I think it’s only a stigma that keeps all the bands you mentioned from being popular in the conventional sense. UM, tDB, STS9 et al. play longwinded music sometimes, and the people who publish mainstream periodicals these days are inclined to hate that. Thus, we’ll never see Barber rocking the shades on the cover of the Rolling Stone.

But that’s not a bad thing. It just reflects how out-of-touch the mainstream press is. But Umphrey’s McGee is still selling plenty of tickets because music listeners are more inclined to believe their friends than some anonymous posturing writer. Since these bands are making dough and selling out shows, I don’t see any reason for them to change their business model. It’s the Rolling Stones and New York Timeses of the world that are proving to be obsolete. And that’s why I read your blog more than those rags.

I think it’s only a stigma that keeps all the bands you mentioned from being popular in the conventional sense. UM, tDB, STS9 et al. play longwinded music sometimes, and the people who publish mainstream periodicals these days are inclined to hate that. Thus, we’ll never see Barber rocking the shades on the cover of the Rolling Stone.

But that’s not a bad thing. It just reflects how out-of-touch the mainstream press is. But Umphrey’s McGee is still selling plenty of tickets because music listeners are more inclined to believe their friends than some anonymous posturing writer. Since these bands are making dough and selling out shows, I don’t see any reason for them to change their business model. It’s the Rolling Stones and New York Timeses of the world that are proving to be obsolete. And that’s why I read your blog more than those rags.

I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing when the WSJ or Billboard writes an article like this. It allows them to make larger points about the music industry while pointing to a hip, indie band that bloggers have been discussing (for years now). And I agree on the CD thing…what’s funny is that, at least in my opinion, CYHSY’s music is probably less accessible to your typical WSJ reader than say, a moe. concert, but maybe moe.’s just too far off their radar (which is one of my points).

I think we’ll continue to see versions of this article every 4-6 months for the next couple years, each with a different spin. I won’t hold my breath for a feature on any of the bands I mentioned above…that might take another “Big Cypress” moment.

By the way, thanks for reading/commenting!

I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing when the WSJ or Billboard writes an article like this. It allows them to make larger points about the music industry while pointing to a hip, indie band that bloggers have been discussing (for years now). And I agree on the CD thing…what’s funny is that, at least in my opinion, CYHSY’s music is probably less accessible to your typical WSJ reader than say, a moe. concert, but maybe moe.’s just too far off their radar (which is one of my points).

I think we’ll continue to see versions of this article every 4-6 months for the next couple years, each with a different spin. I won’t hold my breath for a feature on any of the bands I mentioned above…that might take another “Big Cypress” moment.

By the way, thanks for reading/commenting!

Jam and other bands from String Cheese, Phish, Moe on down to newbies like Hot Buttered Rum have been following the Grateful Dead model re-worked for the digital ads model for years now and only Phish and maybe the String Cheese/Madison House got any mainstream ink. Perhaps its because CYHSY are actually a band that the industry imagines could be on a major label?

Either way l’il ol bloggers like you and me (at Hypebot http://www.hyepbot.com) will carry the spread the word. It ain’t much but maybe it reaches the folks that matter. How many WSJ readers went out and bought a Clap CD?

Jam and other bands from String Cheese, Phish, Moe on down to newbies like Hot Buttered Rum have been following the Grateful Dead model re-worked for the digital ads model for years now and only Phish and maybe the String Cheese/Madison House got any mainstream ink. Perhaps its because CYHSY are actually a band that the industry imagines could be on a major label?

Either way l’il ol bloggers like you and me (at Hypebot http://www.hyepbot.com) will carry the spread the word. It ain’t much but maybe it reaches the folks that matter. How many WSJ readers went out and bought a Clap CD?