Hanson gig. Also, new album done this week.
Posted on July 25th, 2010
Posted on July 25th, 2010
I’ve been accumulating mass amounts of half-finished songs lately. I decided it’s time to finish some of them. So my question to you is, if I managed to finish an entire record in one week, would you pay five bucks for it on Friday? I sure hope the answer is yes, because I need the dough. Not for drugs or prostitutes (which I can afford) but for finishing a “best-of” album and getting a few hundred copies printed. Just another rung on the ladder to imminent fame and fortune.
Virginia Is For Hoverers Part Two. Coming Friday. Unbelievable. More info soon.
In other news, I opened for pop sensation Hanson last week. It was one heck of an adventure. If you saw us at the show, here, have a free album!
Firstly, thanks to any of you guys that voted for me. I can’t believe Sugar got first place out of so many hundreds of songs! I mean, it was clearly one of the only songs that didn’t sound like open mic night at Lame Ridge Middle School, but usually that doesn’t matter. But man, this kind of thing keeps happening. There must be an industry out there that has a hunger for genuine songs that consistently win over the hearts of the public and win contests! What? There isn’t? Ah, well. Starving artist it is then.
Anyway. So me (Chris Merritt), Brett (drums), Simon (bass), Stacy (some chick from Long Island….JK, hi Stacy), Cathy (booking@chrismerrittmusic.com) and Kevin (husband@Cathy.com) arrived in Buffalo, NY at the venue to find hundreds of excited teenage girls lined up around the block. That immediately struck me as weird – Hanson made lots of teenage fans in the 90s, right? I was expecting a bunch of like, pregnant newlyweds or something. Apparently Hanson fans defy the normal laws of space-time. There were loads of ‘em. Hundreds – nay, thousands – of teenage girls, and the occasional patient, nice boyfriend who is too young to know that being patient and nice is the worst way to get girls to like you.
So we loaded up our gear backstage and went to do a live streaming interview in Hanson’s trailer. My plan was to play some music during the interview no matter what. Hanson’s team didn’t want to deal with it, but luckily, Cathy and I had decided to bring her awesome little Casio keyboard, and Kevin ran across the street to grab some batteries. So I sat down with the keyboard in my lap just before Hanson came in and introduced themselves.
So then we did the interview. Man, public speaking on a big level is really really hard. I was nervous. Your fight-or-flight instincts really kick in like crazy. It’s nothing logical or reasonable, it just happens. But I managed to keep it together and say some funny stuff I think. We played Quinn and Sugar, and I was on this little Casio keyboard, with Brett on percussion, and Simon and Brett on back vocals, and I’m pretty sure the songs sounded phenomenal. Hanson’s jaws dropped during Quinn. That was a cool moment. I also called Hanson out on a couple things, which is always fun. But overall, I mean, jeez, they seem nice enough guys. They rocketed to superstardom as young boys and they still seem like allright guys. A bit pretentious and feigned maybe, but I mean, we didn’t even have security around during the interview. That’s kind of cool. After the interview, I asked them to check out some of our set later, but they said they were too busy.
I’ll post footage of the interview as soon as I have it!
Then we played our set. The place was packed and the audience started out really chatty. But as Simon said later, we won ‘em over. Two songs in, the place was filled with cheering. We opened with a new song called Radio and then went into Cult Of Karl. Both songs came off flawlessly and HUGE. Brett and I had been practicing the set like crazy, and it showed. I lost my glasses at some point. Simon, who is an overall amazing bassist and a great guy, won huge cheers from the audience. He’s a great performer. We did Sugar (which I kind of sucked at and need to practice), Madison, and Cruise Elroy, and I freaked out on the end of Elroy. I think our trio got the most spontaneous response of the night, actually. Cathy and Kevin also took AWESOME video!!! We’ll have it up ASAP!!!
Oh, by the way. This band Rooney also played that night. Everyone keeps telling me they like that band, so if this includes you, please don’t be offended by me when I say that you are utterly wrong to like them at all, and that their music was literally the most offensive thing to my intellect I’ve ever heard. They look like a bunch of trust fund kids who write the same song over and over as their pants get tighter. “When did your heart go missing?” Where did they get that brilliant lyric from? The margin of a preteen’s first attempt at break-up poetry? Their song I Can’t Get Enough should be called I Wish I Was Rivers Cuomo But I’m Clearly Not And Never Will Be, but I guess that’s too long. That also goes for most of their other songs – lame impressions of Weezer’s lame post-Pinkerton years. Although I really do love Weezer’s Green Album besides that frickin sonic train-wreck called Island In The Sun. And now I’m officially completely off topic.
