Comments on: Best Gig Ever: Band Response

By: Jamie

Jamie — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:50:35 +0000

ehmilio wrote:
“They also admit in their about/”Never heard us?” page that they include elements of fiction in their shows. It is clear that GOP’s and “Ted’s” stories in their program were sensationalized in order to draw in more ratings”

Really? I don’t see that. Interesting since This American Life is on public radio so it doesn’t even deal with ratings.

And to David Douglas Drummond, thanks for your gross generalization about NPR. Since This American Life is produced for PRI, not for its competitor NPR, perhaps the folks at This American Life would agree.

By: CSE

CSE — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 15:06:19 +0000

Nice, I read the one from IE’s perspective, and this really helps me grasp it in my mind.

By: Ghosty

Ghosty — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 07:51:00 +0000

I heard their initial response to it on the radio! :D I was reading the original mission page, and I’m like, that wasn’t really IE, was it? and I couldn’t remember the name of the band so I couldn’t match the names.

But when I saw the bit about Agent V climbing on stage and whispering “Thank you… thank you…” to the singer, I’m like, OMFG IT WAS IE AND GOP. because the band was describing that scene on the radio story! I mean, WOW! Small world! I love you guys. All of you. I love what you do, and I wish I lived in NYC with you. ^^

By: Kirara

Kirara — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 02:21:30 +0000

I think TAL’s goal is to antagonize IE. I mean, seriously. Leave them alone. They were trying to make a band that might have not been as confident feel appreciated and enjoyed.

They succeeded.

Isn’t that a good thing?

It wasn’t intended as a ‘prank’. It wasn’t intended to make fools out of GOP. It was supposed to make people happy–that’s what the goal of all the IE missions are: a smile, a laugh.

I personally think that what IE did for GOP was a fabulous and kind thing. (I think I might listen to their music now…)

BRAVO, IE! KEEP UP YOUR FINE WORK! =)

By: Hater of Haters

Hater of Haters — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:46:48 +0000

I’m glad that Improv Everywhere decided to act on this mission. Not only is it embarrassing to play at an empty venue; it’s also frustrating and a little pathetic. Whether or not the “victims” like it, the act did give them FREE EXPOSURE that only helps them spread their band’s name to others. This kind of publicity would cost thousands to get via magazine articles or by any other kind of public means.
And what’s this about mind F*&&^%g? (Censored for your enjoyment) The Band didn’t seem to mind, IE did nothing mentally or physically harmful, and so therefore any responses by those dense thickheaded idiots are only trivial.
Oh and btw: I live in a small town in OHIO and now even I KNOW about them. How’s that for free publicity?

By: Kaylee

Kaylee — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 05:26:35 +0000

For the record, and for all those criticizing IE’s actions, allow me to pull from my own experiences performing when I say even if it’s a “fake” crowd, it’s still a crowd. I’ve played and performed for dead audiences before. It’s always disheartening to see that no one is having a good time, it’s just a bunch of people looking impatiently at their watches, hitting the bar or just standing there looking bored as all hell. But even if there’s just one person who shouts “YEAH! ROCK ON!” at the end of your set, it feels like an accomplishment, even if they weren’t fans. So I’m supportive of IE in this, in helping a band rock out when they have a load of dead audiences left to play to.

By: kiwinerd

kiwinerd — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:37:56 +0000

What I think is most interesting about those who strongly criticized this mission is the dripping sanctimoniousness of their comments. Newsflash, guys: it’s not up to you, a third party, to play self-appointed mother.

Also, the band did go out to that particular gig with the intention of performing. Anyone who has performed (theatrically or, in my case, musically) knows that performing always puts your emotions right on the line. Performing is *always* risky, emotionally. People who can’t stand the heat normally stay out of the kitchen.

I agree that IE has a *positive* philosophy, and I congratulate IE on that and the fact that they actually have the guts to go out and perform random acts of fun and joy. Multiple times.

IMHO it’s the armchair quarterbackers who always judge but never act (hypocrites) that we actually have to worry about.

I must say, in my entire life on the internet so far (since the days of BITNET) I don’t think I’ve seen a more enjoyable web site than this one. keep up the great work. Kudos to IE!

By: world party

world party — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:43:42 +0000

the band was upset not at IMPROVEVERYWHERE but at rollingstone, spin, and the media for perpetuating the lie that troubles for the band STOPPED a few days after the stunt. in reality the band has been hidden from the spotlight NOW, just as it is beginning to come into its own.kudos to IE for helping expose them, even if it was too early.

its quite a shame really that 2008 GOP wasnt in spin and on showtime.

By: Kulick a shade short

Kulick a shade short — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 17:47:17 +0000

The best gig ever happened about 3 years ago, and since then the band Ghosts of Pasha has changed quite a bit. I am obviously a fan of the group (there are some) even though i have not actually met them.

At this particular point, the “guitarist” Chris Partyka has been singing and playing clarinet on the recordings for over a year, and the band has changed their manifesto from seemingly coasting on exploitation “fame” (2004) to recording noteworthy slacker clarinet beatles fodder but kind of sucking live (2006) to actually sounding energetic and even cool on recordings AND live, resulting in a single released on real label DARLA records and even an EP to be released later on. (2007)

I hate to come off like such a salesman, but it seems to me like an awful lot of people are still discussing something that happened 3 years ago and not paying attention to what the band is doing at present. Anyone can easily peek in by going to http://www.ghostsofpasha.com.

By: IE Fan

IE Fan — Mon, 14 May 2007 23:47:06 +0000

It was NEVER REAL?!?! Am I the only one that has ever been to a rock show and gotten caught up in the “mosh pit mentality” even if I didn’t really dig the band that much? For argument’s sake let’s say this happens to, say, 1/3 of the people at your average rock show. Does that mean that 1/3 of the audience is faking it, not really having any fun, and that the band should be pissed off at them for screwing with their heads?

I know it’s not exactly the same thing, but it’s close enough. From what I’ve read the IE agents, although starting out faking, really got into the show and had a really good time. Just like me in the “mosh pit mentality” scenario. I may not have really dug the band as much as some others, but I still had a really good time once I got into it.

In my book, band rocking out + people having good time = successful show. Who cares why they were there. It could just as easily have been 100 guys that were drug in by their significant others against their will instead of a group of IE agents. As long as they ended up having a good time then everybody wins.