well, My boss is closing the office tomorrow afternoon. Well, since it's my office, I guess that's me. But in recent years I have regressed to college days, and find myself heading down to the Maier Festival Park here in stinky ol' Milwaukee.
A few years ago it occurred to me that this is a bit rude to the people in my office (i'm a bit slow on the uptake, it's true) so now I just shut 'er down in the afternoon and we all go down for some music and sun.
I'm quite stoked about this year's Fest. Although the music selection tends toward the mainstream (and cover bands are a particular bane) there are always high points. Of course, the Bodeans and the Violent Femmes are there almost every year, which is worthwhile. This year some of the major headliners are Santana and the Pixies (yeah. Got tix for that) But on the other stages, some of the major shows I want to catch are Moby, Ben Folds, Lucinda Williams, Steel Pulse, The Donnas, Michelle Shocked and Living Color. Will Durst and Lewis Black are providing some comedy.
Smaller bands that I hope to see include Split Lip rayfield, Moonshine sway, Those Darn Accordions, Sigmund Snopek, Cowboy Mouth, Better Than Ezra, Willy Porter and Peter Himmelmann.
In any case, starting tomorrow roughly 100,000 people a day will wind up down at the park, and I intend to be among them. I hope to achieve the elusive Eleven Day Festathon this year; haven't done it before.
So I may post a Random Ten in the morning, but all the other bullshit that normally would be available here will have to wait.
In the meantime: here's lots of other good stuff to look at.
Steve, Don't Eat It!
Fafblog.
Tbogg Professional level snark.
The Rude Pundit
Practically Harmless is discussing the International Human Bill of Rights
driftglass has an excellent exposition on These Kids Today
The wandering hillbilly is always worth a look
Lance Mannion has a nice bit over at The American Street
Overheard in New York
Opinions You Should Have
Come back when You're full!
The Crackers Crack
9 hours ago
The most recent criticism of the Fest is that it is now targeting middle age white guys. Having musical tastes that are far outside my demographic (being a middle aged white guy), I am somewhat disappointed by the lack of depth in the lineup. The new director has cited the unavailability of hip hop and indie bands due to touring conflicts, and yet describes in detail how he is planning to remake the festival to appeal to quality, not quantity of patrons (read middle aged white guys with money):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.jsonline.com/onwisconsin/music/jun05/337630.asp
But really, who am I fooling? You'll find me in front of the Sprecher tent just about daily.
personally, Z, I would welcome a whole lot more diversity also.
ReplyDeleteBut as Smiley-boy possibly inadvertently reveals, the Fest is at the bottom line, ...ummm.. a bottom line organism. It will exhibit a certain amount of self selection to maximize profits; to do this, it will almost necessarily tend toward the safe and known.
People in Milwaukee don't have much tolerance for new music. In the eighties, maybe; several musci clubs thrived on original bands.
But i think it may be worthwhile to register these feelings through letters after the fest. I am certain that they pay attention to the feelings of their patrons. Out of so many festivals, it is obvious that S-Fest does want people to feel satisfied witht eh experience. Think of how they keep adding toilets, and upgrading the facilities; think of the diversity of food.
We can always hope. But hey, I''m an architect, we're inherently optimistic.
Also, Z, I chuckle when I see that the fest is targeting older white guys with ready cash.
ReplyDeleteHey! I'm an older white guy with ready cash!
does this mean that there's going to be a stage with the Mekons, the waco Brothers, the eels, the Figgs, Robyn Hitchcock and Marillion?
Okay, you can stop laughing. I know I don't represent the average older white guy.
But I certainly won't object to bringing the density down jus a bit, especially on those 120,000+ days.
aha!
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