Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Cream / Cream Calendar On the Boulevard, Carter Fever and the Meaning of 'Tour' [Bitsy Bits]
Posted by Steve Haruch on Wed, Aug 26, 2009 at 3:42 PM
* Hey, did you know there's a music festival at Belmont on Friday? It's called On the Boulevard '09, and features a bunch of bands of varying degrees of Belmont-y. Oh, hell, I'll let Lance explain:
I know these names probably mean very little to most of you, but here's the lowdown on who I'm going to be seeing: Westbound Rangers (bluegrass), Kopecky Family Band (indie folk/rock), Future (retro alternative hip-hop with a technological edge), Spanish Candles (a straight-up rock band), Greg Bates (country), Delta Saints (blues rock), Lindley Wolfgram (Americana), Brett McLaughlin (singer-songwriter).MODOC is a local band, I think. They're not Belmont affiliated, all I know is that they were up against the Non-Commissioned Officers in one of Deli Magazine's artist of the month polls and got crushed.
If it rains, and it looks like it won't but if it does, the Beaman stage (which is outside) is going to get moved into the Beaman lobby and the bands on that stage will switch with the bands playing Curb Cafe. Got it? So if it's raining and you want to see Future, head to Curb Cafe.
* The next installment of the Lake Fever Sessions will star The Carter Administration. So far, there's just a very, very brief promo clip, with unmixed in-camera sound. We await the final product. In the meantime, TCA play at Springwater tomorrow (Thursday, 27th) with Short Ropes, Millionaire Magicians and Caitlin Rose. [We Own This Town]
* Finally, a question for the ages: How many dates, in how many cities, does a band have to play before they can call it a "tour"? [Nashville Mix Tapes on Twitter]
Comments (14)
Showing 1-14 of 14
like
dislike
In country music, if you play one or two shows out of state week after week, that's touring.
For what it's worth, there are a couple notable bands in there. Future made the Next Big Nashville cut and Kopecky Family Band has been building some buzz. I can't speak for 95% of them though.
But, hell, it's free music. It's not like you're out anything if you go and don't like it.
Future is one of my favorite acts in town right now -- his lyrics are tight, his beats are off the hook and it's dancey as hell. Also you can download it for free. Worth the bandwidth and then some.
He's a cool guy, we did a couple videos with him back in March (http://sidewalkscenes.net/2009/03/future/) and he was a lot of fun. If you're in the area around when this thing is happening, I'd suggest dropping by just to catch his set.
Like Lance said, there is some real talent at Belmont. I know that it's really cool to hate on Belmont bands and write all of them off as shitty college bands or whatever, but several of those acts are really good. I dig everyone that Lance pointed out. Lindley is really good, and I really like the Westbound Rangers.
Seriously, it's a free festival, if you go and don't like it all you've lost is a little bit of time. It's totally worth hitting up.
Masa used to have this "tour" where he'd play night-after-night in Nashville clubs. French Quarter Cafe one night, followed by open mic at Douglas Corner, maybe some Tony Wade's Hall of Fame Lounge. He was everywhere. Night after night. On tour! What ever happened to that guy. I miss him.
Elle Macho just did the Popular Music Tour of Nashville this past winter. Five shows in a month. Stay tuned for the documentation of said tour coming soon.
I don't think it's cool to hate on Belmont as much as it's the fact that Belmont bands pretty much blow. But it's not their fault. They're going to school to become session musicians and touring players for country music, MOR pop or CCM. Very talented kids but lacking in new ideas.
I'll get accused of hating for this but playing shows in your hometown does not consitute touring. I think you have to leave town to do that. If 5 shows a month is touring then I've been 'on tour' for like 10 years straight.
Sometimes....more like all the time downer.
For those going to On the Blvd. It will be well worth your time to check out The Delta Saints, The Westbound Rangers and Michael Ford, Jr & the Apache Relay. And for those of you who love to party, listen to great music, and enjoy good beer. Peep this --> http://vimeo.com/6239269
cya then friends
Vote here for best Band of the Week
Slideshows
Top Commenters
