Blogs

« April 2005  | Main  | June 2005 »

SURS: making bands suck since 2004!

Posted on May 26, 2005 at 04:34 PM

We get a lot of interesting mail, as you've seen on this here Viewer Mail Week. Some of it is laudatory. Some of it is hateful. And some of it is just woefully misguided. Such as this note, from someone called Angela (who, based on her email addy, loves Ashton):

Oy. Where to start? I'd begin with how fed up I am of the small-minded use of "gay" as an all-purpose put-down, but I'll save that for another post.

I've got to say that I do sympathize to an extent. I've been following the "underground" music scene since I was in junior high (a long, long time ago), and I've seen bands that I saw when they were playing to rooms of 10 or 15 people move up to the level of playing rooms of 2000+ people. And it's sort of disappointing, but at the same time, how could I not be ecstatic for those artists to have reached a point in their career where they're no longer STARVING artists? I hear where you're coming from, but like I said, the overall point of the letter, IMHO, is misguided. Here are a few thoughts, laid out numerically...

1. SURS/FUSE DO NOT AND CANNOT MAKE BANDS SUCK. Bands are either good or bad or average based on their own abilities and the listeners' own sensibilities. Until the day that someone from SURS plays on or sings on a record, you can't blame us for the quality of the music.

2. The point about Taking Back Sunday doesn't make any sense to me. You say that they think more about popularity than about music? I beg to differ. I think if it was a valid point, perhaps an example would've been raised. If they were indeed your favorite band, then I can't fathom why you would abandon them just because they start getting more exposure!

3. It seems to me that your anger is not with the bands, but with the people you don't like who happened to have "discovered" bands that you "discovered" before they did. Understandable...but none of us maintain ownership on the music we love. Music is for EVERYONE. And yes, some real jackasses get turned on to bands that we love and then attend their shows and make...well, jackasses of themselves there. But that's not the bands' fault now, is it? Nope. It's the jackasses' fault. The quality of the music doesn't change because people you find unsavory are now listening to it.

4. If you start dissing a band because they become more popular, then it seems that you never really were a fan of that band. That's a snobbish attitude that is counter-intuitive to the love of music. EVERY band you love was loved by SOMEONE ELSE FIRST. I guarantee it.

5. If one actually cares about these musicians as people, they wouldn't begrudge them making a living from their art. If nobody buys a bands' records or goes to their shows except a few select elitists, then they won't be able to put clothes on their backs or food in their faces, let alone guitars on their backs and microphones in their faces. Success only encourages them to continue making the music we love.

In short, if we truly love the music, then we unfortunately have to put up with the idiots who end up finding it after we've already jumped on the bandwagon. Chances are, they're only along for the ride temporarily anyway. But leaving 'em because of something not actually related to the music is far from loving 'em. Open your heart, try to have patience, and just keep on rocking!

That's my thoughts on this topic for now. But stay tuned. This peeved gay dude will address that whole gay-as-an-insult thing really soon!

Cheers,
ProBRUCEr

Read Comments (74)  | Add Comment  | Permalink

49 minutes well spent!

Posted on May 24, 2005 at 10:02 AM

Happy Viewer Mail Week!

We love hearing from everyone out there who receives our signals over the air, as evidenced by this week of shows dedicated entirely to your comments, questions, and insults! Some of your comments were just too much to fit into your little TV window, but that doesn't mean we can't still give them some love and exposure! This one is one of my favorites, because of both the content and the thought, effort, and time (almost a full hour!) that went into composing it! Here is the unexpurgated letter we got in April from Ethan H:

    its now 3:51 in the morning when I'm writing this. I just got on the
site and looked over and it said "Steven's Untitled Rock show" so i
clicked it. And by the way it was pissing me off trying to get to this
site, because i type in "www.fuse.com"; thinking it will bring me there.
but it didn't so i type in "www.fusetv.com"; and it brought me to some
genital harpies website or some dating hotline (i didn't care to find
out i clicked out of that shit) and there was another weird web site i
went on trying to get to this one... but i forgot when i was writing so
whatever assembly line machine, cubical worker, or underpaid middle age
man is reading this letter will just have to live without knowing. but
back on to why i was writing... when i got to "Steven's Untitled Rock
show" i noticed that there was a little place were i could send a
comment or letter(looks so far that im sending you more of a short
story). so i decided to myself "Ethan" (yes i sometimes do refer to
myself in the 3rd person)" we should send a letter to "Steven's
Untitled Rock show" so that we can tell them what we think of it" so i
did and now i am... yea.

