something to talk about
I’m not thinking about music right now, I’m thinking about discussions going around (again) about whether a negative AI stigma is still hanging on Hicks, and whether the “soul patrol” label is a reminder of that connection. Fans have been talking about this long and hard behind closed doors, both those who consider themselves part of the patrol, and those, like me, who aren’t down with the label. I wonder what non or new fans (or for that matter, pre-AI fans) think of when they hear “soul patrol”?
In any case, looking at last night’s set list, I thought this was a fitting backdrop for thinking about the fact that our conjurrings and incantations don’t always hit everybody the same way. If you’re mojo’s not working, baby, just what are you going to do?
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=FhTCYqJsfqs]
That’s what I’m thinking about. What about you?
categories: open discussion
posted by what at 12:44 pm
The real question is NOT what we fans think of the term Soul Patrol, but what Taylor thinks of the term Soul Patrol. I don’t know the answer, but he certainly in no way tries to stifle its usage nor does he seem to cringe in fear if the term is uttered. From seeing him in many concerts and on many interviews, it seems that he almost encourages it by using the term Soul Patrol himself. Afterall, Taylor’s fans , whatever they are called will conjure up an image to those who dislike Taylor’s music or the man himself. Does it really matter and isn’t it better to be collectively identified than to be just scattered fans aimlessly devoted without a banner under which to congregate.
Taylor will always be the American Idol winner.
Time is a great healer and with time and continued exposure Taylor and his fans will be able to escape the umbrella of AI and of the term Soul Patrol……… that is if either of them choose to ; that is the crux of the matter.
I’m also in the camp of not digging the Soul Patrol moniker. Hicks continues to use the shout out which originated on ‘that show’ which drove fans to the phone lines to vote each week. But that’s done now, he won. Time to move on.
‘That show’ was a means to an end. It is not what he is.
He’s at a crossroads and needs to make a decision…find a way to keep current fans and also welcome new fans who enjoy the musician and entertainer but abhor the term ‘Soul Patrol’.
Two different but interesting points of view. Maybe Taylor can shout “soul patrol” in a different sounds frequency — only self-selected SP’ers can hear it. Hmm. That won’t work, so Taylor does need to make a choice at some point.
I at times have a negative connotation of the term “Soul Patrol”. I like the Dead but I don’t consider myself a “Dead Head”. Can’t speak on Jimmy Buffet’s “Parrot Heads” his music doesn’t do anything for me. I don’t consider myself part of the “Soul Patrol” either.
The negative connotation may come from what I have read on other
message boards and blogs. I think sometimes they are at the point
of being ridiculous.
I believe HIcks is in a position where he can’t let the term “Soul Patrol” go. If he does he will lose some if not a lot of fans on those ridiculous message boards and blogs.
IMO
Yes there are many people who have shut their minds on
Taylor HIcks including my radio station air staff. Because
he was on American Idol and they don’t take American Idol
contestants seriously. i was told that by one of the morning
DJs. They did interview Hicks earlier this year but they
never kept the audio file as they do other musicians
they interview. Some how I think that was set up by
Hicks’ PR company and the radio station didn’t seek it
out.
I would have never known about Taylor Hicks
if I had not been held hostage by a relative and
forced to watch American Idol. Reality TV is not
my thing.
Whether or not Taylor keeps the term “Soul Patrol”, I don’t feel that will keep people from talking down Taylor or the Soul Patrol. People already have an image of his fan club and Taylor himself. It seems that Taylor likes the name. He has said that he always wanted a fan group on the likes of the Dead Heads, Parrot Heads, etc. Only time and Taylor’s future recordings will finally make the stigma of AI go away, if it ever does.
I think for the most part a majority of Taylor’s fan like the name. Taylor always does a shout out at every opportunity he gets. I think it is an easy way to cover the fan base and let him acknowledge them easily.
