Comments for Nickell's Bag http://nickellbag.com Music, art, and life in Missoula Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:54:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 Comment on Should we really hate the Mount St. Helens Vietnam Band? by Aaron Poehler http://nickellbag.com/2012/02/17/should-we-really-hate-the-mount-st-helens-vietnam-band/comment-page-1/#comment-13287 Aaron Poehler Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:54:48 +0000 http://nickellbag.com/?p=2051#comment-13287 Reminds me of OK Go, whose videos have garnered them a certain name recognition but whose music is totally unmemorable. I think (for me, anyway) the dividing issue is whether the publicity stunt/angle/gimmick outweighs the perceived quality of the band's music, not whether their music is derivative--that seems beside the point. Everything is derivative, of course, but if the music itself doesn't seem to merit the attention they attempt to bring for themselves then people begin to resent blatant self-promotion--the thinking being somewhat along the lines of "If you're going to go to (x) lengths to get me to pay attention to you, it's only justified if the music is (y) good." And if the the music is judged to be <y quality, one feels they have been "tricked" into listening somehow, which results in a backlash expressed through negative reviews, the writing of which is further justified by the existence of other negative reviews, the arguments of which then get agglomerated into other (derivative) reviews, and the snowball continues until the journalistic shorthand boils down to "Oh yeah, that derivative band with the infomercial gimmick. I hear they're derivative." The internet loves a good dogpile, after all. A good argument for bands to concentrate more on making music and less on publicity, one might justifiably argue -- but then again they are touring, in itself at least partially promotional. I personally have never heard this band and don't plan to search their music out so I don't have an opinion on their music one way of the other. Their terrible name alone would be enough to put me off unless they came highly recommended from a trusted source, which based on your article seems highly unlikely to happen. Reminds me of OK Go, whose videos have garnered them a certain name recognition but whose music is totally unmemorable.

I think (for me, anyway) the dividing issue is whether the publicity stunt/angle/gimmick outweighs the perceived quality of the band’s music, not whether their music is derivative–that seems beside the point. Everything is derivative, of course, but if the music itself doesn’t seem to merit the attention they attempt to bring for themselves then people begin to resent blatant self-promotion–the thinking being somewhat along the lines of “If you’re going to go to (x) lengths to get me to pay attention to you, it’s only justified if the music is (y) good.” And if the the music is judged to be <y quality, one feels they have been "tricked" into listening somehow, which results in a backlash expressed through negative reviews, the writing of which is further justified by the existence of other negative reviews, the arguments of which then get agglomerated into other (derivative) reviews, and the snowball continues until the journalistic shorthand boils down to "Oh yeah, that derivative band with the infomercial gimmick. I hear they're derivative." The internet loves a good dogpile, after all.

A good argument for bands to concentrate more on making music and less on publicity, one might justifiably argue — but then again they are touring, in itself at least partially promotional.

I personally have never heard this band and don't plan to search their music out so I don't have an opinion on their music one way of the other. Their terrible name alone would be enough to put me off unless they came highly recommended from a trusted source, which based on your article seems highly unlikely to happen.

]]> Comment on Yours truly among Humanities Montana grant recipients by Janene Murphy http://nickellbag.com/2012/02/14/yours-truly-among-humanities-montana-grant-recipients/comment-page-1/#comment-13283 Janene Murphy Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:36:05 +0000 http://nickellbag.com/?p=2048#comment-13283 Congratulations, Joe. That's fantastic! Well-deserved, too. Congratulations, Joe. That’s fantastic! Well-deserved, too.

]]> Comment on Sax appeal: an encore by Lloyd Anderson http://nickellbag.com/2012/01/19/sax-appeal-an-encore/comment-page-1/#comment-13173 Lloyd Anderson Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:11:20 +0000 http://nickellbag.com/?p=2041#comment-13173 I was really appalled by Joe Nickell's articles attacking saxophones. One would expect an A&E writer in a college town to possess opinions which are at least informed, and even, hopefully, halfway hip. Anyone who by biased generalization can dismiss Sonny Rollins, David Murray and Joe Lovano is neither of the above. Compounding the situation is the fact that Missoula is home base to a saxophonist who ranks with those three in technical virtuosity and improvisational genius, that being Chuck Florence. Please open your ears Mr. Nickell. It will do you good. Lloyd Anderson I was really appalled by Joe Nickell’s articles attacking saxophones. One would expect an A&E writer in a college town to possess opinions which are at least informed, and even, hopefully, halfway hip. Anyone who by biased generalization can dismiss Sonny Rollins, David Murray and Joe Lovano is neither of the above.

Compounding the situation is the fact that Missoula is home base to a saxophonist who ranks with those three in technical virtuosity and improvisational genius, that being Chuck Florence. Please open your ears Mr. Nickell. It will do you good.

