why aren't they playin w/ wilco in louisville?

[kevinjanes]

Believe what you like, I never try to tell anyone what to believe, I'm just telling you the truth.  

I'm not trying to contest whether or not you're telling the truth. I can see the logic behind what you said Wilco's management told you. However, this sort of unconfirmed word can easily be questioned b/c managements of all kinds just want fans off their backs. I called the Palace on three different occasions to see if they'd spill the beans and the first guy said they knew of no one else on the bill. The second person said, yes, it's MMJ, then the third also said, we have no idea. Then you have Velocity Weekly who printed this very week in the concert calander section that MMJ is on the bill as well. So, there are two differing statements from two local outlets...

Why are we even debating each other brother? We live in the same town. I've probably even seen you out at shows before. Sorry for any negative vibe you got from my last post, was not my intention...

[aMillionDreams]

Right on.  I hope you got yourself good seats, I'll probably see you there! :)

[ycartrob]

I heard that the original members of Bachman Turner Overdrive are reuniting and their management knew they couldn't sell out the Palace, so they payed WILCO to say they were playing, knowing all along that the MMJ fans would get in on the hope that MMJ would be opening...we've all been duped! :o :o :o :o :o
Let it Roll!!!
Down the Highway!!
Roll!
Roll!
Roll!

[40206]

This topic is getting old.  People can guarantee they will be playing or not playing until this forum explodes.  Personally, I am now to the point where I would rather they don't announce an opener and instead "surprise" us with MMJ opening.  We can also debate for hours MMJ's impact on Louisville and Louisville music and whether or not they have a following.  Us DaVillians are acting selfish in demanding that MMJ play when there are dozens of people on this forum who haven't had the opportunity to see them in years.  We often take for granted MMJ's allegiance to this city.  People outside of Louisville probably have a hard time understanding the pride we have in this city, and those that come from it.  And while I don't want to ramble, my point is this:  Whether or not we get to see them play has nothing to do with MMJ's desire to get to play in Louisville--especially at the Palace.  
   On a side note, I heard that Paul from the Wonder Years now plays gazoo for Wilco.  Since I was lucky enough to get 3rd Row seats to the show, I will be sure to take plenty of pix to prove it.

[EC]

Just keep on keeping Louisville weird.  ;)

[aMillionDreams]

Just keep on keeping Louisville weird.  ;)

Amen, sister!

[peanut butter puddin surprise]

We can also debate for hours MMJ's impact on Louisville and Louisville music and whether or not they have a following

I can personally attest to the following here in Louisville.  Their impact is measured in one thing:  the resurgence of local music (Pine Club, Digby, VHS or Beta, Cricket, etc.) that seemed to occur in or after their rise.  It's the oldest local music story in the book-band plays to small, but enthusiastic audiences in town.  Band gets gigs elsewhere.  Band tours world, snagging a major label deal on the way.  Other bands ascribe to become them, rising in their wake.  It's how every scene in this country was created...not that there is a specific "scene" in Louisville, per se...but it's no happy accident (IMHO) that a lot of GREAT bands rose to the forefront after MMJ became rock gods in this town.  

Maybe I have it all wrong, but I can't remember any local bands in the past that have had that kind of impact here.  (unless of course we want to haul out the Slint/hardcore debate again)  My knowledge base is from 1989 on, so all apologies to any influential bands from previous years that I don't recall.

[aMillionDreams]

I think that MMJ has a fairweather following in Louisville.  I totally agree with Conaway with the effect that MMJ's succes has had on local bands (Fire the Saddle is great too), but if mmj's success has taught these bands anything it's get out of Louisville in order to find success.  Just look at the Gallery on this website from 2000.  In June, they are in Lousville playing to about 30 people and in July they're playing to what looks like 3000.  MMJ wasn't embraced in their hometwon until they signed they're major label contract and the Courier-Journal did an article about them.  So while the nature of mmj's hometown following is debatable, I don't think you can debate the numbers that they can draw in this city.

[EC]

But of course that's the way it is!  You have to travel around and build a base.  I can think of so many Toronto bands that people love, but if you play in a town so many times, you can't draw the same people each time, and you're limited as to how many people you can draw.

Does this make sense?  You can't play in any town too much.  Unless you're in the jazz scene.  (That's true for TO anyhow)

Plus, people get more excited when they know you've been travelling and that other people like you, too.  Their feelings are validated, and they want to support you more.

[aMillionDreams]

Yeah, you got a point, but my point was they already popular in Europe when Jim was still working at the Hiene Brothers Coffee Shop down the road from me.  Louisvillians should have had their feelings validated in 2000 if it was based of the band's success elsewhere but it took about three years for Louisville to wake up.  
The only reason I harp on it is because I wonder if this debate (about Louisville's loyalty to MMJ) has anything to do with the fact that they only play here once a year now. :-/

[Chills]

Yeah, you got a point, but my point was they already popular in Europe when Jim was still working at the Hiene Brothers Coffee Shop down the road from me.  Louisvillians should have had their feelings validated in 2000 if it was based of the band's success elsewhere but it took about three years for Louisville to wake up.  
The only reason I harp on it is because I wonder if this debate (about Louisville's loyalty to MMJ) has anything to do with the fact that they only play here once a year now. :-/

That seems very far-fetched. There's such a panic and they have not even announced tour dates yet! Be patient guys, I'm sure they love you all :). By the way, I'd be very happy seeing them once a year. They can't be everywhere all the time...

[corey]

I totally agree with Conaway with the effect that MMJ's succes has had on local bands (Fire the Saddle is great too), but if mmj's success has taught these bands anything it's get out of Louisville in order to find success.

