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

[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.

[dancing queen]

and before Nick can go apeshit on me for writing in another thread that I hope they have enough commercial success to have a legit world tour and radio play - understand, it won't make me like the music more.

I wish the guys (all of them) commercial success because it makes the music a little more accessible to me and because it's their JOB so I want them to keep being able to do it.

but it doesn't affect how I feel about the music. even a little. if the only record anyone sells is to 12 of us here, that's cool with me, as long as i get one.

[themaestro]

Nickleback is sort of the Olive Garden of rock bands. I wouldn't say it's terrible but it's hardly authentic or something that would be considered the finest representation of it's kind, unless you were raised to not know any better. But even then, as an adult you should know better. In the end, Olive Garden serves a purpose and I doubt that they consider themselves the equal of something you'd find in Little Italy in Chicago or at any other authentic family owned Italian restaurant across the country. Just as I doubt Nickleback consider themselves the equal to Radiohead.

[Rupe]

"Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self." -- Cyril Connolly

Also known as, why we like Live more than Nickelback.

[FishOutaWater]

I would love to have a backstage pass to this show. How great would that be!

I am guessing that Ed and Kevin and Sean Hennesy (who will be the only person on the stage that night who actually IS a member of Live) will not get anywhere near each other that night - probably because Ed will be a chickensh*t and hide and Kevin will probably be prowling around looking for him.

Here is what Kevin Martin should say to the crowd. When he introduces the rest of the members of Candlebox, and he introduces Sean Hennesy, he should say "And the incredible Sean "Memphis" Hennesy on guitars, who happens to be the ONLY person here tonight who really IS of the band Live". Whatever he says beyond that is up to him. I hope he gets himself in trouble and really lays it out there. How could he not at least say something about his friendship with CCP? Don't openeing acts usually say something to get the crowd fired up about the acxt that will follow them? How does Kevin do that for Ed? Seriously?

Oh my goodness, I am tempted to get a plane ticket and go to this show.

[World Dreamer]

I would love to have a backstage pass to this show. How great would that be!

I am guessing that Ed and Kevin and Sean Hennesy (who will be the only person on the stage that night who actually IS a member of Live) will not get anywhere near each other that night - probably because Ed will be a chickensh*t and hide and Kevin will probably be prowling around looking for him.

Here is what Kevin Martin should say to the crowd. When he introduces the rest of the members of Candlebox, and he introduces Sean Hennesy, he should say "And the incredible Sean "Memphis" Hennesy on guitars, who happens to be the ONLY person here tonight who really IS of the band Live". Whatever he says beyond that is up to him. I hope he gets himself in trouble and really lays it out there. How could he not at least say something about his friendship with CCP? Don't openeing acts usually say something to get the crowd fired up about the acxt that will follow them? How does Kevin do that for Ed? Seriously?

Oh my goodness, I am tempted to get a plane ticket and go to this show.

Who is with Ed? Or is it just Ed?

I ask because even if Ed had his full "band" they would still get blown out of the water by Candlebox as far as rock n' roll goes.

If Ed shows up with Ramy and an acoustic guitar it is going to seem pretty lame after a full band performance from Candlebox.

Ed better add a few more TC songs to the setlist just in case...

[World Dreamer]

I would love to have a backstage pass to this show. How great would that be!

I am guessing that Ed and Kevin and Sean Hennesy (who will be the only person on the stage that night who actually IS a member of Live) will not get anywhere near each other that night - probably because Ed will be a chickensh*t and hide and Kevin will probably be prowling around looking for him.

Here is what Kevin Martin should say to the crowd. When he introduces the rest of the members of Candlebox, and he introduces Sean Hennesy, he should say "And the incredible Sean "Memphis" Hennesy on guitars, who happens to be the ONLY person here tonight who really IS of the band Live". Whatever he says beyond that is up to him. I hope he gets himself in trouble and really lays it out there. How could he not at least say something about his friendship with CCP? Don't openeing acts usually say something to get the crowd fired up about the acxt that will follow them? How does Kevin do that for Ed? Seriously?

Oh my goodness, I am tempted to get a plane ticket and go to this show.

Know what would be incredible? If KM said that and then Candlebox did a few Live covers like the ones Ed will probably have on his setlist. That would be epic.

[OutToDry]

[SJN1279]

Know what would be incredible? If KM said that and then Candlebox did a few Live covers like the ones Ed will probably have on his setlist. That would be epic.

He already tried that with The Gracious Few.....it didn't go well.

[Aitkens]

He already tried that with The Gracious Few.....it didn't go well.

Actually for your information, Lakini's Juice was amazing at Fat Daddys. So yeah, go fuck yourself.

[dancing queen]

Actually for your information, Lakini's Juice was amazing at Fat Daddys.

I thought so, as well.

[Hobbsy]

I thought so, as well.

KM nailed LJ.

Ed who?

[Hoodstock]

Publicly many do. However they have sold over 50 million albums worldwide and have packed shows basically everywhere they play.

The were also protested by Detroit Lions fans for performing at half time of the Thanksgiving Day Game. They fucking suck!

[Hoodstock]

Know what would be incredible? If KM said that and then Candlebox did a few Live covers like the ones Ed will probably have on his setlist. That would be epic.

Or better yet, if he said "We're going to turn our set over to Live" and they played all of the Live songs that Ed was going to play in his set.

[Hoodstock]

He already tried that with The Gracious Few.....it didn't go well.

The one thing I don't get is how you can hate on the sound of The Gracious Few. Nick, it seriously was a very good album.