# Concert riders: why no Evian love? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 14, 2007, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concert-riders-why-no-evian-love/404047 "2007-05-14T15:17:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concert-riders-why-no-evian-love/404047/1 "2007-05-14T15:17:20Z")
I’ve been curious for awhile about this. On [thesmokinggun.com](http://thesmokinggun.com) they often post celebrities’ concert riders, poking fun at some of the odd demands that these folks want. Consistent across many of them is some variation of “Bottled water, but no Evian.” Where’s the love for Evian? I’ve had it–it doesn’t seem any better or worse than any of the rest of the bottled waters I’ve tried. Is it some sort of environmental thing? Does Evian use Third World slave labor to strain their water through dead baby harp seals or something? Enquiring minds want to know. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concert-riders-why-no-evian-love/404047/2 "2007-05-14T15:30:03Z")
Probably because Evian spelled backwards is “naive.” Actually, I used to book and promote medium-size (300-3000 seat) concerts for a few years, and I asked a fairly well-known band why they asked for Volvic and accepted Evian only as a last ditch option on their rider. Their response was that they thought Evian tasted bad. ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concert-riders-why-no-evian-love/404047/3 "2007-05-14T15:35:55Z")
To me, there is a distinctive taste to Evian… and it’s not all that refreshing. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concert-riders-why-no-evian-love/404047/4 "2007-05-14T16:21:20Z")
This got me looking at the riders, and I noticed Gnarls Barkley say “bottled water (No Dasani or Aquafina or purified water)”. That’s a bit tricky. Also that Bon Jovi specifies Evian. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concert-riders-why-no-evian-love/404047/5 "2007-05-14T16:25:36Z")
I think Evian tastes like soap. I’ll drink pretty much any other bottled water, though (taste-wise). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Hildo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@Johnny\_Hildo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Hildo)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concert-riders-why-no-evian-love/404047/6 "2007-05-14T16:44:49Z")
Strange, I seem to recall a lot of stand-up comedians drinking Evian during their extended performances. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concert-riders-why-no-evian-love/404047/7 "2007-05-14T16:59:06Z")
[QUOTE=SmackFu] Also that Bon Jovi specifies Evian. [/QUOTE] Bon Jovi grew up on New Jersey tap water. Theirs is not a ringing endorsement. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concert-riders-why-no-evian-love/404047/8 "2007-05-14T17:02:35Z")
[Weird Al Yankovic’s rider](http://www.thesmokinggun.com/backstagetour/weirdal/weirdal1.html) notes in several places, quite strenuously, that the band isn’t to be served Dasani. You’d think a Dasani deliveryman kicked Al’s poodle. Of course, Dasani tastes like crap, so maybe that’s all it is. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concert-riders-why-no-evian-love/404047/9 "2007-05-14T17:06:13Z")
[QUOTE=DudleyGarrett] To me, there is a distinctive taste to Evian… and it’s not all that refreshing. [/QUOTE] Concur. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concert-riders-why-no-evian-love/404047/10 "2007-05-14T17:30:09Z")
[QUOTE=BayleDomon] [Weird Al Yankovic’s rider](http://www.thesmokinggun.com/backstagetour/weirdal/weirdal1.html) notes in several places, quite strenuously, that the band isn’t to be served Dasani. You’d think a Dasani deliveryman kicked Al’s poodle. Of course, Dasani tastes like crap, so maybe that’s all it is. [/QUOTE] … **and** it’s bottled by Coca-Cola. … **and** it’s the only major bottled water with added salt (NaCl). Plenty of reasons not to drink that shite. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Your\_Ad\_Here](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b2d939/32.png) [@Your\_Ad\_Here](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Your_Ad_Here)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concert-riders-why-no-evian-love/404047/11 "2007-05-14T17:35:18Z")
But he specifically requests other Coke products, so that can’t be (or rather, probably isn’t)the reason. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concert-riders-why-no-evian-love/404047/12 "2007-05-14T17:38:28Z")
Every so often on TSG you run into a rider in a “realistic” state: half the junk crossed off. Like [the Bloodhound Gang one](http://www.thesmokinggun.com/backstagetour/bloodhound/bloodhound3.html). It has all the liquor and tobacco crossed out. There’s also a few that have buyout conditions. Like they have the big list of stuff, and then it says “or pay $60 extra and we’ll take care of it”. For smaller acts where you don’t have an entourage to feed, I’d imagine this comes up a lot more. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concert-riders-why-no-evian-love/404047/13 "2007-05-14T18:17:02Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny Hildo] Strange, I seem to recall a lot of stand-up comedians drinking Evian during their extended performances. [/QUOTE] That’s called “Product Placement.” ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concert-riders-why-no-evian-love/404047/14 "2007-05-14T18:39:40Z")
[QUOTE=Your Ad Here] But he specifically requests other Coke products, so that can’t be (or rather, probably isn’t)the reason. [/QUOTE] Probably not. On the other hand, while I have no great animosity toward Coke products in general, bottled water from Coke kinda disturbs me, know what I’m saying? Like **OneCentStamp** says, it’s not going to be just plain water. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concert-riders-why-no-evian-love/404047/15 "2007-05-14T19:51:03Z")
I love Coke, but hate Dasani. Also not a fan of Aquafina. But I prefer Evian over the other choices if there isn’t a generic “spring water” option. At home our tap (well) water is delish, so we keep bottles and a pitcher of it in the fridge. ---
**Author:** ![Amblydoper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concert-riders-why-no-evian-love/404047/16 "2007-05-14T23:24:28Z")
Lets train the monkey to separate the skittles, then we can kill him and take his bones! ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concert-riders-why-no-evian-love/404047/17 "2007-05-14T23:46:17Z")
[QUOTE=SmackFu] This got me looking at the riders, and I noticed Gnarls Barkley say “bottled water (No Dasani or Aquafina or purified water)”. That’s a bit tricky. [/QUOTE] Why? They probably mean spring/mineral water only. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concert-riders-why-no-evian-love/404047/18 "2007-05-15T00:14:41Z")
I actually like Evian’s weird chalky flavor. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concert-riders-why-no-evian-love/404047/19 "2007-05-15T00:23:34Z")
Man, I saw “riders” and “love” in the title and I just leaped to all the wrong conclusions. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concert-riders-why-no-evian-love/404047/20 "2007-05-15T02:14:14Z")
I’ve never bought Evian because it tends to cost half again as much as Aquafina or Dasani. When I buy water, it tends to be [Arrowhead](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrowhead_Water) or [Crystal Geyser](http://www.crystalgeyserasw.com/). Both available locally (Central CA) and both taste good, as well as being cheaper than the Coke / Pepsi brand waters. Joe [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concert-riders-why-no-evian-love/404047.md?page=2)