    its now 4:08 in the morning. If this ever gets to steven then i would
like to say that he is very awesome, bad ass, super cool, hilarious and
so on. he is doing a great job who ever is his boss well i think you
should give him a bones. and as for fuse its self i have a few
suggestions. not that I'm a doctor in the subject of music or some shit
but yea im a fucking surgeon when it comes to entertainment. okay,
"uranium" thats a cool metal show if your into that kind of music but i
mean (i don't remember that host girls name but ill just call her
"girl") she needs to tone it down! she runs around talking about sex
positions and shit. i mean its like the bondage version of simple life
which i think they should change that shows title to " no life at all".
i mean if i just wonted to hear about sex i would just watch porn or
just go spank the monkey. And that show "metal makeover" i think is
just a complete WAIST OF TIME!!! its 3 girls walking around making
complete retards look like complete idiots. And after i watched the
show i was a mixture of pissed off, annoyed, and started punching my
wall and yelling!

    its now 4:27 in the morning. well now I'm gonna say some compliments
and some suggestions. As for "Steven's Untitled Rock show" i thinks
thats just awesome caz its all rock and no sex talking bondage girl and
hip hop artistes waving there arms around. but i don't think you should
change the title. i think it should stay "Steven's Untitled Rock show"
i mean there isn't really another show out there thats sounds like it.

    its now 4:33 in the morning. i am gonna go now caz I'm gonna ether
heat up some pop corn and start up a Quentin Tarentino movie, or go to
sleep and do that when i wake up at 1:30 in the afternoon (thats how
early i usually wake up). so good bye steven and fuse tv... you should
most definitely air my letter caz I'm such a awesome guy and you all
down there are so nice!

                                     -ethan, the biggest pimp you will ever meet!

Ps: it is now 4:40

Well, Ethan, on behalf of the SURS team, this underpaid not-yet middle aged cubicle worker says "Thanks for watching, and thanks for rocking!" Your opinions, insights, and laughs are much appreciated!

And to everyone else out there: you're always welcome to send us your OWN thoughts, suggestions, comments, requests, insults, and whatever else you want (but no chain letters or forwards of forwards of forwards) at stevensshow@fuse.tv!

Read Comments (6)  | Add Comment  | Permalink

V.M.V + A.R.W = T.L.C.

Posted on May 23, 2005 at 12:52 PM

Much like flowers & rain, peanut butter & jelly and Romeo & Juliet, Steven’s Untitled Rock Show loves and cherishes you, our beautiful, handsome and faithful viewers… But we do know that sometimes even in the best relationships one party can start to feel under appreciated.  We never want that to be the case, so to prove that we’ll love you forever (not just tonight) we’re dedicating two, yes TWO weeks of SURS to you, you, and yes, even you.   Starting tonight Steven will be reading your comments, suggestions, requests and even insults in the second round of Viewer Mail Week.  And the love doesn’t stop there.  Next week, the show will be programmed entirely by you, as All-Request Week features videos chosen completely by your emails.  Pay close attention too, because you might just get a personal name check.  Now how about that for some tender lovin' care?!?

Over the course of these two weeks, you are guaranteed to see videos from (drum roll please)…

Fall Out Boy, Blink 182, Saosin, The Used, Green Day, Saves the Day, Coheed and Cambria, Straylight Run, The Get Up Kids, Blur, The Strokes, This Day & Age, Tsunami Bomb, Relient K, Eisley, Strike Anywhere, Jimmy Eat World, The Smiths, My Chemical Romance, AFI, The Explosion, Weezer, Bad Religion, Taking Back Sunday, Rise Against, Faith No More, Head Automatica, Hawthorne Heights, Armor For Sleep, Alkaline Trio, The Movielife, The Honorary Title, Joy Division, Senses Fail, Millencolin, Reggie and the Full Effect, Black Flag, The Loved Ones, NOFX, The Start, The Matches, Motion City Soundtrack, Depeche Mode, A Static Lullaby, Thursday, Matchbook Romance, Thrice, Spitalfield, Underoath, The Promise Ring, Glassjaw, Billy Talent, Emanuel, Unwritten Law, The F-Ups, The Plain White T’s, Acceptance, Dinosaur Jr., Rufio, Hidden In Plain View, Hot Water Music, Damone and The Ramones.

