Like the title blatantly suggests, I am none too pleased with this years OHFest (April 24, 2010) choices: Jack's Mannequin; a Bon Jovi cover band; some band I never heard of, Lady Danville; and a local band. And yes, while I do enjoy Something Corporate (Andrew McMahon's older/better band), Jack's Mannequin ain't a band I'm incredibly eager to see. Neither are Bad Medicine (the Bonj tribute), nor Lady Danville (who?).
Several weeks (or months) ago, I had posted my recommendation hoping someone would read it and act on it. While they are including local bands to open (a really great idea), they should be getting bands that'll draw more people than the select few who know and enjoy Jack's.
While I always look forward to the fair in town (which I love and is flawless in every sense of the word), the concerts have been a let down. In the years I've been here, we've had Head Automatica (a more obscure band than Jack's), and Eve 6 and the Ataris (bands that hit their prime when I was in middle school). These bands are not big draws, and I regret not joining the board that selects the bands.
But I'm only one person. What are your thoughts on this years selections? Are you happy? Disappointed? Who should we have gotten? I know people read this due to the comments we currently have on the Jason Corrigan post, so what do you think?
I think the SA is a joke and interviewing an old actor from saved by the bell doesn't make anyone important.
ReplyDeleteYou had Lupe, you can't get someone similar?
hey, i came across your blog online and lady danville is actually one of my favorite bands! you should give them a listen
ReplyDeletewww.myspace.com/ladydanville
Nick
ReplyDeleteThanks for checking us out and for bringing me back down to Earth. They seem like a fun band, and their music is good pop-rock/coffeeshop music. I hope you check back here in a few months after I see them perform live and I'll let ya know how it was. Thanks.
This crazy thing called a "budget" is going to prevent anything resembling a decent band from playing.
ReplyDeletePre-SUCO, I went to community college back home. While there, I was a member of the concerts club, which is similar to CUAC but only for concerts. We used this website for band prices:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.prettypolly.com
and, according to that site, Jack's Mannequin is between 35-45 K. Last year, the four bands we had equaled about 60K in all. And yes, I do not know the budget we had for setting up OHFest, but there are other bands out there (or several bands) we could have gotten for the same price.
FYI - your recommendation was Third Eye Blind and the OH-fest committee definitely put in an offer but they wanted way more than we had so...
ReplyDeleteLast year's four bands were the same in cost as this year.
Yea, I found out we had a 35K budget, which was Jack's. The other bands were incredibly cheap (less than a thousand from what I heard). I am a fan of Jack's Mannequin, don't get me wrong, but I don't believe he's gonna put on a show like OHFest is capable of. He is too unknown among many people.
ReplyDeleteDon't hate on the SA as a whole for the content of CUAC programming - talk to CUAC and get involved with them... I think we all went over this last year about how getting involved in CUAC was the way to help make OH Fest better.
ReplyDeleteThe first year OH Fest was implimented, we got Blues Traveler and Robert Randolf, and we have not been able to surpass it. Each year, the budget skrinks, both on our end and Hartwicks. Some people will say "well, [Insert Band Name Here] is only $????, why couldnt we get them instead? Well, because not all abnds are avaliable on the day we want, and may not even be in the same area! And though they may list a certain price, when asked to play, some bands do jack up their price (I believe one year a band found out it was a free concert and refused to play without a fee). So, there are a lot of circumstances that go into deciding on the band. Plus, its not JUST the select few CUAC leaders. it is a collaboration between us and Hartwick, so many of you will feel that your voice hasnt been heard, and I am sorry, but it is the unfortunate by-product of working with many people on a huge FREE concert. Our only hope is that, though you may not know the bands/genera of music, you will come out and enjoy yourself anyways!
ReplyDelete--Former CUACer/OHFester
Hey, so My name is Marisa Muntz From Cosmic Karma Fire, were are an act thats trying to get involved with OH fest, to heat up the night a little :), and i really think they should concider asking ***Jeff Bujak***(especially him because he throws a SPECTACULAR late night show, in which we co preform with )
ReplyDeleteRoots Of Creation and The buddahood! there all bands which have played at local bars! college kids LOVE them! EVEN Rusted Root, isnt that expensive to hire! i really hate to say this but OH FEST IS REALLY BOMBING OUT! This is not just my opinion! i know our town is capibal of SO MUCH MORE!