Last week, during SxSw in Austin I witnessed a great many bands as I browsed the streets. Literally every bar had a band playing. Some were on stages, some on the floor, a some bands even set up in the middle of the street. I heard over 1,700 bands were crowded in Austin. On a typical tour we play with several different bands from day to day. And if you look on myspace you'll find hundreds of thousands of bands/artists. It makes me wonder what makes a band or artist stick out above the rest.
Some will say its the vocals, others say its about the songs, and there are some who say it's
Speedy loan provider auto loan
comment_body[und][0][value]
JTNL turned me on last night at the Soul Kitchen... damn, i'm glad pam popped for the meet and greet tickets.. lol for about 3 or 4 hours, you guys made a 57 year old man feel 27 again... well, maybe 29.. ... thanks for sharing your time.... and your talent..
Bands stand out for differing reasons. Songwriting, music, style, originality, energy, tenacity, great singing, great musicianship, all these
things have made bands 'stand out'. Sometime, it's all in the timing.
You guys, in my opinion, have all the talent and style you need. I believe
that timing is the last piece of the puzzle. Your time will come.
Jonathan,
Great question, and I'll just start of by saying you guys are on the right track in terms of having a great group of musicians and a recognizable style and sound.
What makes a band stand out is their ability to create music, regardless of genre, that has a great melody, beat and hook. You can get more complicated if you want adding layered harmonies and interesting chord progressions and what not, but keeping it simple and straight forward with an eye on a good hook will get a fans attention evey time.
Other than that, just be patient and keep your eye out for that opportunity to make the break. It's not easy in your businenes, but don't ever give up on it. As young as you are you have the time and energy to make it, and I know you will!
what is messed up is...I did not know until recently that Aldo Nova played guitar on she's a little runaway. I hear it now. side one of Yield was cool. "where will you go" is timeless and (such a cool f'n song). when Pearl Jam did leavin here..
...a band does...
Just raw and out. I've seen The black crowes, ted, okgo, that fray, INXS just did it wherever. Just floored it. Robert Ran. and band
Anything thats has a unique and original sound, it's great for bands to be influenced by other bands, but that originality is what sticks in my mind. I love cruising down the road listening to something that has a distinct sound, something people will hear once and know that they need to hear it again and again.
What turns me on besides seeing Johnathan belt out Devils Basement? It was like watching a young Robert Plant up there. So stage presence definitely turns me on. But after listening to the CD for several months now, several songs turn me on. Devils Basement, Pardon Me, Gypsy Woman and Hot Sake. And I would have to say it's several musical elements. I love the crescendos, sharp notes, minor chords and syncopation. And let's not forget the blues. Any song that has the blues turns me on!
What turns you on? Songs with meaning, Great lyrics, Blues music, Guitars.
What makes a band stand out to you? When an artist or band takes a good or bad experience from their life and puts it into a song that other people can relate to. When they are down to earth, genuine people.
JTNL has all of the above, so you guys have nothing to worry about.
Jonathan, your original love song's like Something in the wind, Time for love, Sunshine, Young Love and the rest of those types are the biggest turn on's music has to offer...After all, Isn't the ultimate true turn on maxed when you're with the one you love....making love, listening to a CD of the utmost soothing relaxing romantic amazing music? That's my opinion hand's down!
its really hard to listen to ANYTHING other than "mannish boy" (muddy w.) once you have reached that level of musical comprehension, what I mean by that is once you realize that muddy w. is heavier than sabbath, has more soul than erykah badu, is more punk than the bad brains, and like you mentioned JT, hangs on to notes and rides them sky-high such as miles in "blue in green," he (muddy) makes it very hard for a listener to desire listening to anything else when he's done yellin' "im a maaaaaaaaaaaaaaan."
with all that said, i search for the approach, the gods honest approach. I really dont give a shit about a player being "in the pocket"... were the dudes in BIOHAZARD always "in the pocket?" hell no, but they sang their hearts out to the world about growing up in brooklyn NY, and the struggle and strife of urban life. NICK DRAKE could play guitar better than most, but instead of setting off the neck like van halen, he stayed with simple progressions and let them drone you into an oblivion of depression, cut straight to your heart. MISSISSIPPI FRED MCDOWELL says he's goin down to the river, and you better fuckin believe he went down to that damn river.
honesty is an overrated way of describing what turns me on.... Its when a musician learns that they have nothing to lose, and nothing to prove.
Your albums are awesome...but live...WOW....after seeing all 3 sets on "the Boat" .......totally blown away.....I was so glad that you did not play during Rock's second show, I did not want to miss any of your sets and you blew the doors off all 3 times .... the passion that you play with is amazing....I could not stand still!! ....thank you!
What leads me in to notice a band is typically a lyric in a song, usually something that I can relate to and that describes my feelings better than I could describe them myself. After I've been drawn in, it's the live performance that really gets me, because (hopefully) it's different than what you've been listening to on the cd or radio or whatever. I love it when you can see and feel that a musician is really getting into what they're playing, and when they get so into it that the energy kind of transfers onto you, and you just get caught in that song and it becomes a part of you, and you're sharing that moment.
True, honest music.... you can feel honesty from a performance, the connection a artist has with its music, which in turn creates a connection with the audience. I like to feel that connection, that energy. Really, there is nothing more powerful. The ability to be a artist and completely draw in your audience isn't something that can be practiced, its pure and simple talent, "oneness with with your music". That honesty forever lives in its fans, and always brings us back to that connection we are all searching for..... your music, specifically makes the world a little less lonely, and that's the power of good music, that friend you can always turn to...
the artist as a person is never the important piece of the puzzle.. the person is only important as a label for naming creative forces that changed with time. frusciante's example: the tree does not express itself by the way it grows branches but nature expresses itself through that tree.
http://www.folkstreams.net/film,122
here is "afro-american work songs in a texas prison." this stands out.
