08 Sept 13

Happy Birthday, Reggie's!

Hey, blogspot readers, SouthSide concluded her busy weekend with a little Bears football, yummy food, good fun and of course rockin' music at her Southside headquarters, Reggie's! She was this beloved dual venue/bar was celebrating 6 years of being a vital part within Chicago's local music scene. This locale has premiered plenty of top notch live shows (some in which this reviewer was lucky enough to cover for this blog) like hip hop/rap to Lollapalooza after parties (back in 2008) and rock as well as everything else in between. It's a cool place SouthSide (sometimes) called home. Over the last 6 years, she had tripped the life fun-tastic with such bands/artists - Hanzel und Gretyl, Lehnen (from Austria), Peelander Z, Blood On The Dance Floor, Magicks, Gearbox Fantastique II, Clem Burke, Makeshift Prodigy, A Birdsong Valentine, Hail The Black Dragons and more ...just to highlight some of the many shows seen, blogspot readers. To help kick off the celebration, local bands Fornication and The Shams along with Andrew Ellis (from Toledo, OH) rocked Bears and music fans on the Music Joint side of Reggie's while I Love Rich, Last False Hope, The Jetbirds, Downtown Brown and Angry Samoans featuring The Dictators (from NYC) as the headliner were performing on the Rock Club stage. 

SouthSide says check out the hard-hitting wickedness of intense punk/metal sexual rock performed by Fornication Station, blogspot readers. This local trio not only crushed the stage with loud, ear-screeching electric debauchery with some raw vocals on the microphone but also frightened away some of the die-hardest Bears fans out of bar due to the band's loud music! HA! Yet, that wasn't enough to scare away this reviewer. She was brave enough to witness what most couldn't handle ...such as the head-banging rock sound and electrifying riffs that nearly made her hair curl on the tippy top of her head. Yes, blogspot readers, this wasn't your ordinary punk/metal clash fusion of rock. Picture the Fornication Station as a "beer drinking dudes" type of band. Performing songs like Incarnation and Rock-n-Roll, the trio gave its audience simplistic lyrics  amidst a fast paced guitar rock style with no over the top complex riffs or long instrumental bridges. You didn't need that to enjoy "sweet" screech piercing the earplugs especially when they closed out their set with 13 Passed The Hour. SouthSide loved the wild and crazy guitar sound rockin' out the stage even though the band couldn't go wild and crazy since there wasn't enough room on the small stage to do that. "Eat, drink and fornicate", blogspot readers! For more information, visit http://www.soundcloud.com/joel-canik or you can find them on Facebook.

After that wild and loud opening, blogspot readers, it was time to relax with the stories of love, heartache and lost by Andrew Ellis. This singer/songwriter troubadour from Toledo, OH told (or sung) his tales with heartfelt vivid that illuminated not only the words of each song but also picturesque imagery to make them pop to life. SouthSide was impressed by Andrew's strong vocal style to which she was easily touched by the emotional sentiments expressed while listening to him sing especially during his second song. It was truly amazing to feel his stories burst with colorful images in the mind in between listening to gentle vocal tone of his voice coupled with his acoustic riffs. For example, you could simply "feel" the remorse in knowing his mother would hate the song about being a bad boy during this rockin' country rockabilly ditty. The lively combo of Americana with this rockabilly sound did have this reviewer's feet tapping along to the upbeat acoustic rhythm. Then there was a moment when Andrew's voice got a little somber under a downtempo rhythm when expressing the tender sentiments in a song about being a poor fool. He did, however, livened the Music Joint with rousing sounds off his steel guitar when playing a slight parody about silver and gold to the rhythm of the Gospel classic - "To Thine Be The Glory". Behind this particular instrument, blogspot readers, Andrew's voice became quite vibrant and emotionally expressive ...soulful to highlight the country tone of his music like when he closed out his set with I'm Local. Check out this singer/songwriter wherever his travels take him. Perhaps a venue near your. For more information, visit http://www.andrewellismusic.com.

Four part harmonies were simply the tip of the iceberg of what makes this particular local band quite special, blogspot readers. The Shams Band boasts a unique folk/alternative rock sound that will feature some organic rhythms (i.e. tambourine) and 4 guitar (banjo, electric, bass and acoustic) sound in which immediately wowed the Reggie's audience with this vibrant explosion of music. It was good vibrations jamming on this stage ...having a good time even though opening the set to a song about having issues with whiskey and beer. Yet, how could they when this quintet was having so much fun?! Between performing songs like Breadwinner and Cold City, The Shams Band had this venue rockin' to the lively upbeat swing and harmonies as well as getting toes tappin' to some low down and dirty Southern blues rock. For this reviewer, it was this local band's voices in harmonizing unison that got her all riled up, blogspot readers. It didn't matter whether they were adding a bit of intense rock edge to their acoustic groove or electrifying the guitars to a gritty rhythm the harmonies were the main focal point throughout this performance. And with such harmonies, the songs were popping to life amidst vivid imagery like during Cold City despite getting the sense they (the songs) tend to get too serious and/or thought-provoking within the subject matter. Actually, that's how The Shams Band want you to feel. It's not too serious for them to have a rockin' fun time on stage. Versatile switching between music genres to vocal harmonies and lighthearted mood is what this local band is all about. "Cheers to Reggie's for 6 years of bringing live music to Chicago!" says the band before announcing they would be performing two Halloween shows - one at Martyr's and then at Tonic Room on the same night! The trick is - you have to attend one or the other ...or both to discover who The Shams Band will be impersonating this year, blogspot readers. For more information, visit http://www.theshamsband.com.

