Band On The Run...

So, I wrote a post a while ago about the concept of an album changing your life. It was an interesting piece to consider so I have decided to take this a little bit further and talk about the bands that have had an influence on my musical experiences over the years. We all have a favourite band (or group if you like), but why are they your favourites? Have they changed your life completely or do you just buy their albums because you feel obliged to as a fan even though sometimes you may think they may have sold out? Let's ponder those thoughts a little bit.

Bands, bands, bands

I have mentioned my all time favourite band numerous times, but for those of you who don't know it is and always will be Crowded House. As a band they have bubbled under the surface since they formed nearly 30 years ago and it does seem to me that folks are embarrassed to admit that they dig their music. Neil Finn said recently "I have written some good songs. Don't ever apologise to your hip friends for liking them. They'll be singing them in a karaoke bar someday". I would never apologise for the fact Neil has written some down right amazing songs or for the fact that he is my hero. When someone has been in the music business as long as he has (don't forget he joined Split Enz in the late 70s) I think he deserves the utmost respect for his songwriting ability and longevity of his career. The band have been through some changes over the years and we've seen different line ups, but they will always remain in my heart as my all time number 1. Why? Well, because for starters Neil is a true master of his art. I watched him in awe on his solo tour earlier this year commanding the stage (and a rather large stage it was too) while he sat and played the piano completely alone. Not many artists can hold the audience completely spellbound in that way, but Neil does it with ease. One of the many reasons why I will never tire of the music he produces with or without the band.

I have to admit, I now struggle to name a second favourite band as honestly, I like so many others I don't think there is a clear winner. My taste has changed over the years and I'll get into a new band (like recently Alter Bridge) and then immerse myself in their back catalogue (if they have one) and get to grips with their style.

For many years I would always name Barenaked Ladies as my second choice, but now I'm not so sure. They are definitely up there, but I have to admit that after Steven Page left the band my interest faded slightly. His was the voice I tuned into and as much as I love the output from the rest of the band, it was his voice that drew me to them in the first place. Without him it just hasn't been the same. Don't get me wrong, I've still been to see them live without him and thoroughly enjoyed it as they are great performers, but it was just missing that something. His solo work is not too bad, but didn't really set the world on fire, although his album does have some really great tracks on it and I enjoy listening to it when it pops up on my iPod.

Fall Out Boy are another band that feature heavily in my playlists. I got into them when 'Folie A Deux' was released and once again it was the voice of Patrick Stump that hooked me in for the long haul. I was a background fan for many years, liked their stuff, but didn't go overboard with them really. This was until the made their comeback from hiatus and released 'Save Rock and Roll' last year. It was a well received album and they have been on the up ever since winning awards and gaining a whole new fanbase in the process. Interestingly though, just last week I was sent an interview that DJ Annie Mac gave where she informed the public that she couldn't stand FOB and that she actually found them 'offensive'. No idea why she feels this way, and although everyone is of course entitled to their own opinion, to say they are offensive is a bit much. They don't have rude lyrics, swear or degrade people so it's a bit much to state such a fact if you ask me. Anyway, during their enforced break Patrick released a solo album and EP which are both very good. Unfortunately the public didn't seem to agree and the album wasn't met with much success. I've never really understood why it didn't do better than it did as it's actually a really great piece of work. He did absolutely everything himself and you can tell that it's been lovingly put together. I was lucky enough to see Fall Out Boy when they played the Download festival this year and they do give a great show. Let's hope there's more to come from them next year.

