A few thoughts. Do with them what you wish.
1. Riverbend is a bargain.
Even if there are only a couple of acts that you want to see, the $28 (until yesterday) or $37 (from today on) pin prices are more than reasonable for the number and quality of acts scheduled to appear over the course of the festival. And while the $23 you have to pay to get a single-day wristband is a little high, considering Alejandro Escovedo (appearing at this year’s festival) charged between $22.50 and $25 for a recent Atlanta gig at Eddie’s Attic, it is by no means excessive.
2. But…
…while Riverbend is a bargain, it is also too long. Riverbend has always felt about two days longer than it should be. Stretching it out too long has resulted in a few truly questionable bookings. For example, the Commodores without Lionel Richie do not need to exist, period, let alone be booked as one of the festival’s main stage acts. They just don’t. In short, we need fewer acts and more original members.
3. But what about the downtown businesses? Don’t they suffer during Riverbend?
Yes, some do. Others don’t. While most of the current downtown hotspots moved in long after Riverbend staked its claim to Ross’s Landing, that doesn’t necessarily mean they should be forced to suffer a slow week. I don’t know. I don’t really have a solution to this one. Creative marketing is one possible solution, I suppose.
If you are really worried about how, say, your favorite restaurant might fare during the festival, go eat there. If you’re going to the festival before or after you eat, chances are the food will be better than the overpriced and underwhelming offerings you’ll find within the gates. And contrary to popular opinion, it’s also rather easy to find parking downtown during the festival. You might have to walk a couple extra blocks, but hey, the weather’s nice, and if you’re like me, you could use the exercise.
4. Riverbend Bingo. Sigh…
This was funny the first 600 times. While the staggering amount of mullets, wife beaters, and jorts is a sight to behold, the reason we all seem so enamored with these physical and fashion oddities is because they all are found in one place at the same time. You know where else they can all be found in one place at the same time? All over our area, every day. While I know you’d love to dream it away, this is where we live, my precious, young, urban intelligentsia. Take a chance. Reach out. Make a friend.
5. My pick? (Surprise!) The Adrian Belew Power Trio.
Lastly, a quick plug: My favorite musician on the planet returns to Chattanooga with Eric and Julie Slick, his otherworldly, brother-and-sister “School of Rock” alumni rhythm section. The fact that they go on right after the Shani Hedden Group (featuring Joe Lance) is just gravy. Here’s a taste of the trio’s particular splendor:
June 5, 2009 at 8:22 pm |
[...] the whole post at Bill’s blog. Share and [...]
June 5, 2009 at 8:35 pm |
Bill – nice post. Bottom line? Riverbend is too long and doesn’t offer enough strong acts. Seems like an antiquated idea for a city that fancies itself as forward thinking. The city can do better.
Fewer days and a more relevant lineup is much needed.