NOTE: I’m writing this on patty cees’s computer in the US, can’t register under my own board name DP because of cookie issues.
First let me say that I’m not American and only followed American Idol loosely in the comfort of my own home on the other side of the globe (Denmark), but that I was so intrigued by Taylor Hicks that I started looking him up, got to the AI site, and moved on to GrayCharles. That’s more or less the classic story for some people, but mostly in the US, I guess. In general, AI is no big deal in Scandinavia, just another American show, and the TH cd has not been considered worth importing to this country.
On today’s subject, I think it is essential that Taylor Hicks dissociate himself with the AI world and the chance of a shot at mainstream the traditional AI way – it so obviously didn’t work, and it didn’t work, because he doesn’t belong in that format in the first place. I’m not saying that mainstream can’t have great music, or rather, that great music can’t be widely popular, and it’s somehow my impression that that first cd was supposed to be a way of giving Taylor Hicks’ mainstream shot a different angle. But the product was too confusing, and not the great little rebel rouser it should have been. I think it’s essential that he puts out a cd now that goes back and touches base with who he is and apparently has always been, and that he starts expanding his fanbase with that. The cd really, really has to be more on the musician’s terms than the market’s, because that is one unhappy marriage in this case - and then if there is some spill-over into mainstream, like with other contemporary soul artists, then that’s great.
I think I can appreciate the reality of the fact that having the exposure of being an AI winner just puts you in a position where you want to make the most of it from a business angle. You want to milk the opportunities of mainstream while you can. But I think that with this particular artist that is a shaky road because while he’s out a-milking and shouting Soul Patrol, and having a point with that, I guess, other potential audiences are waiting in the wings, audiences that don’t immediately relate to the image of that AI guy talking about how he and his Soul Patrollers have fun in that Parrotheads kinda way.
I’m being a real prat here, because I shouldn’t be underestimating the fun he might have with the fact that people follow him around and that the people following him around have fun following him around. I just have to assume also that it’s a market strategy in itself to be able to name your following, because it implies a sense of fun, and communication and loyalty between the artist and his fanbase, in this case born and raised during AI. So it seems to be the chosen strategy at the moment to still ride the AI momentum to some extent.
I was at the Clearwater concert in Florida on Friday (posted a recap on the Boogie Board) and there were repeated shout outs to the Soul Patrol. In a way kind of innocent and playful, in another way something that made me feel left out. I am not “SP”. Don’t make me say it. I hate banners and congregations. And also – some of the devoted members of the audience managed to piss me off big time with their OMGs and eerie primal screaming, and I’m sorry, but that was just weird. It probably goes with the territory, and if it does, I wish that that territory would change.
Yeah, it’s clear that Hicks is in to the name thing. Some artists are, some aren’t - don’t think there’s any huge stigma in that itself (I’m not the best judge, because it does strike me as kind of goofy). But SP or no SP, there’s stigma in the AI association, so anything that brings that up, could come at a price. The question I have is, is SP one of those things that reminds people of Ai cheese pop stardom, or is it just associated with him in the minds of the great yet unconverted public?
Freaky to think that NOT having a fanbase name might lose him fans. Wonder if that’s happened in the history of the world. Anybody refuse to listen to someone who’s music you love because they wouldn’t give you and your pals a club name?
Like morewines said, time and good music is the most important thing. But, you raise another one, and that’s whether, apart from AI stigma, there’s stigma attached to the fanbase itself. Don’t know what to do about that, if that’s the case. Maybe just hope people will notice that there’s more than one kind of monkey in this zoo, and room for them too. Or they can ignore all the other monkeys and just do their own swinging.
To me “Soul Patrol” is the catch all name identifying Taylor’s fan base - and I consider myself a part of that group. But when asked, I never say I’m a Soul Patroler, rather I say I’m a fan of Taylor Hicks. (Perhaps, on some subconscious level, I think that claiming to be part of a fan “club” sounds juvenile at my age.) That’s nothing against the name - just that I’m self-conscious!