Behold, the greatness that is Fall Out Boy

The last post I wrote on this blog was about the return to my youth in the 90s and my continuing love affair with the Bluetones. They therefore have to feature on this list as a band that mean something important to my life. They are nothing if not a quandary for me though. Massive success when they burst into the British charts in the mid 90s, followed by some lows, then success again and finally the sad conclusion that it was all over. I still find this hard to take and feel that perhaps the public weren't paying attention hard enough cos you know what? They were bloody awesome! Lumped in with the whole Britpop scene (which they weren't at all) they hit us with the jangly guitar of the wonderful Adam Devlin and lyrics which were something to behold. I followed them through their career, but was never fortunate enough to see them play live which is something I will always regret bitterly. I have, however been lucky enough to see lead singer and all round top bloke Mark Morriss play his solo material live (and Adam was with him so it was 2 for the price of 1!!) and I am doing so again very soon. Both Mark and Adam are kind enough to put up with my stupid ramblings on Twitter and I feel very privileged to be able to communicate with them both especially as I have been a fan of theirs for nearly 20 years and will continue to be for the foreseeable future (or until they get fed up of me pestering them)...

What platform for the last train to Clarksville guys?

So, who else? Other bands I've followed from the start include Counting Crows, The Gin Blossoms, Hootie and the Blowfish, Ben Folds Five, the list goes on. Lots of American acoustic style rock bands seemed to be my genre of choice in the 90s/00s. From a British point of view I love bands such as Squeeze, Genesis, The Divine Comedy, Teenage Fanclub, The Smiths, Del Amitri and the wonderful Turin Brakes.

It was being a fan of Turin Brakes which earned me some cool points a few years back as a ex mate of mine was trying to appear 'down with the kids' and asked me to name some good music so she could impress her workmates. I reeled off a load of stuff including the aforementioned Brakes and she told me she was greeted with "that's impressive actually, maybe she does know a thing or two". Yes, I certainly do thank you very much indeed.

I'm actually listening to a lot of Turin Brakes at the moment to be honest as their latest album is fab (We Were Here - check it out) and lead singer Olly Knights has a solo album called 'If Not Now When' which he lovingly put together in his own home using a very unique and personal recording style. I watched a documentary on the production of this album and it was a moving and inspirational journey for him and made me consider that perhaps not all music is constructed by faceless producers for the masses. This was a labour of love for him and a legacy that he could be proud of. It made me hopeful for the future of the industry and confirmed to me that there are still musicians out there who care about what they do on a higher level and these are the people we should be following with interest. Watch the documentary below.

I guess there are also the 'classic' bands that most people like (or say they like cos if you don't you appear to be an idiot) like the Beatles, Queen, the Rolling Stones, Led Zepplin etc. I love all of these by the way. We also have to give consideration to other such bands as Guns 'n Roses, Oasis, and even Coldplay and U2. Yes, bloody Coldplay and egomaniacal carnival ride that is U2. People seem to buy their albums and get them to the top of the charts, but whenever I speak to anyone, no-one actually seems to like them! So who is buying their bloody music then?? It can only be because people feel they 'should'. I never buy anything just for the kudos of it. It has to be something I am interested in and enjoy listening to otherwise what's the point? My CD collection is for me and no-one else and I don't feel the need to impress someone with my choices so they'll think that I'm cool. I mean, come on. Everybody already knows that I am...

Anyway, there are are tons and tons of other bands that could be mentioned in this post, but it would then go on forever and I have other things to do. I'm sure you all have your favoutites and that there are reasons why you particularly like them so think about it, chat about it with your friends and keep the conversation going. Or tweet me about it if you want. I'm always up for the debate.

Has Twitter Changed Music?

Many moons ago the way you found out about new artists was by someone recommending them or hearing them on the radio or in a club etc. To be approached by an artist directly was unheard of and was certainly not something that ever happened to me. But now, it's an entirely different story. In the age of social media, artists are using various sites to increase their fan base and also their selling power.

Where you used to listen to the latest music...

But is this a good thing? Does it have the same meaning behind it as in the past or is it just an easy way to gain fans without doing the hard work? Conundrum.