One of my lifelong motto's that I live by is: NO MUSIC NO LIFE-
So turn it up! With that having been said, a song that makes me want to crank up the volume, literally, makes me a fan of that song for life! The music will have had either a sick ass groove that makes me want to dance, to include a slow deep-down-and-dirty blues song, some serious old-school funk, some serious smooth-grooving jazz and/or
some bodymoving good vibes reggae just to name a few examples. The list also includes soul, r&b, rock, country, world, big band, and so on. The instrumental portion of a song will have reached my soul, and the vocals (if any) will have made the hair on my arms stand up! To be perfectly honest, with all that I have just said, in the end, music that turns me on is music that stirs my emotions and catches my attention enough to make me listen to the song in its entirety, like your music has succeeded in doing!
Lol. What?
A Distinctive Voice, guitar that blows your mind instead of melting your brain, the fusion of different genres like soul,blues,prog,rock, the use of a tambourine (for that 60's Cream feel), the use of an organ (for a 70's Deep Purple feel) and drums that make you move instead of overpowering you with intensity, creative effects that make you think "How did they think of that?", lyrics that confuse the mind with profound and strange lyrics (think pink floyd and talking heads), don't focus on love and breakup songs (because no matter how much they connect with people, the do become repetitive and lose their meaning), and finally a name that sticks out; a noun, not a phrase like: "Haste the day" or "the Devil wears prada" or "they might be giants", names that start with "the" or other nouns have proven successful: "The Who", "The Doors","The Byrds", "Eagles", "Foreigner", "The Allman Brothers Band", "THE BAND!", "Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights :-)" My Two Cents
THE "TRUTH" AND 3 CHORDS!! writing songs truthfully, tastefully and delivered with passion are what turn me on...if i can't see, feel or hear the smokey edges of your soul, then i ain't listenin'...
a :o)
I'm not a believer in an ambiguous "x" factor idea per say. But I do think there is a certain energy in music that connects more than others. Not to say that your everyday pop hit has anything more than a catchy hook, but there's something to be said for the universal magnetism of a band like the Beatles. Call it what you will.
I have to believe in the band's authenticity. If it feels contrived or put on in any way I instantly lose interest. There are very few artists out there that bring true conviction to the table. Sure being a virtuoso never hurts but that only holds my interest for a few minutes. There are few players that know the value of finding the right note and hanging on it. For instance Miles Davis on "Kind of Blue". The lyrics are a big part of it too. I want to believe the singer means what he or she's saying. I think about someone like Willie Nelson or Johnny Cash. Their songs are simple, but deep in heart. It's cool to hear a unique or innovative group, but the timeless ones always connect to the heart.
I gotta feel it, the passion, the groove, the love, the story!! The "X" factor is a multiplier for success, the "X" factor comes into play when personalities are such that they draw on each other in a giving nature, reflecting a positive force in the music and band. It is a must for a long time relationship....
Of course you have to have a vocalist and quality musicians are you never leave the piggly wiggly parking lot. I want quality like everyone, but I want more than that as there are thousands of quality musicians out of work!!! Better give it all, every time, and mean it........... and don't forget the folks that love ya, sign there breast, kiss there cousin, have a beer with the owner..... and we love "one more song"
Tough question, sir. This is one every person will answer differently. For me, quality of song along with a vocalist who can make the song work stand out more than anything...but that goes into the band making a song that stands out musically, lyrically, has passion behind it, etc. And after the band makes one song work, they have to try to make another song work, and then another.
I don't want to listen to a band who can only come up with one song that I like. Nor, do I want to listen to a band who comes up with a catchy beat, but can't make the lyrics work, or a band who has a vocalist who can't show me that he/she believes what he is singing.
I've become extremely critical of music lately...maybe too critical. I despise walking down the streets of Danli and hearing "I Gotta Feeling" blaring from one of the shops downtown. Everything here leans toward reggaeton or American pop top 40 music, so when I turn on my IPod, I almost always go to The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's album first and drown everything else out. Then I can breathe again.
quality of song, for me, is easily the biggest factor in a band or artist sticking out. look at the work of KOL- caleb has an incredible voice but its their vocal melodies and harmonies on top of all the simple yet addicting guitar riffs that hit you. it makes for a band you can listen to all day any day. they dont even do anything on stage they just let the music do its thing. "because of the times'' is not even feel good music and it feels real good. thats hard to find and you cant beat it.
For me, it's the talent, the music, and a lot of passion. If I can tell the musician is really into what he or she is doing, then I lock in. It doesn't matter if it's rock, pop, country, blues ... if the artist can make me feel what he feels, he's got a fan.
I will say that it's all of the above and then some. You're right in saying that it will vary because music is both timeless and in the moment. I suppose one way we're able to label certain music/songs great is when they can be both. A personal fave is Soulshine by The Allman Brothers... In many ways it reminds me of the JTNL song Time for Love... it doesn't matter if you're "up" or "down" or somewhere in between... Emotionally you can still connect to the lyrics, vocals, and the musical vibe... Emotional connection makes it in the moment... random shuffling onto my I-pod playlist and not hitting next makes it timeless... but that's just my opinion ;)