--- In audities@yahoogroups.com, "Stewart Mason" <craigtorso@v...> wrote:

> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jaimie Vernon" <bullseyecanada@h...>
> > How many of us did NOT dress, talk and sing like the Beatles in
> > every band we were ever in until we developed our own style? How
> > many acts in the IPO pantheon have you seen that evoke not only the
> > musical style, but the dress code of acts from days gone by?
>
> And why are so many of them so proud of not having a single original
> idea of their own?

With all due respect, Stewart, given that you've never been to even one IPO 
show in the eight years of the festival's existence, are you really 
qualified to make such a claim?  Do you really have any idea as to what 
percentage of "IPO bands" are "Beatlesque" or don't have any original ideas?

> I'm with Jaimie on this one, there is only the
> tiniest shred of difference between being in Faceless "Beatlesque"
> Power Pop Band #4172 and wearing Star Wars footie pajamas to bed.

I don't know that Jaimie was trying to say that the IPO bands in question 
are all trying to ape The Beatles; I read his statement to mean that they 
were trying to evoke the styles of several bands from bygone days.  Anyway, 
that's not the major issue here: I call into question the lack of 
distinction that you claim exists between your two stated categories. 
Someone who wears Star Wars pajamas is not doing anything but Tefloning to 
an already existent construct, not unlike that of a Beatles tribute band, 
but no matter what anyone thinks, a band who is attempting to be 
"Beatlesque" is contributing something far different (and greater, IMHO) 
than that of a Beatle tribute band.  Let's take as an example the band who 
you seem to consider to be a paragon of this "virtue", Myracle Brah. 
Despite what anyone says when they claim that Myracle Brah "rips off 
Badfinger", the truth is that their songs are clearly different from those 
of Badfinger, even if they are not "original".  Andy Bopp's voice is clearly 
different from those of Pete Ham or Tommy Evans, and his guitar licks do not 
ape those of Joey Molland.  And, even if Myracle Brah's melody lines are 
evocative of Badfinger, there are several subtle differences between them. 
There are billions upon billions of different permutations that make up 
melody lines, vocal timbres, and guitar tones, etc.. and even if each 
element of the respective features of each of these bands are similar, in 
the aggregate they make up wholes that are easily distinguishable.  To my 
ears, even something as similar as songs on the first Spongetones album and 
songs on Meet The Beatles are easily distinguishable, as they both contain 
their own set of characteristics.

In sum, any band who writes their own songs, even those which are strongly 
evocative of bands from the past, is putting their own stamp on these ideas, 
and is therefore creating something that is unique and, by definition, 
original.
--
Pop Rules!!!!!
Take Care,
David