Trainhoppers hated on in today's Journal-Gazette

adam atherton · Post by **adam atherton** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 5:20 pm

Trainhoppers @ the indiana hotel was my daughter's first concert.

Post by **cwallace** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 5:27 pm

I think the point of the letter, though it may have crossed the line a little, is still valid. This town is always proclaiming 'family safe' and 'family friendly', but they don't really ever appeal to the MUCH younger crowd with these shows.

I am not endorsing bringing out all 'kids' bands to something like this, but promote it a little different...or come up with a way of distinguishing where the age cut of might be...

When people say family you almost inadvertently think YOUNGER children...dunno..I can just kinda see their point...

And I love the trainhoppers...

I think they are bitter of course...hence the letter...and decided to pull an obvious NON-family song to the forefront of their argument.

Chris

2tone · Post by **2tone** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:31 pm

how do they define "family entertainment"?

i have a 10 yr old, 6 yr old, and a 9 month baby and none of them could care less what type of music is goin on.

RandomDouche0001 · Post by **RandomDouche0001** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 12:40 pm

lol sounds like how most people view original music in this town. Performer of the year, hmm cover band. So does it really matter who played to begin with? /sigh

kh_man · Post by **kh_man** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 2:07 pm

This is a little late to the discussion but I really don't think bitter has anything to do with her intentions. As a children's songwriter & entertainer myself I can tell you that I'm more concerned with what is made available as entertainment for kids in Fort Wayne than I care whether or not I'm playing the show. I also know that Gorgean's husband, James, plays shows all over the country and probably doesn't have the time or inclination to play the previously mentioned show.
We tend to be so desensitized to what we accept as entertainment we sometimes assume (myself included) that our children are simply little adults and have the ability to process content the same way we do when in reality nothing could be further from the truth. While I'm sure many of the Trainhoppers songs are completely benign I'm guessing some of the lyrical content may not be appropriate for small children. If you think kids don't pay attention to that kind of thing, think again. Kids are walking sponges, they soak up everything in their path. If you (I'm not refering to anyone in particular) don't mind your little ones having intimate knowledge of adult issues (ie. sex, drugs, etc.) that's your business, I prefer to delay at least a few things until the teenage years.
I really think Gorgean's point was that if you're going to host a "family friendly" event then at least have part of the entertainment focus on the kids that will be there early in the evening. Is a three year old going to leave crying because he was violated by the Trainhoppers? Obviously not. But...would the kid have had a much better time dancing to music that was designed just for a 3 year old. Absolutely. So...my final point is, if you're going to advertise a family event, make it a family event. Not something that's really designed for adults that you can also drag your child along to if you can't find a baby sitter.
Thanks for listening
KH

P.S. If you read the editorial carefully you'll realize she's not bashing the Trainhoppers, but questioning the wisdom of the organizers.

Oliver's Army · Post by **Oliver's Army** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 2:24 pm

If you read her post closer you would have also noticed that it was written BEFORE the event in *hopes* that the LTH didn't play certain tunes.

You would think that LTH has a *bit* of common sense knowing full well the nature of the event and would adjust their setlist accordingly.

Knowing that she wrote the letter in advance of the gig exposed her pettiness and renders your point moot.

If it was "Kiddie Music" it would have been a Children's Event not a Family Event. Last time I checked that involved ALL ages too.

I thought the producers of the show had chosen wisely.

But thanks for the lecture.

kh_man · Post by **kh_man** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 3:40 pm

I guess what I was trying to say was, that all of the promo for the event made it appear to be very child centric. It was Gorgean's opinion, and mine, that adult bands (regardless of who the artist is) are not generally appropriate for young kids. I don't feel that the timing of the letter makes an adult oriented artist any more or less appropriate. And all of that aside, the kids would have had more fun with a band that catered specifically to them. And...(here's the preachy part) are we so self absorbed with our adult selves that we can't give our children one lousy hour of their own entertainment? The band in question could have been my favorite band on the planet and my opinion would remain the same. LTH are inconsequential to the discussion. And all of this, of course, is only my opinion.
I was hoping to inject another point of view that may have been lacking from the discussion previously.
These boards are for all points of view, right? If I'm wrong please feel free to correct me.
Thanks
KH
P.S. Please don't get me wrong, I think LTH produce excellent music.

Oliver's Army · Post by **Oliver's Army** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 4:00 pm

I understand what you're saying as well as her point.

What you (and she) want is a Kids day. Understandable. But what she doesn't seem to get it that it wasn't ever intended to be a Kids day. It is tough to promote and even tougher to get bodies (other than parents) to attend.

IF it was billed as a Kids day they yes, LTH would not (perhaps) be the *best* choice.

However...it was a family day. A day where you take the ENTIRE family out for the event. You have to think that they picked entertainment that would appeal to the 40 something parent, the 20 something young adult , the teens....and yes, the kids.

If it were just kids music that event would have failed miserably... essentially diving away everyone but the parents of very young children.

There is a time and place for a children's event complete with kiddie music.

This was not it.

kh_man · Post by **kh_man** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 4:30 pm

OA
While many of your thoughts are valid I think you misunderstand my overall point. I don't want a "kids day," and I certainly "get" that 40 year olds don't want to sit through a kids band.
The promo spots, however, led parents (myself included) to view this as an event geared toward families with young children. The script read something to the effect of, "bring the kids, moon walk, face painting, games, so forth and so on. So...#1. It was a little misleading as to what the event really was, and #2. I would never want or expect to have a family event with 3 hours of children's music. (by the way, kids music does not have to suck. Barney just happens to be the worst of it.) I was trying to say maybe there could be a little bit for everybody. I can't belive people are so selfish that they can't accept 45 min. of music that is'nt standard adult fare. And...if that is the case then we are a pathetic lot.
Respectfully
KH

Oliver's Army · Post by **Oliver's Army** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 4:38 pm

So the question is...

IF there was (only) 45 minutes of kids music, would she still have complained about LTH?

Especially if the 45 minutes was anyone but her husband?

Funny how *after* the event not one person complained.

big ben parliament · Post by **big ben parliament** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 9:31 pm

For the record, Matt Kelly is the nicest guy I know.

I also know that this has nothing to do with the price of tea in China, but he really is an awfully good fella.

adam atherton · Post by **adam atherton** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 10:05 pm

big ben parliament wrote:Matt Kelly is the nicest guy I know.

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 10:46 pm

God forbid a parent actually having to sit down with their child to explain what's right and what's wrong.

Back to your regularly scheduled program.

HillgrassBluebillyFTW · Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:03 pm

i personally would let me kids listen to the Trainhoppers un-edited.

Garr · Post by **Garr** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 12:11 am

Our children in the U.S. are soft, trucking wussies! They are sheltered. They are pampered. They are blinded to the neutrality of existence and the indifference of nature. Because of soft parents in the generation between mine and my parents, we have children who never understand the concept of consequence. They never learn what it means to fail and how important it is to be able to pick yourself up from failure, or that it's a major part of dealing with life outside the bubble.

Let them hear some questionable content, then be a trucking parent and explain it to them when they ask. This is a bunch of crybaby pansy nonsense.

Life Sucks. Get a forking helmet!
-Dennis Leary