I cried
when I read SK's blog today.
Yeah, yeah, I know to many people that cements me as a pathetic sycophant, but I just couldn't help it. I realise part of SK's melancholia is because the tour is ending and always happens after a tour, but what he wrote about their last show -- them playing a great gig and most people just drifting away -- I just found very sad. Steve's hurt is just so palpable as he keeps repeating that the audience just left. It was almost like a sad, sad mantra. So much of the reason they tried playing festivals is to try to garner new fans, but they just don't seem to be able to convert many people -- even when they play a scorching set. To play your heart out and have most of the crowd just leave...that has to really hurt. And I also think Steve (and I'm sure the rest too) had thought/hoped the overwhelmingly positive reviews for Untitled #23 would help generate a larger than usual buzz for them, but it just doesn't seem to have done that.
I don't think I've ever left a show during a band's set, even if I hated them. I've just not been able to walk out on someone when they are playing no matter how bad they are. It has always seemed like such a personal rejection to me, and I know I'd be hurt if people did it to me. I don't even like to do bathroom or drink breaks during gigs for much the same reason. I guess I'm weird though.
And of course the rest of the blog was pretty damned downbeat too. The tax issue, the lower than hoped for merch sales (even though they were generally good overall), the smaller turnout.... I really enjoyed the shows I saw, but they had quite a few support people along this time around, and as I looked around at the crowds I couldn't help but think they couldn't be making a whole hell of a lot of profit.
The Church makes the music I love the most, and I like them (well, mostly Steve, because he's the one I know best) as people too. So it hurts to see them not only scraping by, but also ignored.
Yeah, yeah, I know to many people that cements me as a pathetic sycophant, but I just couldn't help it. I realise part of SK's melancholia is because the tour is ending and always happens after a tour, but what he wrote about their last show -- them playing a great gig and most people just drifting away -- I just found very sad. Steve's hurt is just so palpable as he keeps repeating that the audience just left. It was almost like a sad, sad mantra. So much of the reason they tried playing festivals is to try to garner new fans, but they just don't seem to be able to convert many people -- even when they play a scorching set. To play your heart out and have most of the crowd just leave...that has to really hurt. And I also think Steve (and I'm sure the rest too) had thought/hoped the overwhelmingly positive reviews for Untitled #23 would help generate a larger than usual buzz for them, but it just doesn't seem to have done that.
I don't think I've ever left a show during a band's set, even if I hated them. I've just not been able to walk out on someone when they are playing no matter how bad they are. It has always seemed like such a personal rejection to me, and I know I'd be hurt if people did it to me. I don't even like to do bathroom or drink breaks during gigs for much the same reason. I guess I'm weird though.
And of course the rest of the blog was pretty damned downbeat too. The tax issue, the lower than hoped for merch sales (even though they were generally good overall), the smaller turnout.... I really enjoyed the shows I saw, but they had quite a few support people along this time around, and as I looked around at the crowds I couldn't help but think they couldn't be making a whole hell of a lot of profit.
The Church makes the music I love the most, and I like them (well, mostly Steve, because he's the one I know best) as people too. So it hurts to see them not only scraping by, but also ignored.
posted by eek at 10:33 PM
6 Comments:
my heart was broken reading his blog, too. i don't go to as many concerts as i used to, but i never left, either, even if i was less than crazy about the band. i thought it was very rude to leave.
i don't think you're a "pathetic sycophant", i think you're someone who genuinely cares about this band and wishes they had more "fame and fortune" than they do. i feel the same way. as you said in your comment in his blog, you always figured that everyone had at least one church album in their repertoire, i always thought that, too, and am very disappointed that it isn't so.
it just goes to show that the church's music is on another plane of existence that most people cannot grasp, simply because they are not in tune with that plane. consider all the superficial tripe that's on tv and in the movies AND on the radio right now, and how people just gobble it up. there's no depth, and people seem to be fine with that. what a shame.
If you're a pathetic sycophant, my brother is too. He told me HE cried when he read SK's blog. I almost did but wasn't feeling well enough, haha.
