Off The Record- The REAL Episode Ten
@sarabozich and I correct a mistake made sometime between Episode 7 and Episode 9, Crackxi, Musicfest Sucks, fireworks at the river (not the city’s), Josh Karns sells out Asia, Jersey sells out Josh Mindlin, Entourage vs. Seinfeld, Stalking John and Kate Plus 8’s House, 20 Fun Things To Do In Harrisburg (If you’re white and have lots of money), Shooting for Jesus, we’ve found the first person to quit Facebook.
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Bluesgrass Modest Mouse, great intro!
Agreed, Music Fest line up was pretty horrid.
That sucks abouth the amusement tax progress….
So you saw all 140 bands you claim to “fucking suck”? Get the hell out of here. If you want to dog musicians attempting to do what they love, fine. At least have the balls to call out by name the ones you actually listened to and comment on what you disliked about them. But to lump them all together into a group when you definitely did not go see all the bands is bullshit and ruins any future hope of folks attending the event. Without attendance, no musicfest will bring in musicians of any renown, which is apparently your criteria of being good. Try some actual substance to your comments. But wait, Jersey Mike you went to the Poconos and Sara didn’t not bother even going though she was blocks away. Come On! Your sitting here claiming to be a legitimate voice of the Harrisburg scene and you don’t even attend one of its main events of the year, and then you have the balls to comment on the events quality. ARE YOU TRYING TO BE IRRELEVANT! Be a champion of the city you love and the artists who can make it great.
Hey instead of saying that the 140 bands at musicfest “fucking suck” without even going to musicfest, why don’t you say, “You know I looked at the line-up and I did not recognized any of the musicians, but you know being a lover of music and knowing that name recognition does not determine quality, I decided to go and check out the acts. And you know I found quite a lot of musicians that are playing some great music! People should really check these acts out and support musicfest and the artists that perform. Next year, if you are thinking of going to, I don’t know, the Poconos let’s say for the 4th, don’t. Bring some friends down to Musicfest and see some musicians from lots of genres doing some great things.” Do that and you might actually help Harrisburg events gain in popularity and put us on the map. Your comments on episode ten are simply part of the problem.
Colby-
1. Thanks for listening.
2. Thanks for your comments.
First, allow me to show my “relevancy” –
I work, full time and self-employed, as a talent buyer and concert promoter. Additionally, I run sound and lights and supplement my monthly expenses as a card-carrying IATSE stagehand building stages and shows for the likes of Bruce Springsteen, ZZ Top, Coldplay, Christina Aguilara and virtually every other top-name performer that’s rolled through the midstate for the past five years.
And to go one step further- I’ve managed more than a couple of bands, booked tours, crafted merch and marketing campaigns and run websites for national bands.
So when I criticize Music/Arts/Kiponafest, my opinion isn’t of someone who’s a casual observer.
This is what I do for a living.
I hope two things of you before I go any further-
1. I hope that you’re not an employee or intern of the City’s parks and rec department.
2. I hope that you’re not in a band that played Musicfest.
Those two things would certainly skew your reaction to my criticism.
All of that said-
I’ve paid incredibly close attention to the music programming portions of The City of Harrisburg’s events for the past five years.
And yes, there ARE a handful of decent bands that play/have played (Hank and Cupcakes, Virginia Coalition, The Sketties, Kagero, Herbie and The April Skies to name a few)
BUT- (and I say this considering how many press kits I receive on a weekly basis compared to how many of those press kits I throw in the garbage)- with the number of touring bands winding their way through cities nationwide every week of the year, I found (as I do every year) the overall music schedule to be lackluster. Less than exciting. Underwhelming.
Why is that?
It’s because the artists booked by the people in charge aren’t the same choices that I would make when considering a schedule that will both appeal to the most people possible and be chock full of a smattering of relevant and promising new bands.
Think I’m just being a dick?
Look at the music fest schedules of almost ANY other city.
This is nothing new, Colby. Harrisburg has been doing music fest for YEARS.
But not unlike many other facets of life in this city, it’s just thisclose to being AWESOME…but we seem to fumble at the five yard line every single time.
I certainly didn’t see all 140 acts, but I went down to Front St on two of the days and wasn’t overly impressed. That being said, I give props to anyone that can get up on stage, play an instrument, sing a song, breakdance, whatever. Musicfest has great potential, but this year was lackluster (in my opinion)