Well, for me, I was always an album buyer, not a singles fan. It was very rare that I bought a single and if I did, it was for a specific reason (cool b-side, limited edition, bonus tracks etc). Usually I would hear the single and decide that it was the entire album for me. My friend Roger is the same. He told me that he bought 'Frampton Comes Alive' because he loved 'Show Me The Way' so much. He was something of a pioneer in his day! But what has this got to do with social media? Okay, I'm getting to that...

Nowadays bands use sites like Facebook and especially Twitter to promote their music to the masses. And the way it's done is very clever. So clever in fact, that it inspired me to write this blog post about it. Come on then, how is it so I hear you ask. Well, here's the thing. Twitter is on its most basic level about how many people follow you and how popular you are. We all want to be popular now don't we? The more followers you have, obviously the most popular you look. So, as an up and coming band you want to have a lot of followers and look popular. What do you do? Start following as many people as possible that's what. In turn they will more than likely follow you back and your numbers will increase.

As an average joe on Twitter there is nothing more rewarding than being followed by a bonafide band, trust me. And what has this to do with singles and albums? Well, bands don't have to have completed an album to start promoting themselves in this day and age. A couple of singles or an EP will do and your on your way. No more waiting for a full album to be available before you can start selling your wares and this in itself means you can have a solid fan-base in advance. Not so good for me and Roger and our album 'issues', but hey-ho!

A little bird told me you like Fall Out Boy...

For me, there's a whole other side to this medium. One that has brought me a lot of enjoyment for a start. I'm talking about the discovery side of this little play. I have been lucky enough to be followed by many, many bands over the last few years. And I have a rule that I use with all of them which is that I do my homework. As a total music geek (my own words), I am nothing if not interested in new music so I will always, and I mean always, go off and listen to anyone that follows me. If I like what I hear I will follow back. It's as simple as that. If I like you a lot, I will recommend you to other people and retweet you. But what comes with this is something that frustrates me each time it happens. These 2 things: 

1) bands that don't wait long enough for me to make a constructive decision and unfollow before I've had a chance to listen to them

2) bands that unfollow you after literally no time at all as they want to find the next bunch of willing participants as you've served your purpose now. See ya...

Not good tactics people. I have unfollowed because of this as I don't take kindly to being messed around. You have been warned!

If it hadn't been for this method, I would not have discovered artists like Elliot Minor and so many more that make such good music. They are using Twitter as a platform to gain new fans and publicise their music which I think can only be good thing. If it opens people up to new things and you get introduced to an artist which changes your life, then it's served it's purpose. 

It also enables fans to get close to their idols in a way that was not possible before. In the good old days if you wanted to get in touch with your hero you had to write off to some obscure PO box address somewhere in the middle of nowhere and hope that the person you were writing to actually got your letter. Chances are they probably didn't, but what else could you do? Meet and greets were rare and the bands stayed very detached from their fans. You saw them live on stage and that was it. Now that has all changed. With so many people on Twitter you have a good chance of actually engaging with your heroes. I know I have. My all time hero is Neil Finn and not only does he follow me on Twitter (I know!), but he has actually replied to my tweets. There is no way that this would never have happened years ago. I do realise that he will still have absolutely no idea who I am, but for me, the fact that he replied and acknowledged my existence means the world to me. Such a small thing that probably took him 2 seconds to write made my day. It's an amazing thing and it is happening more and more. We should think ourselves incredibly lucky.

And then my heart broke

I guess it does depend on who the artist is though. The person I actually joined Twitter to follow does not appear to be someone who really engages with his fans. I'm not sure why, but I don't often see him responding to anyone other than his in-crowd of friends or talking about himself which can be somewhat disappointing. There is so much potential there to connect with people that I think it's a real shame if you decide not to take it. It's entirely up to you of course, and there does needs to be limits as they are (surprisingly) human beings at the end of the day.

