The Biggest Challenge For Live's Future Success Is... Options

[FishOutaWater]

OK - I have given it some thought and I have come up with a marketing strategy for Live. I hope they read this.

In this day and age, you need a gimick. An angle. A vehicle. Jack White has his gimick. The Voice and American Idol and Glee have their vehicle. Metallica and Ozzy have had fesitval tours. Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp have tapped into a cause with festivals and it has kept them relevant and on top. Live needs an angle and a vehicle as a focal point for attention to their tour. It would be helpful if there was some aspect of their new tour that is new and newsworthy and might get mentioned and draw attention.

There are two things that people in Live's potential audience are really passionate about. First, in this year of politics, is the working-class, blue collar, salt of the earth mindset, versus the wall street rich man's mentality. People believe that the playing field isn't level. That there are two sets of rules. The second thing is that people like you and me love good, raw, authentic rock music with guitars and drums and heart and soul. And we don't want it to die. And we want to celebrate it and see it in great rock performances.

So my idea is that Live should take the lead on a travelling mini-festival tour. It should be called the "Working-Class Rock Revolution" tour. It should be all about working class people and reviving good old fashioned rock music. TGF tried to tap into this with Honest Man, and I thought it had potential and they really had a great message there, but it didn't follow through. I think now is the time to rally around these two issues. Working-class people and rock n' roll. It could be branded with T-shirts and merchandise and logos that include distressed vintage biker themes (Harley Davidson is built in York) and denim and whiskey. It could be about taking back rock n' roll and celebrating it with the working man. Maybe in addition to Live, the tour could include bands like:

Candlebox
TGF
Velvet Revolver
Staind
Tool
Breaking Benjamin
George Thorooughgood

Who else would be a good fit for something like this?

[World Dreamer]

For many women, Goyte has sex appeal.

Bush has Gavin Rossdale, and a major label backing them. Gavin is also Mrs. Gwen Stefani and a part-time actor. He has sex appeal and is a well known celebrity. Would a Bush reunion have worked without him?

Another thread derailed by Nick trying to take shots at Live and Shinn because Ed got put out on the curb.

We get it Nick. You think Live won't be successful unless Ed is the frontman. You don't need to keep trying to interject that into every thread like a passive aggressive fanatic.

Do you think if the rest of Bush released an album without Gavin that anyone would care?

Just stop. No one cares.

[+Ed+]

You read my mind, Fishy. I wanted to speak about a tour, but could not think of a good topic for it. Working Class is PERFECT!

I think Lynyrd Skynyrd could headline this one gheghe

Anyway, I also wanted to say that the one thing that is BADLY needed is a tour with several bands. Nickels are doin it now with Bush and Seether. Black Stone Cherry were very good touring with Alter Bridge and Theory of a deadman.



If we speak about your agenda, I doubt that TOOL are Working Class to fir into that list. Or the others are not psychedelic enough

And I thought that Breaking Benjamin have fallen apart, haven;t they.

Red Fang? Those rednecks could make up for a hell of a co-headlining band. They are some other universe, but the working classies of the working class.

[World Dreamer]

OK - I have given it some thought and I have come up with a marketing strategy for Live. I hope they read this.

In this day and age, you need a gimick. An angle. A vehicle. Jack White has his gimick. The Voice and American Idol and Glee have their vehicle. Metallica and Ozzy have had fesitval tours. Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp have tapped into a cause with festivals and it has kept them relevant and on top. Live needs an angle and a vehicle as a focal point for attention to their tour. It would be helpful if there was some aspect of their new tour that is new and newsworthy and might get mentioned and draw attention.

There are two things that people in Live's potential audience are really passionate about. First, in this year of politics, is the working-class, blue collar, salt of the earth mindset, versus the wall street rich man's mentality. People believe that the playing field isn't level. That there are two sets of rules. The second thing is that people like you and me love good, raw, authentic rock music with guitars and drums and heart and soul. And we don't want it to die. And we want to celebrate it and see it in great rock performances.

So my idea is that Live should take the lead on a travelling mini-festival tour. It should be called the "Working-Class Rock Revolution" tour. It should be all about working class people and reviving good old fashioned rock music. TGF tried to tap into this with Honest Man, and I thought it had potential and they really had a great message there, but it didn't follow through. I think now is the time to rally around these two issues. Working-class people and rock n' roll. It could be branded with T-shirts and merchandise and logos that include distressed vintage biker themes (Harley Davidson is built in York) and denim and whiskey. It could be about taking back rock n' roll and celebrating it with the working man. Maybe in addition to Live, the tour could include bands like:

Candlebox
TGF
Velvet Revolver
Staind
Tool
Breaking Benjamin
George Thorooughgood

Who else would be a good fit for something like this?

Alter Bridge would be a sweet addition.

