Well, this youtube clip wasn't supposed to be funny...

[StompBoxBlues]

There would have been a crowd standing, listening if they had set up in downtown Oslo, anyplace in Norway, and many other cities I know of.

What is wrong with people, that was very well played, interesting, pretty...and it's like the little girls are the only ones that get it.

Look at them as they stroll by...it wasn't work, they seemed more "uh..gotta get to the Sunglass Hut, get me som new shades" "where did I park now"??

sheesh...sad.

[StompBoxBlues]

Originally Posted by andrekp

I'm afraid that if we blanket-banned the public playing of "indulgent" music, we'd have little left. Certainly all of prog, metal, and a big chunk of jazz, would be gone.

Not saying you're right or wrong, but a big part of how we view this kind of self-indulgent music is related to how famous the player is. Steve Vai or Alex Lifeson can get away with a lot more than we'd allow this person to.

I get "wanking"...I think generally, it is like all else...

Warren Haynes, this guy, Derek Trucks, a number of great musicians can play damned long solos, but they aren't self-indulgent because they are great. Many of us (I suspect myself here at times, though I do try and think of this) ought to limit a little more than that, or a lot more, because we can't nec. carry that long a time while making it interesting, taking the listener on a journey.

Too many do, but with mediocre improvisation skills.

But I am totally with you, this guy was really GOOD, and interesting, and I find it ridiculous to call that "self-indulgent" because you can't dance to it. Music is also to be heard, listened to, not ALL music MUST be danceable.

and it moves, it goes places, isn't static or repetitive...(repetitive can be good, but then it often ought to be danceable), well played.

It's like some narrow minds think musicians are supposed to get up on a stage, play what is winnowed down from years of practice and experience, stand in the spotlight and pretend you aren't asking the audience to "indulge" you by listening to what you have to play?

I do know folks that can't stand say...jazz..they don't GET when there are no lyrics, more than a simple melody, and nowdays I think even more, the other kind of music becomes invisible...not seen as "real music" or god knows what.

One thing I love about the Netherlands, ( I live in Norway, but travelled there a lot before) they have art, spontanous and planned, all over the place, and it is always kind of a surprise and shock and is meant as such.
They like to "surprise" and that would also tie in with this "wrong venue" idea...it's pretty narrow, and has to do with the people. "I didn't "expect" this kind of music here at the mall, so I won't listen to it..." what a poor way to be. How about "wow...how nice?"..

EDIT to add: Whoops, I just realized too...there could have been a crowd of 1500 behind where the camera was setup.
WE can't see behind the camera. I've had gig videos that looked like we were playing to nobody, when in fact there were many there.
It is kinda smart to pan, or somehow try and get both in the shots...at least at times, so you can see the band playing to a crowd!