SOSNICK | Lollapalosers And The Music Festival

If you woke up tomorrow for the headline Pitchfork: " Haim, Danny Brown, Real Estate Scrotum play Bent Festival, " I would not do a blink. I did not even push myself enough to write the name of the party at Google,

let alone considering setting aside money for a ticket. Not that I do not like any of those acts - I know firsthand that Haim puts on a great live show , Elder was one of the best albums of hip- hop of the year and Atlas , while overrated, is a solid LP . Is that, not only is the market for music festivals saturated to the point of ruin, but even the ads concert season is becoming incessantly annoying.

My relationship with music festivals is the textbook definition of love-hate. For one, there's no better way to see three days of live music, but there is no better way to stand 150 feet away from a stage. Festivals have a critical mass of people who care deeply about music, but also have a critical mass of the top of the tank and enthusiasts club drugs.

At its most basic, a place to promote music appreciation and see a lot of great bands for flat fee level festivals is wonderful. In fact, my obsession with live music is due in large part to Osheaga 2012, but every year people what is increasingly seen as a bacchanal orgy that a series of outdoor shows animated. This phenomenon is not limited to Montreal - worldwide, the holidays are still primarily seen as big parties and expensive with very good background music live.

If there were only one or two festivals by region each summer, would roll with the heads of music and party leaders alike. They have diverse backgrounds and each would be able to grow your own character. But if everyone and their grandmother candy- flipping have access to seven different festivals, they continue to lose its cache and musical approach rather is healed fraternity parties.

As there is plenty of money to be made in the marketing of a rock festival as if it were a rave, monotone and shows with overlapping acts are appearing even in less culturally relevant corners of the country. If you build it, although, apparently, they will come - as evidenced by last contest Schick razors. Promoted by such creators respected musical trends, the winners can go to any music festival based in USA free.

With eight and a half gazillion festivals naturally come eight and a half gazillion ads festival. So, as the own festival season, festival season announcement has become a cultural phenomenon. “Bonnaroo Governor Bola blows out of the water " , "I cannot wait until the fall Firefly tickets next week !" And "I had to do the alignment Hangout Fest?

Duuuuuude, " all issues have become standard conversation between marginally involved musically. Weighing the small differences between the festivals that are largely the same has become a hobby of sorts. Almost every day I wake up to the news of one of about 20 acts playing in a field or park. 

I would think that there is a substantial difference between each festival without name, but simply is not. Every year there are a handful of bands that goes on the festival circuit, so that the largest source of basically identical lineups . Debate on their relative merits splitting hairs just.

That said, you should go to a music festival. Go for the right reasons: Attending Osheaga to see the city of Montreal, the closest to your home for convenience or souvenir Bonnaroo lifetime of your friends how they smell after four days without a shower. No fetishize the festival experience, either. It is a way to see a lot of bands in one sunny weekend with just one ticket. Music, friends and good cheer should make it memorable enough.

I defend myself still fighting the good fight, though. Instead of schlepping 15 hours to its fifth summer party, get involved in your local music community. For the same $ 250 as a festival pass, you can see 50 DIY shows in his hometown.

For the uninitiated, I would say DIY show is more like a frat party than a festival is. With the exception of live music, which basically consist of horny people guzzling cheap beer and sweaty colliding in a gloomy basement? But what frat party than a couple of great bands you've never heard expose? These acts need your support more than Foster the People do.

Plus you get bragging rights - interesting indie cred you saw them before they became so dominant. Because the guy who eats instant ramen three meals a day is not the same power curated by parts Coachella loft as it does, many of the bands can suck. But if the worst happens, you get to mosh, chug some malt liquor, support a cause and have a big ' ole time.