However, when I’m at a show, and Taylor shouts out to the SP, I’m right there shouting back with the crowd. There’s no question that it excites people and makes them happy! Taylor must enjoy the reaction he gets. Why else would he do it? The fans are already crazed, but the SP shout outs send us into another orbit, and that makes for a memorable show! I think it is what it is - a shout out to his fan base letting them know he appreciates them being there. No more, no less.
Hey, Patty-Cee’s-Danish-Friend: you can come here and be a prat anytime you want.
It’s pretty clear what the SP connection does for a sizable chunk of the fans that followed him from the show. But what does it do for those one’s waiting in the wings, as you say. Does it matter to them one way or the other? Any wing-waiters who might be peeking, what do you say?
I’ve kind of come around a bit on this lately.
At first I thought it was effective for the show, but I didn’t know anything other than that – I never looked him up until sometime after Idol ended. Once I actually saw the hardcore soul patrollers in action (if you’ve been to one of his shows you know what I’m talking about), it scared the crap out of me and I moved far into the “dump it now” category.
After the last couple of shows I saw I’ve decided I don’t care. I don’t think he’s using it just as a “thank you” to the Idol watchers any more or to be exclusionary – on the contrary, I think he’s saying it’s OK, we won’t bite, come on in and let’s have some fun. Because his shows are fun. He’s not angry, angst-ridden or ironic. I can filter out the “primal screaming” (good one!) and the shh-ing, as well as the drunks and the chatterers that you run into at many concerts.
So I’ll tiptoe out of the wings, I’m not screaming Soul Patrol! from the rooftops yet, but I’m OK being in the tent.
I strongly feel that the ford commercial caused more damage then any type of coined phrase to define a fan base. I once had a great love for John Mellancamp, I am talking great love. I see him or hear him now and I cringe. Every cubs game I watch that commercial runs! I dread the thought of it running again during the bears games coming up. I think that they over did the Taylor commercial too. Can you get too much of a good thing? I think so! The fact that he did not get the AI support that the other people have gotten has been a factor however, that being said, in the long run he will be better off. I feel that he will be around for a long time. I am not so sure about some of the other people. That is their problem though. I just cannot wait until the next taylor show that I am able to attend and until then I will continue to share his music with those that will appreciate it.
I think that the problem with the Soul Patrol monniker is that it makes people think of the bedazzled middle aged stereotype given to Taylor’s fans. Honestly if the Soul Patrol was seen as an all inclusive, all sexes, demographic, this question would not be bandied about as much. IMHO Taylor seems to be perceived as a niche artist, with a particularly narrow fanbase and that fanbase is not who the numbers crunchers look to when they determine longterm fiscal viability. That being said, there is a place for Taylor along with the Broussards, LaMontagnes, and even the Mayers, and alienating the girl that “brung ya” to the dance is the last thing that he can afford to do at this time. As for this idol stigma, I just never saw it as much as many others seem to.
In the final estimation, it will be the music that will help catapult Taylor to the next level or not.
Taylor should have taken my advice (as Double D @ Graycharles.com) and made his tour the YABBA DABBA SOUL PATROL COAST TO COAST DIVE TOUR, sponsored by Budweiser. That would have properly defined the Soul Patrol to be inclusive of bikers, college students, architects, AND old ladies — you know, the kind of folks that Taylor played for at The FloraBama. In choosing quaint, “soft” venues, Taylor invited a kinder, gentler audience. We all know that where he shines is down and dirty. When he gets back to that, he’ll soar.
As for an AI stigma…yep, it’s there. Can it be overcome?…yep, with good music over time. In 20 years, if Taylor continues to have good success with recorded and live music, people will only remember that AI was how Taylor got his start. It will not define him as it has in the scant year and 3 months since he hit the national scene.
