Right on Lorenzo!! I really like you're positive attitude!!

Paul
Atomic Mosquitos
Bug music for bug people is here!
Killers from Space

This discussion is really interesting - thanks to Lorenzo for his thought provoking post - here are my 2 cents.

Crowd size - while I enjoyed the manageable size of the crowd last weekend, I felt sorry that more people had not had a chance to experience the music. A related thought - if KJFC listeners are any indication - some fans take pleasure in appreciating music that does not have broad popular appeal.

On dancing or not -it might be because I live in Silicon Valley, but I think a lot of surf fans are nerds (including me). Maybe it's true that engineers don't dance.

Cousin Mary
KFJC 89.7FM

dp
In the future, perhaps we should set our sights on something like this?

No I won't... we need the SEA at the back... !!!

Lorenzo "Surfer Joe" Valdambrini
(www.surfmusic.net)

dp
Why re-invent the wheel?

Why not partner with SurferJoe and bring the festival on over to the USA?

http://www.surferjoemusic.com/

This is one of the ideas we had. I say "we" because I have already discussed with someone while I was there. I do not want to take over, not at all, please do not misunderstand me in this. I want to enlarge what is there already because I love it so much and I see the potential of it.

And I also noticed that the convention has a familiar spirit, something that we risk to miss in an "open" festival. I really like the complicity of everyone at the convention.

Lorenzo "Surfer Joe" Valdambrini
(www.surfmusic.net)

I, for one, applaud Lorenzo's entrepreneurial vision and candor. And if the community is teamed correctly, there is always opportunity to "mature" the genre to a wider audience that will self-sustain it financially as rewarding "business" for promoters, organizers, vendors and artists. We have already done that at the artistic commitment level. Organizational and regulatory/permit hurdles can be overcome. Time to grow! Aggregating the energy is what it's about. I'll be happy to do my part as I've always done.

bIGwAvE Dave

PS Need to take this to a new thread.

Don't say that we don't love traditions...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISeB3_KBzaA

Lorenzo "Surfer Joe" Valdambrini
(www.surfmusic.net)

I want to share that I feel so blessed to take part in this event. My life is very rooted in this music. It's nice to know that there are others that feel the same and want to take time to celebrate and enjoy it. To the attendees from out-of-town, I commend you! Your commitment to support this event, the bands, and the music is amazing.

To the bands: THANK YOU, especially those that traveled so far. It's a sacrifice, but a labor of love and I know if you're playing this event, you do it for the love of the music.

To Brian and all the site admins, I want to thank you for the hard work you do! Brian, you're always so modest, but I know this takes a lot of your personal time. Having a career and family, it's absolutely fantastic that you manage to keep the site alive. So a big THANK YOU to you and the forum moderators.

To address Lorenzo, I appreciate your analysis of the events here as opposed to Europe. It's important for us to understand the differences. I strongly agree that attitudes are different here than in Europe. We exonerate musicians for their technical ability and dancing doesn't always happen.

As far as the size of the event, it's just difficult to make it bigger. We have to take baby steps. Even this year, the turn-out is greater than last year. The attendance directly affects our abilities, which brings me to the next subject: funding. This coming year, I want to coordinate more sponsorship. I think that will greatly help advertising. Also, there are individuals who would probably go, but are not in a financial position to do so. Additionally, interest in this genre of music isn't that great here. The general population doesn't appreciate it the way they do in Europe, from what I understand. I have tried so hard to get people interested and change their attitudes. It's easier said than done.

For me, this event was a fantastic success. It's was so much fun to see people I love to have in my life, probably more than they even know! I look forward to next year. I know with everyone's enthusiasm, it will grow bigger and better each year.

Jeff, good job. You poured your heart into it.

"Turn the knob to 10 and break it off!" -Baja Marty

Thanks for Whorehay for starting a new thread.

I know that Lorenzo means well by putting in his ideas for the event.
but I was really bummed to have the thread take a turn like that.
can we please get back to posting pics, and videos.

I need to do a Huge Thank you list and slight review.
but I don't have time now.

so for now, I will say thanks again to all who came.
thanks to all of the bands that played.
and of course thanks to all who helped promote, and put the show on.
Matt Q, John Blair, John Bentton, Dusty Watson,
My Mom and Dad, Karen(woohoowahine) and many more.

back to the reviews please.
I don't want the greatness of this years event to be forgotten,
by talking about how much better it could be.

Jeff(btd)

Jeff(bigtikidude)

It was a GREAT show, Jeff! I saw more hot chicks Saturday than I've seen at every surf show I have EVER seen!

Too many highlights for me. Let's bullet them.

--Friday night, I FINALLY met the Space Rangers, a band I've been fans of since 2007, & they turned out to be SUPER nice guys, funny & a helluva live act! Muck, the guitarist, told me he was HONORED to be sharing the stage with Slacktone on Sunday & that Dave Wronski was his guitar hero. So on Saturday, as soon as I saw Dave, I couldn't WAIT to introduce him to Muck & the band. On Sunday, it got better; I saw Dave give Muck some of his guitar picks. You can imagine the reaction. Beautiful. Attaboy Dave!

--The Atomic Mosquitos featuring Mark Noone on bass. Noone was in the Slickee Boys, a DC band that both Dana & I saw frequently in the 80s (separately--we hadn't met yet). Apparently the regular bass player in the AMs doesn't like to travel, so Noone was asked to fill in. All I can say is THANK YOU to the regular bass player! It was a freakin' TREAT to hear "When I Go To The Beach" live for the first time in 25 years! And I got to hear it TWO days in a row!

--Insect Dave's t-shirt changes every 30 minutes, both Saturday & Sunday. HILARIOUS. He should have sent each band a bill. ;)

--The Space Cossacks' set on Saturday. Yeah, I dig the recorded work, but MAN. Talk about ON. Now I understand what the fuss is all about. The world truly became a richer place the day Ivan decided to pick up a guitar. I laughed when I saw the drummer wearing an RFB shirt (YES!) & about crapped my pants when I heard the dedication (No shit?!?!).

--Slacktone's set on Sunday. You know, I've seen them several times before, but I think the audience, um, vibe really had an effect on them (probably on the Cossacks, too). Pretty sure I have never seen Dusty Krupa (Alfredo's name for him) play THAT intense before. Hell, even the guys in the kitchen came out to watch!

The whole weekend was a rush. Too many cool people to hang out with, too many cool bands to watch, too much cool stuff going on. Made some new friends, mended some fences, sold some swag. Viva BTD & SG101!

Radio Free Bakersfield--60 Minutes of TWANG, CRUNCH, OOMPH.
http://radiofreebakersfield.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Radio-Free-Bakersfield/172410279636
http://www.sandiegojoe.com/rfb.htm

Last edited: Aug 13, 2010 17:36:36

dp
Freddie...great photos...so many cool moments! Thanks!

Radio Free Bakersfield--60 Minutes of TWANG, CRUNCH, OOMPH.
http://radiofreebakersfield.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Radio-Free-Bakersfield/172410279636
http://www.sandiegojoe.com/rfb.htm