I have an endless amount of love for FOB in particular as they do take the time to answer their fans as much as they can. I have only had replies from Patrick, but I treasure each one as he gets so inundated with people tweeting him that it must be like mission impossible to pick which ones to actually reply to. He is a true gent and is regularly online for hours doing Q&A sessions with fans as he appreciates how much it means to us. A small token which is gratefully appreciated. Just remember though, that they real people and they do not owe the fans anything if they do not want to engage. I'm just pointing out that there is a large potential there if they want to go down that route. 

So, has Twitter actually changed music? I think the answer is yes. There is more connection with the artists now, you can discover so many new bands and find unbelievably good music that you would be a fool not to be part of it if you consider yourself to be a music fan. I have made loads of friends online and now have people I can discuss music with which is something I have struggled with in the past. Finding like minded people is such a bonus as they can also introduce you to other fans or artists that you might like. There are also loads of music magazines or record labels with profiles that you can be part of that side of it too. It's a total win-win for everyone. But is it an easy way to gain fans? It can be, but people are so fickle nowadays that you need to do something to gain their interest in the first place and it's not a given that you will be popular from the off. You need to put in the work and be engaging with your fans to make them stay so it's not an easy task.

Anyone reading this who is a music fan and is not on Twitter, I would recommend that you get on there now as you are seriously missing out. Any bands out there who want me to listen to their stuff, hit me up. I might not be a 'proper' journalist, but I am interested in all music and promise to give your tracks a listen. I am now a dedicated fan of Elliot Minor and this is all because they followed me on Twitter. You see, good things do happen so jump right in....

Gig it to me baby....

Bearing in mind music is my hobby and passion, I should really engage with all aspects of the musical experience.  I listen to as much as I can, wear the t-shirts and go to gigs if possible.  I must admit though, I have let the side down this week as I am not going to see FOB when they tour the UK much to my disappointment.  I should really pull my finger out and do it, but sometimes it's just not that easy.

I have been to a lot of concerts over the years, festivals, intimate gigs and all sorts. They are pretty much a crucial part of the fan experience as you are getting something as a one off (unless its recorded of course). It's just you, the band and the other people attending who have participated in this moment.  The banter, the shout outs, the comedy moments that "you had to be there" to appreciate.

I enjoy live music very much and have been lucky enough to see most of my favorite bands and singers in concert.  I've also seen a few that I've never heard of, but enjoyed none the less.  Let's go back in time to my first concert when I was about 11 years old...

The year was 1988 (I think!) and I would have been 11 years old.  My musical hero was Rick Astley and I begged my mum to go and see him live when he played at Wembley Arena.  I can't remember all the details, but we got tickets and I was really excited as it was my first ever concert.  When the day came my dad drove me and my mum to Wembley and we went inside.  We had seats about 6 rows from the front.  As this was over 20 years ago now I can't recall all the details, but I do remember my mum getting quite irate at the girls sitting behind us as they all had whistles round their necks which they proceed to blow throughout the concert!  I have no other recollections of the event, but it would be the first of many outings for me to see live music.

Growing up and living in London was great for music as all the big artists would play somewhere in the capital.  I can't say the same now though as I no longer live in London and this has become is a pet peeve of mine.  Anyway, I went to loads of London venues over the years including Bush Hall in Shepherds Bush, Hammersmith Apollo, Wembley Arena and the Royal Festival Hall.  A lot of the musicians I saw were at the Shepherds Bush Empire which was a great venue. No idea what it's like now though.

One of my old friends had never been to a concert before so I took her with me for her first experience of live music.  It was an amazing double headline at Shepherds Bush of Ben Folds and the Divine Comedy.  It was the perfect gig for her as her first time.  Both acts were excellent and when they did a cover together of 'Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head' with Ben playing guitar and Neil playing piano it was breathtaking. All in all a success!

Over the years I have seen my favourite band, Crowded House, somewhere in the region of 6 times.  Plus solo gigs for Neil Finn and an amazing intimate concert of the Finn Brothers at Union Chapel which is possibly one of the best venues I've ever been to.  The acoustics in the building were amazing. Go and see someone, anyone, there if you can.

