escape the MTV brainwash

last time i checked MTV stood for Music Televison or something... Now'a days MTV is playing more TV Reality Shows than acutal Music Videos.

Anti-Flag is awesome

are you daft man? U think all of those were classic rock? only one of them, if you knew your music U would realize there is punk, funk, and techno there, bright one.

i dont see the link between assemblage23 and dune, and santana and the beatles its way off. i can however see what you mean with jimi hendrix and george clinton though, but it depends on what perspective your looking at it from. im not just seeing them as a music fan, im a guitarist, and even if you dont like jimi or his music, U have to admit that he was one of the best guitarists ever. and i just happen to like george clinton. and i put queen on because they had music that signified rock and roll in the days before mtv removed good music and started telling the sheep what was good(whether it was or not)

Anti-flag is rather bland, in my opinion there is far more interesting punk out there with better lyrics. Check out Zounds, they are off of the legendary Crass label. For those informed, Crass was one of the FIRST punk bands out there and are responsible for essentially the entire anarcho-punk movement. They are good too, however not for everyone. Zounds is super unique, and not nearly as rough as Crass. Curse Of Zounds is their best CD. Another good band - Citizen Fish. Ska/punk mostly, with some stuff that is more ska, and some that is more punk. Citizen Fish is essentially the remnants of the Subhumans, another early punk band.
More good punk bands:
Dead Kennedys - sure, they're a bit more popular as far as punk goes, but their music and lyrics are fantastic
Best Album: Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables
Bad Religion - again, more mainstream as of late but their old albums were very good
Best Album: Suffer
Operation Ivy - more great ska/punk
Best Album: Energy
Stiff Little Fingers - another great band, from the late 70s/early 80s
Best Album: Inflammable Material

two words
Against me!
you can thank me later

Then there is the other side, there are many people who are afraid to explore what music is out there and only buy cds that mtv and the radio play.

All I can really add is everyone should find music that they like, not because they are popular or because they are underground.

As for this...
"So are groups who were once 'popular' but are back 'underground' the best of both world's or the worst of all?

If you can see a one-time big group play their hits in an intimate club, is that a good thing or bad?"

I don't know, there are many bands that I really liked that have died down in popularity over the years. They have mastered their skills and are now better muscians now then they were a couple of years ago, but no one wants to hear from them anymore, part of the been there done that syndrom.

Take Cyndi Lauper she is only know for the 80's hit "girls just wanna have fun" but she has greatly improved over the years and just put out a jazz album called "at last" covering the classic Etta James song.

Personally I like a nice and intimate concert, but I still would prefer to see the groups I like to be a success.

I will admit that I do like 3 Doors Down. :D