Give the people what they want

Last night Jacqueline and I went to see the Black Crowes on their reunion tour.

I've been a fan of theirs for years and some of their songs (Jealous Again, She Talks To Angels) are among my favorite Southern Rock classics.

They totally disappointed me. Apparently, Rich Robinson (Chris's brother and guitarist) has had a beef with Chris getting all the attention as a lead singer. So last night they played for two hours without playing a SINGLE one of their hits. Some songs went fifteen minutes, others were brand new. Even though the crowd of five thousand would scream for the hits between songs, the BC's ignored them and indulged. It was as if Chris was on a leash. He looked cowed and Rich looked like he wasn't having fun, yet was running the show. He didn't sing on at least a half dozen songs. It was like a scene out of Almost Famous with the faux band, Stillwater.

We walked out before the encores. We talked to folks the next day that reported that even though they did three encores, they still refused to give the people what they wanted. I fear I'll never feel the same way about them again. If they come through your town, unless you want to hear a mediocre jam band, skip 'em.

Here's the lesson to be learned from this: Give the people what they want. If you offer a service, product or even as a person a "bit" -- make sure you have a constancy that meets your client's expectations. Don't fall into the self-indulgence trap or succumb to office politics. If you have a hit (example: Doubletree Hotel's cookie or the Ritz Carlton's 'My pleasure"), don't lose it because your customer is expecting it from you. On a personal level, you have your greatest hits that others come to depend on -- don't betray or resent them or you'll experience the same fall from grace that Chris and the BCs did last night. Just because you may grow bored with the dance "that brung ya" doesn't mean that others must suffer as a result.

Check out comments on their message board to find out I'm not alone in this view.

Comments

[Sarah Michaels]

This is a very common situation within the music industry. Expectations vary greatly from one fan to another, and even the performers themselves had widely disparate interests and tastes, which they want to express in their art which is the music. Musicians often lament getting bored playing old stuff. Some fans frequently complain when a bands new music doesn't sound exactly like the old music. It might be easier if we all didn't take our music so personally, or so seriously. But, alas, we do! I do my best to try to appreciate all the music I hear as best as I can, and always have a good time!

-Sarah

[clouds]

But if you were a fan of more than just their first record, you would have known all the songs. They didn't play anything that wasn't released 6 to 17 years ago. If you go to a show in 2007 expecting to hear a bunch of songs from 1990, then I guess you'll be disappointed...in ANY band.

P.S. My husband enjoys your books.

[Tim Sanders]

Hello Clouds and thanks for your contribution to this discussion. The Crowes may have played their casual show in Orlando, but it is still misleading to come to Boca and then withhold their hits. They should have advertised it that way -- like the Beastie Boys clearly indicated that their Wiltern LA show last week was experimental and their Greek show contained the hits.

Boca is a vacation spot like Orlando and will draw casual fans. I was part of several hundred people that walked out grumbling that they were incredibly self-indulgent. A die-hard is likely to forgive that as they can appreciate several layers into a band's act. They still need to be sensitive to all the fans.

[clouds]

First of all, this isn't a reunion tour. They've been back on the road since 2005.

If you didn't enjoy the show in Boca - it's because you're a casual fan. They played their "casual fan" set in Orlando on Friday night.
Us diehards - who have seen them upwards of 100 times, enjoyed the Boca show several times more.

Rich took lead vocals on two songs...two cover songs...this is normal.
NONE of the songs they played were brand new.

They played:

One song off Shake Your Money Maker from 1990.
Four songs off Southern Harmony from 1992.
Three songs off Amorica from 1994.
Two songs off By Your Side from 1999.
Two songs off Lions from 2001.
And two covers...the two songs Rich sang. One by Neil Young, the other by The Band.

The Boca show was fantastic. They played a diverse set with some amazing jams.
The intro to Thorn in my Pride was insane.

I'm sorry you were disappointed...you would have loved the Orlando show on Friday night.

Folks on the board you referenced agree with me:

http://blackcrowes.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=39977

Their complaints were with the Orlando show on Friday...the "casual fan" greatest hits show.
And that's not "their message board". That's just one of MANY fan sites.

[Tom Magness]

Thanks Tim. I share this sentiment WAY too often. I feel this way at most movies, where the writers seem to think they can write anything and justify the $10 ticket. I feel that way when I watch Saturday Night Live. They quit being funny long ago. And I feel that way when I watch what happens every year with my beloved baseball team (Baltimore Orioles). Management quit trying to field a winner years ago...yet they expect us to still buy tickets. All of these folks, like the Black Crowes did with you, betray our trust. It is WAY too common!