Suffering for Art; Big Venues and Music

by Bob Boilen

Last night I and small group of others from NPR Music went to see/hear Radiohead at the Nissan Pavilion, about an hour outside of Washington, D.C. The band was as amazing as I hoped they would be, but the venue nearly killed it.

Nissan Pavilion is one of those big, outdoor venues, with a partially covered section. It's one of the worst venues I know of to get in to and to leave. I could have driven three hours to a show in Philly and been home sooner. An hour and half just to get out of a parking lot is outrageous, (and for some it was much longer) as was the two hours getting in to it. (many including our producer Robin Hilton turned around and gave up after many frustrating hours.)

There was a torrential rain last night and the crowd in the pavilion... well, we were all drenched and freezing from the cold, stormy wind. But we were the lucky ones; we didn't have lawn seats.

The night air was filled by a band playing remarkable music to a very uncomfortable and dedicated crowd. The lights were great, the sound was just okay. There were two encores. (Here's a clip from the show someone posted on youtube):

I love this band as much as anyone, but I felt myself hoping the encores would stop so I could get in my car and go home and get out of my cold, wet clothes.

When I finally did get in my car, we all sat there shivering and wondered how many other bands we would do this for. I had trouble thinking of anyone other than Radiohead.

Understanding that suffering is, of course, a relative term here (this isn't Myanmar), what's the most you've endured to see your favorite band?

And big venues, do you avoid them or love them?

and this just in from a band that clearly cared and felt bad for the crowd last night.

2:15 PM ET | 05-12-2008 | permalink | comments (23) | e-mail post

 

The Sound of a Generation

by Robin Hilton

Every generation has its own soundtrack. The Silent Generation (people born in the '20s and '30s) had big band and swing. Baby Boomers (born in the '40s and '50s) had rock and soul. Generation X (born in the '60s and '70s) had grunge and hip-hop. There's plenty of overlap, of course, and these are incredibly broad distinctions that don't take a lot of other genres into consideration. But it's probably fair to say that these were the most defining moments in music for each generation.

Big-band jazz and swing was the sound of a nation celebrating itself during and after the War. What's now called classic rock was the perfect soundtrack for a rebellion, while the mopey angst of grunge captured the, well, mopey angst of disillusioned teens and twentysomethings coming off the Reagan years.

Now it's the Millennials' turn. Also known as Generation Y, these are people born in the late '70s to early '90s.

I confess I don't listen to much Top 40 radio or watch much MTV. I do read a number of music magazines and music Web sites (Hype Machine, Stereogum, Pitchfork) and listen to the hundreds of CDs we get in the mail each week, so I'd like to think I have at least an inkling of what's going on. But I can't for the life of me figure out what the Millennial/Generation Y soundtrack is. Maybe it hasn't been defined yet. I've been talking with the other producers here -- several of them Millennials themselves -- and we're a little stumped.

What do you think it is? Or what will it be?

Early next month, we'll talk about this on All Songs Considered, with Monitor Mix blogger Carrie Brownstein and others. We'll play some music from different periods. Help us put the show together by letting us know what you think.

9:46 AM ET | 05- 8-2008 | permalink | comments (56) | e-mail post

 

Garage Rock and FM Radio

by Bob Boilen

The Electric Prunes were the first band I can remember hearing on the FM dial, WOR-FM at 98.7. It was late 1966, and my dad had bought a stereo with an FM tuner. No one else I knew had FM back then. It wasn't in cars or on your transistor dial.

The FCC ruled that any broadcaster with an AM license had to have separate original programming for the FM dial, so FM underground radio was born. DJs with eclectic tastes ruled the new airwaves, as did a wave of garage bands. Bands with names such as The Velvet Underground and The Electric Prunes began to overtake my habit for commercial AM pop radio in New York.

"I Had Too Much to Dream Last Night" was a fantastic song, and in stereo on the huge white Koss headphones, it was a sonic boom. I still remember the guitar panning around, my head reeling as the drums panned hard to one side.

This was truly a garage band, in that their practice space was in their home garage in the San Fernando Valley. That's where they were discovered.

Now, more than 40 years later, the band is touring. The Electric Prunes played the Black Cat in Washington, but I missed it. I'm curious what they sounded like. Has anyone gone to see them?
And do you remember the early days of FM radio?

4:03 PM ET | 05- 6-2008 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post

 

You Can Tell a CD by Its Cover

by Bob Boilen

Today, I went through a few hundred CDs looking for a handful for next week's All Songs Considered. There simply isn't enough time to listen to every song on every CD, so I listen to the first cut on most every disc. If I don't like the aesthetic of the music, I go on to the next song. There is one exception: If I like the cover art, I'll randomly go to another cut and see what else the music has to say.

Here is one dirty little secret -- I don't like this, but it's true. I look at the cover art, and if it doesn't have a hint of originality, and I'm pressed for time,I don't listen to the CD.

Here are a few sure signs of artwork that foretells uninspired music:

1. Musicians with pets
2. Pyramids (except Dark Side of the Moon)
3. Women in gowns on couches
4. Men drinking alcohol
5. Skulls
6. Chandeliers
7. Bad Photoshop jobs (e.g., bands floating on clouds)
8. Multiple fonts (cursive is the curse)
9. Posed portraits
10. A guy holding a guitar and smiling

What else?
Can you tell a CD by its cover?
What are the telltale signs of a bad record?
Any exceptions to the above list?

5:18 PM ET | 05- 2-2008 | permalink | comments (32) | e-mail post