Are you stoked yet?!? We are! So tune in every weekday at 10p.m. and 4p.m. to feel the love and watch the best videos this side of the Atlantic. 

Read Comments (20)  | Add Comment  | Permalink

TONIGHT WE BAMBOOZE

Posted on May 19, 2005 at 06:40 PM

From the rooftops of Convention Hall in Asbury Park, New Jersey.  You can see all types of crap from up there.  (Literally.  It's Asbury Park.  It needs help.)  Sometimes you can see really funny stuff, stuff like, oh I don't know, a locksmith driving an ambulance helping Alkaline Trio break into their tour bus.   But that's not what you're going to see on the show tonight.  You'll see some pretty bitchen videos as wells as cool interviews, but here you'll get some pictures.  For those of you playing the home game and have read the previous postings you'll be pleased to know I charged my camera's battery.  I'm smart like that.

My Chem.  Oh Chem, My Chem.  How much have we talked?  What more can we discuss?  I mean, we've covered Warpred, comic books, recording, videos, song-writing?  Well, you'll just have to watch and see.  I'm the one in the hat.

Armor For Sleep.  I usually just wear boxers, unless it's cold, then I have an electric blanket.  These guys were very nice, soft-spoken, fine hair-dos, good guys.  Sadly, none of the pictures we took came out.  Sucks but check them out on tonight's show.  Fun stuff.

This Day & Age.  Fall into the battery not-charged category.  I sound like a broken record.  Also, cool guys.  Watch.

And now the Bouncing Souls.  This was a big deal.  For all of us as the Bouncing Souls do not, nor have ever (to my knowledge,) submitted their videos or been interviewed on the other (read lesser) music channel.  So, as we've played a couple and here I was talking to them, this was pretty cool. 

Tomorrow - more fun stuff.  Some pics of the All-American Rejects (less hairspray by the way,) photos of my interview with the Loved Ones as well as some concert pics and more all-around rock and roll action.  You know how we do. 

until then and always...

Read Comments (27)  | Add Comment  | Permalink

You've been BAMBOOZLED

Posted on May 18, 2005 at 02:55 PM

Kinda sorta.  I know I've been posting some pics of artists I spoke with at the Bamboozle but for tonight's episode, well, my camera battery had died so no pics.  All apologies. 

If you want some stills though, just hit pause on your DVR.  If you don't have a DVR, get one, they are a life altering device. 

Until then and always...

Read Comments (11)  | Add Comment  | Permalink

To take in by elaborate methods of deceit; hoodwink.

Posted on May 17, 2005 at 09:22 PM

For those of you taking the SAT's that's the definition of one the major vocab words.  If you can't guess what, then might I direct your attention to the name of the festival we at SURS covered for you rock enjoyment:  The Bamboozle.  (Trust me on the SAT thing, I got a perfect 1600 on them - if you count all four times I took them.)

Last night (or this afternoon's show depending on when you were watching) was a smashing success and I know you all checked out this here blog for more in-depth stills.  Hey here's one for our second Bamboozle episode:  

HEY LOOK IT'S A STATIC LULLABY!  Now when you see the interview portions with these fine young cannibals please bear in mind, they are insane. 

GOOD HEAVENS HERE COMES ANOTHER PICTURE!!!

It's our new friends Number One Fan.  They play Epiphone guitars!  It's true, they'll tell you about them in the interview.  Guitars are good my friends.

