ATTN:Chicago people seeing Korpiklaani/Swashbuckle/Tyr

[skyrefuge]

On the other side, that head to be the SMELLIEST venue I've ever been to. God, I couldn't breathe in the bathroom and it just stunk everywhere.

ha, yeah, now that you mention it I caught a whiff of the bathroom on the way out, though I don't recall it smelling much when I used it (before White Wizzard went on). Also as people were filing out a guy came barging through saying "outta the way, I gotta puke!" and by the way he was moving, I think he was serious. So maybe that sort of thing is why it got worse as the evening went on? I didn't notice any smell in the venue itself though, beyond the sweet perfume of Sweaty Metalheads, which isn't unusual.

My main point is that a band like Finntroll and Turisas is an easier sell than a trad metal band who wears jeans and t shirts.

Ok, and Lady Gaga is an easier sell than Finntroll. It's not like the only difference between Slough Feg and Korpiklaani is the clothes they wear; their music is totally different!

There were a few people with face-paint, and I saw a jaunty cap, but no swords. They didn't really seem like "kids", but now that I'm old I guess I don't really know what a "kid" is anymore. I've also seen fans with face-paint at black metal shows, Dresden Dolls shows, and Symphony X shows. And "uniforms" at metal shows are nothing unusual (see: patch-covered jean-jackets at thrash shows), so I'm not sure what I'm supposed to take away from face-paint at a Korpiklaani show.

Neil

 

[Jasonic]

There were a few people with face-paint, and I saw a jaunty cap, but no swords. They didn't really seem like "kids", but now that I'm old I guess I don't really know what a "kid" is anymore. I've also seen fans with face-paint at black metal shows, Dresden Dolls shows, and Symphony X shows. And "uniforms" at metal shows are nothing unusual (see: patch-covered jean-jackets at thrash shows), so I'm not sure what I'm supposed to take away from face-paint at a Korpiklaani show.

Neil

What you are supposed to take away is that a young metal fan is attracted more to aesthetics than the music.

You bet your bottom dollar that it did NOT hurt TURISAS's success in the States by wearing facepaint.

It's cool, it's hip, and it's appealing.
I think you are taking my statements to be a disrespect to the music.
That is TRULY not the case at all.

I love IMMORTAL, facepaint or not!

Just saying that folk metal is the flavor of the month, esp to the younger audience, and I am saying that it is partially due to aesthetics.

Now, go have a 15 year old metalhead watch a video of a band like Slough Feg or Manilla Road or Omen or Cirith Ungol. I am sure their first response would be, "Who the f*ck are these old farts"????

 

[skyrefuge]

What you are supposed to take away is that a young metal fan is attracted more to aesthetics than the music.

Is this really what you meant to write? That for a young metal fan, they're there 60% for the aesthetics and only 40% for the music? So all these supposed kids turning up at folk-metal shows have no idea what to make of White Wizzard because they play metal, but love acoustic Renaissance Faire trios because they wear the same outfits as Korpiklaani?

Maybe you meant to say "young metal fans are more attracted to aesthetics than older metal fans"?

You bet your bottom dollar that it did NOT hurt TURISAS's success in the States by wearing facepaint.

I'm sure it doesn't hurt their success in Spain or Canada or Poland either!

It's cool, it's hip, and it's appealing.

ha, really? Dressing up in faux-medieval garb, painting your face, and carrying a plastic sword is now cool and hip? Apparently the social order has been completely overturned since I was in high school! Is this the result of raising a generation of kids on Harry Potter and High School Musical? I actually feel kind of sorry for those poor jocks who now must be getting bullied by plastic-sword-wielders, and the cheerleaders who cry at home because they don't know how to recite any incantations!

I think you are taking my statements to be a disrespect to the music.

Not at all. If I thought you were disrespecting anything, it's "the kids". It's passionate fans, regardless of age, that actually come out to shows and allow bands to be successful. Good for them! Us dispassionate old farts are good for nothing in that regard.

Just saying that folk metal is the flavor of the month, esp to the younger audience, and I am saying that it is partially due to aesthetics.

And Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Black Sabbath got popular partially due to aesthetics. Their flavor has lasted a whole lot longer than a month!

Neil

 

[Jasonic]

And Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Black Sabbath got popular partially due to aesthetics. Their flavor has lasted a whole lot longer than a month!

Wow, we are REALLY getting nowhere with this!!!

First off, I don't think you can really compare younger fans getting into metal today, than when older guys like us got into metal in the 70s and 80s.

Aesthetics were ALWAYS a part of music, though primarily from album covers and what not.

Now in the video age and FAR beyond, image sells, moreso than ever.

Do you think LORDI got signed because of their musical ability?
Do you think SLIPKNOT got signed because of their musical ability?

The "image" of folk metal is appealing to younger crowds, and it helps sell tickets. That's all I am saying.

For each one of these folk bands who are touring, there are hundreds of underground metal bands of varying genres, who simply aren't aethetically appealing to the younger crowd.

If you want to take it that I am insulting younger fans, then so be it.

 

[Diabolik]

Doom is just as gimmiky as folk metal. Bands dressing up like it is the 70's. Most of the bands have the 70's style long hair going on. All the bands are just copying Black Sabbath. So to say folk metal is full of gimmicks is just an easy crack. Sure there are gimmick bands....there are most in each genre, but there are bands who are not using gimmicks.

 

[MetalRose]

I hate reading that Korpaklaani was good because I missed their set over the weekend here, it was either PP or this... I chose to get a money order to send to Glenn.

And I'll be missing Exodus this weekend for the same reason...

But... I'll be seeing Oceans of Sadness so I guess that makes up for it.

-Metal