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Monday, March 1, 2010
Television / Teh Internets / Film Also Tonight: Lynn Shelton's $5 Cover: Seattle Premiere
Posted by Eric Grandy on Mon, Mar 1, 2010 at 10:15 AM
Also tonight, the Lynn Shelton-directed MTV music reality "webisode" series $5 Cover: Seattle is having a cast & crew screening at SIFF Cinema at 7pm. Afterwards, there'll be a party at Tractor Tavern at 9pm with rumored performers including the Lights, Thee Satisfaction, and Champagne Champagne. Cover for the Tractor show is, appropriately, $5.
2
This thing does strike me as strange. A few of these bands involved are massively talented. A "scripted reality" show with fake love interests? Sort of a scaled down version of "let's go outback tonight" except no one made any money yeah?
3
I like a few of these bands. I am going to avoid this screening and not watch this trailer so I can continue to like them. You're participating in an MTV "reality" show? In 2010? Fuckin' serious?
4
How dare these people promote themselves and get paid at the same time!
It lacks tact! These bands should be ashamed of themselves!
It lacks tact! These bands should be ashamed of themselves!
6
@4: I think the criticism is more about tactics than it is about ethics—not about "selling out" but more about wondering if this is really going to be an effective way for the bands involved to promote themselves. (Quick: Name a band that blew up because of $5 Cover: Memphis.)
7
...And whether it's effective promotion or not, one might also wonder if it's a worthwhile artistic endeavor on its own merits. (Looking forward to finding out tonight.)
8
Eric,
Anytime a band takes money to promote a product I immediately throw their music in the trash.
The Shins reputation and integrity was destroyed the second they cashed that check from McDonalds.
These people should be called out for shamelessly self-promoting their bands and cashing checks from MTV.
BOOOOOOOO!
Anytime a band takes money to promote a product I immediately throw their music in the trash.
The Shins reputation and integrity was destroyed the second they cashed that check from McDonalds.
These people should be called out for shamelessly self-promoting their bands and cashing checks from MTV.
BOOOOOOOO!
9
Ok, Larry
Everytime you get paid for doing your job, I expect you to throw the check in the trash.
Everytime you get paid for doing your job, I expect you to throw the check in the trash.
10
@4/8: to echo Teh Grandyz, I'm having a hard time imagining an Attack Attack! loving teenager even watching a "reality" show on MTV nowadays, let alone rushing out to buy The Lights (whom I'm a fan of) record because four seconds of their song played in the background of this show. As a promotional device, it makes as much sense as reissuing your back catalog on DCC. (Remember DCC?) I haven't been a teenager in nearly ten years, and MTV was well on its way out by then. I'm sure it's a punchline now. It seems like a band would have a better chance at expanding their audience by sending their videos to America's Funniest.
I ain't mad at them or anyone else for trying to get on TV, and I'm not going to begrudge a local director for taking a job. It's just that the format of this show is so fuckin' cheez whiz that it would take a minor miracle to elevate it. I'm not even sure Herzog and D. Boon could pull it off if they teamed up.
Perhaps the artists on this show simply represent the subset of bands that Lynn Shelton is a fan of who were too nice to say "no." Fair enough.
It just makes me think of a fairly experienced sous chef taking a job at Denny's. It makes me haz a sad.
I ain't mad at them or anyone else for trying to get on TV, and I'm not going to begrudge a local director for taking a job. It's just that the format of this show is so fuckin' cheez whiz that it would take a minor miracle to elevate it. I'm not even sure Herzog and D. Boon could pull it off if they teamed up.
Perhaps the artists on this show simply represent the subset of bands that Lynn Shelton is a fan of who were too nice to say "no." Fair enough.
It just makes me think of a fairly experienced sous chef taking a job at Denny's. It makes me haz a sad.
11
J.,
I agree. This thing is a joke, these bands are going to regret ever getting involved.
The sad thing is, I have heard nothing but AMAZING things about THEESATISFACTION, but now I'll never be able to give them a chance.
They blew it big time.
/one less fan of these bands.
I agree. This thing is a joke, these bands are going to regret ever getting involved.