As for Soul Patrol, he’d be crazy to disassociate himself from it now. Matter of fact, I think he’s erred in not playing up the theme more. It’s hard enough to establish an image or identity and Taylor did it in about three months on AI. To throw that away is insane. His websites should be Soul Patrol oriented, his concert stage decorated as such, his bus should look be stickered up to look like the Blues Brothers police car, etc., etc.
I would bet big money that the hard core SPers are less than 100,000 people today. That means that for millions of others, they don’t have a pre-conceived notion as to what SPers are, bedazzled or otherwise. Just as some Jimmy Buffett fans likely abhor the “Parrothead” moniker, some folks who are “invested” in Taylor may not like the SP stereotype….because they know there’s one. Many, if not most, don’t. He needs to capilatize on that identity, not run from it….but he really needs to define it and guide it to what he truly wants it to be.
I’ve read where folks (fans, supposedly) say that Taylor is destoyiing his own career. For the life of me, I don’t see how that is. He’s making money touring (for 8 straight months) and is getting ready to work on his second CD. The music is honest and it is performed superbly by he and his band. What more can you ask of the guy? Perplexing.
“He needs to capilatize on that identity, not run from it….but he really needs to define it and guide it to what he truly wants it to be.”
Music Maven - you said it all. That’s it in a nutshell.
While I don’t consider myself a “Soul Patroller”, I very strongly consider myself a Taylor Hicks fan. I have a Tshirt that says Taylor Hicks (in small letter soul patrol)…it was the only one left at the concert….I rather shy from the Soul Patrol stigma, but as proud as can be of the Taylor Hicks…
To me, Soul Patrol is just a callout or name for Taylor’s fans…he sure seems to be having a good ol’ time with it…long as he is, it’s cool with me, and if I’m in the audience, and he calls out “say Soul Patrol”, I’d shout it out….
“He needs to capilatize on that identity, not run from it….but he really needs to define it and guide it to what he truly wants it to be.” Yes, I agree with this.
I guess my summary is, I’d probably not lke to be termed Soul Patrol, but it’s not a big enough deal to get me all worked up (lol..all the squares go home!)…to me, as someone as already said, Soul patrol= Taylor Hicks fans….question is, how do we get to the point where Taylor Hicks fans=soul patrol=goood music fans? To me, it’s all the same….
in retrospect to my above comment,
Taylor Hicks Fans=Soul Patrol=FunLoving Fans of Good Music
mm - I’m trying to get my head around this one. I’m trying to picture the concept by thinking of some other artist with a similar tactic, and I can’t think of a one. Can you help me with an example? Or are you seeing this as some innovative strategy for Hicks to lead on? It seems too circusy to be real, but my irony detector is broken today.
Well, take a look at Jimmy Buffett’s website and his concert decor and his “lifestyle”….it’s all about Margaritaville and Parrothead mentality. Buffett sells a way of life…just like Soul Patrol could. You know, “to thine own self be true”. Just like in the Blues Brothers movies.
Check out this post at my blog on Jimmy, particularly the paragraph about the Parrotheads. Taylor could create something similar around the Soul Patrol theme.
Point is…where fanbases have made “clubs”, say like Deadheads, there is synergy and a club that folks want to belong to. There are others without names, like Widespread Panic fans that have a “way of life”. Hell, even Wet Willie called their fans “Drippin’ Wet” fans. While it might seem kind of cheesy to some, it is what it is. To deny it now would seriously cause consternation and would be an unnecessary backtrack. No point when to most people currently outside of the Taylor “circle”, Soul Patrol doesn’t have a meaning or a derogatory connotation. Taylor could still successfully turn it into something cool and hip…but he’s got to embrace it and define it, clearly.
If Taylor didn’t have the Soul Patrol thing it’d be a different story. I wouldn’t suggest that he try to create that from scratch. But b/c he does have the identity of the Soul Patrol, then he should fully embrace it in his marketing and merchandising…which he has not done. It simply a smart business strategy that can help him market himself and his “message”.
