What the Phreaks Need (from ALO) for Halloween

[Beyowka]

for starters, more than 20 days lead notice. par for the course, but poor form nevertheless. how can people show up if they don't know where and when until the last minute?

secondly, since i won't be there, how bout the next best thing, fresh ALO tapes from the show. or, at the very least, if a taper actually decides to show up, how bout the band actually allows the taper to spread the show as they see fit, instead of waiting forever to approve it or even shutting it down over nonexistent quality issues? that might encourage the taper to actually come back and tape the band again. but in the frequent and expected event that no tapers show up because of aforementioned frustrating and baffling taping policy, or just because they already got tickets to a band that gave more than three weeks notice, or because they blew it out at vegoose and they're at home mastering and seeding those tapes, or because ALO has grown a reputation for an incredibly limited repertoire, how bout the band just release the soundboards themselves; free, for money, whatever, just get it out there. worry less about a sloppy recording than a sloppy performance.

speaking of the limited repertoire, on the off chance I could attend the show at the last minute or get some tapes from the labyrinth, i would be uberstoked just to hear ALO play ALO songs! What is with all these special guests and cover songs? in my opinion, they are not always that special. I like ALO, I've seen hundreds of shows, I have thousands of hours of tapes; I buy tickets and travel hundreds of miles to see ALO. If Brett Dennen or Matt McAvene or Jack Johnson or Honeycut or Hannity and Colmes comes to town, I can buy their ticket if I want to hear their music, especially if those bands are inviting ALO to sit in with them, which doesn't nearly happen as often, for some reason, i dunno, maybe their fans want to hear their music? and what is with the covers? i just know if i don't say something they'll bust out "Shining Star" or "I Just Called to Say I Love You" or "Dream Weaver" and at least a few chemically lobotomized fans will say "omg that was sick" but even a total lush like myself can't drink enough to take that many bathroom breaks. one last thing, if you write an awesome song, why don't you play the f**king song already!! i anxiously await the return of, in particular, Lies, but also about a jillion other fantastic songs like Mudbone, Vegas, the old version of Honeydripper, etc. and not BBQ for like a year. If you don't remember how the song goes, learn it again; if it's too tough, try practice. Who else can play ALO music out there the way ALO does?

any of these would be great, i'm flexible. but i dunno what kind of band doesn't want people to hear their music, but for these three reasons, ALO seems to want to make it real hard these days.
Edited by: Beyowka

[+Irie Pete]

Dude, John,
That was a way harsh critique. No HSMF 2006 Late Night soundboard matrix for you! pffffft!!

[Beyowka]

Clearly I am no longer a part of the ridiculously cliquish "in" crowd that is so blessed to have timeless access to those precious moments that are captured, the group now who would apparently, selfishly, hoard these specimens of beauty that are growing more scarce as the years roll on. You have had this Late Night matrix before now and wouldn't share? nuts to you, then, as you dangle a prize like so much meat in front of a hungry wolf. I won't be a party to that heinous crime. As a matter of fact, email me your ALO list right now and I'd be happy to help you out with stuff I have - open invite to all who read this!

I love this band for opening my mind, and changing my horizons, now and forever I am eternally grateful. We're all here because of this band and the experience of our minds and hearts in the presence of this musical phenomenon. I wish them all the success in the world. But it takes more than wishing, and the time for gentle prodding has passed. I just don't see any good reasons for the band to continue behaving in the these ways I have observed, such as being elusive, taking a backseat, and playing to the lowest common denominator in the crowd. Instead, I urge the band to take their game up another notch and work at breaking through these issues, not from dissatisfaction, but only because I believe that a higher level of professionalism and self-esteem will afford them a better chance at their ultimate goals. unless they actually think that we didn't notice that a huge portion of their recent past has been to become someone else's cover band. It's either shame on all the sycophants or silents who are satisfied with
just good enough, or shame on me for pumping up the band so much to the
six newbies I brought to the last show only to have them ask me wtf
every time the band straight gave up the jam.

I can't possibly speak for anybody but myself; I didn't post to be harsh, i posted to encourage this discussion. obviously the band is at the driver's seat of their careers and at least some of our good times. i meant to address these perceived limitations in the hopes that the band would become even better drivers so that the times would get even better and more plentiful. all i know is if I didn't communicate these frustrations my head was just gonna explode, and that maybe if someone could explain - or better, help to end - these maddening behaviors to me i could stop hatin
Edited by: Beyowka

[+Irie Pete]

I'm working on a few fixes and it should be ready soon. Steve and I have been dealing with a few minor faults in the sbd instrument mix, and it should be up on the archive soon. Were not hording any shows down here in SB, matter of fact they seem to be some of the most widely distributed ones out there. Thanks for putting up so many of your tapes in the past Beyowka. Steve is thinking about filling out the missing shows on the archive with his stuff, so I guess there will be more shows available in the near future.

