bt88

Haven't posted in years so I've been a little removed from the hysteria and I don't know what the forum groupthink is these days, but just wanted to offer the opinion that the song kinda rocks. It's kinda punk rock to release THIS one one in a way. 

How is the new Tool record not the model here? 

There's a band with a built in loyal following that is not as big as GNR's, hadn't released an album in 13 years, and just put it on streaming services and CD and it was the best selling rock record of the year. They did some basic promotion like Maynard going on Joe Rogan, but it wasn't exactly a blitz (you could argue that them putting their stuff on streaming WAS the blitz). They didn't overthink it.

GNR has such a built in following as evidenced by the tour, as long as it was clear to people that yes Slash is indeed on this record, how is it not the biggest selling rock record of the year? 

The best word I can think of to describe this song is toothless. The cadence just sounds like something a pop rock band wrote. It feels really hokey.  

The new song is absolutely fantastic. The production is amazing, the slow build is pure Tool. Everything is working. Worth the wait. 

I think the new songs are awesome even on phone recordings. They both breath and take time to pay off. Descending is so haunting. I think I'm appreciating that they never take a Ticks and Leeches esque turn for the hard and heavy. 

I know it's been a long wait and it's become kind of a joke waiting for this album (I also see the irony of pointing that out on a GNR forum) but the album will likely be worth all the BS. there's a reason tool can sell out arenas on name and old material. No one sounds like them or delivers a live experience like them. Exciting stuff. 

43 minutes ago, allwaystired said:

I'd say it's good for big, old acts. It's pretty horrific for young/new bands trying to make any sort of impact. We could do with a hell of a lot less reunions of old acts and a heck of a lot more new music in my view. 

Attendance at these gigs might be up, but it's harder than ever to get people to go out and see new music. That's not a healthy place for an industry to be. 

I totally agree that its awful to be a young up and coming musician right now. You have to keep doing it purely for the love of the game and hope it breaks. Esp if youre a metal band where youll never get TOO big. 

Globally, overall concert revenue is up but you wonder if thats all being sucked up by the big tours. Youre prob right that if you wanna go see like, I dunno, The Sword, Big Business and Intronaut on a tuesday night, gonna be a pretty dead show overall. The niche, fractured nature of the industry is good for discovery for users and labels, but not for bands. Not yet anyway.  

12 hours ago, Sydney Fan said:

If that had been me i would have asked her why wear the shirt if you dont know the band. Or at least quizzed and asked her what her favourite song was. Its really sad. Because it was so hard way back when to find a particular bands shirt you got a band shirt at the concert, hard to find record stores or mail order.

I think its pretty sad to quiz someone on their shirt, to be honest. Who cares. Its like when guys who like video games or star wars quiz girls who say they like those things. 

This social media/FOMO culture youre describing may be right, but remember it may be whats sparking reunions in the first place. Not that specifically, but notice how every band who you never thought would get back together is reuniting (except for REM). My Bloody Valentine, Outkast, Smashing Pumpkins, Dead and Co (not a true reunion of course but that isnt possible), etc. The culture is ripe for reunions. People are going to a lot of concerts these days, more so than in the past, and part of it has to do with streaming I think. Younger fans can find more older music so theyre more apt to go see them. There are many things you could criticize current culture for but I will say I think the current state of the industry is good for big acts.  

Didn't It Rain by Songs:Ohia. Jason Molina never got due credit for his abilities, and he died pretty young. Put that album on and try not to let it drag you down. its like Jason Isbell if he never went into rehab and just kept getting darker.  

The one from The National is supposed to be great. Cant wait.

Still into the new War on Drugs album a whole lot too. 

I dig toe to toes a lot. brent stuff can be hit or miss but this one is good. Its light for them, but the solo is great. More ethereal/feel and less noodling. I like both

I have to say, I havent found myself returning to Emperor of Sand since it came out. I listened to it a ton and loved it when it did, but when Im in a mastodon mood I dont find myself reaching for it, or at least making it through the whole thing. I still dig OMATS though.  

I too have thoughts on last nights show compared to Toronto 2016

-The "full on mickey" assessment is just...wrong. Whoever said that. He sounded great for the most part. A few blips but that happens.

-The crowd was pretty good. They got into it. I know there were a ton of first timers there and people bringing kids and parents who got sitters for the night. So you cant expect it to be pure insanity. Those were expensive tickets. 

-Axl was indeed pretty cheery. He ripped on trump a little (something like "im trying to redeem myself like trump, and also failing, like trump), made a snow joke. the Coma nugget was cool and during band intros he made a joke like "Slash is waiting for me to shut my fuckin mouth). It was good to see. Im still convinced they're more like coworkers than friends. 

-The CD songs just make people check their phones and go get beer. I get why they play them but there's no denying there's an energy suck when they come on. 

-The Slower stuff seemed to sound the best. Estranged, NR, Patience (he absolutely nailed the final note. held it for like 10 seconds. Crushed it). 

-I did find myself saying "man if they just removed a jam, the Seeker and cut 3 mins off of KOHD, we might have been able to hear Don't Cry"

-Axl sounded better than the TO show, but I will agree to whoever said Slash's energy level was a little lower. His playing was expectedly spectacular, but the running around wasnt as prominent. 

-Have other stadiums been not selling the top bowl at all? The top section was totally empty, but possibly by design. 

-I went with a long time GNR fan who this was his first show, and he thought it was amazing. I think we as hardcore fans get too caught up in the bubble and analyze things too much. This show is for people who havent seen them a ton and dont follow the forums. It works for that purpose. 