Jimmy Buffett is building a $700 million hotel and casino around the “Parrothead” experience in Biloxi….why couldn’t Taylor eventually do the same kind of thing with the Soul Patrol theme. It seems to me that many people have begun to believe the media that Taylor is not worthy of comparisons to somebody like Buffett or Elvis or otherwise. I still think that he IS that good and that over time he’ll be able to rival long-time, successful musicians who have positively contributed to the musicscape. The Soul Patrol moniker, if done right, could be a catalyst to bring new fans into the foal…again, if the message is clearly defined and communicated like Buffett does with the Parrotheads.
Yikes! Maybe it’s me, but that seems like the fast track to obscurity. I can’t for the life of me see how getting so wrapped up in one concept can help. Are there any examples that don’t come off as theme parks? The whole idea creeps me out, but maybe I’m not imagining what you are. it’s weird enough that he has his name projected on the stage, but this seems ten times as freaky. I guess the whole idea of musician as brand seems likes it’s ass backward. Not saying it can’t work on some level, but since almost no one does that, and since it just screams “cheese”, then why not just do the usual thing and make good music.
But again, maybe it doesn’t have to scream cheese. My imagination might be broken today too.
Screams Velvetta to me.
It just opens the door for some…the music, of course has to be the winner. I guess all the billions that Jimmy Buffett has made and all the big lip t-shirts The Rolling Stones have sold have also cheesed out their music. No…it’s just bait.
You guys are thinking of it as what it has been. Which has largely been self-defined by his early, AI fanbase. However, If properly embraced by Taylor and a good Marketing team, it could be done well. Having worked in the Marketing biz for 25 years, I will tell you that having a brand and image (no matter what business your in) is critical to selling your product and longevity. Sure, you have to create a message that is more cool and hip than what it means now, but it could be done.
I don’t understand the statement that “since almost no one does that”. Even artists that are “all about the music”, say like The Eagles or Bruce Springsteen, have an image and work to capitalize on that with their fans and potential fans. I don’t care who it is…Marc Broussard, Amos Lee, Widespread Panic, Joss Stone, etc., etc., they all have “brands” that they are selling. Hell, it’s why they name tours…like Tim and Faith’s Heart-to-Heart Tour.
Like it or not, Taylor has a brand that has some recognition out in the marketplace. He can associate his message of “living the dream”, his love of Soul music and education, etc., etc., with that slogan. If he turns from it now it will project the image of not going home with the one that brung you to the dance. It will look like he never believed in it. That message would be worse than the risk of cheese.
At this point, Taylor needs every fan he can get, from music “purists” to simple music listeners. “Soul Patrol” is now forever associated with Taylor, so he may as well make it all it can be.
I guess I still am not getting what you’re suggesting. On the one hand, you’re talking about Buffett-level campaign: named-fan club, shout outs, “Soul Patrol” decorating the stage and plastered all over his websites and bus. On the other hand, you’re talking about the kind of branding that’s done with Marc Broussard, Joss Stone, WSP, etc, where I don’t see anything like that kind sloganeering. And I understand in principle that you’re saying SP only done right, done cool. But I can’t think of a single example of a fanbase name/musician slogan that is cool, so it’s hard for me to grasp the concept. Just the fact of being around hundreds of other people all chanting slogans or decked out in matching logos is weird to begin with, so it would need a ton of incredibly savvy marketing to make that seem cool. Like I said, I can’t think of a single instance. Even the Stones, who’s Jaggermouth logo is well-known, don’t do what Hicks is trying with naming the fans and chanting at them.
Lots of people get into that with respect to sports teams, but moving that kind of logo/cheerleading/teamname stuff into the music field seems like a major new step and unlikely to be one that a brand new artist could pull off almost single-handedly. Or am I still not getting it? The vibe I’m imagining from all this is one that would pretty much ruin the live music experience, so you must be imagining something entirely different. Because given where he’s at and what his strengths are, I don’t think he can afford to queer the live music.
