Comments on: The Unrelenting Crush of Musicianship http://nicopolitan.com/2008/07/16/the-unrelenting-crush-of-musicianship/ It's a blog. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:46:10 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: mixtapes + meltdowns http://nicopolitan.com/2008/07/16/the-unrelenting-crush-of-musicianship/comment-page-1/#comment-512 mixtapes + meltdowns Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:20:02 +0000 http://nicopolitan.com/?p=230#comment-512 This is a great post, Nico! I think it's really true. I think part of the problem is that knowing the musician personally greatly affects your perception of their work. You know the back story behind their lyrics, you know that their onstage persona is different from their "real life" persona. You know the person behind the music. I also think that knowing the musician personally makes you feel more invested in their quality-- you're critical of them almost in the way that you'd be critical of yourself, because you feel (maybe subconsciously) that their quality reflects on you in some way. Just some thoughts... This is a great post, Nico! I think it’s really true. I think part of the problem is that knowing the musician personally greatly affects your perception of their work. You know the back story behind their lyrics, you know that their onstage persona is different from their “real life” persona. You know the person behind the music.

I also think that knowing the musician personally makes you feel more invested in their quality– you’re critical of them almost in the way that you’d be critical of yourself, because you feel (maybe subconsciously) that their quality reflects on you in some way.

Just some thoughts…

]]> By: Clarity Sage http://nicopolitan.com/2008/07/16/the-unrelenting-crush-of-musicianship/comment-page-1/#comment-513 Clarity Sage Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:56:35 +0000 http://nicopolitan.com/?p=230#comment-513 I think it kind of applies to a lot of industries. It's more about the business than about actual talent, though I think you still need the talent to get to the top because business skills (or sleeping around) can only get you so far. I totally see what you're saying with the obscurity thing needed to be popular but needing fans to be popular. Oh, the paradox. Paradox? Is that the right word? My friend's band is about to play their first show next weekend, and I'm very excited because I have never heard him sing. If his band sucks, I'll tell him. I already told him their name sucks. hahah I just don't want their band name holding them back. :o) If they suck, I won't support them. I think I'm being a good friend because how else will they learn and get better? I think it kind of applies to a lot of industries. It’s more about the business than about actual talent, though I think you still need the talent to get to the top because business skills (or sleeping around) can only get you so far.

I totally see what you’re saying with the obscurity thing needed to be popular but needing fans to be popular. Oh, the paradox. Paradox? Is that the right word?

My friend’s band is about to play their first show next weekend, and I’m very excited because I have never heard him sing. If his band sucks, I’ll tell him. I already told him their name sucks. hahah I just don’t want their band name holding them back. :o) If they suck, I won’t support them. I think I’m being a good friend because how else will they learn and get better?

]]> By: Moxie http://nicopolitan.com/2008/07/16/the-unrelenting-crush-of-musicianship/comment-page-1/#comment-515 Moxie Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:24:04 +0000 http://nicopolitan.com/?p=230#comment-515 I think you got some good things going on. And I live in Austin. :) I think you got some good things going on. And I live in Austin. :)

]]> By: Tin Ma'am/Elaine http://nicopolitan.com/2008/07/16/the-unrelenting-crush-of-musicianship/comment-page-1/#comment-514 Tin Ma'am/Elaine Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:15:35 +0000 http://nicopolitan.com/?p=230#comment-514 Hey, you know what, the thing about music is that if you can do it, DO IT! That's it. Not everyone can, and those who can really need to keep going on it. Art may always be crap, or it can be glorious. No one really knows until you finish it. Hey, you know what, the thing about music is that if you can do it, DO IT! That’s it. Not everyone can, and those who can really need to keep going on it. Art may always be crap, or it can be glorious. No one really knows until you finish it.

]]> By: Cess http://nicopolitan.com/2008/07/16/the-unrelenting-crush-of-musicianship/comment-page-1/#comment-518 Cess Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:45:06 +0000 http://nicopolitan.com/?p=230#comment-518 Touché. I went to a reggae show on saturday with my best-friend's-drummer-boyfriend's band in a city 1,5 hours away (we call it Strawtown). And truth be told, they are far from crappy, they have reggae-JOY and spread the luuv. Now, she wasn't even sure she wanted to go because as the drummer's live-in-girlfriend about to go on vacation with him for 3 weeks straight, she figured he'd understand if she wanted a day's rest. However, since she spilled the beans to her friends and we thought it would be fun to make a little road trip to see this band play in Strawtown, and show our support as fans-in-the-know (their gig was a 'secret guest'-setup, so no regular fans there per se). At any rate, I like their music plenty, and they are damn talented and know how to put on a show. But as for promoting them, I just chip in occasionally. So what does that make our road trip gang, supportive extended family? :) Touché.
I went to a reggae show on saturday with my best-friend’s-drummer-boyfriend’s band in a city 1,5 hours away (we call it Strawtown). And truth be told, they are far from crappy, they have reggae-JOY and spread the luuv.
Now, she wasn’t even sure she wanted to go because as the drummer’s live-in-girlfriend about to go on vacation with him for 3 weeks straight, she figured he’d understand if she wanted a day’s rest. However, since she spilled the beans to her friends and we thought it would be fun to make a little road trip to see this band play in Strawtown, and show our support as fans-in-the-know (their gig was a ‘secret guest’-setup, so no regular fans there per se).

At any rate, I like their music plenty, and they are damn talented and know how to put on a show. But as for promoting them, I just chip in occasionally.

So what does that make our road trip gang, supportive extended family? :)

]]> By: Sleepyjane http://nicopolitan.com/2008/07/16/the-unrelenting-crush-of-musicianship/comment-page-1/#comment-517 Sleepyjane Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:26:18 +0000 http://nicopolitan.com/?p=230#comment-517 Haha! I'm friends with a guy that plays drums in a sometimes band. Sometimes because they're only together sometimes. And the fact is I have been to shows to support them even though it was totally not my style of music. Personally I think it sucks that some bands are so amazinly talented and yet they just can get that big break. Great post. :) You are so in my google reader. Haha! I’m friends with a guy that plays drums in a sometimes band. Sometimes because they’re only together sometimes. And the fact is I have been to shows to support them even though it was totally not my style of music.

Personally I think it sucks that some bands are so amazinly talented and yet they just can get that big break.

Great post. :) You are so in my google reader.

]]> By: Sue Massey http://nicopolitan.com/2008/07/16/the-unrelenting-crush-of-musicianship/comment-page-1/#comment-516 Sue Massey Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:30:28 +0000 http://nicopolitan.com/?p=230#comment-516 I've been reading along for a while now. I just wanted to drop you a comment to say keep up the good work. I’ve been reading along for a while now. I just wanted to drop you a comment to say keep up the good work.

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