[Beyowka]

well, i'm glad to hear Steve's still "thinking" about it. of course, he has been "thinking" about it since back when i first met him, way back in the second millenium; I think that means the thought that he is thinking about it is "no". hate to insinuate that he's leading you on, but you're not the first, nor was I. i'd also hate to suggest that the reason he keeps thinking about it instead of actually doing anything about it is that releasing any of the archives would reveal how good the band used to be, which can be scary considering how good they still are, and because i'd like to think the best is yet to come. but when and where that will be is anybody's guess, until the last minute anyway.

PS. one of the vaultkeepers just sent me a DVD with HSMF Mainstage 2004 and a Mystic Hot Springs acoustic set. it's an untracked, amateur shot home video, but better than nothing - anybody who reads this and wants a copy, you know where to find me. i still have the one from back east too, planning to convert both to mpg in order to upload to LMA, still trying to figure out how - but not really spending too much time on it because why fight the tide trying to help out for those who can't be bothered to help out themselves
Edited by: Beyowka

[Kilo]

John,
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>As an old timer I feel your frustrations to a point but you must have really been turned off by something/ someone and I implore you to recant your criticism. Just for your "inside" information I would like to throw out this comment. About 4 years ago or so the band was struggling so hard to even break even let alone make a small profit, everybody was working for free... Do you realize how close they were to breaking up? If they didn't have the blind faith to keep on keeping on we wouldn't even be talking about any of this right now. Now I don't really like all the guest performers either, nor do I really like all the Jack support... But DUDE, these are just OUR opinions! For the band to actually start making a name for themselves and start to turn a small profit.... SCREW IT.... Bring on Jack, bring on Brett, Matt, Evil Farmer, Honeycut, Galactic.. HELL FREAKING CELINE DIEONE... Who the f**k cares, as long as they are able to feed their families and make a real career out of all of this... I feel you tend to forget... that WE all have day jobs still...</DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>Ok, I've said my 2 cents</DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>And don't worry... taping is covered.. and will posted in a timely manner I'm sure</DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>I wish you were going to be there so I could chat with you personally... I hate to have to respond publicly.. I am sorry for thathttp://www.alomusic.com/forum/smileys/smiley5.gif</DIV>

[Smootie's Brain]

new songs please. beyowka, you must be reading my book.

[Beyowka]

four years ago...hmm, that would be about the same time I gave up my day job to drive the country camper around for the summer to try and tape every show...good times...and yes, it was an amazing experience, and yes, i realized how close they were to breaking up at that point. there were a lot of things going on in all of their lives that were difficult to understand, and there were nights that they played to only me jenna and the bartender, and now they're playing to a sold out Fillmore, so it must have worked out, right?

but i still can't agree about the method they used to make this "name" they've supposedly made. i mean, what name? are these new fans that are showing up now, are they coming back? are they coming back for ALO, or the special guests? or the covers? I'm just thinking in particular about the video from the streets of Brazil, where ALO and Jack are all gathered together singing Girl and the crowd is totally into it...but then Jack walks off to the beach, and the crowd unanimously follows Jack, and then ALO just kinda looks at each other, shrugs, and their voices start trailing off, and finally they stop playing...what name is it that they're making...there comes a point where they risk their integrity with the ones that are there for the music, the ones are truly willing to keep on pushing it with them, if they don't keep pushing it themselves. I'm not talking about pushing just the positive attitude and bright smiling faces! but showcasing their true virtuousity and musicianship that makes mere mortals crumble to dust to hear it

but all is not lost - i can think of three ways they can continue to build a sustainable, loyal fan base like the one everyone reading this is a part of. First, play some more ALO shows! not just festivals and opening acts and radio appearances; friggin ALO shows! lots of shows! with ALO songs!! write more ALO songs! *this* is what we love most!! how bout this; figure out a way to not do anything else BUT play shows and write songs! Second, let us know when and where these shows will be where you're playing these songs so that everyone can get jazzed up and plan lotsa parties and road trips and at least show up, and so that not every show has to be maybe the last real ALO show for the indefinite future so we always hafta pick a theme and dress up...especially when people go to the effort to have a theme and dress up and take pictures and then the stage isn't even decorated, that's just such a contrived connection there...finally, don't just "allow" taping and archiving; encourage it, do it yourself if you have to. get your word heard. don't just commission art, encourage others to do it, any and all of it - if someone wants to make stickers or posters or tshirts or lighters or frisbees or whatever, get it out there. if you sell fewer three-year-old bee tshirts, well then maybe it's because everyone who knows of the band already has theirs. it hurts to hear anyone have to say I would have except they said no, or i would have gone but i didn't know, or who was that band that played that other band's song, and then they played with that one guy, they were kinda sweet - and then it's gone, because all they saw was a bunch of strangers who happen to be friendly with each other singing an old radio song...maybe i'm crazy, and that's really are that there is to this...

ultimately, all of this is totally petty in the grand scheme of things, but it's not, too. i wish i could shake this except I know there is "more to come" and I can't wait for the commercial break to be over. this band is capable of incredible dynamic presence, they shouldn't stress so damn much, just fix it and get on with it. i can't wait for the ALO New Years where they do the Celery Stalker gospel break right at the countdown to midnight

