazed - lost in the moment, thinking of nothing "self" related. That is what art can do for people. It can move them. That is what artists want. They want to make good art. a good artist can say, without being conceited or arrogant "my art is good because it is separate from me. it is its own thing and I am happy with it"

Rockstars and Moviestars and Celebrities - they want money. and praise. they want people to swoon over them and call out their names and ask them to make babies and sign their chests. they aren't interested in moving the crowd... they want reassurance that THEY are good. rockstars want you to tell them "you are good" and they say "I am good" they have their entire egos wrapped up in cheers and dollar signs. JK Rowling is a shit writer. she's a good story teller - I'd invite her to my camp fire any day. but her books are written barely on a 4th grade level, and they offer some piss poor use of language. But is she a success? Of course. As a celebrity. As an artist? Fuck no! Does she care? I don't know. probably not. and that's fine. she's allowed to enjoy her celebrity.

Nick, This is the best I can do to explain this.

From what I have read of others on this board (not all, but the others ignoring you in the non-Ed sections) I think they are in agreement with me that we want art. We want to be moved. We want to FEEL something. When I'm at a concert I can FEEL it. Not just the bass moving air and shaking the floor. I can feel it in the same way I can feel a newborn's smile or a good sermon. even at Ed's show at Musikfest (the most recent one I've seen) I felt it when he used his big boy voice. It was awesome - for that moment.

In fact, it's much the same kind of feeling that people often try to explain when they say the Holy Spirit has moved them. (please don't accuse me of blasphemy, Nick, I'm a Christian and in no way am I comparing any artist ever to God, but it is true that the Lord put us here to enjoy it, and I do believe that we do feel the Holy Spirit when we step outside of ourselves and enjoy - if you want to argue with me about whether that's blashphemous, do it via PM and save everyone else the torment)

some people are artists and don't care about celebrity. (see Van Gogh)

some people are celebrities and don't care about art. (see Snookie)

there are some people who are a little of both, sometimes more one than the other. In fact, probably all artists experience a little of both.

but some of us - not all, not the general populace - crave ART. some people only care about celebrity. if you read a celebrity blog (which I just found out existed - how fucking pathetic is that) than you are interested in celebrity. which, by the way, indicates a sad and pathetic inferiority complex and a complete lack of depth in personality, but hey, to each his own.
for those of us who crave art - it's not the record sales that matter. it's not the chart numbers. we don't get into a big dick competition with you and your chart numbers.

so, alright, I got a little snippy there... but I meant it. But I tried to keep it honest and insult free. ish.

I really want you to understand this. Or to try. because this is the root of your evil, here. Most of us are interested in the art. You don't even seem to notice it and go straight for the celebrity. And it makes us angry at you and sad for you at the same time.

That's all I've got, I think, for today.

Happy Good Friday, everyone.