I now live in Nottingham and there are some pretty good venues here too.  We have the famous Rock City which has to be seen to be believed!  Sticking to the floor is part of the charm!  We also have the Capital Arena which was the scene of the last gig I went to a few weeks ago.

Stick to the floor for free!

My friend at work was going to see Frank Turner at the arena with her daughter, but said daughter now wanted to bring her boyfriend instead!  Me and another friend said we'd get some tickets too and we could make a night of it.  Of course, being of the slightly older persuasion, we went for seats rather than being thrown around in the mosh pit in front of the stage.  And a good job that was too!!  Now, I didn't know any of Frank's work and had only listened to a few songs on YouTube.  "He reminds me of Billy Bragg" I said and I was kind of correct.  This was a first for me, attending a concert without having any idea of the songs, the type of music or what to expect.  I usually like to do my homework, but on this occasion I was going in blind. 

There were 2 support acts to enjoy first who again I knew nothing about either.  Beans on Toast was the first, and was absolutely brilliant.  Check him out online, he is awesome and a new poet for the generation. Next were Flogging Molly who are an Irish band that certainly got the crowd completely riled up!  There was much dancing in the mosh pit, some of which was extremely energetic and I was very glad to be sitting up in the crowd watching it from above. It was certainly a sight to behold.

And then to the main event - Frank.  Well, what can I say?  He was amazing.  The crowd loved it and I went away as a brand new fan.  It was one of the moments when I was so happy that I took the chance and went otherwise I would have missed a brilliant night. I'm now a Frank convert and follow him on Twitter whilst listening to his CD (well, not quite, but you get the idea) and love his music.  Sometimes taking a chance can bring you a lot of happiness along with something new and great to try out.  This is what music is all about.

Yes, I was there. Where were you??

So, where am I off to next?  Well, 2014 has been christened as the 'Year of Yes' to going to gigs and I have many more to go to this year.  Next I will be seeing Therapy? at Rock City in a few weeks time.  I was not exactly a fan, I like a few songs, but I am going for my sister in law as they are her favourite band.  In the vein of saying 'yes' to new experiences I decided to go along with her and find out why she loves them so much.  I have no idea what to expect, they are nothing if not loud, so I'm kind of a bit nervous about this one. Fingers crossed it turns out to be another excellent night.

What else?  Also coming up this year is my hero Neil Finn in a few months which I am really looking forward to.  I haven't seen him for a few years and he was tweeting recently about doing a 3 hour show if the audience had the stamina!  Should be a great one.

I am also waiting with baited breath for festival tickets to go on sale.  As I said earlier, I am being a bad fan and not going to see Fall Out Boy in concert this week when they play the UK.  But, I am going to make up for it by heading to the Download festival for the day this year to see them play.  They are on the bill along with Linkin Park and it should be a fabulous day.  Just waiting for those tickets to go on sale....

The panic in getting the actual tickets is a big part of gigging aswell.  Waiting for them to go on sale and praying that you get good seats.  Then there's queuing up to get to the front when you are standing.  My Frank Turner pals daughter is a veteran at this.  She queues all day and then rushes to the front to get a good view.  I can see the logic in that, but my lovely Twitter pals have gone one step further and are actually camped outside the venue overnight to ensure they get to the front for FOB.  What crazy and beautiful people they are!  I couldn't do it myself, I mean where would I plug in my laptop??!  I'm kidding of course.

Don't forget to fight over the set list if you can.  I got one once after I saw the High Llamas at the Garage in London, but I gave it to my mate Kev as he liked them more than I did. Small price to pay, but whip it off the stage afterwards if you can as they can be like gold dust.

Grrr! Give me that setlist you git!

