~ New Music Monday ~ On Wednesday ~ Dear Kip Moore and The Slow Hearts ~

I am interrupting my regularly scheduled Grey's Anatomy rerun viewing to write this post. For ANYONE that knows me even a little bit you know that I must be some kind of riled to put a pause on Grey's, even if it is a rerun. With Kip Moore's, "Wild Ones" album sound tracking this moment I am writing this post specifically to a band that I have become a serious fan of, Kip Moore and The Slow Hearts. I am also writing this for a group that I am proud to consider myself apart of , Kip Moore "Die Hard" Fans. A term that he uses frequently when speaking of those that support him, attend shows, buy the records, follow his social media, etc. I don't Twitter, but I do like to surf the twitter sphere now and then because artists will sometimes do Twitter specific promo's, give away, etc. there that they don't do on other social media. I also enjoy reading all that fellow fans have to say about their concert experience, run in with an artist, and what ever. Last night I was enjoying some brain candy in the form of Twitter when I came across a small rumble between a entertainment "personality" and several Kip Moore Die Hard fans.

To catch up any new fans right quick, Kip is known by his fan base for not really liking when folks watch a show, be it his or anyone else's, through the screen of their phone. He hates to see a party going on via his show, to see that one person, dead center, who has been texting the entire time is missing it all. Die Hard fans have also become rather accustom to Mr. Moore swiping a cell phone from a fan during a show or addressing them personally by serenading them in order to encourage them to be in the moment, to realize where they are, who they are with, and what's going on right there in front of them. I believe he understands you want to relive some of those amazing show moments and idk he has ever "taken" a phone from someone he has seen videoing for the first time of a performance. It's the folks that spend the entire performance experiencing it or not, because of their phone. Well, several weeks ago at a "Lady's Lock In", a special show that tickets had to be WON in order to attend, Kip was captured on video (ironically) getting the phone of a fan, reading her texts out loud and even calling the friend this fan had been texting with. It was an intimate event where the audience expected some form of interaction with Moore.You can hear the giggles, whispers and sheer joy of the audience as they watched and wondered what he would next. This vid was the spark for the Twitter brush fire when a fellow entertainment "personality" stated that 1. Everyone texts. It isn't personal. and 2. Do a better concert. Along with this Tweet was a FB post posing the question , "Funny or a little over the top?" referring to the phone confiscation Moore is known for by his fans. Kip Moore and The Slow Hearts have an extremely passionate fan base that took about one second to jump onto the comment sections of these posts and defend their favorite artist. To be sure, the haters chimed in as well, of course. Now, this isn't the first time that this "personality" has used their in ability to be professional with ALL artists to gain headlines and listeners. Keep that in mind if you choose to make a comment on their social media. This is like a virtual billboard in the center of Nashville, the difference being that this didn't cost them a dime and it's getting them much more exposure than that ridiculous billboard ever did. I will attach the video from the event near the end of this post for your viewing pleasure, but can we all agree that when an artist does a show that is so exclusive you have to WIN tickets, it is a bit of waste to sit on your phone the entire time??? How is this even a question??!! Especially when other fans would have LOVED your seat!!! I think that one of the major problems for this "personality" and the questions they pose is that they do not understand the fan base. As in this particular fan base, not just fans in general.