It did break my heart though. His troubles with the tax man especially worried me. Why the hell won't they take his repayment offer? Fucking bastards.
And yes, he just kept repeating 'they left' as if he couldn't believe it. I know I can't. It was gut-wrenchingly hard to read that blog. I felt for him so much. I wanted to be really rich so at least I could help solve his money problems. I donated a little more to him via PayPal, but it's a drop in the bucket. I figured it's what I would've spent on merch.
The world wants mediocrity. The Church is above being mediocre. They never will be. That helps them, and it obviously hurts them. So sad.
I know eek; it broke my heart too. And it’s not the music...the music is wonderful any way you look at it. It’s the crowds, they're shallow; they don’t want to listen. I think what would help The Church more than anything is for them to have one of their songs associated with something young and hip like some show or movie that a lot of people watch...or even a commercial. Look at what that silly Volkswagen commercial did for Nick Drake’s music and he’s been gone for years.
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Yes, eek! Those who were leaving are fucking silly and stupid!! I can’t think of any person who is more stupid than them!!!! They shall be all shot!!! (well…, that’s a bit… um…but anyway, I wish SK could read this and could feel a little better.)
I went to 5 gigs, maybe just like you did, eek. In Grand Rapids, I had to go to bathroom while SK was singing the beautiful song “pangea”, because I’d drunk a whole bottle of beer! What a shame! However if there wasn’t the beer, I probably wouldn’t sit on the floor, at the center of the empty, big venue, and crying there. Then there wouldn’t be a beautiufl lady came and asked me why, she must have thought I was drunk. She asked me if I had enough money to go back home, and she even drew me a smiling face, told me don’t be sad, don’t cry. A guy gently told me they had to clean the venue (he was already there before the lady came, persuading me to leave but I said, no I am sitting here), he asked me if I could join the other few people who were gathering at some place. I said “no, I am sitting here.” The young, good looking guy seemed really don’t know what to do with me: a mad woman, … he could see I was very sad, I guess that’s why he didn’t just throw me out of the playhouse. Finally the lady asked, “you want meet the band?” I nodded immediately, and noticed the guy grined a lovely grin. “Come on!”, the lady said. I saw her talked to Peter (he was pleasant and sunny ), then as I wished, I met SK and we talked briefly. So… my point is, drinking and even crying is sometimes not entirely bad. (I don’t know who the lady is, I even forgot to ask her her name. She looked so beautiful and she had a soft voice.)
I guess I saw you in Trocadero Theatre, eek. I intuitionly wanted to say “Hi!”, but I saved it. You don’t even know who I am at all, don’t you? Maybe next time, eek. Let’s wish the church would soon make their next tour. (What a labor of love it was! Can’t imagine how these men have made it. But I personally think it really worth it. Did you notice the expressions on the audience’s faces? I was amazed once and once again. I’d say they were the most lovely audience I’ve ever seen. They truly love the church, they love these gorgeous beings.) I can’t say I will be definitely in the states next time, but I will try my best, - just like this time. I met a lovely couple outside of the venue, when they heard I was from South Korea, they were so surprised. Just like I was surprised to see another couple appeared in Philadelphia again, whom I saw in Milwaukee. - and they seemed a bit not very convinent to walk, I was pretty much taken by them, and I felt really happy for the church at the moment.
It was truly an unforgetable journey in my life. If there was one thing I did it right, then this is it. Ah… what a fool I am, always do something wrong.
I forget to say, I love american people. During the journey, so many people helped me. They were so nice. And I know, you are just one of them. A lady with a golden heart.
Hope you don't mind I am writing with my "Chinglish", and all this rambling.
Lian -- wow! Thanks for posting that here -- I loved reading it. I'm so glad you got to go to some shows -- Minneapolis, Grand Rapids, Philadelphia, which others did you see? Your trip makes any travel I did seem minor. And I'm so thrilled you got to meet Steve too. He really is a sweetheart.
Were you able to take any pics? I took pics at a Church show for the first time on this tour. They aren't very good, but I'm just happy to have taken some.
I'd love to read of your show experiences if you'd like to post them.
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