Now there are interviews with two other great bands on our second Bamboozle (aka Bamboozle 2:  Electric Boogaloo) but my camera decided to die, the battery rather.  You'll find this consistent with many other artists I spoke too so you'll just have to watch the shows to see them.  My apologies to Saosin and Emanuel.  I'm sure you look good in digital photos, we just didn't get any.  Oh, and it's pronounced SAY-OH-SIN.  Not SAY-OCEAN.  Straight from the band's mouth. 

more tomorrow.  Except pictures.  Cursed battery.  There will be more though.  OH, there will be. 

Until then and always...I'm Ansel Adams. 

Read Comments (4)  | Add Comment  | Permalink

BAMBOOZILLA

Posted on May 16, 2005 at 05:08 PM

Tonight's show will depict a rare interview with Finch.  Rare because I haven't interviewed the boys since they were on our pre-Daily Download show IMX.  For those of you who remember I was doped up on cough syrup and called the band Fish.  Uber-professional am I.  Luckily for me they remembered and joined me for a moment of prayer.  Sidebar:  A Finch is a bird, not a fish.  I knew that too.

Moving on.  Our good friends Motion City Soundtrack.  Love these guys.  They were fun when we chatted at the Epitaph Tour, they be jammin' fun at the Bamboozle.  We spoke of many things, none of which were my hair, which is fine because their hair is everywhere. 

Relient K.  Nice guys.  A bird almost pooped on us which is when we learned that birds poop and pee all in one fell swoop.  Smart guys those Relient K'ers.  We informed them as we do all our bands on our out-of-studio shoots, it's okay to swear, we'll bleep it out.  Relient K in formed us, they do not use any bleep words though we did learn a wonderful story about a porta-potty and a mountain of dung.  Those guys. 

And now welcome to my Nightmare of You.  This interview in particular took some to set up as were out on the rocks behind the venue.  Cold too.  I saw these guys a million years ago, at their first show I believe in Long Island.  Them I liked.  Long Island?  Never been back.  I'm sure it misses me.   

Read Comments (10)  | Add Comment  | Permalink

FREE REGGIE!

Posted on May 16, 2005 at 10:11 AM

Not "Free Reggie" like he's being held political prisoner somewhere...FREE Reggie, as in your very own complimentary copy of the new Reggie & The Full Effect single "Get Well Soon!"

None of us at Fuse can get enough of the video, and now the folks at Vagrant Records have invited us to share the MP3 with all of you! Just head on over to fuse.tv/steven and scroll all the way down under "Coming Up..." Click the link, and the track is all yours, with no limits or restrictions!

What can we say? We live to give!

Read Comments (5)  | Add Comment  | Permalink

Oodles of Bamboozle!

Posted on May 13, 2005 at 11:05 AM

We're almost done cutting together our episodes from The Bamboozle Festival, which premiere every night at 10p.m. ET (7p.m. PT) next week, but until then, we've got a little teaser for you: our online Bamboozle feature, packed with extras!

Just click the Bamboozle link at fuse.tv/steven to find our air schedule for the special week of Steven's Untitled Rock Show from the fest at the Jersey shore, PLUS exclusive interview clips with:

• A STATIC LULLABY
• THE STARTING LINE
• THIS DAY & AGE
• CHRIS CARRABBA
• MAE
• BOUNCING SOULS
• SAOSIN
• MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE
• MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK
• EMANUEL
• THE EXPLOSION
• THE LOVED ONES
• ARMOR FOR SLEEP

Plus, throughout the week, Steven will be posting his digital pics from the festival right here at The Untitled Rock Blog, so keep coming back and keep tuning in!

Read Comments (8)  | Add Comment  | Permalink

Have we heard from you lately?

Posted on May 12, 2005 at 03:46 PM

As we've been telling you on air, our second Viewer Mail Week is coming up later this month on the Rock Show. If you've never sent us your comments, feedback, opinions, observations, questions, insults, requests, and/or funny jokes, then there's no time like the present!

Drop us a line at stevensshow@fuse.tv and share your thoughts about the show, the guests, the host, the website, the "new" title, the blog--whatever the heck you want to talk about! Send 'em along, and we just might read some of YOUR comments on air!

Read Comments (6)  | Add Comment  | Permalink

« April 2005  | Main  | June 2005 »