Edited by: Beyowka

[Beyowka]

i'm absolutely loving what i've heard so far about the halloween craziness; well, they figured out whether they would play the weekend against
vegoose or midweek or at all too late for me to make the call so i'm the big
loser this week. but thanks to the efforts of the tapers in attendance i may get to hear the
madness from the safety of my own padded cell. bennie with falsetto is a rocker, and playing with Jack where they mix it up
like putting him on drums is not the crap I had had it with. plus, "Evil Girl"? hahahaha that is awesome. i know the changes and rhythms would work well with a
garden/shifter mutant hybrid, can't wait to hear itEdited by: Beyowka

[Kilo]

John,
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>Indeed Halloween was EPIC! I wish you were there. I think your voice is louder than you might imagine... Not only was the "girl" evil but it was also busted in a Minor kinda troubadour kinda thing.... it was WILD, TOTALLY out of the box... and it didn't stop there, multiple songs were sung in spooky augmented minor, with different rhythms. Yes Zorro did come out... Yes I do believe "some" and I stress "SOME" of the crowd was just there to see him... BUT 95% of that crowd was there to see ALO. And quite frankly I actually liked what Zorro did on stage, VERY DIFFERENT! Never knew He could play the drums so well! He was humble and very secondary to a ripping ALO show, nothing like the Fillmore where He seemed to just take over for awhile... 3 tunes and ZORRO was out! And speaking of Brazil, look at how they feel about ALO now dude? Check out their myspace... Tons of new Brazilian fans from that Jack exposure, can that be BAD? </DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>I stress that this is just a time where they are getting out there and known man... RELAXAVOUS... Your time's coming but its not tonight! We will get them all to ourselves soon enough... Keep in Mind that they are signed to "HIS" label so it makes perfect sense to cross promote from a business standpoint.</DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>And to further ease your mind, How do you think I have felt? 4 years ago when there was an explosion of new SF &amp; SB fans? There are very few of us "old timers" left... but I had to learn, although it hurt my feelings... IT WAS FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF OUR FRIENDS CAREERS... So let it be</DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>Much Love Brother... and keep the Faith... and remember the band DOES read their lists... and I think they might have been a bit hurt by your comments</DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>Kilo</DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>PS&gt; NICE JOB CRACKING THE S.R.I.!!! But now the band must Kill you...LOL!</DIV>

[Beyowka]

look, i'm not totally anti-Zorro here. i can appreciate that they implemented him into their act, but that it was still THEIR act and not just a detour towards HIS act reflects more consideration to their audience. when you get three dozen people on stage, like HSMF main stage, HSMF late night, Fillmore, etc. it's hard to keep the circus coordinated and i don't agree that it holds together that well. and the whole twelve song repertoire that they cultivated in direct response to their obligations to his tour, well I'm glad they can still break away from that rut for their own shows sometimes and dig deep.

there's no right for the band to be hurt by anything I do or say, i just pointed out a recent trend in their live act that I don't particularly care for, and i'm just expressing my discomfort with what i consider to be some less than thoughtful business practices, but all only in hopes of improvement, either in changing what they do or getting me to a point where I can either love it or leave it, really, i'm cool with either conclusion. And if they are reading this, I say quit goofing off on the internet ;) each of you drink a pot of coffee and get to plotting and scheming to sell out the fillmore again, put it at the end of a west coast run, not three shows, not five, how bout a baker's dozen of shows at a stretch...I know darn well they can make it if they try, i can't shut up about that!

ps. i must beg to differ, there are still a TON of old timers around, they're just more polite on the internet ;) and yes, one in particular of those waves of new SF fans was CRAAAAAZY fun, still is, love you guys

PPS. I think this Halloween thread is over, i wanna start a new one about 12/29 and Sea of Dreams - see you all over there

[Smootie's Brain]

I'll

[Smootie's Brain]

I'll admit that when Zorro first came out, I was a bit disappointed. But, luckily my girlfriend got excited so we hurried back to our dancing spot (which we only left becausewe were wearingout the floorboardsat that time and needed a new drink). Zorro turned out to actually be a great little addition to the show. It was an ADDITION and not a distraction, which was key. A perfect blend that I never expected. Props to that.
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>Also, I think Zach's new song is his response to your and my feelings about the current direction of the band. I felt what he was saying and can empathize with Zach. But, that still doesn't change how I feel.</DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>The band is definitely at a turning point in their career and its got to be a hard thing to handle. But, I know they will do what is right for them within their hearts. </DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>But, that doesn't mean we should just give them a free pass either. I think we should feel free to speak our minds about how we feel towards this band. Their is clearly a lot of love driving John's words. That should never be silenced. But, a little understanding from us with how delicate the situation might be for the band is also warranted. I, for one,appreciate any feedback we get on that, whether it comes directly through one of the listserv's or cleverly disguised in song.</DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>I guess my point is, thanks for a smoking hot Halloween show, ALO. Please understand our pushing for greatnesscomes with love and positive intent for ALO's future.</DIV>