No matter what I say, you will think the concept is cheesy, so I’m not going to continue down that road. However, I never said anything about changing the music or the live experience. It could be as simple as a flashing police light when he comes on the stage. Artist do stuff like that all the time and they don’t have “slogans” because they don’t have slogans. Taylor’s is built in. It would cost other artists tons of cash to try and establish that.
Let’s go polar opposite. Do you suggest that Taylor totally disassociate himself from the name? That would mean stopping the shout outs (which, really…is once a show), and providing an answer to those who are very invested in the Soul Patrol moniker and what it symbolizes for them — and you know, it will become a question.
To me, the risk of dumping “Soul Patrol” now is far greater than the reward and all artists need something that stands them out from the crowd. Little Richard sure looks cheesy, but he’s Little Richard — NOBODY did what he did before he did it and I’m talking more than guyliner. Elvis was cheesy, yes, but he was the King of Rock & Roll as well.
I don’t mean this badly but I think sometimes people get so wrapped up in the “music as art” mentality that they lose sight of the fact that music is also supposed to be fun and entertaining. Lastly, I think it comes down to what Taylor is comfortable with. He, evidently, is comfortable with “chanting people up” (once a show). Perhaps he sees it as a rally cry, a way of kun-NECK-ting with his audience and providing a symbol for them to pursue their dreams.
That’s how I see it, but what do I know?
Hey all…just wanted to say that I see MM’s point. If Taylor is to embrace the “Soul Patrol” thing he should do it fully and commit to it. Go all the way. It never works when you go half way with an idea. Which is what the SP seems to be right now…not fully integrated (even those souls who paid the membership fee)…it seems convenient and half manufactured rather than organic and supported fully.
What I understand if you are not a Buffett fan how that can look like an amusement ride, but take Steely Dan’s Alternative world…or try Wilcos or…look at the Flaming Lips…KISS…Bruce.
I don’t call myself a fan belonging to any one crew…and perhaps that is what we are running up against here…we don’t want to be labeled by anyone? I ask…is it the label and what it means or is it ANY label?
I think you are on to something Shrew - at least for me. I suppose it is nice to belong to something, but I don’t want to be defined by or limited by said membership…and that goes for almosr anything. Sometimes when we’re too comfortable belonging, we stop searching and then we miss alot. That being said, I don’t believe I “belong” to the Soul Patrol, but I really enjoy Taylor Hicks’ music. His shout-outs don’t bother me because I view them as a salute to a change in attitude toward music and totally inclusive to those people listening - not a secret handshake kind of thing. And that being said, I can understand why some people are bothered by those shouts. So what’s he to do about it? Don’t know..but, if he loses fans because they are upset that he ditches it; or they are upset that he keeps it, they probably were superficial fans to begin with (don’t I sound like a @itch!) I have faith he’ll get new fans either way - after all, look how many of us are still listening - there has to be more of us out there.
I’m going to say a couple of last things to wrap up what I’m thinking on the SP aspect of this, and then hit on an earlier idea from Music Maven that I think is even more interesting.
First, I know no one is saying change the music, I’m just saying the degree to which the branding effort is visible at the show itself is going to change the vibe of the show, and for me, heavy overt branding, such as using a slogan prominently, is a negative effect. Dylan may achieve his vibe by committee and focus groups for all I know, but the presentation of it is subtle enough that it doesn’t look contrived. But that’s just
Do I think he should abandon the SP slogan altogether? Assuming we’re talking strategy, I have no clue. I’ve heard current fans who love it say they’d still be fans without it. I’ve heard current fans who hate it say they’d still be fans if he keeps it. I’ve heard people say that they’ve heard music lovers who don’t bother to listen to him because the SP vibe runs them off. I haven’t heard if there are music lovers who would stay away just because he doesn’t come with a label. How this all balances out? No clue. My guess is there are extremes on either end that would scare off current fans. If he goes so heavily into the SP that you can’t go to a concert without it being shoved down your throat, that might scare off some of the haters. If he abandons it to the point of actually publically dissing it, that might scare off some of the lovers. But who knows?
