Are we in the minority?

[Pea]

I was talking to my friend today about all of the bands and potential scheduling conflicts that may happen this year. She said that wasn't going to be a problem for her because there are only about 5 bands she wants to see over the whole weekend. Not because she doesn't dislike all of the others, but because she just doesn't care to look into the bands she hasn't heard before. This fucking blew my mind, mostly because I have discovered some new favorite artists that I otherwise would have never heard. It got me wondering about all of the people that were continually complaining about the lineup this year. Are most of us on this forum just the few and far between music geeks that are willing to do a little homework before a festival??

[mazdawg]

Yes... most people are lazy and have what I call "sheep" syndrome. People with "sheep" syndrome do whatever everyone else is doing because it's cool and/or popular. For example.. lines - if you want to get in somewhere faster go to the middle of the pack. Why in the hell are you following everyone else? Example two - American Idol.

I consider myself a wolf and love to feast on those "sheep". So in a way, I'm very happy they exist!

[Pea]

thanks, smartass.

[emptyfox]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdMxRG9Jol0

[Blacksmile]

I too have found some great bands since the line-up came out and I would say that we are somewhat of a minority. Most of the time when I go to festivals with other people they leave the homework to me and basically go see the 2-3 bands they know and then watch the bands that I have discovered or researched.

In short...we are the minority.

[mazdawg]

May 4, 2010 11:53:31 GMT -8 Pea said:

thanks, smartass.

Sorry peatrick, I wasn't attempting to be a smartass. If I offended you, please accept my apology. That wasn't my intention. My intention was to agree with you that we are indeed the minority.

[ryslice]

I like being in the minority though. Especially if a band you want to see is playing at the same time as a better known yet less talented act. Makes for a better crowd in my opinion.

[ComesWithASword]

Sasquatch has developed a reputation as a great, weekend long party. Some people have no problem paying $200 (plus alcohol, etc.) for an excuse to party. To them the music is merely a bonus.

[scough]

i was pretty unimpressed at the lineup when it was released, but in the past couple months i've discovered at least a dozen sasquatch bands that i had never heard before, and really like now. just taking the time to listen to some of them made me change my mind about the lineup, i think it's easily better than the last two years i went. MUCH better headliners that i'll actually stick around for this time. i was back at the campground before kings of leon or ben harper ever took the stage last year. definitely less frat kid friendly this year which is a welcome change.

[wolfhat]

I agree with scough^. This will be my 6th Sasquatch, and I'll admit I was definitely underwhelmed when the line-up first came out. Since then I've gotten into many of the bands previously unknown to me and now I am thinking this year has to potential to be one of the best yet.

In response to the original question: I'm afraid we are the minority. Then again, I don't mind. More room for me in front for the good and lesser-known acts!

[know ID yuh]

We are in the minority in the sense that our influences come from the internet. Most people get their musical taste from the radio, music television, and friends. Eventually, when music becomes more of a hobby, you go looking for other sources, and you end up here.

So yes, most of us are music geeks, and if you're new to a music board, you'll end up one as well. Others would rather spend their free time playing poker, or watching sitcoms four hours a night, or raising children, or working two jobs, or collecting cans, while we spend it looking for our next favorite band. Luckily, Adam Zacks is one of us, and does this music geek thing for a living, so he is like King Music Geek. That's the cool thing, the Sasquatch lineup will always appeal to us music geeks because of KMG, and each year we will discover the next big thing. Who had heard of Passion Pit before last year's lineup? Who had heard of Yes Giantess before this year's lineup? Who would have thought the Heavy v. Shadow Shadow Shade conflict at noon would be one of the worst?

As for your friend, when someone has 20-30 bands they really like, and five end up on the lineup, they are happy to attend. The next year, they might only have one of their top 20-30 bands. They'll think the lineup sucks, and move on to their other interests. Us music geeks with 200-300 bands we like think only liking five bands on the lineup is a travesty, because we already liked 20+, and now like 40+.

I guess what I am trying to say is, we are better people than them. The end.

