About your fandom...

[Thejambi]

Lament, I think you've taken that line a bit out of context -- my point was never that, as you get older, all artists suddenly resonate with you on identical, unvarying wavelengths of intensity; my point was simply that the urgency to single out an individual "favorite band" to claim as your own, and the fawning idolatry that comes with the adolescent version of that concept, seems to evolve into a more practical "ecumenism" of sorts as people gain life experience and develop increasingly clearer senses of identity, less dependent upon links to external elements of culture. I'm not saying it's the case for everyone but generally I think it's valid. You'll notice I did go on to praise listeners capable of still listening with that kind of focused enthusiasm; like I said, I like knowing that music still has voodoo-like powers over people which are largely beyond their ability to control, and overall believe that those kinds of listeners have more to contribute to a conversation than those married to the perennially dull concept of "objectivity." You'll also notice that I singled out Pearl Jam as my favorite band without any hesitation, so clearly the concept of a "favorite band" is not lost on me, even as an adult, even if the nature of the term has evolved over time.

Kevin Davis, you are that moment when one is snuggled up with a cup of hot cocoa during sunset on a crisp autumn day.

[Kevin Davis]

Thanks Thejambi, that's pretty much exactly what I was going for.

[WaitingForBluey]

The older I get the more I "discover" new genres that I've never paid much attention to. Jazz, funk, reggae, soul, world, fusion, etc. (Next up? Classical music?) Last year was a complete jazz explosion for me. John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, etc. So now when someone asks me about favorite bands or artists it requires much more of a genre-specific answer. I'm not as limited to a rock-centric answer as I probably would've been in the past. I would never think to rank PJ next to Coltrane or Monk on a list of favorite artists. That's like someone asking you what your favorite meal is and you say bacon, bananas, sushi, cucumbers, and waffles!

[Bammer]

Without a doubt, 100% yes. 110%.




I mean, you don't see any of us hanging out over on the Matchbox 20 forum, do you?


Comments made about growing up with PJ during teenage/formative years are a huge factor for me. If I was ten years older or younger, it would probably be a different band. I'm glad I was a teen in the 90's. I will never again in my life have the free time or "impressionability" to come up with a new favorite band - and I'm happy about that. I fucking love Pearl Jam. I feel lucky that the band I connected with has lasted this long. Glad I didn't fall in love with a band that only lasted a few years.

[stip]

As you get older I think of some things like music similar to how I think about college friends. Those are among the most intense relationships you'll form, and my best friends from college are my favorite friends, period. I don't see them often anymore, and we can sometimes go months without talking, but they occupy a place in my life that it would be almost impossible for something else to supplant. My life can no longer easily make space for that kind of experience, and I'm probably past the point where a relationship can be formative in the same way. And even though we don't see each other often, when we have the chance to get together it's easy to remember why they were so important in the first place.

I'll see other people more often, and spend far more time with them, but it won't be the same.

[epilogue]

I would never insult you, dct. My post was intended more along the lines of: set it up so that the audience thinks the character is a sort of tragic fool, then pull the rug out from under them and reveal that this fool is actually the story's noble, misunderstood hero.

You are undoubtedly one of RM's heroes, friend.

I don't deserve you in my life. But I'm so glad you're here.

[Jorge]

I mean, you don't see any of us hanging out over on the Matchbox 20 forum, do you?

How can you be sure?

[epilogue]

I mean, you don't see any of us hanging out over on the Matchbox 20 forum, do you?

How can you be sure?

[BigRedLedbetter]

I'd call myself a big Pearl Jam. Obviously a lot of you all are much bigger fans/know more about the band. They have never been my favorite band but I have always liked them. I am lucky as a kid who grew up during the Seattle/grunge explosion I was exposed to a lot of those bands. Love Nirvana, PJ, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, STP, etc. Since the first time I heard them when I was like 12 I was a fan.

As far as bands/artists I like more.....

Counting Crows (favorite band)
Ryan Adams/Whiskeytown
Smashing Pumpkins
Bob Dylan
Bruce Springsteen
Wilco
Led Zeppelin
(Probably) Field Report
etc

I have no issues with being 34 and obsessed with music and bands. It is my passion and it makes me happy. It fuels me. I am totally cool being obsessed over finding new bands, loving old bands, turning people on to the replacements, traveling for shows, meeting other link minded folks, spending way too much money on records. I love it.

