I myself have struggled with some of the very same thoughts and noticed a lot of the same things on the current tour as far as some of the newer fans only knowing songs like “If I Had Eyes” and “Better Together” and acting disinterested for the older tunes. I also noticed a lot of disinterest when Mason played, which was a shame, as he put on a great set both times I saw him. But like someone posted earlier, you only own your connection with the music and I try not to let the other stuff get me down. Most of the time I succeed :)

I have to admit that the first time I ever got to know Jack Johnson was in summer 2005 as Good People was played in the radio.
I think it’s wrong to say that I’m no a true Jack Johnson fan just because I haven’t experienced his beginnings as a singer (especially “Brushfire Fairytales” and “On and On") for I got aware of him after “In Between Dreams”, which I think was his breakthrough in Europe, was released.
I think in Austria Jack isn’t yet that well-known as maybe in the US but I’ve already been able to convince some of my class mates of his music.

Even if I’m not bad in English and understand at least most of the messages in Jack’s songs it should be said that not everyone is a native speaker of English. What I want to express with this is that some people may have difficulties to find the messages.
I myself have already bought all of Jack’s albums since I got to know his music and even if I haven’t known him since he played as supporting act at the Australian Tour with Ben Harper I would nevertheless declare myself a real Jack Johnson fan.

Thanks for great three years I’ve now been aware of your music, Jack!

I have to jump in on this.  This is the first time I visit/participate in a forum discussion.  I saw Jack in Mansfield Mass Last week.  Something wasn’t right the whole time.  It has been bothering me ever since and I noticed myself searching on the net for a reason or answer.  I think I figured it out.  It has nothing to do with Jack going mainstream, however the fans are 50% of the show, believe it.  I am a musician and when I play a show, if the fans are not into it, no matter how good the music it effects the energy/vibe/performance. Bottom Line is his Music is great.  Nothing beats tuning in to his music when your at home or on the road and need a Jack fix.  What I DID realize is that it is not Jack/or the fans. And here is why.  I started listening to Jack when he had his bootlegs and opened for Ben Harper.(That is how I discovered him) I actually started listening more to him then my favorites (sublime, ben harper, g-love).  I love his latest cd as much as his first.  So it is not the tunes.  I used to hate Dave Matthews because of all fans that liked him because it was a cool thing to like and trendy/wanted to fit in ect...(not all fans, but some/think about it/ask someone if they have been to a dave concert/you will get yes/ then ask them if they own a cd.  The fact is I did not even listen to Dave and I hated him because of that.  Then I gave him a chance, started to enjoy his music, went to a concert, and enjoy him and like him for his talent.  MY POINT and THEORY:
I saw Jack at a minor league baseball stadium and 2005 in Brockton MA.  One of the best shows ever. Why was the show I just saw not even in contention with the 05 show?  The venue!!  Jack should not be playing large venues, where you are watching him on the screen.  He puts on an intimate performance.

I could not agree with you more about Dave Matthews!!  I never gave his music a chance because of the huge following of 20 year old girls he seemed to have.  I volunteered at a DMB concert a few weeks ago and went into it not knowing anything except the radio hits.  I had to leave early because of work the next morning, so I only heard about 6 songs (none of which I had ever heard).  It was awesome.  I bought a live album the next day and now I can’t get Cornbread out of my head lol

While sitting on the lawn I definitely noticed a few things.  1- I am not a lawn person. 2- It’s unbelieveable how many people are not paying any attention to the show!  Just like the JJ concert.. you could clearly tell the difference between the fans of the music and the people who want to say they are fans of the music.

Went to another JJ concert last week in Atlanta.  Just had to get back on here to say… after this concert, I agree 100% with your post about the big venues.  The crowd around me was awful :( I can’t help but wonder what the next album and tour will be like?  Will he ever be able to play small venues again?

The mini pre-concert show was fantastic.  It was early, the place was empty, and I was like 20 feet from him.  I love how he has no idea he is famous, just a genuinely great guy.

I’m certain he knows he’s famous, he just doesn’t feed the ego with it.  Rather, he uses the famous fact to reach out and touch everyone he can; to feed the greater need.  On that note, it does stink when confronted with not-so-serious fans, but it’s always been the case with anything.  So it seems, there is the “learning curve” kind of thing in life we need to tolerate...school is the obvious metaphor.  And like others, I’ve been on the other side of many things I would never do now...because I’ve come to understand...something new.  I’ve said this before, but I wasn’t a fan from Brushfire on, but now I am.  And I’ve never been a bigger fan of any other worldly thing before...besides my girls.  And actually, I became a fan through the not-worldly part about him and my girls...the essence...feelings his “music” and my girls generated; woke-up within.

So, it’s cool; brave to stand up and speak out, to acknowledge the truth of how you feel, the annoyance of his popularity; the growth of the fair-weather fans...I agree that popularity brings out more annoying people to see...A bigger picture to reflect how we are all annoying when we do not try to understand something...unawareness..."floating"… It seems like it’s just another template using a musical metaphor of how life changes; how it can turn around...if we try to understand...everything has a beginning, a place to start.  And for some, it may start at a Jack Johnson concert...again, that’s what he’s using it for...And I’m certain most of us didn’t start with Brushfire...Though I’m slighltly curious how many have, and even more so, who were those loyal followers before Brushfire?  Maybe gone...some fellow fair-weather fans on the “flip-side”?  Because maybe for some, it’s mostly about finding someone new, finding something “unknown”, to be the one to know someone, something that others don’t...we all have that need...that ego that’s wants to feed...and for better, for worse, it all has it’s place; the journey...until we all understand; both sides.  And I’ve found out that until we do, we need to be careful not to..."God bless these ones, not those ones, but these ones.” JJ

Great post!  I wish I could actually be in that frame of mind during the show.  For now, I just wish they would shut up and respect the music and people around them.

Heather

Don’t get me wrong...I with ya there.  I may understand them (that they don’t yet understand), but I don’t ignore them...I was “in the pit” in WI. and I wasn’t blessing the obnoxious ones (which was nearly everyone around me).  Quite the opposite...I had lots of battles in there...like come on, respect people’s space..you don’t push/inch in on/extend/elbow/"lean" on people, especially when you stink from the drinks you had the night before.  And stop trying to show your breasts to get ahead...how queer.  And if you “dance” all over me (really pushing your way ahead in the name of fun), I’ll show you how it stupid it really looks no matter how small I am.  I’ll just bet that scene is the same scene as any other concert in the pit...and hopefully, one day we’ll all see.