This weekend, I went to 2 days of the Wildflower Festival here in the DFW area. Wildflower focuses heavily on music, both up & coming/under appreciated acts and bigger headliners. The bigger headliners tend to be sort of on the downside of their career, either staging a comeback and looking to get their new music in front of a live audience, or they just really enjoy playing and want to keep going even though they can't sell out an arena any more.
The two headline acts, Everclear (Ah SUM) and Bret Michaels (surprisingly awesome), really showed the best of that "the far end of fame" phenomenon. Everclear was in fine form. They played the older songs with all the piss and vinegar they had in the 90s (Father of Mine kicked ass). But they also showed that they have grown in the last 10 years, and played some new material that showed an edge of maturity. They even stepped to the front of the stage and sang an a capella number. In rock guys, that shows balls on a major scale. And through it all they were upbeat, having fun and really very kind and warm towards their audience.
The next night, Bret Michaels was a trip. He was obviously having a blast, and was very happy that an audience full of people was there to have a blast with him. I was never really the Poison target market. I knew the hits. Who didn't? At one point Every Rose Has A Thorn was inescapable on pop radio. And who wasn't looking for Nothin' But a Good Time in the 80s? But I can't say I ever went to one of their shows, or bought an album. But there were a bunch of old school metal heads out in force. Devil fingers everywhere (Note: people of Texas, there is a difference between devil fingers and hook'em horns. Let's get it right.). And Bret Michaels was being the ringleader of fun. I think one of the best descriptive words would be generous. He really was putting himself out there, and the crowd was loving it. [Sidebar for any Rock of Love fans: There were a bunch of girls hanging just off stage. Couldn't tell if any of them were from the show.]
I have been to a lot of these music festivals. And some of the once-were bands can be really pissy. Not at all happy to be back playing for a small crowd. And the arrogant, above-it-all air really just reeks from the stage. The point is, that there is a whole market out there for acts that are just there to play for an audience. Some people, me included, can't or don't want to pay $100 to see a band. But there are plenty of bands I'd love to see still, even though they aren't played on top 40 radio any more. I'm willing to scream when the old hits get played. And I'm willing to listen to new songs if you want to throw a few in. And let's face it, a cover song or two ain't a bad thing. But some bands could really take a lesson in being appreciative of the audience they have. If you're getting to play music for a living, a little graciousness can carry you a long way. And if you don't love it any more, why the hell would you still be doing it?
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2 comments:
Bret Michaels? I'm green with envy - he is just an all-around nice guy can't imagine with ever being with the "you should be glad to see me" vibe like some former hit-makers dp.
He was very fun and an absolute charmer. Plus he was in very good voice. Not Josh Groban good. But then, does Josh Groban throw Talk Dirty to Me into his set list? Come to think of it, that would be something I'd like to see.
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