The great thing about being a music geek is championing the acts that we love, and debating against the acts which we hate.  This is all well and good when it’s all in good fun, however in the end we have to find a way to appreciate that our friends, family and foes may have a distinctively different perspective and enjoy completely different bands entirely (if at all – I have one buddy who doesn’t listen to music at all).  What gives us the right to shit over their favorite band(s) if we don’t perceive the same sort of value in the music?

It’s somewhat disheartening to see the hate and disdain being hurled over the recent spat of concert announcements coming to town, or to nearby provinces.  We are in the midst of a stellar list of acts being announced for the maritime region, but rather than enjoying the fact that the Maritimes have found their way back onto the concert touring circuit, concert goers would rather bitch and moan about what shows aren’t close enough, or aren’t making their way here, instead of what shows are coming this way.

Let’s embrace what shows we are being graced with, attend at least one and get the numbers up so that promoters know that we’re a viable market and will support the acts that come our way, rather than passing out pitchforks and torches and running them out of town (we all remember the Celine Dion fiasco of 2007, don’t we?).  Once we get the support behind those who come to town, the sooner we can get the bands we really want to see.  So as the title states – Don’t Hate, Appreciate!