The sad thing is, I have heard nothing but AMAZING things about THEESATISFACTION, but now I'll never be able to give them a chance.
They blew it big time.
/one less fan of these bands.
12
I'm still not sure if you're taking the piss out of me or not.
I still might rent Humpday. I heard it's really good. I'm still going to go to Lights and Champagne Champagne shows. I just think this $5 Cover: Seattle is going to be for all involved what Critters 3 is to Leonardo DiCaprio.
I still might rent Humpday. I heard it's really good. I'm still going to go to Lights and Champagne Champagne shows. I just think this $5 Cover: Seattle is going to be for all involved what Critters 3 is to Leonardo DiCaprio.
13
@ eric grandy. this and your continuing coverage of all things that don't matter is fucking pathetic. music columns and music news should be reserved for the discussion and promotion of art not fucking corporate propaganda. you're helping a giant money making corporation make a buck of bands that are so fucking desperate they will do ANYTHING for the sake of stardom and fame... had they not been blessed with a good ear for music they would probably be screwing over some third world country in the business world or taking it in the ass for quarters at cal anderson. people should respect art and culture and not try and market it in any form possible. life and everything it consists of does not exist for some asshole to exploit it. FUCK. this isn't about marketing a product, it's about the sheer lack of respect these sheep have for art. music doesn't exist to make these people a fucking dollar or make them famous, it exists to express human emotion and address real issues in our very real and complex world. the more they jump around in a club and stage gay make out sessions to try and appeal to a younger more liberal demographic, the more they smear, abuse and bastardize something that we and living beings have developed over thousands of years as a way for us to freely express who we are and what we have to say. those things are more important than money and an industry and certainly those things are what is wrong with your horrible daily/hourly coverage of the music industrial complex.
14
@13 +1 You hit the nail on the head. I can't take the endless coverage of the same 4 local bands who are doing nothing for music other than satisfying their own wallet situation.
Everyone take a note out of Shabazz Palaces. I don't mind The Stranger's coverage of them because their intent seems well-placed.
Everyone take a note out of Shabazz Palaces. I don't mind The Stranger's coverage of them because their intent seems well-placed.
15
Look at a band like The Butts. They just want to make short and sweet tunes about whatever the fuck they want. And that's how it should be. Music has been so bastardized as of late by huge online publications like Pitchfork, and to some extent by many of the writers at Lineout, I can't seem to see through what's genuine and what's bullshit anymore.
16
God, why won't the Stranger cover bands like Butts? Oh, wait:
Nobunny, Spurm, Thee Headliners, Butts
(Funhouse) Nobunny is a guy who wears a bunny mask (and usually very little else) and who, with his rotating cast of musicians, belts out infectiously poppy garage fuzz, excellent stuff for hopping around like... you know. Spurm are a local band fronted by one Jordan T. Adams, a lanky cartoon of a frontman, all glam-punk glitter and campy Rocky Horror theatrics, who charges into crowds, grabs beers, shouts in ears, generally gets Spurm all up in your face, and makes a spectacle out of what would otherwise be just some fine gonzo pop-rock songs. T.V. Coahran plays keys, Partman Parthorse's Gary Smith plays bass, and there are saxophone solos. Butts are a new duo from PMPH's Rachel Ratner and Katharine Hepburn's Voice's Shannon Perry, and their demos sound totally blown-out and bratty and stupid fun. ERIC GRANDY
17
Hey Grandy,
Thanks for your input, but I'm not an idiot. I actually do rape my eyes on a weekly basis and read The Stranger's music section. I know you did cover The Butts. My question lies in what dictates which local band gets a shit ton of coverage (See: TMTS, Thee Satisfaction, Champagne Champagne, etc.) versus which just gets a shout-out. So if you want to have a discussion on what you do as a gatekeeper, seeing as your music editor, then I'd enjoy conversing about that. But don't berate me and act like I don't know what you do and do not write about.
Thanks for your input, but I'm not an idiot. I actually do rape my eyes on a weekly basis and read The Stranger's music section. I know you did cover The Butts. My question lies in what dictates which local band gets a shit ton of coverage (See: TMTS, Thee Satisfaction, Champagne Champagne, etc.) versus which just gets a shout-out. So if you want to have a discussion on what you do as a gatekeeper, seeing as your music editor, then I'd enjoy conversing about that. But don't berate me and act like I don't know what you do and do not write about.
