DMB Haters?

[jambands67]

Whenever I strike up conversation with a person I meet the subject of music often comes up (seeing as I am a musician and a majority of the people I meet are musicians and artists) Of course when this subject comes up I bring up my favorite band, DMB. About 1 out of 10 people I meet like them, and no one I have met is really a fan per say. So 90% of the people I meet don't like Dave or DMB and about half of those absolutely loath them like no other. It's a bit depressing because i have only 1 or 2 people I know that i can share my love of DMB with. Does anyone else experience this at all?

[moccasin]

As far as DMB is concerned, you either get it or you don't. I gave up a long time ago trying to explain to people the virtues of the band.

[CrashTheStone41]

A lot of people dislike DMB... that reality. I don't let it effect the way I view a person that I recently meet though; that would be ludicrous

[jambands67]

Yea I've noticed. It's just very perplexing because wit these people I'm referencing we agree on most other music. The musicianship and lyrics are just of such high quality and artistic integrity that it doesn't make sense to me not to like it. The only one i understand is when someone says they don't like Dave's voice, even though I love it I can understand that reasoning.

[Jive]

Originally Posted by moccasin

as far as dmb is concerned, you either get it or you don't. I gave up a long time ago trying to explain to people the virtues of the band.

EXACTLY what you said, if i try to get a fried to like them i just try to get them to come to a show rather than try to get them into it before hand

[crashintonickdm]

i gave up during high school. like someone else said, you have to get it.

[jas230314]

ive found if someone is open minded to them, and they listen to stuff I am playing in the car or what have you, they end up getting really really into them.

if they are close minded, and already know "Dmb sucks" once the bands name comes up, then they will never enjoy them or give them a chance

[CGTP13]

As others have said you either get it or you don't. I'm just glad that I do get it.

[luke77c]

i hear all of you. For instance, up until about 2006, i loathed DMB like no other, given i was 13 and naive, plus i had that preconcieved notion that they sucked. but when i was open minded, i instantly fell in love, and they became my favortie by far in a matter of weeks

[dtv001]

It seems like everyone I know either loves DMB or hates them, not too much in between. I have several friends who are in to Phish and they all seem to hate DMB. On the other hand, most of my DMB friends hate Phish. Overall though I don't really know too many people that casually listen to them, usually one extreme or the other.

[comerelaxnow]

Alot of people hate DMB purely because of their fans.

[PWall]

Originally Posted by comerelaxnow

Alot of people hate DMB purely because of their fans.

hahah i have to agree with this.

[Jive]

Originally Posted by dtv001

It seems like everyone I know either loves DMB or hates them, not too much in between. I have several friends who are in to Phish and they all seem to hate DMB. On the other hand, most of my DMB friends hate Phish. Overall though I don't really know too many people that casually listen to them, usually one extreme or the other.

IMO they are 2 completely different kind of music with 2 completely different kinds of followers. However, i do believe people who really enjoy music and appreciate the amazing art that both these bands create will like both (maybe one more than the other). Again like someone said before it's all about being open-minded.

[zajDmB1]

I come across this A LOT since I basically only hang out in music clubs or bars with a lot of hipsters haha, and I've come to the conclusion that there is one simple answer. The idea of the stereotypical DMB scene, ie a bunch of douchey bros, is about 100 times bigger than the music will ever be. Modern music has always been a scene thing and there's a lot of people who basically play by the rules to a T.

Like you said, the amount of people I meet who not only have similar taste as me but LOVE the bands I love, but then end up hating DMB, is astounding. I do meet some rational people who just don't like his voice, or don't like music with a lot of sax and/violin, which is understandable, but its also like 1 out of 15 I meet.

The one thing that confuses me is jazz guys. Jazz guys can be just as retardedly pretentious as hipster musicians, with the huge difference that jazz guys can actually play as opposed to mashing their guitars to make noise, so you'd assume they would appreciate that. But most of them strongly dislike DMB, as well, which is weird because its not like DMB isn't a band of very talented musicians. I have a ton of great musician friends who don't focus on jazz who, even if they don't like DMB, will happily say they are great musicians. Which is why I came to the conclusion its all about the notion of the scene. Two of the more extreme music fans hate the band, while everyone in the middle either likes, its just not their cup of tea or is apathetic.

Case in point: Pitchfork had an article of bands you should see at Bonnaroo since there is a lot of overlaps. It lists Stevie Wonder, which is fine, and he's the only act playing at that time. Scroll to Sunday night, DMB is the only act playing at that time and they don't even list them. Perfect example of catering to a scene. God forbid an indie blog admit DMB is a good band. I've seen Stevie Wonder twice and its a great show, but I guarantee DMB will be better.

[canes101190]

Originally Posted by CGTP13

As others have said you either get it or you don't. I'm just glad that I do get it.

Yes.

[Funkyhamster]

Originally Posted by comerelaxnow

Alot of people hate DMB purely because of their fans.

^ This.

