Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
Post by bhamwizofoz on Feb 8, 2007 15:55:53 GMT -5
Not a big fan of the whole american idol or taylor hicks but i noticed he is playing SXSW. I found that odd so i guess that could make him a possibilty for Bonnaroo.
He played harmonica at the Warren Haynes Christmas jam this year with John Popper, Dave Matthews, and Warren. He was really, really good!! He just sang backup, so not sure what he would be solo.
The guy is a very talented singer and harmonica player, it's just unfortunate he got his break through American Idol. It's provided him an audience, but it's kept him from doing what he's said he wanted to do, which is build a fan base through solid touring. I would say he's got the best potential out of anyone from that show to actually accomplish something musically, but the direction he's going to be led in for his first few albums will be pretty much pure pop. It's not that pop music is bad, it's just that he's going to need to get to his roots of soul and blues to do anything worthwhile.
edit: IF he played I'd probably check him out, though, he is a good musician. I think he'd do better in that role you mentioned from the Christmas Jam though. If he's willing to take himself out of the pop spotlight and showcase his harp playing THEN showcasing his pipes, then I'll have nothing but respect for him.
Post by oatmealschnappz on Feb 8, 2007 17:28:27 GMT -5
Winning 'American Idol' is great for your wallet, but cancer for your credibility. That's a career choice that I just don't understand making. I'll be skipping his set.
Post by BrokenLight on Feb 8, 2007 18:31:35 GMT -5
he also played harmonica with widespread panic last year, when i first heard about this i was like wtf?, but yeah he's got the talent, he's also from georgia, never heard about the widespread cover band he was in, thats interesting, i figured he probably didnt even know who wsp was, my fault for assuming, i don't know why he went on american idol, i'm just having trouble with the jay leno look...
i'm also sorta close minded when it comes to the whole american idol thing.
but good for him i guess...i don't really see bonnaroo pulling taylor hicks out of the bag just because of how he got his fame. but if they do, it's cool that will be a show i miss though
Ok, I wasn't imagining things. Here's the Relix interview where all his jam ties are exposed...
Jumping back to your formative years, how do you think your love of bands like Widespread Panic has contributed to your success?
I think they’ve had a lot do with it. What’s so cool about it is that it’s real music, it’s not fabricated. It’s real art. If I wasn’t a musician, these are the people I’d be traveling to go see. I would probably not have a day job [laughs]. I’ve just been lucky in getting some gigs to play music here and there and have kind of just stuck with that.
I was in a Panic cover band called Passing Through in Auburn and we played “Ol’ Miss” and we did some Phish and Ben Harper covers. A lot of my friends are in that scene and that’s the scene I like to be in because that’s the real music scene. You got to know real music to be in the scene, you know? That’s the scene I was in. I love real, live music, too. I’ve always studied live music. I like live music almost more than I like recorded music. I’ve relied on my live performance because I had no money to record in a studio. So the only thing I had, basically, was live gigs. And I’m so glad that I have the mentality because that’s where you make your money as an artist. Those people like Phish, Panic and the Dead, that scene taught me a lot about performing live music, and a lot of it—staying out there performing live music, night in and night out. I’m ever-indebted to that mentality of playing a lot of really great, live music. I want to go see it and I want to go play it.
What were some of your favorite Panic or Phish covers to do? And were there any particular shows that stood out for you?
I saw Phish at Oak Mountain Amphitheater in ‘99. I just remember them playing “Heavy Things” and me falling out of my chair. What’s funny is that I promoted a Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe and Derek Trucks Band show at the Alabama Theater in ‘98. That was one of those shows that I’ll never forget. I did see Panic at Halloween in New Orleans, right before that. I went down there to flyer the lot and I ended up going to the show and ended up seeing Karl Denson afterwards at the House of Blues and then Denson traveling to Birmingham and doing the show two nights later. Another show I saw was Robert Randolph and the Family Band at Zydeco in Birmingham, right when they [Robert Randolph, North Mississippi Allstarts, John Medeski] came out with The Word.
I remember seeing Panic in Montgomery in ‘96 and that’s when I started to learn about them. I had never heard their music until I started playing. I was playing “Pigeons” and never heard “Pigeons” before. That’s how I kind of learned the Panic—by actually playing it and really liking what they were doing. My music has leant its ear, so to speak, to a Widespread Panic musical configuration. My last album, Under the Radar, is very earthy. My roots are firmly planted in the good, live music earth.
In my opinion you can't decide not hear someone only because they were on American Idol????? I would have to have a pretty open schedule to make time to go see him at B-Roo, but having said that I would love to see him guest on harmonica with anybody....the guy can play...American Idol does not make him any less talented.
