Comment was infuriating!!

Ken Thompson · Post by **Ken Thompson** » 3 Nov 2005 8:52 am

I attended a "country" concert last night by an up and coming star. I do not want to mention his name because he put on a great show and I will comment on him in another thread. I do not want this to reflect on his show at all.

Now the point: The opening act was Cross Canadian Ragweed. They are clearly a rock act. Their lead singer is very good and their songs seemed well written. However the screaming Les Pauls were not what I prefer at all.

Quote made by the lead singer: "we are not very country and you are just going to have to get over that sh**". Most of the crowd, who was less than 25 years old, did not seem to mind but those of us that paid to see a country concert were a little, shall I say, disappointed by the show and then infuriated by the comment. What a way to ingratiate yourself with a crowd. Couldn't believe it.

OK, I feel better now. Do I pay the receptionist on the way out?

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 3 Nov 2005 9:05 am

That'll be $.02.

I thought the opening act was supposed to warm the audience up to the main act?
Times change.... I guess you ought to alientate the audience so they'll appreciate the headliner more.

Mark Metdker · Post by **Mark Metdker** » 3 Nov 2005 10:16 am

http://www.crosscanadianragweed.com/photos.php

They look like some good country pickers to me!

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Zum U-12 w/True Tone pickup thru a Nashville 112

Strats thru a VHT Super 30

Band Pics
http://community.webshots.com/album/176544894AuXSmi

Larry Strawn · Post by **Larry Strawn** » 3 Nov 2005 10:31 am

Matter of fact they do remind me of some of the new Country pickers!!!

Larry

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Emmons S/D-10, 3/5, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 3 Nov 2005 10:44 am

You guys are going to have to get used of the new age country. The country music of the 50s & 60s in going the way of the big dance bands and the old fashion barn dance bands.

Hey, is the rock and roll of the 90s and later on the same as it was in the 50s & 60s? Where ever the money is, so goes the music!

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(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)

Chris Schlotzhauer · Post by **Chris Schlotzhauer** » 3 Nov 2005 10:45 am

Songs well written? Like "The Boys From Oklahoma Roll Their Joints All Wrong"? Actually, Jason Boland wrote that, but it's one of CCR's most popular. Cody (lead singer) is the only real talent in that band. Personally, I don't think it's even good rock & roll.

Keith Cordell · Post by **Keith Cordell** » 3 Nov 2005 11:08 am

CCR is only well known for a commercial that used one of their songs, which got it some airplay. I kinda like 'em, and I can understand why they feel the need to qualify up front that they are not a country band; they have been fighting that perception because of that one song that they are identified with. Their CD reflects their true style a lot better.

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 3 Nov 2005 11:19 am

I'm not comfortable calling them CCR.

Those initials forever belong to the Fogerty Brothers, maybe not legally, but in my heart...

Larry Strawn · Post by **Larry Strawn** » 3 Nov 2005 11:35 am

Joey,,
I have to agree completly with you on that one!!

Larry

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Emmons S/D-10, 3/5, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"

ray qualls · Post by **ray qualls** » 3 Nov 2005 12:40 pm

I, too, agree with Joey! Only one CCR. Maybe they could change their name to the Beetles or Rolling Stoned. I listened to several of their tunes and they sound more like southern rock to me. I do respect them for honoring the service men tho. JMO

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Ray Qualls
President(KSGA) www.rayqualls.com

Ken Thompson · Post by **Ken Thompson** » 3 Nov 2005 12:56 pm

Regarding well written songs, I should have clarified that they had good melodies and structure. I wasn't even going to mention their push to have marijuana legalized. That was great for all the teenagers to hear. There were alot of highschool kids there, mine included.

They weren't bad for a rock band and that is the key point here, I WENT TO A COUNTRY CONCERT for those of you (you know who you are) that aren't getting it. I am in my early 50s so I am not quite in the "big band era." It just really pi@@ses me off when group sell themselves as a country band when they are not even close. A lot of country bands play a "rock" song now and then or a song that has very "rock" structure. My band included. But we do play "rock" as a general format of our show. They did in my opinion. Not only that, they had to insult the audience by letting you know they did not play country so take that! If I had not wanted to see the real act that was headlining I would have asked for my money back. As it turned out, they were only a minor distraction.

Ken Thompson · Post by **Ken Thompson** » 3 Nov 2005 1:02 pm

I meant to say we DO NOT play rock as a general format. Sorry.

I also re-read a couple of the posts and I also must have misunderstood, am I reading that they DO NOT claim to be a country band? If so then they certainly did not misrepresent themselves. It was just us poor concumers that were confused. My bad!!! I thought I was going to a country concert. I will be more discriminating with my money in the future.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 3 Nov 2005 5:50 pm

1. Everybody needs a little rock n' roll.

2. I don't recall ever basing my decision whether or not to go to a concert based on who the opening act is. You're there to see the headliner and if you enjoy the opener, it's icing on the cake.

In the grand scheme of things, who gives a fig who the opening act is?

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Mark

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 3 Nov 2005 6:26 pm

At these extortion level prices that we pay to see a concert (no matter what genre), we should expect to see an opening act that is complimentary to the main act. I would be screaming bloody murder if I went to see George Strait and his opening act was Jessica Simpson. Just my one and a half cents.