A lot of DMB "fans" (who may or may not actually know any songs) are really obnoxious, so the people who would actually appreciate the musicianship of the band are put off by the stereotypes about the fans. It doesn't help that most people with good taste in music tend to be somewhat pretentious.

(you can explain anything with enough blatant generalizations)

[styx491]

A lot of people don't like Dave's voice and style of singing. That's fine with me, to each his own, but what really bothers me is when people say they don't like DMB cause they are so dark. Really? I mean yea, Blue Water is dark.... DDTW is dark.... But they won a Grammy for So Much To Say which is so not dark. And some of my most inspirational and uplifting moments in recent years came because of DMB songs (Pig being the major culprit).

I also don't understand when they have said that "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die" is a dark phrase. Oh well, music is open to interpretation.

[Taylor/Martin]

Originally Posted by styx491

A lot of people don't like Dave's voice and style of singing. That's fine with me, to each his own, but what really bothers me is when people say they don't like DMB cause they are so dark. Really? I mean yea, Blue Water is dark.... DDTW is dark.... But they won a Grammy for So Much To Say which is so not dark. And some of my most inspirational and uplifting moments in recent years came because of DMB songs (Pig being the major culprit).

I also don't understand when they have said that "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die" is a dark phrase. Oh well, music is open to interpretation.

I'll actually have to agree with those people who said the music is dark. I mean, let's look at the breakdown of the albums:

UTTAD: 5/12 songs are dark/darker

Crash: 2/12 songs are darker (that's actually an underestimate probably)

BTCS: 7/11 songs are dark (including Pig; it might be inspirational, but it is lyrically dark in parts)

Everyday: 4/12 songs are dark

Busted Stuff: I'd argue that 10/11 are dark

Stand Up: 3/14 are dark

Big Whiskey: 7/13 are dark

[CGTP13]

What about the "OMG all their songs sound the same".

[Taylor/Martin]

Originally Posted by CGTP13

What about the "OMG all their songs sound the same".

I love that one. I mean, people like what they like, but verrrry few DMB songs sound similar. They might be musically similar, but they don't sound as such.

[CGTP13]

Originally Posted by Taylor/Martin

I love that one. I mean, people like what they like, but verrrry few DMB songs sound similar. They might be musically similar, but they don't sound as such.

I mean think about it. I'll Back You Up sounds so similar to Last Sto, I can't believe we don't notice it.

[comerelaxnow]

Originally Posted by CGTP13

What about the "OMG all their songs sound the same".

I LOVE that one. Then they go off and listen to their Nickelback. One of the things i LOVE about DMB is their music is so diverse. I mean sure they have that signature sound but most songs are so totally diffrent its insane

[Taylor/Martin]

Originally Posted by CGTP13

I mean think about it. I'll Back You Up sounds so similar to Last Sto, I can't believe we don't notice it.

Wait...they're not the same song?!?

[Funkyhamster]

DMB dark? Sure, the songs are about weighty things, but I still get an uplifting, life-is-good vibe from 90% of DMB songs. I actually think DMB is one of the "happiest" bands out there; that's the reason I love them so much. I guess different people interpret music in different ways...

[cntrlnydmbfan]

One of my buddies friends referred to them as a "chick band". Whatever that means lol.

[comerelaxnow]

If i only listened to the radio singles of DMB i would probably not like them as much as i do. So to be fair to some people i can understand people not liking them on that level.

[CGTP13]

Originally Posted by Taylor/Martin

Wait...they're not the same song?!?

Nah, Last Stop is about communism. One of the first lines says it all "Fire grows from the east". Fire is red, red symbolizes communism.

[comerelaxnow]

Originally Posted by cntrlnydmbfan

One of my buddies friends referred to them as a "chick band". Whatever that means lol.

They probably went to highschool or college during Crash Into Me and id probably agree with them if i heard that and only that and never touched a DMB album again

[Taylor/Martin]

Originally Posted by Funkyhamster

DMB dark? Sure, the songs are about weighty things, but I still get an uplifting, life-is-good vibe from 90% of DMB songs. I actually think DMB is one of the "happiest" bands out there; that's the reason I love them so much. I guess different people interpret music in different ways...

To the bolded, I agree with you, but you can't discount that a clear majority of the music is dark. There's always a poll popping up on here that says, "Do you like the dark or happy songs better?" and most people pick dark because it has the majority of the "epic" songs in it (ie. Bartender, Seek Up, The Stone, #41, Big Eyed Fish, Rhyme & Reason, Typical, Warehouse, Squirm, Lying in the Hands of God, etc)

[Taylor/Martin]

Originally Posted by CGTP13

Nah, Last Stop is about communism. One of the first lines says it all "Fire grows from the east". Fire is red, red symbolizes communism.

Oh, yeah. That's right. I must have been confused with some other song. Dave's clearly a commie. I mean, he just liberated um...Kit Kat Jam. What color is a Kit Kat's wrapper??? I rest my case.