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a band insulted us, so...

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GearHeadBassMan

GearHeadBassMan

Apr 26, 2007
1,707
9
Springfield, MA
#1
just got back from our first gig in awhile, had a really tight show and a great crowd reaction. Felt good being back out and playing.

Anyway, the next band came up and was a complete smashing pumpkins wannabe. Although the bassist had a sexy '70s SVT with a matching 810, and they were good players, so it wasn't so bad.

Anyway, our band tries to spread a message of awareness of depression and suicide, and the singer of the next band comes up and says the following:

"We'd like to dedicate this next song to the band that played before us, because they're very serious about suicide and all that. I'm also very serious about suicide, because I once killed myself."

We were at first very warm when he said he was giving us props, but when he released that "zinger", we calmly got up and started loading out as they played, because unlike this jerk, we actually ARE serious about our message and don't respect people who don't respect us.

Anyway, we're outside loading our van and discussing how disappointed we were with what happened when we saw their van outside.

I walked over to it and said "you know, I really gotta pee":D

my lead guitarist followed suit, and we went back inside to get the rest of our stuff. The owner of the venue took us aside and told us what a great set we had done, and that the band that insulted us were never going to play there again (it was a teen center, so they also found the suicide joke is very bad taste)

then the owner bought one of our shirts and hung it on the wall next to the other larger acts that had played there and we left with a smile on our faces.

Anyways, what have you guys done to get back at bands that insult you or your music for no reason?
 
#5
What do you do if an audience member boo's you, vandalize thier house? Grow up.

As far as what I thought about another band that plays teen centers opinions of my playing or band, I don't care. I don't make music for other bands to like. I make music for the enjoyment of myself, the people I'm playing with, and anyone that wants to listen. The rest can find the door.
 
#6
I suggest growing some thicker skin. You were there to play. You did that. Who cares what the next bands singer says? Maybe other people don't feel the same way as you about the subject, (any subject applies here), you get all bent out of shape? Man I quit worrying about what strangers think many years ago.
 
#7
In my experience when someone does something like that the most effective way to deal with it is head on. Get the singer alone and tell him why you feel the way you do about suicide. Tell him that teenagers are at serious risk and making fun of it is not cool. People usually aren't so mouthy or tough one on one. They find the intimacy embarrassing. Chances are he will apologize and think about it twice. Stooping to his level by pissing on his van is not the way to go. Ignorance is what breeds those kinds of a...holes educate him.
 
#8
whats the big deal.. obviously the other band.. or at least the singer is a dick.. so what if they piss on their van.. there worse things going on in the world.. good for you guys.. next time though, maybe say something to them directly. just let them know it was in bad taste, not cool.
 
#9
Whenever other bands insulted us, we'd insult them even harder. My band was made up of smart, clever, quick-witted guys. If the band didn't get the picture after a few zingers, we'd start parodying their songs and/or writing offensive and crude songs about them.
We got a reputation as a group of nice guys that were fun to play with, but if you were mean to us or a downright terrible band you'd never hear the end of it.
That's quite accurate - we pretty much ruined 4 or 5 different bands who wouldn't leave us alone.
 
#11
to be honest, I didn't see it as such a terrible thing, its not like i peed in their gas tank or on the door handles, nor did we instigate any of the owner's actions.

Besides, when the crowd turned to look at us during the song and saw us staring with stone faces, I think they also understood that there was nothing funny about that.

Thick skin is one thing, but taking the time to play for a group of close knit people (as the audience and the others bands were all from the same area and frequented that teen center) and then insulting us is absolutely appalling, especially when we didn't suck or try to act pompous or anything. we set up quick, had a fairly quick set, and broke down faster than any other band.

He was an arrogant prick and he learned his lesson by way of the owner. we just did some childish **** because we didn't want to make a scene in the venue.

plus, it was a bonding moment.
 
#12
I'm just enjoying the image of a group of guys speading messages of depression and suicide before standing around in the parking lot talking about your disappointment. Then you all stand around together with your weiners in your hands to--ahem--elevate your spirits. Funny stuff.
 
#13
stringbass69 said:
I'm just enjoying the image of a group of guys speading messages of depression and suicide before standing around in the parking lot talking about your disappointment. Then you all stand around together with your weiners in your hands to--ahem--elevate your spirits. Funny stuff.
Click to expand...

well, we took turns...
:hiding:
besides, a great way to combat disappointment is with an action to relieve the stress!
 
#19
What kind of venue was this? The reason I ask is that if you were playing a gig where one would expect the audience to be receptive to a socially conscious message about depression and suicide awareness, then it was in poor taste for the next band to joke about it. Still, something like that, I'd just roll my eyes and say, "Whatever."

But if you were playing a gig like where most bands play, the audience wants to get drunk and dance and have fun. They don't want to hear some socially conscious message about depression and suicide awareness any more than they want to hear messages about global warming, unequal distribution of wealth or the evils of being mean to defenseless animals. At most places where you play your job is to entertain your audience, not lecture them.

Truth be told, if I was playing in one of our usual haunts and the band before us took time out from their job of entertaining the crowd so they could bring them down with some heavy message, I would feel perfectly justified balancing it out with a lighthearted wisecrack when it was my turn at the microphone.

And if I found someone with their pants down taking a wizz on my vehicle, I would feel perfectly justified in installing one of my shoes in their rear end.

Just my .02c :eyebrow:
 
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