As for meeting, really I’m the same way about the prospect of meeting Westerberg. On the one hand, I’ve heard enough from others that no matter which way it goes, I figure I might not recover much, as you said about RA. On the other hand, I have met, and on several counts become friendly with, so many artists I just absolutely idolized in college-age years, interaction becomes so everyday and mundane – which is great on many levels, glad to have certain people as friends, but there’s something gone forever once you break thru that wall, I guess. In those cases, I really don’t mind, honestly – but the fangirl in me needs at least one of my idols to stay special, I suppose, so Mr. Westerberg it is.

I met Tommy (Stinson, Replacements bassist) who was just lovely and pleasant so that was enough for me, about as close as I want to get to breaking that wall.

I have more than one friend who knows or has met him; opinions range from “he was a total ass” to “he’s cool, I guess” to “he was so nice!” I imagine just about any human could generate such a range of responses. BUT, to probably prove your point even further…I hope I never meet him. I decided that long ago. I would never recover, and not in a good way, I’m afraid.

Can’t wait to read what’s coming :).

And I even tried to get into Adams after the tantrum performances (Knoxville was the other one) but no dice.

But I think when it comes down to it really my point was that when you have people like me on the edge – someone that might have been swayed in any dozens of live performances that weren’t like the bad ones that have become such legend – doing things to put people off is never in anyone’s best interest. Sure, he might not need my concert ticket or CD buying dollars – but wonder how many thousands of ticket and CD sales have been lost because the behavior kicked people from the “maybe interested” to the “not interested” sector, so to speak.

Good point about Oasis, but I think even that illustrates the point even more. I liked Oasis a great deal to begin with, so I was already interested and already buying their music (never went to a show but would have in a heartbeat) – it didn’t matter whether Liam threw fits or not for me – keywords being “for me”. There’s probably several thousands out there who were on the edge about Oasis, like I was about Adams, who got disinterested quick too for the same reasons.

Since I was on the edge about Adams to begin with, the behavior made me less interested in seeing any shows and digging any further. Which is OK, but I bet his PR and label people have had heart attacks over all that stuff because folks like that know it’s *not* the fans one needs most to win over.

Granted, he doesn’t need my $$ anyway nor do the Gallaghers need the $$ of the ones they put off either, LOL.

That said, I kind of wrote this one because I was thinking about it because of something else I’ve got to post tomorrow, so stay tuned, you might like this one (if they’re not old news to you, probably not tho!).

It’s just that that fella absolutely rips my face off and my heart apart. It’s lyrical, it’s vocal, it’s musical, it’s guttural, it’s visceral–he’s just that for me. He’s not that for everyone. Others are that way for you and they’re not for me.

Incidentally? I was there for the infamous “Summer of ‘69″ incident, and though I was on the other side of the Ryman from the DB that got kicked out, it was obvious that Ryan put up with him way longer than he gets credit for (especially in light of subsequent prima-donna performances, which I’ve been privy to as well, admittedly). And it WAS a phenomenal performance–he was this awe-struck kid, amazed at where he was playing, obviously in the thrall of those who’d gone before him. I still listen to that taping and am just so very thankful I got to witness it, and I am talking about the performance, not the hissyfit, if it must be called that.

And no one who was at either of the two shows he and the Cardinals played in March has described them as anything but top-notch. Yeah, I know some people need perfect consistency…and yeah, it would be nice…but when he’s on, he’s ON (and so is his ridiculously-talented band), and that’s good enough for me.

But, you know, to each his own :).

Aw, you’re going to want to come back tomorrow for sure, I have something on draft that you might be interested in checking out, maybe.

As for the fanboys, meh. Fifteen years in the online trenches of mostly male-dominated fandoms has hardened my heart LOL.

Speaking of PW I’d love to see him again, it’s been far too long (1995 or 1996, I think).

I didn’t know about the Twitter deal, ugh. Some celebs are really great and fun at Twitter and some are doing themselves no favors, but most of the worst cases I’ve seen are actors.

You know that I have quite a few things to say about this, both agreeing and disagreeing with you here. I should probably wait until I stop crying, though.

P.S. RA fanboys are the WORST about trolling, so you’ve opened up a can of worms, just FYI.

What soured me on Ryan was the blogging and the Twittering. Paul smartly keeps his fans at arm’s length, though he does make himself accessible after the show. I met him after his Louisville show, and while I couldn’t exactly call him warm and inviting, he was very gracious and signed autographs for about an hour after the show. I knew from other fans that he’s particularly guarded, but that’s okay.

I said he was impressive (i.e. brilliant) musically – though not my taste. There’s no mistaking he is talented, and if you re-read what I wrote, I said as much.

But I can dislike the fact that he came to Tennessee on at least two occasions and acted like a baby throwing a temper tantrum, which (again) was my point – when I’m not all that interested in one’s music work, antics like that lose my interest 100% (and probably a whole lot of other people’s too). Just because one’s famous doesn’t give one an excuse to act like a prima donna and a spoiled brat.

He did NOT give great performances on at least two occasions in the state of Tennessee and instead acted like a petulant child, and that’s a fact and was witnessed by thousands. So, guess you got lucky.

I’m sorry he had a bad childhood (which was pretty much all we heard about during the penalty phase hearings yesterday), but lots of people have screwed up childhoods and don’t grow up to do anything wrong…. much less something that brutal and horrific.

I hope you guys do make it down soon, will keep an eye out. Can’t believe it’s been over a year already since I last saw you guys.

I will e-mail you soon, promise. Sorry I took so long to respond to this comment here. We’re OK and hope you are too hon. Hugs ‘n luv.

I think they sound really good tho and are worth it – except for the aforementioned still-lousy-volume on PTMM. That was so disappointing.

I think it’s a given the Momster may dig the Paul solo stuff – possibly some of it better than I do. I’ve been a little carefully selective with the ‘Mats tracks tho, don’t think she can handle a lot of it, but I think maybe ASD and DTAS-era, and a few choice chosen others.

PS – I’ve mostly converted my mom, too, at least to Westerberg’s solo stuff. (I wouldn’t call her a full-fledged fan, more “Wester-curious.”)