No, but at least Rooney were really nice guys. Oh wait, except the exact opposite. To break the silence backstage, as one keyboard player to another: Me: “Cool keyboard. What is it?” Rooney’s keyboard player: “It’s called a keyboard. It makes sounds. It’s a Korg, which it says right there, and you can get it at Guitar Center.” Well, screw you too! I didn’t even give a crap, I was just trying to make conversation! Incidentally, the keyboard player had an announced “solo” during Rooney’s set. I use the term “solo” as loosely as possible because it consisted of him holding down a single note and activating some irritating siren-like effect. I would say that it could have been done by a monkey, but even that would be generous. That solo could have literally been played with a decently heavy rock.
So then I drew on CDs that my mom burned me (thanks mom) and sold them. Stacy is a great saleswoman and was an irreplaceable member of our awesome trip. We made about a billion new fans and they were all adorable. I played tinfoil hacky sack with one group of girls, and drew horribly crude things on some other girls’ CDs, per their request. We all had a good laugh and a good time. Except of course the members of Rooney who looked frickin’ miserable the whole time. Yeah, it sucks playing for thousands of people every night in a band, huh guys? Would it kill you to smile when you get pictures with your adoring fans, who paid lots of money to come see you, and somehow missed the fact that your music sound like Weezer’s Brown Album?
Then I tried to get a Hanson autograph for Simon’s amazing wife, who was back in NYC with the kids. In the rushed insanity of the interview, Simon had forgot to get it for her, and was at dinner with old friends after our set. Anyway, no one would help me out, and everyone was rude to me, and one security guard swore at me and attacked me with a big ‘ol shove. He weighed about 300 pounds but for some reason I decided to shove him back. He probably would have eaten me if Cathy hadn’t found me in the nick of time. He kept saying he was going to “drill me” which really does sound pretty awful. I’m sure glad that didn’t happen because I wouldn’t have been walking straight for days.
Cathy and Kevin stayed for a couple nights and went to Niagra Falls, and Brett and Stacy also went to visit early in the morning. Simon and I drove back together and had amazing conversations about physics, music, biology, philosophy, religion, life…..what a great guy. All in all, a great adventure and a great show.
Thanks to all involved for making it an awesome show!
Love
Chris
65 Responses to “Hanson gig. Also, new album done this week.”
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65 Responses to “Hanson gig. Also, new album done this week.”
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It was wrong of me to post on here as Chris’s booking agent with regard to my view of him needing to apologize. It’s his blog not mine. I’m not a Rooney fan or a Hanson fan, if anything I’m an ENORMOUS Chris Merritt fan, and a concerned friend who was upset at the situation.
I would greatly appreciate it if everyone can leave my comments alone as I simply wanted to express my regret for what I did. Thank you.
Drew: I agree with much of what you say. The point is not that Chris has trashed Hanson here so much as that he puts forth an attitude of believing that he was superior to the rest of the show. For instance: he made a point of mentioning that Hanson were “too busy” to check out his set, but then he doesn’t mention Hanson’s set at all. Too busy, Chris? And then what was that thing about his own set getting the “most spontaneous reaction of the night”? What does that even mean? Sorry if I’m reading it wrong, but it sounds like he is claiming to have stolen the show from Hanson. If that’s what he believes, he is very much mistaken.
As you say, the fallout from this interview and blog will not make or break his career. At the same time, if he continues to try to “show up” more established musicians who are just trying to help him broaden his audience, he could get a reputation in the industry as being someone who is tough to work with. The music industry is one of the most difficult industries to succeed in; if he starts out making himself unpopular with other musicians, it will be all the more difficult for him.
I read this yesterday and just thought it was funny and entertaining..I read all the comments today and thought I might be missing something and the guy my brothers in a band with is a dick. I read it again… and i still found it funny and entertaining. No apologies or dying necessary.
These ridiculous angry comments made my day!!!
Can the Hanson fans give it a rest now. I think we now how you feel.
@Cathy…why apologise? Chris’ comments were taken out of context.
Hanson fans = cyberbullies.
wow
Chris, I realize that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and since this is your blog, you are allowed to express it in any way you choose. However, I would have to disagree with some of the statements you made.
First of all, I can tell you are not a very good judge of someone’s age. The majority of Hanson fans are in their mid to late 20’s. They are not teenagers. Also, most of those “patient, nice boyfriends” are actually Hanson fans that came to the show willingly, because they like the music.
Secondly, you are getting a lot of crap from Hanson fans for “bashing” them, and I’m not quite sure why. The only negative comment I see about Hanson directly, is where you called them “A bit pretentious and feigned”. While I STRONGLY disagree with this statement, I don’t see it deserving of such a huge backlash. I’ve been a Hanson fan for over 13 years now. I’ve been lucky enough to meet them on several occasions, and I’ve always perceived Hanson as extremely humble and down-to-earth guys. They are genuinely nice, caring individuals. So, I don’t quite understand how they came across as pretentious to you. And I’m sorry that that was the impression they gave you.
