Cheers
IB

gym = gem.

I was at this show, and I can safely say Hey Battlefield was one of the most boring bands I have ever listened to. Unfortunately, I chose that night to be sober, making it much harder to stay awake during that band’s set.

Of course, I am not surprised that you enjoyed them, considering how they have a bit of a following in NYC, illustrated by almost every girl in the crowd wetting themselves when the band was setting up. There was also a completely wasted guy in flannel who enjoyed them, but he would have enjoyed Weezer’s new album by that point.

Anyhow, I shouldn’t so mean. It’s great that you and others enjoyed them. For their style of music, they played well, and they are obviously talented. (I don’t think I could quite rise them up to the comparison of Waits or Dylan though). If you look at other bands during the night, such as Wolff, they also played well for their genre. To me, Wolff was a mix of electronic, dance, and the National Geographic channel – but again, for that type of experimental music – they were good.

Do you see what I am getting at here? You rag on The Demon Beat for being young, loud, and doing “showy” things like the distortions or teeth-playing. Yet, do you understand that they are rock and roll? Hard rock, if you will? Have you ever listened to something in that genre that is NOT loud? Take an example from The Rolling Stones, The Black Keys, or any rock and roll band you can possibly think of. Rock is LOUD. Rock is PASSIONATE. Rock is even all about “showy” things like playing the guitar with your teeth (something some even consider talented, crazy eh?), using multiple pedal distortions, swinging a bass around, and breaking your drums (which happened if you had stayed for the whole concert – though I am sure that would have made you like them even less). And as for criticizing the band because they are young? Take it from someone who is getting a Masters and has already signed his life away to the working world after graduation – take your youth while you can and run with it, just like The Demon Beat AND your favorite Hey Battlefield seem to be doing.

My point is, don’t diss a band just because you didn’t particularly enjoy their genre of music. At least point that distinction out for your readers.

Oh and as for the following gym:

“Demon Beat will be playing SXSW, proving that SXSW is both eclectic, and can be hit or miss.”

Don’t be an asshole.