But that seems nearly impossible. Look, I'll admit it. I've become a little jaded by rock and roll. However, as it becomes harder and harder for me to be as excited about certain shows as other people, i'm always really excited by the prospect of another Coachella Festival. I've never been to this (now) three day musical endurance test in the hot Southern Californian desert, and though i've heard from first-hand accounts that the water costs an arm and a leg, that you can't bring in a whole bunch of your own stuff, and that it takes more time to walk in the herds from stage to stage than it does to sit through most of the bands' sets, i still want to go. Ever since i saw the Woodstock movie and started learning more and more about the legendary festival on Max Yasgurs' farm in 1969, i've been fascinated with music festivals. Even when subsequent Woodstocks have been considered hokey cash-ins on the legacy of a great festival, or misplanned nightmares that exploded with ritous abandon, it still seems like it would have been fun to be there when Green Day started a mudfight at Woodstock '94, or when Metallica, Korn, Kid Rock, Limp Bizkit, Megadeth, Insane Clown Posse, the Beastie Boys, the Offspring, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rage Against the Machine turned Woodstock '99 into a blazing inferno of pent-up adolescent boredom. Personally I blame Jewel, Alanis Morisette and the Brian Setzer Orchestra (they were there too).
People think i'm crazy when i tell them this. Not the blaming Jewel part, but the part about my actively wishing that i had been there during the riot that was Woodstock '99. I've always felt like i was born in the wrong era, that i missed one of the potential zeniths of human culture; i got the city right, just a couple of decades too late. Even though Woodstock '99 was not the positive, beautiful event that the original festival turned out to be, it was still a good example of modern youth culture and it's flaws. It would have been interesting to be part of a musical event that not only made major news headlines, but probably changed the way that modern music festivals are organized. Plus, i mean, how kickass was that lineup? Though my tolerance of bands like Limp Bizkit, Korn and Kid Rock has drastically dwindled as i get further and further from age 16, the sight of Fred Durst riding around on a two-by-four singing George Michael songs will most likely still be entertaining. Please enjoy these clips from Woodstocks past:
"F.O.D" by Green Day @ Woodstock '94
"Faith" by Limp Bizkit @ Woodstock '99
"Blind" by Korn @ Woodstock '99
"Seek and Destroy" by Metallica @ Woodstock '99
"Bulls On Parade" by Rage Against the Machine @ Woodstock '99
So, speaking of Rage Against the Machine...they're reuniting for Coachella this year. To be perfectly honest, Rage was a band that i really enjoyed when i was younger and angry for no reason, but as i got older the paradox of a band called Rage Against the Machine being carried by a major record label (ah-hem: the machine) began to dawn on me. My buddy Hans once said about Rage, "Man, them fools got millions of dollars. I don't need millionaires telling me about how my people are oppressed." Which would be a valid point, if the lyrics didn't so perfectly match the vitriol and heaviness of the music. I mean, Audioslave could and should have been one of the greatest rock bands to ever destroy the earth with rock. i mean the band from Rage and Chris Cornell from Soundgarden? When i heard that that was going to be a band in the wake of the demise of Rage Against the Machine, i was pretty excited. As it turns out, Chris Cornell is getting...um...less heavy...in his older years...at least musically, and the band behind him didn't sound like Rage or Soundgarden. To put it simply, Audioslave sucked. Balls. I mean even the name sucked, and even though they had the same design company as Pink Floyd do their album covers (btw Pink Floyds' album covers are some of the most iconic rock art ever. Period), even those sucked. "I Am a Highway," "Like a Stone"? Shudder.
So yeah, maybe there are some problems with their renegade image while they rake in millions of dollars. I'm sure that they're making bank just on their Coachella appearance alone, but they're also adding four shows to their tour in 2007, due to the fact that their headlining day at Coachella sold out in minutes and scalpers are charging rediculous amounts for extras. But it just gets better, because the shows they're playing after Coachella are on the Rock the Bells tour with the Wu-Tang Clan. Maybe Tom Morello will be right...maybe they will dismantle the Bush Administration by the time this tour is over, or at the very least a couple of arenas and amphitheaters near you. You might not agree with their motives, or politics, but i am so looking forward to this show because any time a band can inspire this much fervor in the public, any time that a band can incite riots at their shows by their mere presence and attitude, that shit is powerful, and you can't deny that. I mean, do you expect a fan-police confrontation at the next Bloc Party or Grizzly Bear show? I didn't think so. Here, have a pocket full of shells, you might need them.
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11 comments:
I enjoyed reading your post. It is obvious that you are very knowledgeable and passionate about music. I liked your perspective. I also enjoyed how you included background info and current info. I enjoyed the videos of past woodstock performances. I found this website. It is a little cheesy but, it is a Festival Finder
Hippie woodstock over Poppy woodstock.
I agree. Simply being at such and insane act of violence could be important. You know what I wish I could have been at hurricane katrina, or mayby I could have been at the opening of the iraq war. I really could have brought home some stories then right.
