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Post by names on Nov 13, 2009 9:02:11 GMT -5
^^ F. A. S. = foetal alcohol syndrome. One of the reasons that I post so openly and non-anonymously on this message board (and others) is an effort to defuse any cult-of-personality symptoms that may arise out of music-making. This sounds presumptuous, esp. from somebody as comparatively unknown as myself... but it comes from a long-standing relationship with the internet that I've maintained since I was 10. When I was younger, posting on BBS's and the message boards therein was an act of tacit camaraderie, and as the 00s have progressed into a Total Clusterfuck Of Anonymous Trashtalk, I've done my best to stay present. For much of my 20s I've dealt with many musicians who have capitalized on the 'otherness' of their personality; capitalizing on the mystique that a lack of access will engender. But far more inspiring to me are musicians who make themselves available, and to that end I've made an effort to be available to anyone. The reason I'm bringing all this up: After a show, I'm happy to meet you, I love meeting people. Please, don't be shy. Feel free to ask me anything, even better, to volunteer information about yourself. I sometimes project an air of aloofness, or a patronizing sanctimony, but it's just my upbringing. Also, don't be offended if I respond with a curt "thank you" and walk away, because there is often gear to load, wine to drink, friends and relatives to meet... other responsibilities in putting on a show. This is awesome. Really awesome. I love it when Famous People turn out to be cool. It's easy to forget that people don't have to be arseholes to be creative, and it's always great to be reminded. |
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Alyssa!
Go Away
I'm out on the street with an open case and a mandolin and with every coin I am born again
Posts: 437
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Post by Alyssa! on Nov 17, 2009 21:21:56 GMT -5
I heard a while back that an act named Final Fantasy was doing cool things, but never really capitalized on the interest...maybe back in 2004 or so. I got into Arcade Fire soon after, and in a lot of furious researching and studying, Owen's name came up, but for some reason I never made the connection. A few months back, I noticed that The Mountain Goats, whom I sort of knew, were playing with one Final Fantasy in Boston. I nabbed the tickets on a whim, and a few weeks back I started really plugging in and going into Owen's music.
Where I'm going with is: I can totally understand the obsessive factor. I've been listening nonstop to Has a Good Home and He Poos Clouds, furiously searching for possible gigging songs. There was a period of a few days when anything I searched into a search bar magically (!!!) turned into some combination of Owen Pallett and Final Fantasy. I certainly like to know the lyrics and discography of an artist I'm seeing, but man, I've been pretty ridiculous. Of course I created all sorts of "omg meeting Owen" fantasies, but I'm trying to chill out.
I really appreciate what Owen does, but I've been to shows where it's all been about getting up front and idolizing the lead and turning him/her/per into some sort of ego-god. I would like to meet him, say hello, tell him what a wonderful job he did, share this or that, but I don't want to meet my strange, distorted perception of Owen.
So, going into the show with a cool head is going to do me wonders, I think it's one way to avoid the freakout.
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Post by sarpedon on Nov 18, 2009 0:20:24 GMT -5
Welcome! And, you could try talking to Owen on here first, where you could be as nonchalant as you want without anyone ever knowing how you really feel as your typing  But yeah, he does come on occasionally, and replies often when addressed. |
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Alyssa!
Go Away
I'm out on the street with an open case and a mandolin and with every coin I am born again
Posts: 437
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Post by Alyssa! on Nov 18, 2009 20:38:42 GMT -5
Welcome! And, you could try talking to Owen on here first, where you could be as nonchalant as you want without anyone ever knowing how you really feel as your typing But yeah, he does come on occasionally, and replies often when addressed. Thank you, dear! I tend to be far too talkative to leave anything in doubt. But that's a good thing; the more I open things up now, ideally the less I will later, making the whole thing far more smooth I've already developed a probability clock for when he's online or online and posting I'll keep my eye out! |
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Post by names on Nov 18, 2009 22:47:27 GMT -5
I don't think I've ever acted notably or visibly weird in front of anybody I - for want of a less creepy word - idolised. I have had that thing happen where my brain just fell out of my head and I couldn't string a useful sentence together, but nothing worth alerting security over.
I always wonder though whether our artisty heroes ever get a bit starstruck when they meet their own artisty heroes within the industry. I'd find it kind of sad to think it could be a normal, everyday event to bump into somebody who'd had an effect on your imagination.
