Starting a new thread from what has been hinted upon...

If the Features were doomed as a one-hit wonder, what song would be the best for them to shine and burn out on??

Would it be any different from your choice for a single?

I will say Thursday, all the way.
That's different for my choice for a single.

I think I might go with Thursday as well. It has to be something remembered, but doesnt leave you wanting more. Not that Thursday doesn't leave you wanting more but I think it makes an impression but not enough so that youd go buy the cd. If that makes ANY sense..

i think they would strike big with waffle house menu...in a waffle house commercial...forever to be remebered as that band that did that thing.

hmmm. i think that if the features had to have one hit to be remembered by before fading away that i would pick "the way it's meant to be." that song is amazing and would definitely be a "hit." sure, the band would be remembered as "that band who really loves their kids." but hey, i can't think of a cuter way to be remembered. there's certainly no other talented rock bands out there singing songs about babies....so, if nothing else, that would get them remembered.

of course this is not the same as my single choice either, which remains "circus."

That's the way it's meant to be.

or Bring On The Night

Think about the prospects of every prom in the entire nation having that as their theme... Bring On The Night... kids everywhere will be laid as a result of that song. hahaha

I'll go with Thursday.

I like Idea of Growing Old for two reasons. I can see that becoming many couple's designated song, which means it would stay around for a while-in some form or another. It also has a good mixture of great lyrics, softer music and yet it still rocks out a little too...

leave it all behind wouldn't be bad.
but don't worry, gang. as has been the trend with the "return of rock" bands, you get one big single, then continue building your following regardless of radio/mtv play. if the features continue making great music, they'll have a wonderful career ahead of them.

(Edited by DavidWatts at 1:24 am on May. 7, 2003)

In all of the talk of major label deals and recent optimism for the Features, I have forgotten my long-standing hope for them.

I think I want them to be a one-hit wonder band.

Think of the Flaming Lips:
They gathered a huge following in 95 with She Don't Use Jelly, a somewhat non-representative song of their sound. This gave them a boost in following and enough exposure to get them recognition all over the world.
It gave them the credibility to create experiments like Zaireeka. It gave them the money to creatively build without having to tour all the time. They created their best albums since then, starting with Clouds Taste Metallic.
They bipassed the stadium/arena-sized venues.

Come to think of it, with all the problems facing the bigger acts and the doom of VH1 Behind the Music type stuff, it would perhaps be a way to expose them for the masses and protect their credibility.

I think my ideal for Features success would be the success that The Shins have had. Radio play on college stations across the country, their videos played on MTV2, their songs featured on television, but they are still credible and not in the risk of over exposure that threatened the Strokes and the White Stripes in 2002. Really, I think it would be cool if the Features could just build a fan base that equals their TN fan base in all 50 states...in other words, I never want the Features to play Starwood.

Mine would have to involve them getting stinking filthy rich. No other musicians deserve it more.

Oh, and I would like them to be remembered by Leave it All Behind.

(Edited by carligula at 2:59 pm on May. 7, 2003)

Yes, they do deserve it. Matt definitely needs a gold tub and Rollum has to get his own personal arcade installed in his garage.

Really though, my ideal for Features success is whatever they want. If they want to become Rolling Stones-huge, then I hope it happens for them. As long as all of us MB members get VIP seats at Gaylord...

i want smee to get a big-huge-fat-enormous diamond, jlo style. maybe thats asking for too much though...

My other wish for them would be that they get back on drugs and start writing trippy songs again.

off subject a bit, i think that a cartoon video could attract the kind of little kid weezer fans that i despise.

I hate those little punk-asses. They all look the same and they dress terribly. However, as Brother Love so aptly says, "It let's us know who's with us...and who's against us."

very true......but back to the topic, i dont want to think of the band as "one-hit wonders", so i refuse to add anything of importance to this topic.

Well, I don't think that any of us do... it's just hypothetical...

I would much rather their following be based in the underground. I've thought more about it lately, and though I'd like for their music to be available in all record stores, I hope they bipass super stardom altogether.

I agree. They just wouldn't have the same personal feel if they were playing in big venues.

I would argue that we wouldn't like them so much if we hadn't seen them so often in concert.

it would suck to have to keep a crowd of thousands from making their way to the front of the stage...

Yes, think of the blockade we'd have to create THEN.

I don't know. It's a hard call to make.

Is it better to be able to say, "Yeah, I was a fan when they played to a crowd of 12," when they have gained mega-popularity, or is it better to actually be able to see them in small venues for many years to come, the earlier boast meaning nothing to most people you would meet?

we could do it.

i would rather be able to keep seeing them in small venues. you might not get to boast that you knew them when they were little but its sorta like boasting when you turn people on to them.

you could still say "i saw them way back in the day in (insert year you started attending shows here)"

Read "Talk About the Passion." It's a bunch of people from REM's really early days reflecting on what it was all like. I read that book in 95 or so and thought it'd be really cool to follow a band like that on its way to huge things. The Features are my best shot at that.

True, and that's better.

Chances are, if the Features started having shows at Amsouth or whatever, I would not go. It just wouldn't be the same. Plus, it would be expensive and crowded. Yuck.

(Edited by Token at 10:03 pm on May. 12, 2003)

This is actually quite sad, or is it laughable? I only hope for the greatest possible success for these guys. It would be great to think they would never again have to worry about money, making a great living doing what they love, as long as it makes them happy. If that means they play only big venues, so be it. I'm sorry if that means they'll exceed whatever limitations you wish to put on them.

Well, I don't think any of us would want to or be able to limit The Features' success or happiness.