I think you see where I am going with this, I understand your sentiment. That just because something is bad doesn't mean its unimportant. I think you have to be care full when you glorify or place the wrong sort of importance on acts like that.
As too the music discussion. I think that I could experience all that coachella has to give from some good video coverage. You can bet that after this years coachella there is going to be some great you tube vids. I have been digging on a great daft punk performance last year. Look it up on a torrent site.
I would suggest looking up some smaller festivals like SXSW (south by southwest) , or there is one coming up here in San Francisco called noise pop. As the amount of music rises, I think we will see a lot more of these smaller festivals displaying some really great music.
On another note, I don't want to rock your boat so if you totally disagree with what I am about to say don't pay attention to it.
Blogs to me for the most part are a short form. For my taste you just had a lot of text, a bunch of videos and bunch of text. If this had not been assigned I wouldn't have read it because to me it would have been to long. I enjoyed your ideas, and I probably would have gone liked them more had they been broken into a couple different posts.
Remember that we aren't writing for writings sake, so think about your message and then use as little as you need to get the message across clearly. Anyway Just a though like I said totally my opinion.
No offence, but I can think of a million things I would rather be doing other than being trampled in a crowd listening to shity music by the likes of Limp Bizket and Korn. Sorry, that just how I feel. However, I’m so stoked to go to Coachella this year, and if I’m not wrong this year is the first year to have the festival star on Friday.
P.S
I also think Audioslave sucked.
People don't blame Brian Setzer for pretty much anything anymore and its a damn shame. If the Stray Cats never existed would North Korea have nuclear weapons right now? No. If Mr.Setzer didn't think it was a good idea to have an electric guitar front a swing-influenced big band, would Anna Nicole Smith still be alive? Yes. The list goes on. I think its time someone called out this monster for all the crimes he has committed against humanity.
Very nostalgic reading about all these bands that I either no longer follow or are no longer around.
I was a big fan of that type of rock while I was growing up. I always wanted to be in a mosh pit, even though I am skinny as hell and not too much of a partyer.
I met someone this semester who actually put on a Woodstock like concert. He organized a week long festival of bands...82 of them to be exact. If you feel like it, drop him an email, zombiedan@gmail.com and tell him Bryan sent you...
Your post was interesting. It was a little long, you might consider breaking up the next one you do.
In terms of your subject matter music festivals are becoming more and more popular. I know that it is not a music festival and more like an art exhibition but have you ever looked at burning man. Some of my friends have gone and they say it is pretty wild but some of the art is really fantastic. There is one music festival that I know of happening in April in Australia called Apollo Bay Music Festival.
I also have a hard time getting excited about rock-n-roll anymore- thats why I dedicated my blog to pointing out what I think is worth ingesting. Large music festivals sound good in theory but the actual event tends to be so painful! I also havn't been to a Cochella but this year my friend has a photographer v.i.p. pass and wants me to go too. The problem with this is that she'll be enjoying all the amenities of the backstage while I suffer. I don't think I could put myself through that. The pros of going are obviously awesome; seeing historical bands and events. But the many many cons! High prices for basic survival needs, stupid people everywhere, dry-dirty air, scorching heat, and the stimulous overload of bands. Your a brave soul. My favorite band right now is playing Gogol Bordello. When they play Slims they pack the place and everyone dances from the front to back, for the entire 2 hour set. Hoptza!
I think most people would agree that the original Woodstock was a festival that can never, EVER, be duplicated. The zeitgeist was so unique, the musicians playing for the love of music, the fans embracing each other. It was all peace and love. Something we might not see again for a LONG time.
As for Coachella, their lineup is always stellar. Not many festivals here in the States can compete with that. However, it's such bullshit that you have to pay close to $300 and pay another $200 or so to eat, stay hydrated, travel to the desert, and all other expenses. Not my kind of thing.
Here's a better alternative: take advantage of the long memorial day weekend, grab a few friends, drive up to Washington and check out the Sasquatch Music Festival. The lineup is really good, the tickets are MUCH cheaper, it's not so hot, it's taking place at the Gorge Amphitheater which is the coolest outdoor venue, and you can bring water and food in! Take that overrated Coachella!
Born in the wrong era, eh? Maybe you should head over to The time travelers companion and see what she can do for you.
I haven't been to a festival, but I wish I went to Lollapalooza back in '95. Pavement played. Damn, I miss them.
I think this was a great post. It was long, but that wasn't a bad thing in this case. You keep you writing fun and it flows well, meaning that even though it looks long, it's a quick read. There were a few too many videos for my taste. I'm sure they all tied into the subject, but there's no way I was going to watch all of them.
I'll admit, I'd never go to Cochella cause I'm a huge wimp and couldn't survive it. But knowing Rage was going to be there actually made me consider it. They were never a a big anti-corporation symbol for me, I just like the music. But I think I'll spend my money on going to see Blue October instead.
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