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Post by Ren on Nov 19, 2009 8:37:12 GMT -5
I don't think I've ever acted notably or visibly weird in front of anybody I - for want of a less creepy word - idolised. I like to use "admire" because "I admire your work" sounds sort of professional and hides the "I want to BE you" aspect of the real situation. Uh. So...yeah. It does happen! Evidence: RT @owenpallett, at Hillside: This is what I look like when I'm star-struck: www.flickr.com/photos/sexyoxen/3758010433/in/photostream/But hey, Owen, do you ever get to meet famous-people-in-classical-music? Like...didn't you play with John Oswald once? Was that like "Holy crap, I'm improvising with John Oswald, Legend," or more like "oh yeah, just another gig"? |
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Post by chicagocowboy on Nov 19, 2009 9:25:51 GMT -5
???I met him after a show in Chicago and he came over and signed tour posters after the show, it was really cool...
Then I saw him last night at Antone's ( we only went to see him, and he was an opener, we left after he played ).
I waited for like 30 minutes after he played to buy some FF schwag, but he never came over. Eventually this sleepy looking elf guy from the band that played before him sold me a record ... so I left him a note.
I kind of wonder if sleepy elf guy gave it to him.
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Post by Owen from Final Fantasy on Nov 19, 2009 12:16:17 GMT -5
Yep, I played a set with Anne Bourne, John Oswald, and Fred Frith. Free improv at the Music Gallery... it was epic.
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Post by names on Nov 19, 2009 19:42:49 GMT -5
Were you notably or visibly weird in front of any of them?
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Alyssa!
Go Away
I'm out on the street with an open case and a mandolin and with every coin I am born again
Posts: 437
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Post by Alyssa! on Nov 19, 2009 23:29:44 GMT -5
I met Jimmy Cobb once, but I was very young and especially shy. I tend to meet opening acts a lot, so I've bantered a bit with Charles of Toro Y Moi and the lead of Soundpool. I sat next to the lead of OM while he spouted something or other to guys next to me. I had an awkward shouted conversation with Avey Tare once. Big D, of the Boston ska group, complimented my hair. My favorite moment, however, was when Nick Diamonds (Islands, The Unicorns) stroked my head and put his face next to mine. I was blushing for the rest of the night.
I guess, I've never had a human conversation with any recording artist, especially from a position of pure fandom.
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Post by pamplemousse on Nov 20, 2009 23:24:37 GMT -5
Dear Mr. Pallett,
My boyfriend and I were so happy to see you last night in Dallas. Thank you for a wonderful and candid performance. We whole-heartedly appreciated it and hope to see you perform again in the near future.
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Post by exitsign on Nov 21, 2009 17:07:57 GMT -5
One of the reasons that I post so openly and non-anonymously on this message board (and others) is an effort to defuse any cult-of-personality symptoms that may arise out of music-making. This sounds presumptuous, esp. from somebody as comparatively unknown as myself... but it comes from a long-standing relationship with the internet that I've maintained since I was 10. When I was younger, posting on BBS's and the message boards therein was an act of tacit camaraderie, and as the 00s have progressed into a Total Clusterfuck Of Anonymous Trashtalk, I've done my best to stay present. For much of my 20s I've dealt with many musicians who have capitalized on the 'otherness' of their personality; capitalizing on the mystique that a lack of access will engender. But far more inspiring to me are musicians who make themselves available, and to that end I've made an effort to be available to anyone. And you're very much admired for that. It's refreshing that when we have a question about something like lyrics we can clear things up instead of fighting over what we hear (even if we still do that, you get to settle the score). That and this whole twitter thing, it makes this whole listening to artists experience continuously more personal and kind of reminds us that oh hey, you musicians are people too. Although, that said, I was standing feet away and didn't say hi once. |
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Post by emyli on Nov 22, 2009 3:46:26 GMT -5
I totally chickened out of meeting a musician I really admire today. I was about 5 feet away from Brent Knopf (Menomena, Ramona Falls) and I didn't quite have the courage to say hi. Mainly because I didn't really have anything interesting to say, but still... He was just standing there by the merch table, looking bored. Wish I'd said something.
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Post by sarpedon on Nov 23, 2009 17:05:54 GMT -5
I totally chickened out of meeting a musician I really admire today. I was about 5 feet away from Brent Knopf (Menomena, Ramona Falls) and I didn't quite have the courage to say hi. Mainly because I didn't really have anything interesting to say, but still... He was just standing there by the merch table, looking bored. Wish I'd said something. Ohh you totally should have! I love Memonema, and Danny Seim's side project Lackthereof. |
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Post by gammonize on Nov 23, 2009 18:38:24 GMT -5
I totally chickened out of meeting a musician I really admire today. I was about 5 feet away from Brent Knopf (Menomena, Ramona Falls) and I didn't quite have the courage to say hi. Mainly because I didn't really have anything interesting to say, but still... He was just standing there by the merch table, looking bored. Wish I'd said something. Aww! I know how you feel, it's so nerve-racking. I always try and think though, "What, are you going to grow old and tell your grandchildren about that time DIDN'T meet Brent Knopf?!" Even if things go bad you get a really awesome anecodote out of it. |
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