I am really protective over "my" bands….see my previous post 5 Songs That Changed My Life to see my HUGE fangirl love. So when a small, relatively unknown band pops up out of nowhere and makes it big, I get a little weary and defensive over "my" bands who hold this fangirl's heart.
I wrote a HUGE Bad Suns pre-post which explains how I've felt about the band up until now. Live Nation's One's To Watch invited me to my third Bad Suns show and I went in with an ok feeling. Having seen them twice before and not having been blown away…I thought third time could be a charm?
First off I want to say that I completely adore their album! It is intoxicating and makes me want to dance! Even listening to it now, I can't help but squirm around in my chair and sing along. That being said, their live show has left me lacking a connection to the band. I want to care about them as much as their music but I find myself unable to do so.
The Observatory in Santa Ana on Sunday, January 25th was sold out, with around 1,000 people in attendance. I felt like the one person in the room not having fun. I felt like an outsider looking in; I was the person at concerts I dislike. “What is her problem? Why is she even here!” I tried tapping my toes, I tried singing along {I know every lyric} and nothing worked.
I see how hard lead singer Christo's is trying and I think that is what puts me off. He's trying too hard. The fans ate it up, but I just found it disingenuous. The rest of the band feels invisible, especially bassist Gavin who hides behind his hair.
The one bright shining moment I did enjoy was the fan reaction to the final song. I've never heard a crowd sing so loudly before. I am a huge fan of fans, so it was nice to end the show on a genuine note.
I hope this post wasn't too much of a downer for you all! Have you tried to like something before and failed {ps I hate failing}? You all KNOW how much I adore music, so it pains me to write this. Then I think about how Tokio Hotel had me without even knowing one of their songs. Live music is a powerful thing and is different for each person.
I've seen a lot of bands like this too (it has been a while). But I feel like while "being famous" is a main motivator for a band, having passion for music, and, people who like your music is key to long-term success.
ReplyDeleteOh, I know that feeling--the gut feeling that you know the artist is actually trying too hard. The art is lost, and fabrication seems to take it's place. It's like they've lost some of the belief of what they do, that it won't be enough.
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