This!

It's kinda sad seeing what music has become. Music 20-25 years ago, at least rock music, was just different. Better IMHO but that is debatable. You ask a teenager in 1974 or 1994 what their favorite band is they name the usual suspects or bands you know. Now kids are not into bands as much as they use to. Maybe I'm wrong? I doubt I am though. Cobain did an interview in like 1992 where he said he was worried what music would look like 20 years later. He was onto something.

[MoreSense]

I like a lot of music, but I just can't imagine ever having the encyclopedic knowledge that I have of Pearl Jam with any other band. Carrie Brownstein had a quote on Twitter last year sometime about making the decision to be a fan of something and that it expresses a specific enthusiasm. Every time I decide to like a new or old band and express that enthusiasm I end up a little overwhelmed because I feel like I need to know all their albums, the lyrics to all their songs, b-sides, important performances in their career, live albums, other bootlegs, their unique history, side projects... all the stuff I already know about Pearl Jam because I've been listening to them for more than half my life.

So yes, I always say Pearl Jam is my favorite because I can't imagine being a bigger nerd... err... fan with anything else.

[stip]

Welcome to the board

[Bammer]

I like a lot of music, but I just can't imagine ever having the encyclopedic knowledge that I have of Pearl Jam with any other band. Carrie Brownstein had a quote on Twitter last year sometime about making the decision to be a fan of something and that it expresses a specific enthusiasm. Every time I decide to like a new or old band and express that enthusiasm I end up a little overwhelmed because I feel like I need to know all their albums, the lyrics to all their songs, b-sides, important performances in their career, live albums, other bootlegs, their unique history, side projects... all the stuff I already know about Pearl Jam because I've been listening to them for more than half my life.

So yes, I always say Pearl Jam is my favorite because I can't imagine being a bigger nerd... err... fan with anything else.

This.

[LoathedVermin72]

I'd call myself a big Pearl Jam.

[epilogue]

I like a lot of music, but I just can't imagine ever having the encyclopedic knowledge that I have of Pearl Jam with any other band. Carrie Brownstein had a quote on Twitter last year sometime about making the decision to be a fan of something and that it expresses a specific enthusiasm. Every time I decide to like a new or old band and express that enthusiasm I end up a little overwhelmed because I feel like I need to know all their albums, the lyrics to all their songs, b-sides, important performances in their career, live albums, other bootlegs, their unique history, side projects... all the stuff I already know about Pearl Jam because I've been listening to them for more than half my life.

So yes, I always say Pearl Jam is my favorite because I can't imagine being a bigger nerd... err... fan with anything else.

I get this. But I also have no problem with it. Besides Pearl Jam, I've hit this level with The Beatles, Tom Waits, St. Vincent, The Decemberists, Radiohead, Ben Folds, Alanis Morissette, Pink Floyd and The Mynabirds. So there's plenty of room for unabashed enthusiasm.

Pearl Jam is still my go-to favorite though largely because of all the things that have already been said. Probably by Kevin Davis.

[LetMeSleep]

For me it was Kiss (aged 5), Bon Jovi(11), Led Zep(13), Bob Dylan(15), PJ(16), then only Paw, Ryan Adams and Anathema.

In adulthood it's really only been PJ and Dylan though

[epilogue]

Bon Jovi(11),

I knew there was a reason I liked you!

[96583UP]

F-- me i- --- Kiss ---ed 5-, B-- J-------- -ed ----13-, --- D-------- P--16-, then only Pa-- ---n -da-- --- An---ema.

In adulthood it's really only b--- -J and ---a- -ho---

[Iholdthepain]

...and RM thought I was an instigator

...I got nuthin' on this dickwad

[BigRedLedbetter]

Bon Jovi(11),

I knew there was a reason I liked you!

an instigator

...I got nuthin' on this dickwad

Truth. I love you, IHTP.

[Jorge]

I was about to make fun of you guys for being into Bon Jovi at age 11, but at that age I was way into The Offspring which in all honesty is probably a way worse band