Post by oatmealschnappz on Feb 8, 2007 23:40:58 GMT -5
I'm not saying that the guy has no talent. I'm just saying that i'm not wasting my Roo time watching a guy who who took the easiest, least inspired career path...the express elevator to pop stardom. He may be the best musician and singer to ever walk the Earth, but he hasn't paid his dues...and that turns me off. This is only my personal opinion, as closed-minded as it may seem, but I don't think he has any right to be there. For everyone who disagrees or just sees it differently, I hope you enjoy him if he's added to the line-up.
Last Edit: Feb 8, 2007 23:42:00 GMT -5 by oatmealschnappz - Back to Top
I am not a fan of him but he had been local musician in Birmingham a long time. I saw him open for Robert Randolph and the Family Band and wasn't blown away but he is talented. I wouldn't catch his show but the guy is not quite as fabricated as most of those people from that show. To say he hasn't paid his dues though isn't accurate i agree i woudn't go that path as a musician but i have only been a paid musician for 2 years not for 10 or 12. I might change my mind after that long.
I dont think American Idol is the "easiest" way to pop stardom. That would probably be someone like Rockwell or Haylie Duff. You know, having family get you in the business. And the "right to" be at Bonnaroo? WTF dude.
Post by oatmealschnappz on Feb 10, 2007 1:53:59 GMT -5
joeyt said:
I dont think American Idol is the "easiest" way to pop stardom. That would probably be someone like Rockwell or Haylie Duff. You know, having family get you in the business. And the "right to" be at Bonnaroo? WTF dude.
Some people work continuosly for years to build even a meager fanbase and some people have their daddies "buy" their way in. Being considered an artist only because your family has connections or money is, by far, the easiest way...but none of these people are being talked about on this board. Taylor Hicks is, so I thought that I would add my opinion to the conversation. I know that Taylor has been an honest, hard working musician and that he is head-and-shoulders above Kelly Clarkson but, I still see going on a prime-time "phenomenon" and being a dancing-ratings-monkey in order to win stardom and car-company endorsements as being the "easy way" to the head of the line. It's only my personal opinion but, it doesn't seem fair to schedule a person like this for a serious music festival like Bonnaroo. Taking attention or, god-forbid, a time-slot away from a band that is still in the process of legitimately "paying their dues" so that someone who just gave-up, entered and won a (single) talent-show can perform is not "right". It may be the biggest "talent-show" in the world, but it's still only a talent show! Like I said this is only how I feel. If you feel differently, more power to you. Peace.
Last Edit: Feb 10, 2007 1:55:50 GMT -5 by oatmealschnappz - Back to Top
If any of you actually think this guy was a contestant on that show you are being had. That guy was a plant from day one. I mean I havent ever watched the show but it doesnt take a rocket scientist to see the difference between him and everysingle other person that has been on there or won. He is a grown man. You can see it in the way he carries himself and speaks. He is a pro. He was gonna win months before the cameras started rolling.
Post by arizonalovesyou on Feb 10, 2007 14:31:33 GMT -5
jason said:
If any of you actually think this guy was a contestant on that show you are being had. That guy was a plant from day one. I mean I havent ever watched the show but it doesnt take a rocket scientist to see the difference between him and everysingle other person that has been on there or won. He is a grown man. You can see it in the way he carries himself and speaks. He is a pro. He was gonna win months before the cameras started rolling.
Hung was at Roo because, lets be honest, he's famous because people laugh at him. It's like having Timmy from South Park on stage. At least stuff like Tenacious D or Weird Al is good natured because it's an act, they're not being laughed *at*. I never found it appealing but that's what it is.
Insipid crap like Hicks at 'roo is probably the only way to get me not to go and spend my money there. Why not invite Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson?
So just to understand what "paying your dues" means - Play in obscurity until you are "just happened upon" by someone that can push you into the limelight, Really?!? If you can play, you can play, you get there anyway that you can. It just happened that Taylor was on American Idol, rather than being discovered at a college bar in Alabama.
I would like to see him, but his priority is not high on the list. I saw him at Warren Haynes Xmas Jam, He was awesome, I was truly impressed. I am not going to run out and buy all of his CDs, but I enjoyed the experience. I seems to me that if Taylor plays with anyone at 'Roo, it will completely ruin the entire experience, Really? Really?
It is okay to not like someone, but is there cause to be so melodramatic, Really?
On the final note, I have an issue with saying that someone is not entitled to something because they have not "paid their dues", it is kind of archaic. This is just my opinion and nothing else. If you do not like him, do not go see him, leave a show of the band you really wanted to see, because he comes out and plays a song or two. IMHO it is your loss.
"Chicago is known as the Windy City, and Montana is called the Big Sky State, so I think that we should somehow combine the two to create the ultimate kite-flying experience. "-Mitch Hedberg