[+Ed+]

They do not fit the Working Class either. They are much more romantic than Working Class. Thought about them as well. And also quite a different universe to my taste.

[Aitkens]

OK - I have given it some thought and I have come up with a marketing strategy for Live. I hope they read this.

In this day and age, you need a gimick. An angle. A vehicle. Jack White has his gimick. The Voice and American Idol and Glee have their vehicle. Metallica and Ozzy have had fesitval tours. Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp have tapped into a cause with festivals and it has kept them relevant and on top. Live needs an angle and a vehicle as a focal point for attention to their tour. It would be helpful if there was some aspect of their new tour that is new and newsworthy and might get mentioned and draw attention.

There are two things that people in Live's potential audience are really passionate about. First, in this year of politics, is the working-class, blue collar, salt of the earth mindset, versus the wall street rich man's mentality. People believe that the playing field isn't level. That there are two sets of rules. The second thing is that people like you and me love good, raw, authentic rock music with guitars and drums and heart and soul. And we don't want it to die. And we want to celebrate it and see it in great rock performances.

So my idea is that Live should take the lead on a travelling mini-festival tour. It should be called the "Working-Class Rock Revolution" tour. It should be all about working class people and reviving good old fashioned rock music. TGF tried to tap into this with Honest Man, and I thought it had potential and they really had a great message there, but it didn't follow through. I think now is the time to rally around these two issues. Working-class people and rock n' roll. It could be branded with T-shirts and merchandise and logos that include distressed vintage biker themes (Harley Davidson is built in York) and denim and whiskey. It could be about taking back rock n' roll and celebrating it with the working man. Maybe in addition to Live, the tour could include bands like:

Candlebox
TGF
Velvet Revolver
Staind
Tool
Breaking Benjamin
George Thorooughgood

Who else would be a good fit for something like this?

The problem with that is that outside of really Candlebox and TGF, none of the other bands really fit together.

Staind and maybe Breaking Ben would be the closest. Tool is way out in left field. Velvet Revolver is something of a wild card. First you have to depend on Weiland not going on a heroin binge again, but otherwise you can always count on Slash. I'd say you'd be better off pairing up with Slash/Myles. However, there's no way that Live would be the headliner in this mix. It would either have to be Slash/Staind/Tool, as they have been more relevant in the recent past.

[World Dreamer]

Got to be careful though with politics rearing its ugly head. Keep the message on the working class and not "REPUBLICANS/DEMOCRATS SUCK!" or "GEORGE BUSH SUCKS!" or "OBAMA IS A SOCIALIST!". That will just incite a riot. I'm talking about you, Pearl Jam.

It needs to be a music festival, not a blame game festival.

Also would add Green Day.

Neil Young would be great as well. That old man can still rock pretty damn hard.

[Aitkens]

Got to be careful though with politics rearing its ugly head. Keep the message on the working class and not "REPUBLICANS/DEMOCRATS SUCK!" or "GEORGE BUSH SUCKS!" or "OBAMA IS A SOCIALIST!". That will just incite a riot. I'm talking about you, Pearl Jam.

It needs to be a music festival, not a blame game festival.

Also would add Green Day.

Neil Young would be great as well. That old man can still rock pretty damn hard.

I wouldn't touch Green Day if you don't want it to get political. They look for ways to push the buttons. You think the denim wearing working class, wants to see a bunch of 40 year old guys up there wearing makeup, and still trying to dress in the punk rock style?

[World Dreamer]

I wouldn't touch Green Day if you don't want it to get political. They look for ways to push the buttons. You think the denim wearing working class, wants to see a bunch of 40 year old guys up there wearing makeup, and still trying to dress in the punk rock style?

Valid point. I was thinking more of the Dookie days Green Day

I don't mind if Nugent and Pearl Jam were there, just keep your damn mouths shut and play music. But that is just me. Some folks like their favorite bands to preach their political beliefs. I'd rather they just play music.

I wonder if you could get Soundgarden. Or even just Cornell. His solo shows are great.

[World Dreamer]

I bet CCP know enough people and are well enough connected to land some good bands. This idea that Fish has come up with is not out of the realm of possibility. Good topic and good though, Fish.

[Aitkens]

Valid point. I was thinking more of the Dookie days Green Day

I don't mind if Nugent and Pearl Jam were there, just keep your damn mouths shut and play music. But that is just me. Some folks like their favorite bands to preach their political beliefs. I'd rather they just play music.

I wonder if you could get Soundgarden. Or even just Cornell. His solo shows are great.

I think Nugent and Pearl Jam would kill each other. Nugent is as far right wing as you can get, and Pearl Jam are as far left wing as you can get. Vedder would get drunk and would keep pushing against the Nuge. They both make sure to push that idea during their shows.

[themaestro]

OK - I have given it some thought and I have come up with a marketing strategy for Live. I hope they read this.