Do you guys know the story of the DBTs? Patterson and Cooley lived here in the Shoals for most of their lives being in various bands. The biggest was Adam's House Cat (which never got a record deal, but came damn close). Apparently no one was coming to see them play when they played in town.
When AHC broke up, Patterson moved to Athens and started the DBTs. Cooley soon followed. They started out playing to 10-15 people at a time as well like all bands do. Only now, instead of calling the Shoals area home, they are known as an Athens band.
Part of the problem now is that there really isn't anywhere for them to play here. The only places to play now are relatively small or to uppity.
So, we missed out. Now I pretty much have to drive somewhere else to see them...

[kymoose]

Well, Louisville is definitely not Austin--but, there are a fair share of great music fans here.  And there are a fair share of MMJ fans here as well.  Name any other band from this area that draws any where close to the crowd that the Jacket does.

And they do have a strong local following going back to the early Darla days.  I tried to go to the Live Lunch performance at Christmas 2002 at WFPK, and the line was down the street and around the corner--at 10:30am.

We're not NYC, but we have a lot of pride.  You can't mess with the Ville--or da Ville.

[EC]

Jim was still working at the Hiene Brothers Coffee Shop down the road from me.

Oh my lord.  I was just there for the third time on Monday.  Weirdio.

Everybody has stupid jobs until they don't have to have stupid jobs anymore.  I love the story of the guy from New York wanting to meet with Belle and Sebastian, but one of the Stewart's was too scared to take a day off work at his job in case he got fired so he couldn't go.

The dude was a dishwasher.

[ycartrob]

you know, my wife and I went to the Headliners show back in  2003, our first visit to Louisville. We loved Bardstown Rd and are looking forward to coming back in 2 weeks. There was a real loyal vibe before the show, we talked to friends of MMJ and Louisvillians, and we just had such a great vibe about it all. Being in Nashville you don't get that much. Nashville can be such a cesspool of commercialized crap and posing, that being in Louisville was a breath of fresh air. (Nashville ain't as cool and hip as some think). So, any hot tips about our second visit to Louisville? We went to Ear Xstacy
and ate at Ramsi's last time. Where should we branch out??

[EC]

you know, my wife and I went to the Headliners show back in æ2003, our first visit to Louisville. We loved Bardstown Rd and are looking forward to coming back in 2 weeks. There was a real loyal vibe before the show, we talked to friends of MMJ and Louisvillians, and we just had such a great vibe about it all. Being in Nashville you don't get that much. Nashville can be such a cesspool of commercialized crap and posing, that being in Louisville was a breath of fresh air. (Nashville ain't as cool and hip as some think). So, any hot tips about our second visit to Louisville? We went to Ear Xstacy
and ate at Ramsi's last time. Where should we branch out??

Whatever you do, do NOT go to 4th Street Live! Ê(Exclamation point theirs.) ÊWe rolled in and asked around as to what the fun part of town was, and that's what we were told. ÊVery not fun.

I loved Bardstown/Baxter road. ÊClose to ear x-tacy there was a little pub that had microbrewed beers and fuck me if I can't remember the name. ÊYou can sit outside there, too. ÊIt was close to a place called Za's if I remember correctly. Êtundra or antoniostrohs can tell you the name of the bar that we went to. ÊIt was really cool - close to the Rudyard Kipling with was 4th and Oak. Ê

There's a nice park close by called Algonquin that we hung out at a bit during the day. ÊThere is a guitar store that is AWESOME. ÊI'm sorry I can't remember names. ÊI've got it all written down in my journal at home.

Basically, I recommend just walking around on Baxter. ÊIt's sexcellent. Ê:)

[kymoose]

EC, the microbrewery that you are referring to is probably Cumberland Brews--it is right down from Ear-X-Tacy on Bardstown Rd.  Anyway--Ycartrob--you hit some good spots in Ramsi's and such.  Bardstown Road (the Highlands) and Frankfort Avenue (Crescent Hill) offer miles of restaurants, bars, music, and art.  If I had to recommend one place--it would definitley be The Outlook.  It's on Baxter (turns into Bardstown Road) right down from Highland Avenue.  Look for the Falls City sign.

Maybee we'll see you at the show on the 30th.  

[EC]

Cumberland Brews

This is the one, moose. Thank you :).

They also have a kickass chicken salad with apples and blue cheese.

[kevinjanes]

Louisville stops in addition to those mentioned:

- Irish Rover on Frankfort Ave. Good Irish pub fare.

- Wick's Pizza on Baxter Ave. Some think it's the best in town, I tend to agree.

- Homemade Ice Crean & Pie Kitchen on Bardstown Rd. For your sweet tooth.

- The WHY Louisville Store. That's What-Have-You Louisville, a boutique of sorts celebrating Louisville-based projects such as Lebowskifest, Louisville Is For Lovers, and others. The Lebowskifest guys are behind this. You'll be able to buy merch and get the scoop on all like-minded current and upcoming projects such as these. The store opens this weekend 06/18, so check it out. On Bardstown Rd. near Cumberland Brews and that whole stretch.
www.whylouisville.com

- Also, come in town the night before the Wilco show. WFPK's Waterfront Wednesday concert is free on the Harbour Lawn at Waterfront Park on Wed. 06/29. Over The Rhine and Louisville's Fire The Saddle perform. Show starts around 5:30pm and goes until dark. It's FREEEEEEE!

- Then of course there's Bob Dylan & Willie Nelson that same night at Slugger Field, but that's 50 bucks...

- Finally, stay in town Friday night 07/01 as well and go downtown for the 1st Friday (of the month) Gallery Hop. The trolleys run all night and drop you off at all the art galleries on Market and Main Streets. It's a good time with typically some great art, maybe some live music, free food, free wine, etc...

[peanut butter puddin surprise]

da Ville.  it's just that awesome.  ;D