[Lump]

I think King Music Geek put it best with this Sasquatch "mission satement" (if you will) that best explains that group of us that have 23489723984 conflicts at this festival (as opposed to those who have none):

"Sasquatch was an idea born on a hunch that there was untapped demand for a certain kind of festival that catered to the eclectic tastes of music enthusiasts."

This festival was made for music enthusiasts by music enthusiasts (and said group seems to be the minority indeed).

Part of the reason I love this festival is so much is not the fact it's trying to be "OMG THE BIGGEST PARTY EVER" (though I like to think it is), but instead just trying to give music fans music that music fans love.

And there is my 2 cents.

[Lump]

But I don't want to be referred to as a music enthusiast. I just hope they call me "a guy who likes music"

(Also, what I said applies to comedy enthusiasts as well. They've consistently had the best comedy lineup for "comedy enthusiasts" at any music festival I've seen too. And I like to consider myself a connoisseur of standup comedy.)

[stamper]

how can any person possibly be disappointed with a lineup that centers around artists like: My Morning Jacket, the New Pornographers, Massive Attack, Broken Social Scene, LCD Soundsystem, Band of Horses, Pavement and Ween? Not to mention: MGMT, the National, DeadMau5, Passion Pit and Vampire Weekend? And that doesn't include the plethora of great new up-and-coming acts - as well as the other numerous established artists I forgot to include.

for any person who felt 'disappointed' at first... what is wrong with you? what more can anyone ask for? This lineup was ridiculous from the start! ya know?

[Whoopsie Goldberg]

Its just collective behavior ya know. People just don't care, and they suffer as a result of it. I have found some amazing shit while looking a lot deeper into some artists, but other artists: like massive attack, I have heard very little but loved what I heard (mostly from a co-worker at pizza hut), but I haven't downloaded much from them, and am choosing to discover them more deeply seeing them face to face. Sometimes, when you've never heard a really amazing band before, and you discover them fully live, it will stick in your brain forever and just adds to the "awe" factor. So it works both ways, I guess...

[alex]

definitely in the minority.

I find that people like what they like and don't tend to stray too far from that. We, seemingly, like to like what other people don't know they like yet. (still with me?)

Instead of waiting to be introduced to new music we actively search for it. We don't necessarily buy or download music by an artist we like and discover new music by checking out the "you may also like" suggestion. We go to sites like Stereogum, Pitchfork, Whale In a Cubicle, etc and are not afraid to sift through the haystack of new music to find the needle of groudbreaking new stuff.

We are the "go to" guys and girls who suggest new and interesting music to our friends, and we all have friends who we have taken under our wing in an attempt to drag them out of their radio-dependence.

so yes. in short, we are the minority, but the fact that there are people who are (i'm assuming) open to hearing new bands at a giant outdoor party gives me some hope that the world is not as dependent upon auto-tune and power chords as it seems.

[Pea]

This has been a fun thread to read, thanks for all of the great responses! I've definitely always felt like I was part of that "music minority." Having floated around music forums for probably 9 years or so now, I've sort of become that "go-to guy" you were talking about alex. Maybe we're all just a little obsessed, but I can't see myself ever stopping my seemingly everlasting search for new and better music to listen to.

[alex]

I find that if I throw a playlist on and mix up the new stuff with proven fan favourites I have people asking me "who is this?" or "can you send this to me?" throughout the night.

If this happens to you, or if you take pride in creating playlists full of new music, that entire parties of people seem to like, then you are a "music geek"

[Pea]

i just burned my buddy a handful of cd's last night based on him saying "i like that song by that edward sharpe guy they're playing on the radio."

haha we'll see what he thinks of my picks.

[Blacksmile]

Great thread you started here peatrick!! It's nice to talk to others, like you guys, about music. My friends, while still asking my opinion on bands, tend to refer to me as the "music snob". It's a term that i despise since it makes people like us seem like assholes when all we really want to do is share our passion and love for "good" music with others.

Thanks again! I think that it would be cool if there was a way that we could all meet after one of the days and discuss our daily Sasquatch experiences in person! That might be a huge undertaking though...so the forum works just as well.