In this day and age, you need a gimick. An angle. A vehicle. Jack White has his gimick. The Voice and American Idol and Glee have their vehicle. Metallica and Ozzy have had fesitval tours. Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp have tapped into a cause with festivals and it has kept them relevant and on top. Live needs an angle and a vehicle as a focal point for attention to their tour. It would be helpful if there was some aspect of their new tour that is new and newsworthy and might get mentioned and draw attention.

There are two things that people in Live's potential audience are really passionate about. First, in this year of politics, is the working-class, blue collar, salt of the earth mindset, versus the wall street rich man's mentality. People believe that the playing field isn't level. That there are two sets of rules. The second thing is that people like you and me love good, raw, authentic rock music with guitars and drums and heart and soul. And we don't want it to die. And we want to celebrate it and see it in great rock performances.

So my idea is that Live should take the lead on a travelling mini-festival tour. It should be called the "Working-Class Rock Revolution" tour. It should be all about working class people and reviving good old fashioned rock music. TGF tried to tap into this with Honest Man, and I thought it had potential and they really had a great message there, but it didn't follow through. I think now is the time to rally around these two issues. Working-class people and rock n' roll. It could be branded with T-shirts and merchandise and logos that include distressed vintage biker themes (Harley Davidson is built in York) and denim and whiskey. It could be about taking back rock n' roll and celebrating it with the working man. Maybe in addition to Live, the tour could include bands like:

Candlebox
TGF
Velvet Revolver
Staind
Tool
Breaking Benjamin
George Thorooughgood

Who else would be a good fit for something like this?

I really don't think it needs to be that contrived. I'm not the biggest Bush fan but I'll mention them once more. The Gwen factor or sex appeal factor had little to do with why they had a successful return. They were the first band ever to self release an album and have the single go to #1 on the Alternative charts. Gwen may get them some press but she had little impact on that. The Sound of Winter was just a damn good song, especially if you are a Bush fan. If anything, I have respect for Gavin and Bush. They initially released Afterlife as the first single and when it didn't do so well they went back in the studio and recorded new material, postponed the release of their album and came back with The Sound of Winter which did great. They know who they are and they went directly after their most hardcore fans with a song that harkened back to their classic sound. Plain and simple. KROQ and what's left of the leading alternative stations as well as rock stations embraced the single and the band.

I think re-recording Hold Me Up and releasing it as the first single is a no-brainer. Most people have never heard the song and if Live made a splash with that song I think alternative and rock radio would give them a shot again. They pretty much alienated those stations from V - SFBM. Getting back on track with your core audience would be the first thing I would do. From there I would maybe try to capitalize on being back in the good graces of the alternative market and get on a tour or do festivals with younger and current alternative acts. It's not the market it once was but there is still a relevant alternative scene and it shares much of it's audience with the rock market now, which was more classic oriented in the 90's. There's plenty of fans out there in those two formats. Live has a sound that would still do quite well. Hold Me Up could do great in both formats.

[FishOutaWater]

The problem with that is that outside of really Candlebox and TGF, none of the other bands really fit together.

Staind and maybe Breaking Ben would be the closest. Tool is way out in left field. Velvet Revolver is something of a wild card. First you have to depend on Weiland not going on a heroin binge again, but otherwise you can always count on Slash. I'd say you'd be better off pairing up with Slash/Myles. However, there's no way that Live would be the headliner in this mix. It would either have to be Slash/Staind/Tool, as they have been more relevant in the recent past.

I am just throwoing out ideas about the bands. Any band that rocks, has name recognition, and is at the same level as Live would be great. I thought of Breaking Benjamin because they are from PA. Also, Trent Reznor is from PA. George Thorogood would be cool. The point is to celebrate rock with a beginning to end rock show and market it as a festival where rock bands are taking rock n' roll back for the people.

Maybe people with an unemployment check stub get in half price. Then, after you put the branding and marketing together, you try to get media outlets to report on it. Rolling Stone. Ed Schultz on MSNBC. Rock radio stations.

This addresses my challenges concerning the band's age, visibility, the state of rock music, distribution, etc. I think this could have a good shot at working.

About 10 years ago, I saw a show with Poison, Cinderella, Dio (or Dokken I forget which one) and Winger. It was a pretty cool show. It had an 80's rock theme and everyone was really into it. It was a really good draw.

This post has been edited by FishOutaWater: May 18 2012, 9:33 am

[World Dreamer]

I think Nugent and Pearl Jam would kill each other. Nugent is as far right wing as you can get, and Pearl Jam are as far left wing as you can get. Vedder would get drunk and would keep pushing against the Nuge. They both make sure to push that idea during their shows.

I think you are on to something...a festival with a cage match at the end. Brilliant!

[themaestro]

I think you are on to something...a festival with a cage match at the end. Brilliant!

Now that's a good idea. I'd go see that.