Not talking strategy but personal preference, I wouldn’t miss it if it disappeared. I’m sure you’re right about people getting too wrapped up in “music as art” but I don’t see the relevance to this discussion or a Hicks concert. It’s not like that’s the obvious alternative to a slogan-free concert. I’ve been to several where there’s no overt SP reference and thay’re still a blast. Still plenty of audience participation - the “Jackie, Marvin” call from Nightshift, the grunts or whatever you’d call it from “What’d I Say”, the “bom, bom”s from “Dance to the Music” - just plain singing along to any number of other shows, people dancing their fool heads off, thank yous to the fans, local reference shout outs in song and banter. You can and do have all of that without any slogans or labels. Not saying you have to, just saying that not liking labels is not the same as not liking fun. You could have all the slogans in the world and have a dull concert and you could have none of it and have a riotous blast. These are just wholely unlinked concepts.
Now, the idea I’d really like to entertain. With the exception of the Budweiser sponsorship (I’d go for something tastier) I’d love to completely agree with this:
When I say “love to” , I mean this totally fits where I think he excels. But if we’re into wondering about losing fans (like in the SP segment of this discussion), I think this would lose a few ticket sales. But maybe it’d pay off in the long run - I’d like to think so. More inportant than having some label that defines his music/fans/self, is having a musical style that does it, even if its a wide and eclectic style. And having this recognizable at shows and in recordings.
Anyway, I don’t think I’ve got another coherent thought on the topic.
Ah, to be sure, what, there would be fans who would “balk” at a dive tour, but I think he’d attract more jamband fans with that kind of tour that would bring in additional fans and expand his career.
It’s a tightrope, for sure and I don’t think he can “go there” until there’s a little more distance from the AI win. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of “appearance” Mr. Hicks makes at the FloraBama this weekend and how nitty gritty he gets. I’m figuring he ain’t gonna be doing “Do I Make You Proud” up in there.
Lastly, sorry but Taylor IS Budweiser — that’s another example of brand/image and association — so that has to be the DIVE TOUR sponsor. Bud, like Taylor, is Red, White & Blue, working class Southern. (yeah, yeah, I know it’s St. Louis born and bred, but it’s a Southern staple in Redneck country.)
Good discussion.
hahaha - and here for 5 seconds we were so in synch. Dive tour for sure, let the fans come or fall as they may. But I’m not getting a red neck vibe at all - too much Karma and New Balance (of course, my redneck experience is all midwest and Texas, what do I know from deep south?) But whatever the Alabama equivalent of Shiner Bock is would do.
Alabama Shiner Bock = Budweiser.
See, we are on the same page.
Ok, this reveals a need far more pressing than whether or not anyone screams soul patrol: Alabama needs a better beer
I saw Taylor perform recently in Toms River NJ. It was a family crowd - lots of kids (including my daughter) and clearly many of them were his fans from American Idol days. Taylor (wisely, I think) played up to the “Soul Patrol” a bit to the audience in that venue. I think it’s certainly appropriate in certain situations.
I’ve seen Taylor 5 times in concert. In some, he didn’t mention Soul Patrolin others he did. I guess it depends on the venue.
My daughter loves the Soul Patrol brand, I’m not crazy about it, but I think it serves its purpose.
That being said, having a “traveling circus of fans - like the Parrot Heads and Jimmy Buffett - isn’t a bad thing for an artist who thrives on stage and the whole concert experience. I guess the question is, what sort of following does he want? Jimmy Buffett sells out Madison Square Garden, seems to have fun and a happy life doing what he loves, and makes a lot of people happy with his music, but I’m sure that are plenty of critics who don’t take him seriously as an artist. Does it matter?