I think most of the feelings expressed above are akin to getting to play in a brand new, unadulterated Disney World just before it is opened to the rest of the world. Sure, you want everyone else to experience the joy and magic just as you have. Sure, you want the creators to profit. But do you really want to share this awesome place with thousands upon thousands of other people? No way!

Wherever the Features go (or don't go), I bet that most of the members of this board will be behind them 300%.

As a mega-fan of theirs, I should think I could have a say in what determines their happiness.

In what way would you have a say? That you wouldn't buy tickets or CDs if they were playing the AmSouth's of the world? Or that you would voice your objections to reaching these levels to them personally? I'm curious...

And I understand everyone here will support the band, but this just reeks of elitism. But you guys are part of the original core of fans of this band and I imagine similar sentiments were felt in the camps of every other band that made it big.

Hmm....I will love this band no matter what. If they get super huge, you can bet I will brag and name drop to new fans. If they never get above playing clubs, you can bet I will brag about being a fan for so-and-so years. The point being, I will be there no matter what kind of success they achieve.

Of course, there is nothing like playing the Features for someone and having them go "wow, I want to worship that."

i got my first bad remark EVER about the features the other day. everyone else has AT LEAST been like "hey they are pretty good" but this dude was talking about the vandy show and was like "yeah man the features sucked" i was like "excuuuse me??" and demanded his reasoning behind it. he said they were "too loud" and that "the drummer kept hitting the cymbals too much". mmmhmmm. he was really trashed anyways so i think he didnt know what he was talking about and just wanted to piss me off. well. it worked.

I'm battling a swarm of horseflies in my kitchen. Maybe I'm really wishing I had all the money in the world and could elevate myself out of this place.

I'm kidding about my stake in their happiness. I also reek of elitism.

I'll also tag Digsy's comment to say that I can't promise I'll love them forever. (If I got tired of REM, then anything can happen)

Then I'll finally turn this topic toward horseflies. Man they suck. They leave a huge mark on you if they bit. What are some other insects that bite instead of sting? I wonder which there are more of, biters or stingers...

spiders bite. i belive fire ants bite..?

that's odd... there's only been one person i know to speak ill of the features as well, and that was before i'd ever heard them... (he was trying to convince me that i shouldn't go to the show and should instead eat pasta.) But since, anyone i've mentioned the features to or played the features for has been impressed.

Hmmm...interesting topic...and definitely reeks of elitism!

Here's my two cents. It makes me sick when I hear long-time fans of a band bitching about how much popular success that "their" band has had and how awful it is that they have to share their band with so many morons these days. Nothing sounds more pathetic to me. And if you think about it, nothing sounds more selfish. But I guess it really is just another result of the human ego.

i've created a monster!

I agree... but if a band takes their music in a new direction and people (who liked them before) don't like it, fine... weezer for instance. I don't like new weezer at all. Blue Album and Pinkerton were it for me. It's not because of the fans, although i despise a lot of the kiddies. so i guess i'm saying i'm elitist but not making you sick.

what's really bad is when people refuse to listen to the older stuff after the band has switched their style up, or refusing to listen to the new stuff because of reports of selling out...

I couldn't have said it any better. Although I tried.

or when people stop liking "indie" bands when they go major, like built to spill and modest mouse. "perfect from now on," in all of its brillance, couldn't have gotten made on an Up Records budget. built to spill had enough sense to spend their money on better recording equipment instead of on hoes and drugs (though i will not say the same for elliott smith or modest mouse).

Very sad! Hordes of trendy youngsters or a crappy huge venue would never stop me from seeing the Features. Neither would a huge ticket price (take note, Rory). Perhaps you should move to Timbuktu as I have and realize the huge void that is left in your life where the Features should be. Then you might be willing to sacrifice your first born, if that's what it takes.

I'm not too sure if Matt would be happy about that.

(Edited by Sexy Sadie at 2:41 pm on May. 13, 2003)

Yes, maybe moving to Timbuktu would help me appreciate the ease with which I can see the Features now. I know that we in the Nashville/Murfreesboro area are spoiled.

However, I have let things in the past (time, distance, bedtime, tiredness) stop me from seeing the Features, so I would be lying if I said nothing could deter me from going to see them.

(Edited by Token at 5:19 pm on May. 13, 2003)

Very well said token... in fact, thats exactly how i feel as well. The band deserves every bit of every good thing thrown their way. I hope they make it big, make a ton of $$$, and have a bigger following than the beatles. However... i can't imagine not being able to see them monthly at places like slow bar and the red rose. And as awesome as it would be, there is no way we're gonna have the best of both worlds.

Maybe they could hold real "secret shows" every so often at local spots. That way "the originals" could still feel elite and then could go brag about it to all the newbies..... i know i'd be happy with that

ohh, by the way... Suckers should definately be added to the bug list...

i do want whats best for the boys but i just tend to get really possesive over bands. as long as they are happy with what they are doing, whether that be livin the pimped out super stardom life or playin local gigs for us devout follwers. although id like the latter more, i would still go see them if they were rockin amsouth.

maybe they will get just the right amount of fame and everyone will be happy.

even though crowds ruin almost every show i see, i would go to amsouth to see the features. it would just be so surreal that i think i might like it.

If The Features went to Gaylord, I would be there.

Yeah, I've been thinking about this some more. I said I wouldn't go to some huge venue, but that's probably not true. If The Features had a gig at Amsouth or what not, chances are I would go just out of excitement and to support them. As stopforme said, it would be pretty surreal.

I guess the point is that I don't think I'd enjoy such a show as much as a smaller gig.