There are a few reasons why I'm not going to see FOB live this week.  I am somewhat lame in my moaning as really I only have myself to blame for this one.  They are not playing near to me for a start.  My nearest venue would be Birmingham, which can be done, but I don't drive so it would mean public transport. Again, do-able, but it's on a Sunday night and I have work the next day.  I could take the day off of course and really I am just making excuses for the fact that no-one wanted to come with me.  I should have been brave and gone alone, but really that's just not me.  I like to be part of the group and share it with someone else and doing it alone means I have no-one to experience it with.  I think if they would have played in my home town I would have gone regardless, but not in a city I don't know.  I also think I have at the back of my mind that I have been spoilt by attending an acoustic set they did last year which was amazing, so how can anything ever live up to that?  I should have gone and I shouldn't moan about it, but I am no doubt missing out on a experience that will be amazing. Hopefully there will be a next time.

So, what have we learnt about gigs?  They are unique experiences and hugely rewarding. You get to see your idols perform live, buy some really cool merch, meet like minded fans and have a bit of a dance.  Oh, and pay over the odds for a bottle of pop with no lid on it.  Just saying...

What it feels like for a fan (aka Hi-Fives and Hugs)...

As you may know, I spend an obscene amount of time lurking on Twitter and have been lucky enough to meet some wonderful people on there and make friends in far flung places.  They have welcomed me into their conversations and I now feel like I am part of the FOB fandom.  We are a happy and friendly group of people who care about each other and just love talking about FOB.  It's great.

But this week we saw what I can only call the rudest tweet ever written being directed at one of our hero's, Patrick Stump.  It questioned his loyalty to his fans and basically belittled him into ignoring the fact that he was tired after travelling and leaving his hotel room to go outside and see some so called 'fans'.  No biggie you'd think, but this wasn't a pre-arranged meet and greet.  No, these people had stalked the band to their hotel and decided to wait outside in the hope of seeing them and when this didn't happen, one of them tweeted that he was letting them down by ignoring them.  It made him feel so bad (as he is a sensitive little thing) that he relented and went down to see them.  This act filled a great many of us with anger as we felt that ignorance and rudeness should not be rewarded with kindness. 

The tweet in question has since been deleted from the persons profile it would seem (although I have found it and thought I'd share it below). Thing is, the band don't actually owe us anything.  The fact that they do take the time to meet fans and answer so many tweets on Twitter is amazing in itself, but this display of rudeness was a step too far.  The person responsible then had the cheek to whine that people were being mean to her!  It made me so mad that I ended up insulting a tree, but that's another story....

Anyway, following on from this 'episode', it made me think about what being a music fan actually means.  The person in question is clearly not a fan as you would never in a million years behave in such a manner, especially to your idol.  So I asked my fellow Twitter friends what being a fan it means to them.  

Here is my friend Michelle's take on what being a fan means to her:

"I'm well over 30, and still what many would call a "fangirl".  I listen to my favorite bands (mainly Fall Out Boy & Patrick Stump) over and over again, watch hours of interview footage repeatedly, and read their websites, Facebooks, and Twitters in order to get a feel of the type of people they are and the things that make them tick and inspire them.  I can hardly have a conversation without one of my favorite bands or band members coming up, because they really are that inspirational to me and ingrained in my psyche.

That said, they are human beings with their own lives and the right to live them, and I respect that deeply.  I don't cry and beg for my favorite performers to be on Twitter any more than they themselves would like to, and I don't cry and beg for product from them (new songs, albums, videos, etc.).  

Quite frankly, I'm just overwhelmingly grateful that they exist and are doing what they do at all, not to mention the fact that they would take down the fourth wall and let fans in the way they do now.  I can remember when there was no way to contact your favorite celebrity--they were completely elevated away from us unwashed masses.  You might have been able to send a letter a PO Box in Modesto that might have been cleaned out once a month by a flunky to a secretary to a handler, and said flunky might spend the postage to send you back a generic typed reply, or (s)he might toss it in the garbage, for all you knew.  There was no internet, no Twitter, no Instagram, and certainly no direct replies or reciprocated support or gratitude from your heroes the way there is now.  

