Dave Matthews

i really don't like dave matthews, i don't deny he has talent, but will deny you the belief that it would expand joes fan base in any significant way.  also im not entirely sure on this but i was always under the impression that tim reynolds was not his lead guitarist rather they just toured together now and then.  tim reynolds is really good.  a clip isnt going to sway my opinion that touring with dave matthews would be a waste of time and the only failsafe way to get me to pass on seeing joe next time he comes around.  im not plunking down big name band money for a 40 minute opener set where half the crowd will be talking as that isnt who they came to see.  especially when id probably want to leave before the headliner to beat traffic.

suhl wrote:

i really don't like dave matthews, i don't deny he has talent, but will deny you the belief that it would expand joes fan base in any significant way.  also im not entirely sure on this but i was always under the impression that tim reynolds was not his lead guitarist rather they just toured together now and then.  tim reynolds is really good.  a clip isnt going to sway my opinion that touring with dave matthews would be a waste of time and the only failsafe way to get me to pass on seeing joe next time he comes around.  im not plunking down big name band money for a 40 minute opener set where half the crowd will be talking as that isnt who they came to see.  especially when id probably want to leave before the headliner to beat traffic.

I know we've discussed this before, but William Morris did not ask our help to get Joe invited to open for DM because they thought Joe's existing fans would attend the shows. On the contrary, it was to provide Joe the opportunity to play in front of large crowds of music fans who were unfamiliar with his music. Heck, I wouldn't fight the arena-sized crowds and pay that kind of money to see Joe open for DM either...but that's not what it's about. It about exposing a new demographic to Joe's music. I find it difficult to argue with that logic, but I understand what you're saying!

Deezer wrote:

suhl wrote:

id say in the crowd of any mainstream band a conservative estimate would be saying 95% there haven't heard of him.  tim reynolds is really good.  it would give joe exposure i dont think anything would stick though.  however it couldnt hurt

I would never call Dave's stuff mainstream, he just has a wide fanbase. Big difference. He's said many times that he only gets on the radio when the album's been out for six months and fans call requesting it over and over.

And many of Dave's fans that I know list these artists as some, among others, as their favorites: The Allman Brothers Band, Robert Randolph, Derek Trucks. Nuff said.

and not one mention of joe.  joe is well known for a young blues musician.  i have tried to show him to people into jam bands.  they really appreciated it, then forgot about it the next day.  the bottom line is most people are niche fans not just appreciated good as good regardless of classification.  i didnt mean mainstream as a bad thing.  there was a time when that just meant well known and popular but sadly that goes hand in hand with corporate money driven bs these days.  im not saying dave matthews doesnt have talent or is a hack like a lot of mainstream bands today, that is not my goal here.  i meant mainstream in the literal sense, well known and popular, not in any bad way.  the guy has a ton of musical talent, i find his voice annoying as hell and really think he is better served when people guest on guitar for him.  that is one man's opinion.  i also don't think opening for him would create a new legion of fans.  maybe a handful, that is my guess, then again im not his pr man or anything like that as i said it couldnt hurt.  i have said for some time now i think govt mule is about the most popular band that would have a lot of fans very receptive yet currently ignorant to joes music and i stick by that being the only tour that would make him have a bigger live following unless he starts playing a ton of festivals. 

i am terribly sorry for the novel really i get to typing and stop thinking about it.  inthe future i will try to be more concise.

so in summary my opinion is it wouldn't significantly impact fan base, as such i don't support the idea.  im not going to boycott or anything like that i just don't think anything really would be gained.  i wouldnt blame him for trying to reach a fan base, however i wouldnt go to the show unless he were headlining or opening for a band i cared to see