Regarding the two posts above me- Stadium lots open at 3. Private lots open earlier. On Bills game days the private lots open at 7 AM while stadium lots open at 9. If you go before 3, find a private lot. 

I know there's one private lot next to Louie's hot dogs at the corner of abbot and southwestern. Here's a map

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Louie's+Texas+Red+Hots/@42.7750904,-78.7928574,16.22z/data=!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x89d305815466a99f:0xf0b562b249eaa7f5!2sNew+Era+Field!8m2!3d42.7737601!4d-78.7869732!3m4!1s0x0:0x400889bb62c53469!8m2!3d42.7767943!4d-78.7919135?hl=en

The sound at Rogers Center wasn't great at first. Up until estranged if you didn't know the words it was hard to understand Axl. The last third of the concert they seemed to get it right. It didn't ruin anything but it could have been better. Double Talkin Jive was particularly off  

I actually think people kinda dug Sorry. I did. Highlights for me personally were Estranged and NR, seeing slash do those particularly emotional bends was perfect. 

For people who saw the Nu GNR line up- did you feel like you were basically seeing a similar show just with Slash and Duff? Like seeing them made the show since Axl has similar moves/methods as before and the set list/break system was kinda the same? It's not a knock it just short of shifted my focus to slash more  

I may be at this pre party around 6. Coming up from buffalo. I'm 6'7 and wear a Sabres hat. Try not to heckle me if I see any of you 

So who of the early standouts are for real? 

To me the Red Sox can be if Porcello keeps it up. He's pitching much better. Plus Carson Smith is back. 

The Rockies are pretenders. I can't say I believe in the White Sox or the Mariners either. Cubs Mets and Nats obviously the class of the NL . Not sleeping on the Giants though  

Most likely to bounce back? I say Astros. 

So I cant decide if this move is gutsy or creepy. Its right on the border. Would love to hear some opinions

In the fall I was on tinder and matched with a few girls. I was talking to a few, and one I started dating. We had a full on relationship from August until last month. Once we ramped up I deleted my tinder profile entirely, thus losing my matches. One of the girls I was talking to (lets call her B) was cool and I remember thinking we'd get along, but then I got into a relationship.
Now that Im single again I was on tinder and bumble last week and she popped up on both but we didnt match this time, likely because I disappeared the first time. We had a few mutual friends on Facebook and I remembered who, plus she has a unique name so she was easy to find. I am considering messaging her on FB. One caveat- I once asked a girl out via LinkedIn (got a few dates out of it but we werent a good fit, ended on friendly terms though) and she happens to be friends with B.
So should I do it? it is such a borderline creepy/ballsy move I cant decide. Worst case is she knows my name and thinks its creepy but I can handle that. She was legit cute and cool and we had a good rapport before I got into a relationship. I would explain it similar to how I did above. I feel like in the tinder era people research each other a lot like this.

50 minutes ago, downzy said:

Another 8th inning collapse for the Jays...  And someone (not here) the other day was trying to tell me the Jays bullpen had been greatly improved.  

I mean, Storen has good career numbers and Osuna was very good in a small sample size. You could argue depth is an issue but when healthy that's a good 8-9 

Do you guys do this with other bands too? Do you not go see Journey or Smashing Pumpkins or Weezer whoever else unless its the EXACT line up you liked at a specific moment in time? Also how do you put the lack of Izzy on the current band? isnt it possible what we know about Izzy that he may not have wanted to do it? Are they just supposed to shut it down without him despite the high levels of demand? What do you think this is about? Of Course ticket sales are a goal. How could it not be? and thats not the same as it being a cash grab. And public interest is a goal, and its hard to argue the public interest is as high as its been in a long long time. Thats probably their goal even if it isnt ours. 

Did anyone else have AJ Pollock on their fantasy team? wahh wahh wahhhhh. For the Dbacks that just sucks, they could've been contenders this year

Downzy youre right about the weather but this happens every single year. I can't explain either. And its not like it hasnt had an effect in the post season too. But you know how it goes, owners wouldnt dare give up regular season games. 

35 minutes ago, sonofnazareth said:

Steven has played most of it..most of the UYI material was written while he was still in the band. Listen to some bootleg concerts from the classic era and then decide whether Izzy and Fortus are interchangeable live.

I have. I don't have a problem with Richard and thats the difference here. Here's a hypothetical- the current old/new hybrid line up is already playing stadiums- what difference does Izzy and Steven being in the band make as a whole? Do they sell MORE tickets? Get HIGHER demand for shows?  People outside of the forums know Axl and Slash, and then Duff. Thats why this version is playing stadiums and Nu GNR were playing smaller arenas. Whats the measurable effect of having Izzy and Steven on board? 

2 hours ago, sonofnazareth said:

yes, although nothing can come close to the AFD 5, Matt and Gilby brought a rock n' roll spirit to the band that is sorely lacking with this lineup. 

If it were the AFD 5, would they even play a lot of Illusion stuff? Steven was credited with one track. Of course he could learn it but then isnt it kinda the same contradiction? It just seems a little nitpicky. I'm an Izzy guy too but they survived touring with Gilby and there's no guarantee they'll ever write again. Izzy's bigger contribution was in the studio, live he Gilby and Richard are borderline interchangeable.  

Did people who are currently clamoring for Izzy and Adler stop paying attention when it was Gilby and Matt? I'm guessing no. So why is it a problem now?  What if it was Gilby and Matt right now? Would those people be happy? 

4 minutes ago, oscar_21 said:

ok but did you select a VIP ?  the options I have is 100 200 or 500 seating sections, no Floor ...  

Nope  never selected VIP once.