am i really the only person who doesn't care about reunions/reunitings/new music by old bands, like, at all? is there something wrong with me?

Slash had a cool hat

I saw Guns and Roses in 1993 and it was pretty cool even though no Izzy and too much Sorum

Then I accidentally saw them last year and I dearly wish I had left that memory alone

Which I guess is another factor for me - did I see this band in their (approximate) prime? Then I probably don’t need to see them in 2024

https://pitchfork.com/news/refused-cancel-reunion-show-after-frontman-has-heart-attack/

Trying to think of who I'd want to see if they did, I'd probably buy a stupidly expensive ticket to see R.E.M. Even without Bill Berry, definitely with. I saw them twice and they were really good, I'd enjoy seeing them again.

I guess the tour for Ragged Glory was sort of a reunion of Neil and Crazy Horse. That was one of my favorite shows.

Well now we have a new litmus test for the original question:

https://www.facebook.com/REMhq/posts/pfbid031VDjWwKEGKMTJGZgLWn7k4y4SSvRZ38AKVkjRsn8XsCVuRqaDDh3eZtTPCb4ebVNl

haha I came to post this here as well. Stipe sounding a little weak vocally and obv whole performance has kind of a 'just kicking shit around' feel to it, but I kind of like that TBH. still very much doubt that this will ever result in even a temporary reformation but who knows.

that CBS interview they did was sad and nice. reminded me of the talking heads on fallon.

if they do some 6-month Sphere show in Vegas...that would be sad. but i can't see them doing that. i hope they don't do that. they seem like pretty chill retirees.

they should just do a weekly residency at a bar somewhere

Mike Mills is busy playing in the Big Star tribute band

I’m not a fan of rem but I watched the interview and it was like a class on how to say nothing but still answer questions

_I don’t really get the point of an Oasis reunion (if one likes them): Liam still tours and sings oasis songs (I think !). What would the difference be with Noel playing basic power chords on the side of the stage instead of whoever plays with Liam ?_


presumably you wouldn't have to listen to their awful solo material

and I read somewhere that Bonehead is in his band (for what that’s worth)

I can't say this is something I am into generally.
Loads of friends lately going to see Codeine, Unwound, all those indie bands. Heck I think somebody posted a clip of the Make Up last night?? For me... why would I want to relive the worst years of my life? In a crowded room? And pay $40 for the pleasure?

I DID see Tom Rapp play at one of the Terrastocks, and that was great and I'm glad I did. Likewise, I would see Michael Chapman play whenever he visited the US, and I'll go see Bridget St. John when she plays. I think these folks, though, they don't really do the whole big "first tour in 30 (50) years!" thing, where such a big deal is being made of it. They're just playing a few gigs.

Oh, I saw Patty Waters when she played a couple years ago.. does that count?

when I saw the pretty things (2010ish) one of the cool things about it was that yeah they just felt like a jobbing band - like, sure they had a critical halo but not quite enough to allow them to rest on laurels and phone it in - and I would guess not enough money to take it for granted either - they worked really hard to blow the crowd away

(i know they did “plays album in full” shows etc in other territories but in Australia they just played really killer club shows)

The R.E.M. interview kinda bummed me out, in a way. Their legacy as a band feels "sad" to me. The guys seem (relatively) happy/healthy and on good terms, but they were like former coworkers talking about a job they had for a long time – somewhat fondly, but also without much sentimentality or "pride" (well, more for Michael and Mike maybe). It's hard to explain.

i think r.e.m. were four very different people and its pretty amazing they lasted as long as they did! and i'm sure they have all kinds of conflicting feelings about their time together. they did it about as good as you can for a band that went from nothing to megastardom. i can't say that i really followed their later years but they never seemed to embarrass themselves too much. i did think stipe was going for jesus-hood at one point a la bono but he seems pretty chill and thoughtful now. their drummer seemed bummed during that interview. i felt bad for him. he's got unresolved stuff. but he can totally afford a great therapist.

i watched this thinking it might be some sort of comeback thing and i would listen to it in honor of this thread but i looked and it turns out they never broke up! who knew?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y04nc_Hy9EY

“Some bands I forget about completely / and one of them is rem”

I just checked the setlist for one of Liam’s latest shows (June 27th, Manchester) and… it’s all Oasis (+ « I am the walrus »)!

good value!

for Noel's sets seems halfway in he switches to Oasis material

It's been years since I've seen either of them, but I have caught shows by X and the Feelies. However they were both promoting new material which was actually pretty damn good. Other than that, I'm with you. I find nostalgia terribly depressing, but I'm definitely in the minority. Many of my friends keep going to see the English Beat, Squeeze, etc., whenever they get a chance.

both of those bands are really good live. enjoying old music played live isn't depressing. stop thinking that way.

imagine going to see howlin wolf play spoonful and little red rooster in his later years and proclaiming "this nostalgia is so depressing!"

Honest question: isn't it also nostalgia to play old records?

Of course for me neither really qualifies since I wasn't alive first time 'round for most acts I'd be interested in.