As far as Taylor’s music is concerned, there’s nothing he can do about the stigma of American Idol now. That was the risk he took going on the show. I don’t know to what extent it will hurt his reputation with some but it probably was more good than bad in establishing a more broad audience. It gets him name out there for those who DO care about the music.
Well well, what, what (slight stutter or going for effect?) a pleasure it is to come here and always find something new and interesting to read about and listen to.
Posted once in PattyCee’s name about a week ago, am back in Denmark now, catching up.
Was reading Music Maven’s marketing suggestions in this thread, and was struck by how people pick up on different signals when it comes to Taylor Hicks. I don’t get the “(..) Taylor (..) is Red, White and Blue working class Southern” vibe – for obvious reasons, perhaps. Of course I do hear the blues/gospel/rootsy influence and all of that, but I don’t identify directly with the musical and cultural heritage. It’s not mine to claim, directly. That would not prevent me from really being hit hard by some of that same music. What I hear might be part of the basics of an American musical heritage the whole of the western world grew up with in general. The point is, I don’t see Taylor Hicks under the flag of a Southern marketing team. Maybe he comes across as regional to some, but it’s interesting the way he comes across as not necessarily all that regional to others. It just feels like good music.
I don’t know. I’m sitting here on a rock in Europe, thinking exactly that: this is just good music (the live performances, the indie albums) and Taylor Hicks’ voice really is extraordinary, and it’s not in any way unthinkable that the guy could have a career that went beyond the US (not that there’s anything wrong with that..).
I do know that people like John Legend and Ray LaMontagne sell out The Royal Albert Hall in London, and to me Taylor Hicks is in that category of performers – at least. In terms of musicianship, originality, raw talent, and with that, marketability.
So, maybe John Legend didn’t hit it big until his second more mainstream album, maybe there´ll always be a market for a talented, brooding singer/songwriter like Ray LaMontagne, and maybe Taylor Hicks is just too damn happy and hurting and complex and easy-peasy pure and simple to be categorized. What the hell do I know. I just think he’s really, really interesting.
So maybe he doesn’t want to sell out the Royal Albert Hall, maybe he’s not made to sell out the Royal Albert Hall, maybe he was just made to play down and dirty, jamming along, touring dives like some say. But we have dives in Europe. They’re good little dives too. He should come check ‘em out. But no flashing police light, I don’t think. It would be lost in translation.
For the record, I don’t think anybody gives a rat’s arse about American Idol in Europe, so that would be one stigma less to worry about if he ever went for this market. No. Shoot. I think the British might be really into it – the Cowell connection, and all of that. So there goes the Albert Hall and the rest of the England gigs.
Would the real Taylor Hicks please step forward? Until he does, we’re tugging at him from all sides. I’d say there’s some humour in that, if nothing else.
I am Soul Patrol. Stand up and shout it out,,,I AM SOUL PATROL,,,people come in every make and model and the SP covers all of us. The title SP, simple groups us as Taylor Hicks fans. I have no issues with the name.
hey, jwt, your comment was in mod so long because it’s your first here and i had a killer work schedule. Hope it wasn’t a worry.
HIcks’ fans come in every make and model, including a lot that aren’t down with the whole “Soul Patrol” name thing. Maybe they didn’t come from the AI thing so it didn’t catch on with them, maybe they don’t identify with some of the SP vibe, maybe they just don’t like club names. Who knows? So it’s a given that he just means his fans when he uses it and you can’t expect that he’s ever be able to figure out just who’s into that who’s not.
But to say that the SP covers everybody? I think it covers the people who say it covers them. Other than the name you got on the day you entered this old world, a person has a right to refuse a label they don’t want. Insisting on calling people something they don’t like is not a way to get them to listen. Hicks seems aware now that he’s got fans that are not Soul Patrol. Nothing wrong with that.