Lloyd Anderson

]]> Comment on Sax appeal: an encore by Henry Bones http://nickellbag.com/2012/01/19/sax-appeal-an-encore/comment-page-1/#comment-13162 Henry Bones Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:25:28 +0000 http://nickellbag.com/?p=2041#comment-13162 Mr. Joe Nickell, "In my work, it's important that I try to comprehend what people value in different types of music, and to help guide the right audience to the right music when I can." Agreed! In your work, it is important that you try to comprehend. "....when talking with people about music, I often hear the refrain, "I like all kinds of music." Here's a bold assertion based on little beyond my own bias: I tend to think that people who say that don't really care deeply about any music." Is this what you call comprehending, Mr. Nickell? Feels pompous and dogmatic to me. I like all kinds of literature, and care deeply about the books I've read. I like reading all kinds of critical reviews of the arts, but can't recall ever reading a review where the critic presses the issue of his dislike of any one instrument I don't care much for the sound of a banjo, but, boy does it ever mix well with the music like Allison Krauss puts out. (By the way, if you ever get the chance, spend a quiet moment or two with Ben Webster). Do your work, Mr. Nickell; seek to understand and comprehend the whole of the music experience to share with your readership. My guess is that at most, 10 people out of 40,000 readers or .000002% joined in singing the blues with you about your saxophone drivel. I leave you with a Raymond Carver poem: Music Franz Liszt eloped with Countess Marie d’ Agoult, who wrote novels. Polite society washed its hands of him, and his novelist-countess whore. Liszt gave her three children, and music. Then went off with Princess Wittgenstein. Cosima, Liszt’s daughter, married the conductor, Hans von Bulow. But Richard Wagner stole her. Took her away to Bayreuth. Where Liszt show up one morning. Long white hair flouncing. Shaking his fist. Music. Music! Everybody grew more famous. HenryBones Mr. Joe Nickell,
“In my work, it’s important that I try to comprehend what people value in different types of music, and to help guide the right audience to the right music when I can.” Agreed! In your work, it is important that you try to comprehend.
“….when talking with people about music, I often hear the refrain, “I like all kinds of music.” Here’s a bold assertion based on little beyond my own bias: I tend to think that people who say that don’t really care deeply about any music.”
Is this what you call comprehending, Mr. Nickell? Feels pompous and dogmatic to me.
I like all kinds of literature, and care deeply about the books I’ve read. I like reading all kinds of critical reviews of the arts, but can’t recall ever reading a review where the critic presses the issue of his dislike of any one instrument I don’t care much for the sound of a banjo, but, boy does it ever mix well with the music like Allison Krauss puts out. (By the way, if you ever get the chance, spend a quiet moment or two with Ben Webster).
Do your work, Mr. Nickell; seek to understand and comprehend the whole of the music experience to share with your readership. My guess is that at most, 10 people out of 40,000 readers or .000002% joined in singing the blues with you about your saxophone drivel.
I leave you with a Raymond Carver poem:

Music
Franz Liszt eloped with Countess Marie d’ Agoult,
who wrote novels. Polite society washed its hands
of him, and his novelist-countess whore.
Liszt gave her three children, and music.
Then went off with Princess Wittgenstein.
Cosima, Liszt’s daughter, married
the conductor, Hans von Bulow.
But Richard Wagner stole her. Took her away
to Bayreuth. Where Liszt show up one morning.
Long white hair flouncing.
Shaking his fist. Music. Music!
Everybody grew more famous.

HenryBones

]]> Comment on I might consider sax with Verdi by Sax appeal: an encore « Nickell’s Bag http://nickellbag.com/2012/01/14/i-might-consider-sax-with-verdi/comment-page-1/#comment-13146 Sax appeal: an encore « Nickell’s Bag Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:49:50 +0000 http://nickellbag.com/?p=2020#comment-13146 [...] I might consider sax with Verdi [...] [...] I might consider sax with Verdi [...]

]]> Comment on The strange sounds of Satan by Joe Nickell http://nickellbag.com/2012/01/18/2038/comment-page-1/#comment-13145 Joe Nickell Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:13:56 +0000 http://nickellbag.com/?p=2038#comment-13145 TRASH?!? This stuff is pure gold! TRASH?!? This stuff is pure gold!

]]> Comment on The strange sounds of Satan by Pat Nickell http://nickellbag.com/2012/01/18/2038/comment-page-1/#comment-13142 Pat Nickell Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:45:17 +0000 http://nickellbag.com/?p=2038#comment-13142 Must have been a slow day, Joe, for you to post this kind of trash. Must have been a slow day, Joe, for you to post this kind of trash.

]]> Comment on I might consider sax with Verdi by « Nickell’s Bag http://nickellbag.com/2012/01/14/i-might-consider-sax-with-verdi/comment-page-1/#comment-13140 « Nickell’s Bag Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:29:39 +0000 http://nickellbag.com/?p=2020#comment-13140 [...] I might consider sax with Verdi [...] [...] I might consider sax with Verdi [...]

]]> Comment on The pleasures of paint-by-numbers by celia rabinowitz http://nickellbag.com/2009/02/19/the-pleasures-of-paint-by-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-13113 celia rabinowitz Tue, 15 Nov 2011 08:22:47 +0000 http://nickellbag.com/?p=266#comment-13113 Emmy! Larry and I would love to get in touch with you. I saw some images of your work shown at the ABBA Gallery back in 2008--9. It was so different from the work you did when we knew you back in Davis, but still absolutely your work. I thought it gloriously beautiful. I would love to know more of what you are doing now. We always thought you did extraordinary work. Celia Rabinowitz 822 Miller, Davis, Ca 95616. 530-756-6650 Emmy! Larry and I would love to get in touch with you. I saw some images of your work shown at the ABBA Gallery back in 2008–9. It was so different from the work you did when we knew you back in Davis, but still absolutely your work. I thought it gloriously beautiful. I would love to know more of what you are doing now. We always thought you did extraordinary work. Celia Rabinowitz 822 Miller, Davis, Ca 95616. 530-756-6650

]]> Comment on Get down with the Clown: Insane Clown Posse coming to Missoula’s Wilma Theatre by arbo http://nickellbag.com/2011/08/31/get-down-with-the-clown-insane-clown-posse-coming-to-missoulas-wilma-theatre/comment-page-1/#comment-12853 arbo Fri, 02 Sep 2011 20:25:02 +0000 http://nickellbag.com/?p=1981#comment-12853 FACE PAINT FOR EVERYONE! FACE PAINT FOR EVERYONE!

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