19
I would expect nothing less from you than to completely dodge the question and try to make it comical. Any time you actually want to discuss the integrity and mission statement of the Stranger's music section please let me know, and I'll even meet you in person to do so. All trolling aside, I'm genuinely interested.
21
nice come-back grandy. but you'll have to dig a little deeper in the local scene than butts to redeem yourself here.
23
well, posting another comment within 6 minutes is a good start. this is coming to you within 4, so either i'm more pathetic or i just have more time on my hands at work than you do. either way, childishly defending yourself and acting like a jackass within a comment thread on your own article i think makes us naysayers the victors in this debate.
i ain't mad at ya... i just wish you weren't provided a public forum to vomit your personal opinions. i blame stranger management for not keeping a closer eye on the content being paraded around by their hired goons. i guess until there is some kind of competition amongst seattle music coverage we're stuck with hipster hop and an MTV rss feed.
i ain't mad at ya... i just wish you weren't provided a public forum to vomit your personal opinions. i blame stranger management for not keeping a closer eye on the content being paraded around by their hired goons. i guess until there is some kind of competition amongst seattle music coverage we're stuck with hipster hop and an MTV rss feed.
24
@23 -- Management here. You rang? I read a longish piece about the Pica Beats in The Stranger before I read about them anywhere else, and I now love the Pica Beats. I read about Shabazz Palaces in The Stranger before reading about them anywhere else, and now I love Shabazz Palaces. I read about Throw Me the Statue in The Stranger before I read about them anywhere else, and now I love TMTS. I read about Truckasaurus in The Stranger before I read about them anywhere else, and even though they just aren't my thing, that piece Grandy wrote about em was smart and good. Anyway, the "content being paraded around" in our music section has turned lots of people on to great music. Disagree if you like, but the problem isn't that no one's paying attention.
As for Lynn Shelton's MTV project, we have been covering Shelton's film career in The Stranger for years and years. We gave her a Genius Award in 2008 because she makes interesting work, and she makes it in an interesting way. Will $5 Cover suck? Who knows. But disliking it in advance because you've decided what it is before seeing it--or because you think young bands with an opportunity to bring more attention to what they're doing are assholes for taking that opportunity, or because MTV paid for it and you don't like MTV--is ridiculous.
25
@frizelle
you gave lynn shelton a genius award because she makes interesting work in an interesting way? or because she's a part of your stupid lil clique? everyone knows the stranger is merely a cool kids club, and lynn shelton ain't no director. i worked on humpday and that woman is so stuck in trying to have a second youth, it's pathetic.
you gave lynn shelton a genius award because she makes interesting work in an interesting way? or because she's a part of your stupid lil clique? everyone knows the stranger is merely a cool kids club, and lynn shelton ain't no director. i worked on humpday and that woman is so stuck in trying to have a second youth, it's pathetic.
26
elegant, insightful, words chosen very carefully, name dropping in a tasteful, selective and thoughtful way, making sure to cover all the bases.. this is almost a game of chess. grandy get's back up and i totally dig and respect that. i absolutely hear you and understand what you have to say. my opinions are not geared toward shaming those who desire a chance to permit the world to hear and love their art, my beef is with those that desire to claim a share of the market and gain financial incentives through whoring their talents. bands are desperate for attention and some people just want to become famous. they are driven by their ego and they insatiable desire for fame and fortune. we all have our talents and for some of us it's a good ear for sound, constructing songs and evoking emotion through music. this talent can be used for either good or evil. it is evil to fall to temptation and use your talents to craft entertainment, not art, that will manipulate an audience into stroking the ego and handing over their money to you. many mistake that entertainment for art and this is where my blood begins to boil, my eyes roll back in my head and foam beings to pour from my mouth. we as people like certain things. we are genetically predisposed to being entertained by loud noise, flashy lights and trendy hipster gear. this is where the modern "artist" pulls and manipulates his audience into stroking his ego. the modern "artist" will do anything to satisfy the stroking of this ego. if the industry demands he create press kits and press releases, then it shall be done. if the industry require auto-tune or a fancy light show, it shall be done. if the industry demands the artist have a label and a well produced, well structured pop song about dictated topic, the "artist" then obliges and, using his talents, crafts such an item for the industry to mass produce for financial gain. as you see, the choices of the modern "artist" are not made by them, they are simply reacting to the market as any economic model will show. we don't buy pepsi because it tastes great, we buy it because it's the most middle of the road shit product thats available everywhere. and in turn, we don't buy pop music because it's an awe-inspiring piece of art, we buy pop music because its the most middle of the road shit product thats available everywhere. and furthermore, anyone with a talent for making music is aware of this and if their goal is to become famous and stroke their ego, it's very obvious and quite simple how to craft "art" that will be appealing to the masses.