I have seen vids where before returning the phone to its owner Kip takes a pic with the phone, autographs it, or does something a little special for that particular fan. Moore himself stated that after this particular confiscation he gave the fan tickets to his next show. I am POSITIVE she and the person on the other end of his "I'm just messing with you, but I'm not just messing with you" phone call found it to be TOTALLY worth the phone high jacking. I have yet to see a video or social media comment from fans expressing their anger over his giving them one on one attention by taking their phone or asking them to stop recording. And let us be real, brother is selling out regular shows left and right, so we all know that the front rows/pit are usually filled with legit Die Hard fans who know exactly who they are dealing with and what they've gotten themselves into by attending a Kip Moore and The Slow Hearts concert, front of house none the less. I don't know that Kip has ever ventured into the crowd to seek out an obsessive phone user to punish them publicly or seriously for their phone addiction. He isn't taking special effort, it's a gag, it's a funny, it is something that his fans in particular, LOOK FORWARD TOO!!! "Who is he gonna call out?" "Who is he going to serenade?" "How long do I have to hold my phone in front of my face pretending to video tape before he notices me, jacks my phone and puts his number in it, I mean serenades me?!!". MONEY, that at the next show he doesn't even need stage lighting or special effects due to the glow of the cell phones that are being used in the front sections just hoping that he will take their phone.

Kip Moore - Lady's Lock In Event

 I think this particular YouTube post may

be from Whiskey Riff.

My point? This outlet was the only one that I have come across to repost this story with a somewhat negative and questionable spin. "Spin" being the key word. As I mentioned before, what you can expect from certain breeds of entertainers is that they will do anything to attain your attention. Including mud wrestling in the town square. I feel this "personality" in particular just wants to play in the mud and due to past experiences knows that Die Hard fans and even Kip, will jump onto any hate that is pointed the Slow Hearts way. I think this kid got exactly what they wanted, attention, comments, and listeners. Heck, I am even giving into the ploy by writing this post. But I, just like many other fans, couldn't leave the negative spin unaddressed or possibly leave you (Kip) and the guys even moderately discouraged.

I feel CONFIDENT that I speak for ALL fans, Die Hard or otherwise when I say that when something or someone that we truly believe in, have invested in, and who continues to prove their worth as a writer, singer, player, entertainer, professional and just flat out human, is seemingly attacked for no good reason other than publicity, we get this fire in our belly and a extra beat in our heart to step up and defend them. After all, they are apart of our every day lives. As I said we have invested in this circus with our time, finances, and reputations. By sharing the music via our social media, with our friends/families, and by writing blogs (that one may be me specific, wink wink). This is our circus, these are our monkeys and if you've messed with one of us, you've messed with all of us. These artists/bands voices are what gets us through the work day, their lyrics remind of us of who we once were and who we would like to be, their performances stop time for two hours and make all things right and I'm not speaking solely of Kip though it all sure does fit. I think that Ran Fans, No Shoes Nation, and a ton of others would also agree with this paragraph. So yes, it IS to be taken personally.

Kip Moore and The Slow Hearts, sorry that this has taken so long to get to, but you continue being you and we will continue to have your back. I hate that you even felt as though you had to address the post via your social media or any other outlet. If I were a member of your team (not that anyone didn't advice you this way), I would have asked you to take a breath, read through the positive, encouraging and smart comments of your fiercely loyal fans. I would have suggested that you give a shout out to those that have your back in radio, on tour, and on social media. Taking this opportunity to thank all those that probably rarely get the thanks you wish you could give when you are at a tour stop in their town. I encourage you and I am sure that fans will expect you to continue to push us to be in the moment at shows, in the sign lines, and at meet and greets. We hope this foolishness won't give you pause when on stage or cause you to second guess yourselves. We know your voice spoken, written or sung.

Kip, what I am about to say is completely non music business friendly, but..........your fans........they get you. Here is the non music business friendly part, I'm unsure if it matters that anyone else does.

Die Hards: Can I make an annoying request? What if, instead of us taking our time to repost, retweet, blog (looking in mirror) negatively comment, etc. this one tweet/FB post by a known non-fan, and we instead take that time to request "Running For You" with our local radio stations. I believe that I read just today that it is on the Billboard top 20 at #17. We waited a long time for this particular track to land on a record so we owe it to get it on the air and moving upward. What do ya say?!!??

Kip sharing how important fans are.

Kip Moore - @ a New York Performance - Fall 2015

YouTube Video - I'm not even sure who posted it

to give them proper credit.