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Underground > Radio & Music >

Guy I knew in High School is now a local overnight success despite lack of talent

04:15 / 30.01.05

This first came to my attention when I picked up the Star Tribune and came across this article.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/457/5198941.html

Now to explain a little backround, I was pretty familiar with Wes Statler at the high school he attened. Because of the fact his dad directed music videos for Devo, he rubbed a lot of elbows with people the minneapolis scene (or whatever the hell you call it if you live in the Twin Cities) He have his own little garage band, and thanks to a battle of the bands contest, he gets a little write up in the local alternative weekly nothing special. Now his dad uses his connections to get them opening acts at some of the major venues. Now the hype is mostly restricted to local music critics, but listening to their stuff
and watching their video, they seem like a mediocre imitation of annoying hipster bands. So am I making to big of a deal over a bunch of guys who probably won't last long, or should I just laugh at the dumb local critcs falling for this crap

Music and movies here
http://www.startribune.com/stories/1741/5208670.html
http://www.myspace.com/MELODIOUSOWL

05:50 / 30.01.05

I'm sure they thank you for spreading the word regardless of what you think of their music. I never would have heard of them if it wasn't for YOU.

12:55 / 30.01.05

How about continuing to wallow in envy and bitterness? That seems to be working out pretty good for you so far.

18:53 / 30.01.05

Envious and Bitter? Nahh, I just think it's silly that a mediocre garage band gets this kind of attention.

19:34 / 30.01.05

Thing is, it's almost never about talent, it's about who you know and how you market yourself. There are far too many idealistic little bands who have good tunes but no idea how to make something of themselves.

Sounds to me like they're taking advantage of every break they get. I hope they enjoy it while it lasts.

17:11 / 31.01.05

What is this "talent" of which you speak? How might one go about measuring it?

Suedey! SHOT FOR MEAT!

18:08 / 31.01.05

With a ruler. But from the base rather than the shaft.

I'm Rick Jones, bitch

21:16 / 31.01.05

He probably squeezes at the base, too.

In all seriousness I think chummer just reverse spammed his OK-ish band to us using quite a clever ploy to negate the usual backlash such ploys generate - instead of feeling kinda embarrased for him, the band are set up as innocent victims of a spiteful fuck, and we're more inclined to look on them in a favourable light.

All Acting Regiment

20:14 / 24.03.05

"uses his connections to get them opening acts at some of the major venues. Now the hype is mostly restricted to local music critics, but listening to their stuff...they seem like a mediocre imitation of annoying hipster bands."

In all seriousness, I bet people said that about the Velvet Underground.

at the scarwash

16:52 / 25.03.05

there weren't really any other annoying hipster bands for the VU to imitate, though.

00:48 / 26.03.05

I wouldn't mind too much if they didn't have that god-awful sax in the background.

I wouldn't listen to the music anyways, but they'd probably fare better if that guy would actually learn how to play the fucking saxophone instead of picking it up the day of recording.