From: owner-the-landing-digest@smoe.org (the-landing-digest) To: the-landing-digest@smoe.org Subject: the-landing-digest V4 #18 Reply-To: the-landing@smoe.org Sender: owner-the-landing-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-the-landing-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk the-landing-digest Monday, March 26 2001 Volume 04 : Number 018 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: Sad news [BlowRedBlow@aol.com] Re: the-landing-digest V4 #17 [SNZfreak@aol.com] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2001 04:28:32 EST From: BlowRedBlow@aol.com Subject: Re: Sad news Well, since no one else seems to be talking about it, I'll give my reaction to the whole thing. I've been thinking a lot about it since I read it, and I was so disappointed when I saw what Tom replied with. Not that I don't like SNZ anymore, but, for me, Tom was what made them. When he left, I had every hope and confidence that the fans would support him just as much as they did the band. However, seeing as I was at 3 consecutive Minor Drag shows, one of which went under an hour due to poor turnout and receptiveness, as well as a Zippers show in October, which, though the venue was not huge, was packed from front to back, side to side, this obviously did not happen. It was also not a low-budget venue... bands like Smash Mouth, Kenny Wayne Shepard, They Might Be Giants, Moxy Fruvous, some bigger names, have also played there yearly. Tom played the joint venue next door, and they let people in from the bigger one for free, just to try and fill the place out. As a fan, I felt horrible. But it's like Jessica said... today's music is not about quality (in a greater percent of cases), at least not the quality that we hold our standards to. It's more of an industry now than it is a forum for musicians and artists to express themselves. Even the Bowl of Fire has changed, and look, and in some songs, sound more mainstream (download Two Way Action from Napster to hear what I mean). Colin and Josh left because they have families now (at least wives), and they knew at the end of the summer that they weren't making enough money to continue being artsy and do what they wanted. Andrew, whose tastes change from album to album, can be a musical chameleon and still be happy doing what he's doing. The new pictures pit them as a grunge/rock band, with Andrew trying to look badass (yet somehow, holding a cat). While he's never been pleasant, he's also never been tough. If you want to take this an even higher degree, for those who listen to Dave Matthews Band, they'll see that change is in the air. Even while no member of the band will ever have to worry where "baby Evelyn" is going to be fed from, they still felt the need to progress musically. And if any of you are on their discussion boards, you'll see that, as with SNZ/Tom, fans are very split in which direction to take... some hate it, some love it, some are middle of the road. A lot of fans have very strong connections with the music they listen to. Not to tell a "how the Squirrel Nut Zippers saved my life story," but I didn't turn my ear to modern music until I heard them. And (Tom in particular) helped me to see the artistry in all types of music, in particular, rock and more beat driven music. I hadn't really thought about it, but after reading Jess' post, it made me think. I'll probably never see Tom again. Maybe hear from him every so often, maybe he'll put out a record or two more, but I'll never see him again. Which is kind of upsetting in a way... in fact, very upsetting. And I have a feeling Bowl of Fire won't be around much longer... and seeing the way all these musicians are turning out, I wouldn't doubt if it all folds sooner than later. My underlying point in all of this is, that music has turned from a time when, when someone became popular or well known, it was usually because they had what it took. Who had what it took to sing, who had what it took to play, who had what it took to revolutionize. Now, it's "who has what it takes to make a buck... oh yeah, if you can keep some, what do you people call it? musical integrity? yeah, that, if you can keep that too, good for you. But you'd better have a whole lot of fans to show it to." "such a sad, sad home for you and me...." - -Mike ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2001 12:11:24 EST From: SNZfreak@aol.com Subject: Re: the-landing-digest V4 #17 I must have missed something...I don't think I got the #16 and missed the original "Bad News" message....and, from the last mail from Jess, something isn't right. If you can help, just mail me directly, if its not a problem. I'm all confused. - - - - > > G < < - - - ------------------------------ End of the-landing-digest V4 #18 ********************************