Re: Fighting Words (and simplistic)

[TangerineMan <tangerineman@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Tim writes:

> At least Zeppelin was original -
> today's rock is formulaic product designed (and today's rock musicians
> openly admit this) to sell records.

Speaking of which, I took in the Velvet Revolver show in Montreal last night
(only because the ticket was free--thanks, Steph, I owe you one!). Aside
from the fact that the sound was possibly the worst I've ever heard in an
arena, the songs just seemed so... irrelevant. I was interested in
seeing/hearing Slash, who I'd never seen live, but his solos were barely
discernible over the sludge of the rest of the band.

Now, let me preface this by saying I'd never heard a single VR song, I only
ever listen to the local classic rock station in my car, for maybe 10
minutes a day, and I have no access to (nor desire to view) any music-video
networks. But I thought I'd take a chance and go see one of the bigger names
in mainstream rock at the moment... Figuring, they're talented musicians,
G'n'R were a great band with an a$$hole for a singer, STP had 2 or 3 cool
songs and a much better singer, ergo this band must put on a pretty good
show.

What I got was formulaic, pointless songs played with zero passion for an
arena one-third full. Every single band member doing nothing more than going
through the motions. Striking poses. Secure in the knowledge that the
audience is going to cheer them madly even if they fu@k up completely (or
are completely fu@ked up). And it all gets glowing reviews in the papers the
next morning. The machine is fed, the t-shirts have been sold, the groupies
have been molested and the band can move on to the next city and do it all
over again.

Worst of all, sad to say, was the Crown Prince of this Court of Mediocrity,
Scott Weiland. Once he decided to (proudly?) display his emaciated torso
during the third song, I just couldn't get myself to unhook from that image
and try to appreciate the music. I have no idea if he's currently clean (how
many times has he been in & out of rehab, anyway?), but his body is
certainly showing the ravages of heroin. If he is still using, I give him
five years before he's dead of an OD. (I don't wish it on him, of course,
and one could have said the same thing about a certain guitarist in 1977,
who thankfully came through unscathed in the end... But anyway...)

Oh yeah--I also saw about 30 seconds of opener Three Days' Grace and they
were none too inspiring.

So this is the state of corporate/classic rock today, huh? Well ya know
what? It's about as pretty as Scott Weiland's protruding ribcage.