MovieChat Forums > Dig! (2005) Discussion > Anyone else annoyed with Joel Gion? (the...

Anyone else annoyed with Joel Gion? (the guy on the cover)

posted 19 years ago by IMDbID25
93 replies | jump to latest

I find it kind of lame that a tambourine player who doesn't write any music, dresses/acts like an attention whore "rock star" and comes off like he's important to the band or something. Dude, all you are doing is banging a tambourine, it's like one up from a triangle player and maybe two up from being a roadie/groupie. He's even out there in the front of the stage as if he was the main guy. I'd be embarrassed. He was just riding the coattails of Anton, at least members like Matt Hollywood were helping out with writing duties and playing a "real" instrument (guitar). Joel's even on the cover of the DVD. I mean, WHO IS THIS GUY?

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] Ivan-Meets-GI-Joe 19 years ago

Joel Gion, Spokesman of the Revolution. Recognize.

Oh, and he was the only guy that said funny things that were MEANT to be funny, as opposed to Anton being the hilariously arrogant junkie he is.

-----------
What do we got...
What do we got...
What do we got...
Magnificence.

[–] ultradamno 19 years ago

Oh, and he was the only guy that said funny things that were MEANT to be funny, as opposed to Anton being the hilariously arrogant junkie he is.

Well, I'll give you that, but the sunglass just have to go (though, as affectations go, that's still preferable to Genesis P-Orridge and the shockingly creepy pageboy haircut). Of all of them my favorie was Zia McCabe, you know...for the toplessness...and for never declaring herself to be a genius...or punching anyone...or, most importantly, for making no effort to look exactly like John (but ending up looking more like Sean) Lennon at any point...

[–] buddytheelf 19 years ago

Joel frickin rules! He's the funniest person in the movie (and the cutest). He was supposed to narrate the film but he declined-I wish he had...

If letters had eyebrows, these would be arched-James St. James

[–] git011 19 years ago

He may be cute and funny...what's that got to do with a tambourine player who thinks he's rock star?

[–] pianoplayer327 19 years ago

who says tambourine players can't be rock stars?huh>?joel is the cat's pajama's, straight up and down brotha.

[–] git011 19 years ago

Well, it's just me here, so yahknow, grain of salt....but doesn't strike you as a bit ummmmm superfluous? What's next? Cow bell? And parading around like you're the cat's pajamas as if there is reallly any use for u. I found it hilarious. But I really liked the movie. whatever, nevermind

[–] IMDbID25 19 years ago

That's what I'm saying.

[–] incendium 19 years ago

Joel brings new meaning to the concept of a mascot for a band. I am primarily anti-mascot, especially the ones who stand on stage and do not much more than shake a tamborine and look sullen (I'm talking to you the chick out of the morning after girls!). But Joel does the mascot gig with style - he's like a court jester who's left to entertain everyone after Anton kicks someone in the head. Give him a break, it probably sh**ts him to tears that he will primarly be known as the funny tamborine guy with the mutton chops out of Dig so take solace in that.

xo - i'll fake it through the day with some help from johnnie walker red - xo

[–] IMDbID25 19 years ago

Good point.

[–] vsannu3553 14 years ago

Excellent point. If the music industry was just about music, there would be a lot more uglier performers signed to major labels.

[–] EBuzzMiller 14 years ago

Joel was in great form when I saw the BJM on Saturday night.
Anton and Matt Hollywood have apparently put their differences aside at last, and the 'new' BJM was absolutely great.

He's a sailor,he's in New York.We get this guy laid we won't have any trouble

[–] Clothshire 19 years ago

Yeah, I found Joel to be slightly annoying. He seemed more like a persona than a person. He struck me as being the kind of guy who, instead of cultivating any substance, cultivated an image. Rather than being a genuinely interesting person (like Courtney, Anton, Matt or, heck, for that matter, Joseph Campbell), he has learned how to act like an interesting person. In addition to tambourine playing, he has mastered five or six facial expressions. If he can only acquire three more skills in life, he will have equalled my kitchen blender (which has nine functions). I've noticed that a lot of people, like Joel, who have dull personalities, bland brains and no talent frequently affect an appearance that is interesting ("I'm not interesting but my image sure is"). His most redeeming characteristic is that he seemed to know when to get out of the way. Unlike, say, Paris Hilton or Joan Rivers' humdrum daughter who constantly mug in front of cameras, Joel knew when to make himself scarce. Who knows? Maybe I'm completely wrong and he actually will be a witty, smart and interesting guy who one day will outgrow confusing contrived outrageousness with the reality of being a gray blob.

[–] drewmb 19 years ago

He seemed like a good-natured guy but I thought he seemed sort of disingenuine...like he was in Mooney Suzuki or something. I don't have a problem with a member of a band just playing tambourine though; I think it's a cool gimmick actually.

[–] erikbirdman 19 years ago

Coming from someone who knows Joel personally(he works nextdoor to me),I can say that he is one of the nicest,funniest,and most humble guys I've met in a long while.He doesn't act like a "rockstar", even though he is.And of all the films spacey,self-absorbed denizens,Joel(and maybe Peter from BRMC)manage to be the only ones who seem to maintain a sense of levity,and/or a level of detachment.
Between Anton's bloated sense of importance and childish shenanigans,and the big-ego-small-talent-refusing-to-see-how-luck-and-looks-got-them-where-they-are
Dandy Warhols,I'd say it's a fielders choice of annoying characters.So like I mentioned before.At least Joel is funny.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] Clothshire 19 years ago

Hi Duke, BRMC stands for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. They're really good. I don't know how mainstream or esoteric your musical tastes are, but if they were mainstream I would compare them to Jet, later Jesus and Mary Chain, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Strokes. If you like them, I would recommend what I consider to be an even better "undiscovered" band, the Stratford 4.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] mglasson 19 years ago

Tamborrine isn't exactly a brain-dead art. Its hard, I know, I was a keyboardist and attempted tambourrine at times in shows and stumbled on it.

But that's not the point. Joel brought a lot of presance, flourish and character to the band, on and off stage. He had a lot to bring to the table. Half the bands I see are boring as hell because of their total lack of stage presence. Its an art unto itself. Stop being so self important, you get on stage and entertain, its not exactly an easy task.

[–] juno6000 19 years ago

I agree with mglasson. It's not as easy as it looks.

I also felt that Joel seemed to play the role of keeping Anton in line as best he could, serving to defuse situations at times. I think he was an important part of the band's stage presence and image, though I do not know what he contributed to songwriting.

I found him to be intelligent, well spoken and highly entertaining. Certainly a movie buff. I really think the movie would have been a lot less entertaining without him, as would the bands performances.