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Carter D10 9p/10k, NV400
[This message was edited by Richard Sinkler on 03 November 2005 at 06:27 PM.]

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 3 Nov 2005 7:33 pm

*[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 05 November 2005 at 03:25 PM.]

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 4 Nov 2005 12:39 am

I think the promoter dropped the ball on this cross style booking,
IF he was thinking about the 50+ age crowd's tastes.
I doubt he was...

But in todays country scene the 20 somethings rule,
and Ragweed isn't so far off the mark for them.
In the 50-70s the 40+ crowd ruled country,
But that's history.

SO the question is was the headliner so far off,
that this band should never have been booked forto open for him.

OR was it a band that apealed to one tangent of the headliners audiences tastes,
but not that other so it was a good fit,
for the 20 somethings, but not the older crowd.

It was a backhanded appology for not being very country,
poorly delivered.
But basically it was saying :
take us as we are, not as your expectations
lead you to believe we might be.

Leslie Ehrlich · Post by **Leslie Ehrlich** » 4 Nov 2005 12:42 am

How about the screaming Sho-Bud?

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 4 Nov 2005 5:15 am

CCR...Grapevine...Timeless... One and Only!

BTW, most CCR advocates can name Grapevine in one note ('cause it's really 1-1/2 notes with the bass tremolo :>) ). Hells Bells by AC/CD is probably the only other tune that is obvious from the first note.[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 04 November 2005 at 05:18 AM.]

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 4 Nov 2005 5:35 am

Pink FLoyd's "Money" is in there.

John Lacey · Post by **John Lacey** » 4 Nov 2005 6:46 am

And they're not even Canadian....

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 4 Nov 2005 6:59 am

The headliner was DIERKS BENTLEY, he is very popular with the 20 something country fans, male and female. He sells a ton of cd's.

He has a lot of rock sound in his country, but is a younger guy that is also true to country roots and gets the respect of the older fans. I've even seen him wearing a Sho-Bud tee shirt.

I mentioned Dierks a few posts above. If Ken thinks it's ungentlemanly to mention who the headliner was, more power to him, but I think it helps fill in the equation why Ragweed was included as the opener and helps to make more sense of the whole issue.

Ragweed opening for George Jones, that would be pretty weird. But then again, maybe not. There are younger folks getting turned on to George.

Ragweed opening for Hag? Not that weird. Merle has made it clear that he despises the whole mainstream Nashville scenario.

Ragweed opening for Johnny Cash if he were still with us-probably not that weird either-the way Johnny's career went in his latter years where he made a comeback with a lot of the college kids and twentysomethings.

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Mark

Tom Olson · Post by **Tom Olson** » 5 Nov 2005 9:35 am

CCR is only well known for a commercial that used one of their songs, which got it some airplay.

I'm curious -- what commercial was it? Thanks.

Chris Walke · Post by **Chris Walke** » 5 Nov 2005 12:03 pm

"At these extortion level prices that we pay to see a concert (no matter what genre), we should expect to see an opening act that is complimentary to the main act. I would be screaming bloody murder if I went to see George Strait and his opening act was Jessica Simpson. Just my one and a half cents."

Hah! I saw George Jones in concert, and his opening band was a cover band! If that wasn't weird enough, they actually played one of HIS songs from the album he was touring in support of.

James Cann · Post by **James Cann** » 5 Nov 2005 7:56 pm

Most of the crowd who were less than 25 years old, did not seem to mind but. . . (some) of us . . . were a little . . . disappointed by the show and then infuriated by the comment.

After eleven years of teaching high school English, hearing the routine use of foul language that would have brought suspension and pariahship fifty years ago, I can tell you, simply and sadly, that foul language, confrontation, and violence are factors of their lives. Since the 60s, now, society tolerance and exploitation by the media (both live and electronic) have resulted in insensitivity that might--only might, sad to say--stop short anyone over 25! To sharpen the point, the difference between my students of 1994 and 2005 was itself profound.

I still do teach (at college level now) but I offer no more English teacher voice crying in the language wilderness. I've shed far too many tears already. As a group (and as individuals), we live as we deserve.[This message was edited by James Cann on 09 November 2005 at 07:50 AM.]

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 5 Nov 2005 10:56 pm

What was rude for great grampa,
is stuff my mom might say, and she was proper.

Stuff her grandchild might say in 15 years would likely shock her.
But not shock me too much.

Standards of speach have been changing generationally since time immemorial.

Words that were intolerable in the 50s-60's,
see Lenny Bruce,
are now coming out of politicians mouths.

if you're 70, then many words will likely bother you,
more so than if you're 50,
and much more so than if your 25 now.

It is a combination of insensitivity
and changes of meaning over time.
Not strictly media disemination.
This happens by word of mouth alone too.

It is also not them (the young) getting less sensitive,
but YOU not getting less sensitive.
They are a verbal product of their CURRENT environment.
While your lingustic touch stones are decades in the past.

Funk and funky were not said in polite company not so long ago,
but is perfectly fine now.