No, actually I really don’t care what anyone thinks about the line up thus far. I do actually enjoy reading armchair music critics argue about what bands are “relevant” though. If I venture downtown for it this year, I might spend more time at the dog course where they leap into the water chasing toys. That’s relevant and entertaining.
Here’s the thing. A lot of “relevant” bands cost as much as these dinosaur acts that only have the original bass player. It wouldn’t cost much to have some up and coming bands on the lineup as well.
I’d rather not think about the line up at this year’s Bele Chere? It is what it is. Ones tastes in music is such a personal thing and with tastes being so varied what purpose does it serve to express what you think, except to say something about yourself.
What do you think of this year’s booth or food vendor line up? What does it matter. It is always the same for the most part.
Isn’t it better just to go, if that’s what you like to do, and enjoy what is there when you are there regardless of your own or anyone’s preconceived notions about a line up?
Isn’t it better just to go, if that’s what you like to do, and enjoy what is there when you are there regardless of your own or anyone’s preconceived notions about a line up?
...Isn’t it better just to go, if that’s what you like to do, and enjoy what is there when you are there regardless of your own or anyone’s preconceived notions about a line up?
I always look forward to Bele Chere regardless of the musical line-up. I always have fun whether it’s my favorite genre or not. I especially like the idea this year of no ticketed performances.
Let’ play “what if”- What if you had a magic wand and could have one band of your choice play Bele Chere- who would it be? They’d have to be still together and alive obviously.
Some magic wand if it can’t bring back the dead. I was going to suggest a combination of John Lennon, George Harrison, Harry Nilsson and Vivian Stanshall, but the limitations of your wand thwart me.
Stochelo Rosenberg, Biréli Lagrène, Angelo Debarre, Vampire Weekend,Taraf de Haïdouks, Nick Cave, Joli Holland, Tom Waits, and Bob Dylan….and then I might show up.
Are they still having the ticketed shows? If so, then Wilco I’m certain costs less than they paid for Train. I’m not the biggest fan, but Of Montreal are from Athens and would bring many people who would avoid Bele Chere.
Well, my magic wand was bought at Smiley’s Flea Market so it only does certain things. Sadly I can’t revive dead musicians or make bands get back together. I think it does give me X ray vision though.
Some cool suggestions though for dream team type acts to play here. It’s spelled Bele Chere however. It’s sort of bastardized French.
Is insinuating that everyone around here is 10 years behind the entertainment curve a sittle silly to anyone else? Given the fleeting nature of modern mass media (especially with music) with its here today and gone tommorrow attitude, who is honestly to say whether a band is a has been or not? Radio play? Albums sold? Yeah….. those are really valid methods of detirmining a band’s true worth.
I think of music awards shows that spotlight some real wankers who sell a lot of albums when I think of Is, Gonna Be or Has Been bands. Maybe the 10 year behind idea is either a reflection of American’s media myopia or lack of being well rounded listeners in terms of music in general? Or maybe just a musical ivory tower? Dunno.
I met someone from last year’s Bele Chere committee recently in a bar and promptly bought her a drink for having to sift through over 800 applications for 80 slots. She thought it was pretty funny when I told her “bless your heart”. Like the music or not offered at the festival, some poor sap has to listen to the first ten seconds of a lot of demos. Ticketed shows are nixed this year (probably for $ purposes), so we can at least say it’s free.
A Catch 22 is apparent in either dissing volunteers who select music yet dissing the possibility of farming music selection out to some sort of “professional” booking agency who probably influence the selection of headliners anyway.
Maybe a points system could be started in order to redeem them for free beer downtown? With each drunk guy from SC with his shirt off screaming “WOOOO HOOO!”, all you’d have to do would be to get him to sign a guestbook or snap a picture of him in order to earn a beer from a locally brewery vendor.
So, perfectly in-line with the belle cher tradition of booking washed-up has-beens as headliners.
I’m thinking next year they should book Bush, or maybe Stone Temple Pilots.
Yeah, I’ve never understood their logic. As Marc pointed out earlier, they could get some really hip, current acts for the same price as a lot of these older acts. But I guess they’re trying to keep the appeal broad enough that anyone can go. Plus, any decision like this by committee tends to lop off the best options and the worst options in favor of the options no one really specifically objects to.
i still enjoy squirrel nut zippers ...
give me a dresden dolls show any day of the week ....
how about some libertines
or buju banton
or blackstrap
or Nomo
