Ray La......who cares

[Pete]

I was extremely disappointed in Ray's comments when leaving the stage.  WOW, what an ego and  unappreciative ass.  Hope we never have to see him again at any Planet Bluegrass events.  aDon't need the rock star attitude.  You just ain't that great, dude.

 Listening to: Peter Rowan

[Otterricky]

What did Ray say? We could not hear his set because he was the ONLY artist that would not allow KOTO to broadcast his show! Wow, I guess what's good enough for Steve Winwood is not for big Ray......

[FaceOnMars]

What did Ray say? We could not hear his set because he was the ONLY artist that would not allow KOTO to broadcast his show! Wow, I guess what's good enough for Steve Winwood is not for big Ray......

I can't recall verbatim, but it was something to the effect of: "glad to see everyone dancing (in the distance), behind all of the 'dead bodies' in the foreground (poser pit)".

I thought it was actually kind of funny ... although I wouldn't have put it that way ... rather would've tried to say it like Rodrigo (of Rodrigo and Gabrielle) did last year a The Ride festival where he posed it in the form of a rhetorical question: "perhaps next year there won't be a fence which divides us".

Actually spoke to a friend this weekend who did have a poser ticket and mentioned (after he brought up the subject) that I've become less and less "militant" about not liking the poser pit (or any VIP situation) with each passing year.  However, truth be told ... I think the poser pit does alter the vibe in the way Ray alluded to (regardless how tastefully or not he put it).

Along similar lines, I think with the slow motion expansion of overall capacity over the past few years it seems as if the side areas where people dance seem to have been scrunched down a bit.

[Fred]

Here you go (http://www.heyreverb.com/blog/2014/06/23/telluride-bluegrass-festival-2014-day-four-photos-review/90992/#more-90992)

The dinner set headliner was Ray Lamontagne, who seemed a little prickly as he worked through a selection of new and old material. Lamontagne’s breathy vocals sounded strong in the high mountain air on his current single and the title of his new album, “Superanova.” Lamontagne was backed by a drummer, bassist, keyboard player/guitarist, and lead guitarist, and the band’s playing on “She’s the One” added weight to the tune. At one point, Lamontagne addressed the crowd in response to one woman who kept yelling, “I love you Ray!” He responded, “Folk festivals are all about lovey dovey, huggy kissy, best friend bullshit. I never dug it. Ever. But I’m here because I love you. It’s true. This is probably one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been in my life. So many nice people too. I met a lot of nice people walking around looking for coffee today. Hung-over, strung-out, but beautiful in their strung-outedness.” Lamontagne and bassist Zachariah Hegman stripped it down to the basics for a few songs, including the ever-popular “Trouble,” but the band came back to the stage for a ripping take on “Meg White,” during which they riffed briefly on “Seven Nation Army.”

[Schlagger]

Never heard of him.  After comments like that, I think I'll keep it that way.

[Pete]

What he said was "the hundred or so walking dead in the pit".   A little humility and gratefulness could go along way for this punk.  No need for him or his ilk.

 Listening to: Milk Drive

[FaceOnMars]

Regardless of one's take on Ray's attitude, I did find his comment a bit ironic ... since his set, while interesting, was probably the most challenging to dance to the entire afternoon/evening.

[BillyBeru]

Ray is a DICK

[Mandhoe]

Never hold the mirror up to affluents, they never like what they see.  I don't know much about Ray L(aside from that he's an artist for chicks), but it sounds like he was calling it like he saw it.  He obviously felt the crowd was not matching his energy/intensity, and took the liberty of challenging/calling you all out.  I wasn't there, so what the heck do I know, but some of you seem awfully defensive regarding his statements.  Lighten up 

 Listening to: Calexico

[BillyBeru]

Mandhoe, sorry but you have no frame of reference to be commenting. In addition to him being rude to 10k sweet people, his set sucked. He sold out to big record.

[Mozelle]

Bad, bad energy for such a great community of music lovers.  I have no appetite for the self-righteous, demeaning attitude displayed by Ray Lamontagne prior to and after his set in Telluride.  Please, Planet Bluegrass, leave these self-centered assholes OFF future lineups.  Goodbye Ray, no room for you or your attitude in my playlists.    Peace - jB

[ShatteredArm]

Never hold the mirror up to affluents, they never like what they see.  I don't know much about Ray L(aside from that he's an artist for chicks), but it sounds like he was calling it like he saw it.  He obviously felt the crowd was not matching his energy/intensity, and took the liberty of challenging/calling you all out.  I wasn't there, so what the heck do I know, but some of you seem awfully defensive regarding his statements.  Lighten up 

The crowd was perfectly fine... Except for maybe the poser pit.  But what he needs to realize is that those are his fellow artists, their family/friends, and other people with connections, so by whining to the whole audience instead of the people backstage, he did come across a little petty.  The worst part is that he ended his set ten minutes before the allotted cutoff... I'm fine if he wants to insult the poser pit, but don't punish the thousands of other people there.  That's where he comes across as a major dick.

[Linds]

Ray is famous for his prickly personality.  Apparently it's like pulling teeth to get the guy to tour in the first place, and you get the impression that he hates every minute of being on the stage.  His people skills definitely aren't his strong point.

Probably not the wisest thing to say to the poser pit, but from what I've read, the guy comes from a very working class background.  To see a bunch of enthusiastic fans (the "regular folks") beyond the fence dancing and getting into his music, while the poser pit sat there, got up to get a drink, talked to their neighbors, etc...  Yeah, I can kind of see his point.  But again, probably not what you want to say to the people that will ultimately be in charge of inviting you back or not.  Also, I was a little ticked that he didn't allow KOTO to stream him.  There may be something with his recording contracts that doesn't allow him to do it, but still...

[landshark]

Ray is famous for his prickly personality.  Apparently it's like pulling teeth to get the guy to tour in the first place, and you get the impression that he hates every minute of being on the stage.  His people skills definitely aren't his strong point.

Probably not the wisest thing to say to the poser pit, but from what I've read, the guy comes from a very working class background.  To see a bunch of enthusiastic fans (the "regular folks") beyond the fence dancing and getting into his music, while the poser pit sat there, got up to get a drink, talked to their neighbors, etc...  Yeah, I can kind of see his point.  But again, probably not what you want to say to the people that will ultimately be in charge of inviting you back or not.  Also, I was a little ticked that he didn't allow KOTO to stream him.  There may be something with his recording contracts that doesn't allow him to do it, but still...

Dylan is hard too but some of the best things come out of  raw unfiltered expression. I laughed hard . No BS. To blow smoke up someone's butt to appease is BS. No wonder this society has low coping skills. This society is ruined by fear of expression. Afraid to offend. Where is Lenny....

 Intellect comes from the weighing in and making your own choices and decisions in life and in art. Must we be sheep to be excepted?

[greg_from_aa]

The crowd was perfectly fine... Except for maybe the poser pit.  But what he needs to realize is that those are his fellow artists, their family/friends, and other people with connections, so by whining to the whole audience instead of the people backstage, he did come across a little petty.  The worst part is that he ended his set ten minutes before the allotted cutoff... I'm fine if he wants to insult the poser pit, but don't punish the thousands of other people there.  That's where he comes across as a major dick.

The early ending was the best part of his set for me. It let me mosey up front for a front fence stand to hear the House Band tear the canyon down to close out this year's festival.