these are the individuals you are listing as your proof of bands you've discovered through the stranger. there are millions of people that would tear up over discovering yin-yang twins in rollingstone but some people have the sense to know they are just buying into some bullshit pr campaign. this is all the stranger has to offer it's readers. no analysis, no in-depth reporting... just the re-posting of a fucking press release. i demand more from my local newspapers coverage of music. for every fucking shit band you promote there a few people that go start more bands like that in an effort to stroke their own egos. after a while all we are left with is a lazy fucking industry of assholes and douche bags that can't even tell the difference between someone that is respecting you as a listener by intriguing your mind and evoking your emotions and someone that pounds out a party jam for you to slap hands with you bro and rape some sorority chick to. the internet has provided a forum for bands to exhibit there art to anyone with a fucking computer while sacrificing nothing because the conventional method of getting on your knees and taking a load in the face are the way the past. anyone that plays into your hands for a shot at the big time is a complete sell out and deserves no ink on any page. both the pseudo-artist and the media that promotes them are part of the same dead industry. welcome to the future conventional media. where i can find out about 15 amazing new bands in 5 different countries a day on myspace and i didn't need you or some assholes ad revenue to do it.
well played 24, well played.
More...
these are the individuals you are listing as your proof of bands you've discovered through the stranger. there are millions of people that would tear up over discovering yin-yang twins in rollingstone but some people have the sense to know they are just buying into some bullshit pr campaign. this is all the stranger has to offer it's readers. no analysis, no in-depth reporting... just the re-posting of a fucking press release. i demand more from my local newspapers coverage of music. for every fucking shit band you promote there a few people that go start more bands like that in an effort to stroke their own egos. after a while all we are left with is a lazy fucking industry of assholes and douche bags that can't even tell the difference between someone that is respecting you as a listener by intriguing your mind and evoking your emotions and someone that pounds out a party jam for you to slap hands with you bro and rape some sorority chick to. the internet has provided a forum for bands to exhibit there art to anyone with a fucking computer while sacrificing nothing because the conventional method of getting on your knees and taking a load in the face are the way the past. anyone that plays into your hands for a shot at the big time is a complete sell out and deserves no ink on any page. both the pseudo-artist and the media that promotes them are part of the same dead industry. welcome to the future conventional media. where i can find out about 15 amazing new bands in 5 different countries a day on myspace and i didn't need you or some assholes ad revenue to do it.
well played 24, well played.
27
$5 Cover (the series) is so incredibly better than $5 Cover (the trailer). It's a gorgeous love letter to Seattle music; everyone involved deserves to be really proud.
28
I'm pretty sure that at least a handful of these bands know that this project is cheesy and are just having fun with it.
If that constitutes spitting in the face of thousands of years of human artistic achievement, perhaps you give this project a little more credit than anyone else.
If that constitutes spitting in the face of thousands of years of human artistic achievement, perhaps you give this project a little more credit than anyone else.
30
@27
A gorgeous love letter to Seattle music...as it applies to the Pike/Pine corridor.
Man I wish The Comet was in a different neighborhood.
Want to know what's happening underground in Seattle? Go see a show at The Comet or The Funhouse. Maybe even pick bands you've never heard of.
Maybe if you hate The Stranger music department so much you should get your information elsewhere.
