Ever Inadvertently Tell Someone His Band Sucks?

I used to get backstage passes to tons of concerts when my Dad drove tour bus. One time I was standing on stage watching Black Oak Arkansas, who were opening for Styx. This was mid- to late-70s, when I was mostly listening to a lot of new wave/punk rock. Clash, yes! Ramones, yes! Television, Voidoids, Talking Heads, yes! Styx? NO! Anyway, I was watching Tommy Aldridge do his drum solo and this dude walks up and stands next to me, wearing a plain t-shirt and jeans or something. He commented on Aldridge and I agreed that he was a great drummer. He asked me what I thought of Black Oak Arkansas. I said they were OK but the only reason I was there was because I got free passes. Then he asked me what I thought of Styx. I said, "THEY SUCK!" He gave me kind of a weird look and walked away. After BOA finished their set and Styx started I looked up and saw a spandex-clad dude with blow-dried hair and it was the same dude I had said "Styx sucks" to ... Tommy Shaw. At least I was honest.

 

You spoke the truth!

 

Wow. I have, but certainly not at that level. When pressed for an opinion, I find myself saying things like "Yep, your songs sure have a lot of chords," or "Was your lead singer a theater major?" or the all-purpose "Great energy, man!"

 

I think they were pretty good until Kilroy Was Here.

BTW, I go with "Great Set! I enjoyed it!"

 

I'd rather say "Yeah, good luck, not really my thing though..."
I have found myself in situations where I've had to hum and haw around giving an honest answer!

 

wow, I would of said the same thing - I saw Styx open for some band that I can't think of right now back in 75. I do like certain classic rock bands but Styx and a few others I will not mention on here really do suck.

 

No.... but I know someone who once met Chad Kroeger and intentionally told him that Nickelback was the worst band she'd ever heard in her entire life.

I wish I could've been there to second the comment.

 

Yes, that's my technique also.

Them: "How were we? What do you think" ? Me:"Wow, you guys put out a lot of sound!"

P.S. I will tell guys I know between sets if I think the soundman is having problems though.I can't hear the guitar, the vocals are muddy etc.,because this may be helpful for them.

 

I usually tell them semi-directly.

 

I once pretend booed the band Dirty Projectors and the girl who plays guitar threw water on me

 

One time a friend and I were talking with Mike Keneally before his show and my friend mentioned that he didn't like a track from Keneally's new CD at the time (Wooden Smoke) but couldn't remember the title, and Keneally went through several track titles from the album with him trying to figure out which one he didn't like.

 

I try to be open and not give negative feedback on my opinions of such things. I realized years ago that my opinion was just mine. That did not mean that others felt the same way as myself. I certainly would not tell that to someone I didn't know. It might give them the impression that I was an ignorant "blow hard".

 

NO, never! would handle it in an appropriate way. I respect my friend's feelings. Tact.

 

Well, I guess this is close enough to fit here...

Many years ago I brought a stack of CDs in to a store to trade in. Among them was a disc by NY artist Elliot Sharp. After I left the stack on the counter I went to browse the store, and several minutes later, who walks in but --- Elliot Sharp! He greets the store owner, who then proceeds to say, "Hey, look at what someone brought in to trade!", and pulls his disc out from the pile. Both of them had a laugh, and I remember being thankful that the owner had the tact not to point me out as the culprit!!

 

After a show my friends were telling Tommy Stinson how great his band Bash & Pop were so I jokingly said "I thought it sucked." He didn't laugh. It was a show before their album came out so it was almost all songs that no one knew. It was actually pretty good.

 

And it least you had the willpower not to run over, grab the disc back, and then ask him for an autograph.

 

you avoided an embarrassing situation...yes, bravo to the store owner! he must have liked you.

 

LOL!

 

good for her!

 

I can't believe you don't know what Tommy Shaw looks like. I could pick him out of a crowd. Styx is a great band, by the way.

 

What's the difference between a "pretend boo" and a real one?

 

Yes,
a guy from the Decemberists, Rainy Day Records, Sandy Ave, Portland, Oregon.

 

No. But I once told some guy that one particular song by a popular italian group was terrible not knowing that he was the writer.

 

It wasn't like I was being obnoxious or malicious or even loud..They were booked to open for Jarvis Cocker at Webster Hall as he was looking for the "best new talent" in NYC..I liken them that night to an act you'd see on the Gong Show. I was talking to the guy next to me about how bad I thought they were and after one of their songs I guess I cupped my hands and booed..But it wasn't like anyone heard me..just to make the guy next to me laugh and I guess since I was in the front the lady playing guitar saw me, got an evil look in her eye, took her water bottle and started throwing what was left at me.

 

I generally would never do this either. But this was STYX!