Again, though, they are still human beings.  They are not "perf(ect)", they are not ours, they are not commodities or things, and really, neither is their art.  Their craft, their lives, and their persons are THEIRS; they simply CHOOSE to share it with us, and we really ought to be OK with that being on THEIR terms, not ours.  Do be grateful.  Do be happy.  Do be supportive, positive, and kind.  DO BE RESPECTFUL OF THEIR OPINIONS, THEIR PERSONAL SPACE, THEIR WISHES, AND THEIR COMFORT LEVELS.  Do not, under any circumstances, attempt to treat these PEOPLE--that's right, PEOPLE--like they were your property or like they owe you anything.  They don't.  They've already given us more than we could ever ask or hope for, just by being themselves and doing what they do.  Respect that."  Michelle @littlehotmess77

And this is Ashley's thoughts on it:

"Being a fan to me means having respect for personal space and remembering that bands don't owe us anything.  They don't have to come out and meet fans, they choose to out of the kindness of their hearts and it sickens me when fans guilt bands or band members to come out and meet them.  Fans pay to see the show that's it.  Getting to meet your idol is just a bonus.  If you're lucky enough for that to happen and remembering that bands are busy and can't always reply to every single person that tweets them, but they'll certainly try their best so all in all the biggest thing is showing respect for boundaries and personal space." Ashley @ashleyriot

So what do you think it means to be a fan?  I guess it can means different things to different people.  For me, it's about being part of something and supporting the person/s that make me feel happy.  Music for me is a way of life and without it, I don't know what I'd do.  It's more than just a distraction in the background, it's finding something that moves me and makes me think and feel a variety of emotions. 

Especially when attending a concert and having a shared experience that only the other people who were there too will have is amazing.  Like a secret that only you and the band know about, it's mine and no-one elses cos I was there.  You can buy all the albums, the merch, attend all the gigs you want, but if you're just doing it because you think it's what  you should be doing, then you're not really a fan.  You should believe in the people you are listening to and they should mean more to you than just being there for your own disposal.  

They are not ours to dictate to and we shouldn't expect them to be at our beck and call.  Respect pays a big part and we should also respect the views of each other.  What I don't respect is that there are some people, like the person on Twitter, who think they are better than everyone else and who must get what they want.  Do you not think that we would all like a little bit of their time, or a reply to our tweet?  Of course we would, but some of us are polite enough to wait our turn.  And when it happens for our friends, we are pleased for them as we know how long they have waited for this moment.  I am not pleased, however, when I see a 'selfie' that has only been obtained by harassing someone into taking part in it because you made them feel like they owed it to you.  Nice picture, dumbo.

But, I can pretty much say this incident is a one off and I think the reason it made us so annoyed is because we are not like that.  The people I have met and speak to regularly are a lovely group of individuals who are kind and supportive to each other.  We genuinely want to know how each others days are going or like nothing better than to cheer each other up by sending pictures.  And most of all we love the music that unites us and the people that make it.  There are hi-fives and hugs in the fandom and if you come and speak to Michelle, me or any of our Twitter friends then we'll tell you about it! 

The tweet in question - the names have been deleted to protect the idiots...

I haven't slept with someone in Fall Out Boy, so all I've got is this stupid blog to write about them...

So, here's a question.  Should age matter in terms of liking music?  I sometimes feel I am too old for some of the bands I listen to as when I look at the age demographic of fans I'm slightly out of the ball park.  I notice this the most when I'm talking about my 2nd favourite band of all time, Fall Out Boy.

I guess I was a bit late to the party with them and only got into their music about 6 years ago when Folie à Deux was released.  Now, I had heard of them long before, but figured they wouldn't be my cup of tea as they were some emo band for kids.  Cut to me hearing 'I Don't Care' and thinking "man that's a good song" and "that dude has got some amazing voice on him" and so it was decided.  They became my new favourite band and I had to know more about them.