A gorgeous love letter to Seattle music...as it applies to the Pike/Pine corridor.
Man I wish The Comet was in a different neighborhood.
Want to know what's happening underground in Seattle? Go see a show at The Comet or The Funhouse. Maybe even pick bands you've never heard of.
Maybe if you hate The Stranger music department so much you should get your information elsewhere.
31
I wish some of you people saw the trail of money behind everything in this town. And for those of you who do understand the pathway of capital within the Seattle scene, I wish you cared.
Vicacom, MTV, Paramount Pictures...one of the biggest media conglomerates in the world....but they aren't driven by profit, they are driven by making great art, right?!!?
Warner Bros, Sub Pop, Hardly Art (Warner Bros owns 49% of Sub Pop) But wait Sub Pop is a rockin independent label?!? I heard all their musicians have great health care, they give a great split on record sales, they offer financial counseling to the musicians and have advisors who help them look into careers post music...they give great support to the bands on their label rather than Bruce and Jon being 50 year olds still chomping handfuls of weird drugs 'to expand their consciousness' and adding additions onto their houses. Bruce and John have started tons of non-profits and all ages music venues, are very community oriented......oh.......oh wait guess I heard wrong.
Tell me what is punk rock, what is 'Indie', underground, charming or naive about these conglomerates? About labels not taking care of their musicians? What energy is being served other than greed and a culture of self absorption?
I for one say nothing.
Give a bunch of kids who never got enough attention from girls in highschool a few bones, put them on some biweekly magazine covers, into an extremely cheesy heavily commercialized faux music documentary. Yeah the musician kids will bite. Yeah some dopey kid who just adopted a new persona will buy all their records. It is called immaturity. It is called a lack of consciousness. It is called this scene in 2010.
There is still good music out there if you want to take the time to find it. Hit The Comet, Josephine, some of the houses that host shows.
Sad thing is many of the Seattle bands in this MTV series have talent. It is unfortunate they just want to play dress up.
But hey, you decide what constitutes selling out. And if that even matters to you.
And hopefully use your voice to support those you think are actually independent, visionary and have positive energy.
More...
Vicacom, MTV, Paramount Pictures...one of the biggest media conglomerates in the world....but they aren't driven by profit, they are driven by making great art, right?!!?
Warner Bros, Sub Pop, Hardly Art (Warner Bros owns 49% of Sub Pop) But wait Sub Pop is a rockin independent label?!? I heard all their musicians have great health care, they give a great split on record sales, they offer financial counseling to the musicians and have advisors who help them look into careers post music...they give great support to the bands on their label rather than Bruce and Jon being 50 year olds still chomping handfuls of weird drugs 'to expand their consciousness' and adding additions onto their houses. Bruce and John have started tons of non-profits and all ages music venues, are very community oriented......oh.......oh wait guess I heard wrong.
Tell me what is punk rock, what is 'Indie', underground, charming or naive about these conglomerates? About labels not taking care of their musicians? What energy is being served other than greed and a culture of self absorption?
I for one say nothing.
Give a bunch of kids who never got enough attention from girls in highschool a few bones, put them on some biweekly magazine covers, into an extremely cheesy heavily commercialized faux music documentary. Yeah the musician kids will bite. Yeah some dopey kid who just adopted a new persona will buy all their records. It is called immaturity. It is called a lack of consciousness. It is called this scene in 2010.
There is still good music out there if you want to take the time to find it. Hit The Comet, Josephine, some of the houses that host shows.
Sad thing is many of the Seattle bands in this MTV series have talent. It is unfortunate they just want to play dress up.
But hey, you decide what constitutes selling out. And if that even matters to you.
And hopefully use your voice to support those you think are actually independent, visionary and have positive energy.
32
25
Ouch
I hate to say it, but from my interactions with her, your comment about Lynn lusting after a second youth is dead on.
O U C H.
Ouch
I hate to say it, but from my interactions with her, your comment about Lynn lusting after a second youth is dead on.
O U C H.
33
I just spent 20 minutes trying to find out when the Seattle episodes will be available online and still don't know. I've now read a lot of attitude and seen the trailer. When can I see the work?
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