End Of The Road 8.26.02: Random Musings

Posted by Josh Nason on 08.27.2002

Encores, Beastie Boys and that damn Gideon Yago...

Welcome to what I hope will be a successful return to covering what is a big
part of all our lives – music. It’s around us all the time, whether it’s by
choice or in the background of a TV commercial. Who knows where this
spin-off project of our parent site – 411wrestling.com – will go but if the
success of the wrestling site is any indication, the music site probably
will succeed expectations as well. I haven’t done a music column in almost
three years, so forgive the rust stains all over this column.

Instead of focusing on just one issue, I need to dump the brain out and get
some of these thoughts out…

--While a good live concert experience can make a great memory, there is one
aspect of big concerts that I don’t really understand – the encore.

Originally designed as a way for fans to show their adulation for
performers, the encore has turned into nothing more than an unoriginal
ego-boost for almost every single act that tours. There is no surprise
element anymore and bands usually just save some of their biggest songs for
the encore. What’s the point?

Everyone knows it’s coming, so why not just play the songs anyway and skip
the two-minute break? Some might argue ‘It’s part of the live concert
experience,” but I see it as nothing more than egotistical grandstanding.

--Ever wonder when the Beastie Boys got so damn bland? After putting out one
of the most memorable albums of the 1980s in Licensed To Ill and a great
follow-up in Paul’s Boutique, the Beasties got…well…weird.

They embraced Tibet and the fight to “Free Tibet” and then began to renounce
their earlier work because it wasn’t PC due to homophobic slurs, etc. “Hello
Nasty” came out to great appeal, but They became more Woody Allen than Woody
Harrelson and seemed to want to appeal to a higher intellect of fan. I don’t
care about Tibet, I don’t care about New York City style, I don’t care about
any political bullsh*t – I would just love to pick up their album and feel
some sort of semblance to the fun loving guys they once were. But that’s
wishful thinking in today’s blasé culture of pop political correctness.

--Think the new Pearl Jam album will be any good? Nah, me neither. Remember
when Ten came out or Vs.? The Pearl Jam bus started to go downhill after
they decided to stop doing videos and battle Ticketmaster, never a winning
proposition. I do have this feeling though that their latest effort will
spawn a couple good songs. Even if they are still fighting the machine, the
guys aren’t stupid and realize that another bad album could sink the band
permanently.

--Phish recently announced their big reunion show on New Year’s Eve in
Madison Square Garden. While I think it’s an odd choice to play, Phish is a
legit ticket sellout machine and if they decide to tour, they’ll need a new
bus for all the money. How do hippies manage to get so much damn cash
anyway?
--Read the new music mag, Blender? Not bad…a music version of Maxim from the
very producers of that fine men’s magazine. This month’s issue features some
hot women of music, including Michelle Branch and the unbelievably grown-up
Mandy Moore. From all accounts, her career is about to explode and if her
new look says anything about it, it ain’t the ‘Candy’ girl anymore.

--By the way, Branch’s first effort – The Spirit Room – is a great effort.
I’m not a pop fan by any means, but it’s a nice alternative.

--Disturbed’s new album should be phenomenal if the first single, ‘Prayer,’
is any indication. I’ve seen them twice in concert and they don’t fail to
energize a crowd. I still can’t believe that MTV decided not to play the
video for ‘Prayer’ because the apocalyptic feel of the video reminded them
of 9/11. There will be a point when fake destruction appears on TV and p.c.
outlets like MTV should just get used to it. I’ve seen the video and never
once thought of 9/11. It’s a great clip and can be seen at Launch.com.

--Speaking of MTV, I can’t stand Gideon Yago. What a fake name. In fact,
most of the MTV personalities are grating but fit the ‘hit every
demographic’ deal they go for. However, one funny moment was when the
over-the-top alternative Iann Robinson interviewed and hung out with boy
band B2B. Good stuff. I still don’t like that damn Yago though.

--Ever wonder why supergroups like the Rolling Stones and Aerosmith charge
such extraordinary amount of money for tickets? I understand there is costs
involved with putting on their shows, but scale back on the extras and watch
the costs go down. The amount of great bands that don’t charge hundreds of
dollars but put on great shows should be applauded for what they do.

--Finally, download ‘Wasted’ by Paranoid Social Club. It’s a great song for
those of us that like to indulge in the liquid stuff….