ARTISTS AT WORK

Recently, I had a brief conversation that was a conversation (as well as thoughts) that I've had many times before.  My friend mentioned the band Maroon 5, telling me that she has tickets to see one of their upcoming shows.  The very thought of Maroon 5 makes my skin crawl, which I make no secret about, and my reaction - upon hearing my friend's news that she'll be seeing them - asserted this.  In benign fashion, a small dispute ensued.

Basically, I said that - as an artist - Maroon 5 insults me because they don't create music (i.e. Art) for the sake of Art; rather, their sole purpose is to target a specific demographic (16-34 year-old females) with the primary goal of making money.  My friend said that I'm just too hung up on the notion of "selling out."  While I feel intensely about that, my resentment towards Maroon 5 isn't based on selling out.  In fact, I don't believe they were ever at a point in which they sold out because they were frauds from their inception -- it's like they sold out at birth before even having an actual chance to sell-out.  I mean, does anyone really believe these guys write their own music and lyrics?  Essentially they're actors with a script (music notes and lyrics) that they perform.  I'd probably be less derisive of Maroon 5 if they/their reps admitted this.  But No.  They have to pretend that they're musicians - artists - and prey on people who foolishly buy into this deception.  There are plenty of unrecognized and unappreciated musicians (and artists of all different ilk) who create out of purity and love of Art.  Meanwhile, the douchebags like Maroon 5, whose only goals are to stuff their pockets with beguiled girls' cash, are riding waves of success.  Maybe I shouldn't blame the band; maybe I should blame the consumers for allowing this?

The Sound of Animals Fighting.

Come on, the name alone is spectaculously artsy.  This is a band that creates genuinely.  Here's a quick rundown:

The Sound of Animals Fighting was an American rock supergroup put together by Rich Balling, Circa Survive's Anthony Green and members of Rx Bandits. They released a trilogy of records between the years 2004 and 2008, and performed only four live shows, following their second release in 2006. The band's live lineup consisted of 12 different musicians.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sound_of_Animals_Fighting)

And here's a quick rundown of why they're awesome:

1. They've created intelligent, progressive music.

2. Despite their success, they dismantled the band, sacrificing any further monetary benefits they would have gained.

3. Rich Balling is also an editor of two books.

4. Drummer Chris Tsagakis is off the hook.
5.They duet, and any time a band duets (which is rare) and duets successfully, it's wonderful.

6. They use the stage as an actual theater but not like a movie theater -- a real theater, as seen here:


"Act II: All Is Ash or the Light Shining Through It"

This is what it means to be an artist versus an assembly-lined puppet.





Stay thirsty. xoxo