Back catalogue followed and they have remained in the top songs playlist on my iPod ever since.

For me, it was always hearing Patrick's voice that brought me to the band.  I'm a sucker for a good set of pipes and as much as the whole package of a song is important to me, its usually the voice that hooks me in at first.

The band went in hiatus for a few years and I was excited when Patrick released his solo album 'Soul Punk'.  It's a very good album which grows on you over time.  Its very different to FOB and it allowed him to step away from the band and make something completely new sounding.  The end result is an album of songs which are totally him as he did everything on the album himself.  No mean feat.  There are hints of Prince and Michael Jackson in there and the feel is very 80s in places.  In some corners the album didn't go down well which was a real shame.  I for one love it and listen to a lot of the tracks from it most days.  The EP that sits along side the album, 'Truant Wave', is also very different.  I find it very hard to pigeon hole what its meant to be, so I just enjoy it for what it brings.  I think 'Love, Selfish Love' is possibly my favourite solo song of Patrick's.

So, it's been quiet for a few years.  Most people think the band have split up as they are also doing a variety of other things, but this was just an extended break.  2013 rolls around and they finish their hiatus and hit us with 'Save Rock and Roll'.  The first single to be released is 'My Songs Know What You Did in The Dark (Light Em Up)' and it certainly knocked you for six.  A totally new era of the band started and I think actually made them bigger than before.  The videos that have been made to accompany the songs have been nicknamed 'The WFT Chronicles' as they form an ongoing story through the album.  Some people have been a bit critical of the videos, but I think that to be able to put together a series of what are basically mini films that follow through each song on the album is amazing.  I couldn't do it and I'm sure some film-makers would have a job to write a storyboard for an entire album of very different songs and link them all together so give them a break.

The new album took a detour and doesn't sound like old FOB.  I think if fans were expecting to hear Infinity 2 they were in for a surprise.  There are lots of collaborations on this album including Sir Elton John, Foxes and Courtney Love which adds to the feel of a new era of the music.  The comeback was a complete whirlwind and because the sound was new and exciting, a whole new legion of fans have come to the party.  Us oldies are now outnumbered by all the teenagers who want a piece of the FOB action!        

I was extremely lucky earlier this year to win a competition with a radio station to see them (well mainly Patrick) play an intimate set.  I had to travel over 200 miles to get there, but for this once in a lifetime opportunity I think it was a no brainer.  Me and about 15 other people were treated to a 30 minute live set of acoustic songs while standing within touching distance of them.  I think I held my breath the whole time in case I missed something.  When it finished we did hope for a meet and greet with the band, but alas this was not to be.  I did however manage to get a quick handshake from Patrick and a "it was nice to meet you" before they were whisked away.  Looking back on 2013 I think this moment was both my greatest and my biggest regret rolled into one.  I keep thinking "why didn't I say something cool?", but at least I have the memory of this moment to look back on as I grow old.  My heart melts...

Yes, this really did happen.  I was there!

So, does age matter in terms of music?  I'm thinking not really.  I guess being older means I have a larger frame of reference than some people and can see where the links are.  I mean, I have seen 'This is Spinal Tap' so I got why Pete was trapped in a giant pod during a live performance and thought it was hilarious whereas some people thought it was real.  It's just an age thing which totally doesn't matter and I guess this probably meant a lot of new people went away and watched Spinal Tap.  No harm, no foul.

Anyway, why should you like FOB? Patrick actually said "it either appeals to you or it doesn't".  This is very true.  You should like it because it's brilliant music and not because everyone else likes it or because the lead singer is hot.  Have a listen, see what you think and decide how it makes you feel.  If it moves you or helps you reconcile yourself in any way then maybe its for you.  If all you hear are a load of nonsense lyrics and a singer with a loud mouth, then maybe you're listening to the wrong band....