I would also like to say that I believe you telling your fans that they are wrong to like Rooney is extremely unprofessional. Just because Rooney’s music is something that you personally are not into, does not mean that they are undeserving of fans, or that their music is poorly written. Rooney is an incredibly talented band. You said yourself, “EVERYONE keeps telling me they like that band”, so there has to be a reason for that, right? Unless you are saying that everyone you know is a poor judge of what GOOD music truly is. In which case, what does that say about your own music? I’m sorry that your personal experience with the band was not a pleasant one. But, I can assure you, that they are very grateful for their fans and the support given to them. They show their fans nothing but kindness and appreciate each and every one of them. I have been a fan of theirs since 2003 & had the pleasure of meeting them this past Saturday. They were extremely sweet and kind, and they showed me a lot of respect. Not only that, but Robert IS smiling in the pic I had taken with him.
As I said before, this is your blog. You can write whatever you want in it. But for future reference, I would take the time to think about how you are presenting yourself in the way you write. To people that aren’t familiar with you, you are coming across as a narcissistic know-it-all.
Niqui: You make a lot of sense. If Chris Merritt would only acknowledge that the Hanson fans do, indeed, have a valid point, and that we’re not just an unreasonable howling mob demanding that he be killed, I think this could all end well.
“I say that you are utterly wrong to like them at all, and that their music was literally the most offensive thing to my intellect I’ve ever heard”.
as a long time rooney fan i kind of want to throw a brick through your window. or possibly follow you around for the next 3 years with a boom box blasting rooney. OR never listen to your music again.
lucky for you, i’m going with the third option.
later douche bag.
Nice job Adam,
“Brick through the window”….”Douche Bag.” I would expect no less wit and creativity from a fellow Rooney fan. I think a round of applause and gold star are in order. The boys would be proud. Victory is ours!
BTW, What’s sha-sha-shakin’? If you’re not too busy combing your boyish shaggy hair, we should meet up and talk about the OC. Let me know what’s up Brotha!
Chevon,
Thanks for sharing Your enlightening and professional advice with all of us. How much do we owe you?…well, I’m sure the bill is in the mail.
I, for one, am glad to hear that networks like VH1 (who’s programming crux is the likes of Bret Michaels love life, and Celebrity Fit Club) are still a viable measuring stick for the success of creativity and reasonable thought.
Chris, the guy is right. if you want to gain commercial success, you cannot ever be a dick. What the world needs right now is not another abrasive, awkward persona like Kurt Cobain, Daniel Johnston, or Ricky Gervais. We are in need of a true shining star with a nice smile and a full head of hair who can get along well with others. You spend way too much time locked away with your piano to ever be this kind of flourishing social butterfly. Plus you’re writing songs about Queen Isabella, the singularity, futuristic Bonnie and Clydes, and Antimatter??? What the hell is antimatter and how am I suppose to shake my rump or make babies to that? Seriously, dude! You’re setting yourself up for epic failure.
But enough verbal spanking for Chris. From one cigar chomping pro to another, Chevon, I think we’ve gotten the point across to Mr. Merritt that he will never amount to anything in this industry. High five! I too know a “one off” when I see one. Although I thought that term, “one off,” went down with the days of self righteous A&R reps who went around deeming people “worthy of their time” when they themselves were mostly failed artists who had given up the path of creative enlightenment for a more lucrative career path in the business….(pause to catch my breath). Good thing you’re not one of those guys, and good thing I can add this catchy little phrase back into my vocabulary. You are truly a king among men, Chevon.
No, but seriously Chris…..Check your damn e-mail and get back in touch with me. I really want to get the ball rolling with this ATO meeting. And now that your booking agent has parted ways to apologize for bigger and better bands, I’d like to set you up with some people. Hit me back, you ungrateful hairy little man.
Sincerely and professionally,
Sir Bam Bam
sir bam bam, um WOW.
just put yourself in my shoes for one second dude. think of your favorite band. one that you’ve been following, you’ve met plenty of times and have been nothing but nice; a band that your daughter used to sing to before she passed away. and then picture a person completely bashing that band and eveything that comes with that band. a person telling you that you’re “wrong” to like them. you’d be pissed and shut out that person.
p.s. stfu you sarcastic jackass
who’s rooney?
Well, this page looks way more professional than my google blog. I think I might use Wordpress aswell.Your thoughts on this Regards.
lol Chris you freaking rock…. enough said
Let the nay sayers nay
Don’t care about what they say
It’a all Jibber Jabber anyway