Free Concert by Popular Band Preceded Obama’s Big Rally

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/robert-knight/2008/05/20/free-concert-popular-band-preceded-obama-s-big-rally ^

[newbie2008]

Seems the fantastic Obama rally was not what the media said it was. I know nothing of such things but what the media failed to say in all this is that much of the crowd was drawn to a free concert by the Decemberists. They are a popular, disgusting Indie band only an Oregonian could love. Known for playing the Soviet National Anthem before their concerts.

What a quaint little story behind the story.

[weegee]

And there were no photos of the concert on the wire services. There seemed to be a media blackout about their participation.

Meanwhile 5-6 times as many people gathered on motorcycles for the Rolling Thunder veterans parade into Washington DC. You’d think that a gathering of that size would get at least as much attention as Obamayomama’s concert (which didn’t seem to draw as many as the Rush Limbaugh bake sale if I recall).

[Cementjungle]

The link to the event on the Decemberist’s web site:

http://www.decemberists.com/news.aspx

[CedarDave]

Previous thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2018898/posts

Also check keyword “Decemberists”

[Blind Eye Jones]

Decemberists, like most rock bands, want to be noticed first and foremost — hence the name. If you listen to the likes of Greenday, rock bands aspire to be dangerous. Dangerous means going against all authority, e.g., parents, church, government, school, etc. But the catch is bands also want to make a lot of money, be adored and buying every frivolous luxury capitalism has to offer. If they lose their cash — actually, that would be dangerous! So they play it safe: they do whatever conventional dangerous thing there is to do as dictated by Hollywood or some other benign authority on being dangerous. Once they have achieved their desired status of “Johnny Dangerous,” they loudly applaud and self congratulate themselves until there is no more flattery to go around. Then it's back to waiting for Hollywood to tell them about the “new” dangerous thing to do. And so it goes.

[trumandogz]

The Decemberists must not be all that popular since when they played Austin lat month they played at a venue that holds around 1000 people.

A super group they are not.

[levotb]

Not even “The Weird One” Alice Cooper (who always tried to look like a Geisha girl in black leather tights) would play the Soviet Union national anthem prior to or during a concert! My, have things changed!

[Mr. Blonde]

Not a fan of The Decemberists, but I do believe I would go to an Obama rally to see some of his other musical supporters. Especially Arcade Fire and Wilco. Sue me...They are both awesome, just not so great at picking candidates.

[aggie21]

And not for the better. It's seems being “anti-American” is popular now. I smell a rat, and he's sitting behind an msn news desk.

[nick of the bad seed]

I have news for you. The Decembrists generally play 1000 to 1500 seat rock clubs or theaters. Additionally, their style hews closest to the folk genre which is hardly a mass audience friendly musical style.

As such, there’s no way they were the primary draw for an Obama rally that drew tens of thousands of people. Leave it to the press to not do their research.

[weegee]

Johnny Cash played Emo’s Austin. At SXSW bands play even smaller venues. Must not be very popular.

“It’s so crowded nobody goes there anymore.” - Yogi Berra.