Good point

for me, 'nostalgia' when it comes to live acts, in a pejorative sense, means to me things like the current touring version of the Beach Boys, who are great musicians, perform very well, but are very much not the Beach Boys (just Mike Love, Bruce, some Wondermints, John Stamos, etc), and playing an very safe, 'greatest hits for casuals' playlist. there's nothing wrong with the show, but it feels a bit like what Ricky Nelson sang about in Garden Party.

I don't think it means "merely an older band who is still putting on great live shows."

Well could it also be nostalgia for when you first heard the band yourself, and what was going on in your life then, regardless of when the band was active ?

some Wondermints

citation urgently needed

an very safe, 'greatest hits for casuals' playlist

and tbf to the Mike Love Touring Entity LLC, they play long-ass indoor shows with moderately deep cuts for genuinely nostalgic fans, as well as nothing-but-hits sets at country fairs and festivals and casinos

(just looked at setlist dot - they're covering Rockaway Beach on the current tour!)

xp - per wiki four of them (Wondermints) toured with The Beach Boys on the 50th anniversary tour.

it's very interesting how age is perceived in rock music vs. jazz

also ilm has always kinda had this nostalgia is bad thing, i think because by staying current on charlie xcx we can stave off the inevitable slide towards oblivion. i don't see it as good or bad it's a very normal human emotion experienced by everyone, sometimes it's there in your heart and sometimes it's not.

"it's very interesting how age is perceived in rock music vs. jazz"

i explained how i felt on this thead somewhere. i don't treat genre musicians the same as i do rock and pop musicians. country/folk/bluegrass/metal/blues/etc seems like stuff you can do forever. and many do without stopping.

four of them (Wondermints) toured with The Beach Boys on the 50th anniversary tour.

This is because the 50th anniversary tour was Brian's band (plus Mike's then-guitarist/bandleader Scott Totten standing behind him, and drummer John Cowsill - the latter a huge complement). Members of The Wondermints have been the core of Brian's band since 1999, which is a quarter of a century. Five months in 2012 is a) less than that, b) nearly half that time ago, and c) not current.

Sorry, guess I misunderstood your post. I knew they played in his band and were on his version of Smile, but hadn't realized they ever toured with the mothership so was sharing the new to me info.

lol Totten and Cowsill both got fired last year. so by that measure, the current touring Beach Boys in entirety is: Mike rasping, Bruce playing a small probably-unplugged Casio, and John Stamos coming out to guest on a few songs, a few times a year.

xp :)

would be kinda cool if they leased the name to a group of beach-y dreamboats who could shred and sing like angels. more people should think of doing things like when they become decrepit.

Honestly, you are onto something there. They should follow the Dead model at this point, start slowly roping in young ringers one by one and fading the old guys out. Might as well ramp up the money printing machine for the next generation, even when no original members are left in a touring state.

the anti-nostalgia angle has a twinge of gatekeeping to it that comes off kinda boomer-y...

as kids are taught today: don't yuck people's yum.

i also explained on this thread somewhere that i am totally all for people loving reunions and i love a fan's enthusiasms and love for their faves. i think its cool. and i think old bands should do what they want to do!

i'm a fan of fandom. i like watching it from afar. i like movies about it. and i like hearing documentary accounts by fans OF their fandom. its fun and interesting. i don't do any public fan worship. conventions. boat cruises. jukebox musicals. i am a homebody fan.

tempted to watch that Nickelback documentary that includes Nickelback talking about all the hate for their band. i think its on Hulu.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F__QwEkQeeQ

I think all bands should be made to get back together whether they like it or not

Went to see Mike's Beach Boys a few years ago and to be honest it was fun x3. Good band, decent setlist choices, and the only hilarity was when they did Summer In Paradise and Mike's ridiculous solo song Pieces Brothers, a tribute to George Harrison. Genuinely funny with great clipart on screen. Also got a handshake off Stamos, despite leaning in to try and get to Mike or Bruce

I think all bands should be made to get back together whether they like it or not

lol why is it ok for metal bands and not rock bands? so it's ok for Judas Priest to still be a band but not ZZ Top?

I mean...9 times out of 10 nobody wants to see an 'aging band', it's code for one of a few things:

1) "wow, the vocalist really fucking sucks now" - 95% of the time

2) "they are recording new music and playing it, fuck that." - 3% of the time

3) "this is embarrassing, they're playing a tractor pull" - 2% of the time

----------------------------

#1 is usually my hang-up. I don't expect 70 year old singers to sound like they did in their 20s, just that they sound enjoyable. don't care if they lower keys of songs either (Sabbath did when I saw them). but sounding outright bad, well...that's hard for me to get past.

#2 = ehh, some people want a setlist that matches up with one from 1988. though I can understand it if the entire set is going to be songs you don't know or care for.

#3 = who the fuck cares where they're playing, are you that sad to see your former heroes at a low in popularity and thus dont' want to be seen or associated with their lameness? go out and rock!