SouthSide highly recommends checking out each band/artist mentioned in this review.

Until next time, support your local, scene,

SouthSide

Convergence 20 Chicago: First & Last & Always

Hey, blogspot readers, mark your calendars now to save the following dates : 25 - 27 April 2014!

Why?

That's when Convergence 20 Chicago will be happening with unofficial Convergence-related events happening on 24 April 2014.

What is Convergence? Convergence is an annual party put on by the denizens of altgothic for the denizens of altgothic and ALL their friends that squishes together hundreds of net.goths from around the globe and their friends into a single city for a weekend of socializing, booze, musical events, sweet debauchery and much more. SouthSide's very excited about attending this event next year ...since it will be her first time. So, be gentle with her.

Her good friend, DJ Scary Lady Sarah who spearheaded the campaign in bringing Convergence back to Chicago has a special message for bands and designers wishing to participate in Convergence 20 Chicago:

Calling all DJs, Bands, and Artists who wish to participate in C20Chicago, submissions are now being accepted until 12 November 2013!  In order to have your submission considered, you must send an email with this heading in the subject field "DJ/Band/Artist" to c20chicago@gmail.com. 

Please include the following information: 

your name

name of your band/clubnight/etc

history

links to your music

links to pertinent websites (with photos)

brief intro and/or description

All who have submitted will be notified of the C20 committee's decision. 

Final decisions will be made no later than 12 Dec 2013.

Attention all Designers! Those wishing to participate in the fashion show portion of C20Chicago, submissions are being accepted now until 12 November 2013. Interested designers must send an email with this heading in the subject field "C20Chicago Fashion Show - Designer" to c20chicago@gmail.com. 

Please include the following information:

your name

name of your fashion line

links to pertinent websites (with photos of garments)

brief intro and/or description

All designers who have submitted will be notified of the C20 committee's decision.

Final decisions will be made no later than 12 Dec 2013. Only 6 designers will be chosen.

Vendors - there will be announcements for your submission at least five months in advance of event date.

C20Chicago committee will be contacting speakers to participate in daytime panels but are open to any suggestions / submissions. Anyone looking to volunteer or willing to help in any way, please contact the co-chairs of the C20Chicago committee (or any member of the committee) directly via email - c20chicago@gmail.com. Please make it clear which area you are interested in helping with C20Chicago.

Good luck to all ...and SouthSide will see you at Convergence 20 Chicago in April 2014!

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide

YELP's Walk On The Wild Side

Be careful, blogspot readers, things are about to be incredibly wild during this local event!

 

SouthSide's brought out the animal in her while attending YELP's Walk On The Side that was recently held at The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. And since the theme of the night was "wild", the organizers asked all attendees to don their best and wildest animal costume or wear something that had an animal depiction in their clothing. People from all corners of the Chicagoland area converged at this popular children's museum after hours to partake in fun activities and exhibits, delicious food and cool drinks and music.

Colorfully costumed human weren't the only creatures roaming around the Nature Museum, blogspot readers. There were some that slithered, creeped and crawled while there were others that walked on four furry paws. Located in the outer courtyard, this reviewer spent some quality time with the representatives of Greyhounds Only, Inc  and some of their lovely greyhounds and Green Paws Chicago. Greyhounds Only Inc. (http://www.greyhoundsonly.com) is a nonprofit adoption and rescue organization whose mission is to place retired and/or at-risk greyhounds from all over the county "...into responsible, loving homes..." as well as "...to educate the public about the greyhound breed, to provide access to high-quality medical care and to collaborate with others who share..." their common goals. Meanwhile Green Paws Chicago (http://www.GreenPawsChicago.com) offer more than dog walking and overnight stays / in-home pet sitting for busy pet owners. From regularly scheduled pet visits to weekly de-shedding treatments and monthly flea and tick preventative care, your furry members will be well loved for by their pet care professionals. Also in the courtyard, this reviewer sampled a few healthy snacks from Manna Organic Bakery (http://www.MannaOrganicBakery.com) like organic bread and some yummy snack crunchies that seem to sprout in your mouth with healthy goodness. You can find these products in places such as your local Whole Foods, Casey's (in Naperville) or Woodman's (in North Aurora).

 

Upstairs, that's where the party was truly rockin', blogspot readers. The entire second floor featured live DJ music to keep everyone in a festive mood while sampling a wide variety of yummy dishes from area restaurants like Shaw's Crab House (serving delicious mini crab sandwiches and tuna tartare) and J & L Catering (serving a samples of curried chick peas with herbed couscous and cucumber raita on cute scallop-like shells). SouthSide highly recommends trying the all natural pickles and veggies from Fully Belly (http://www.fullbellyyum.com), blogspot readers, at fine retailers such as Paulina Market and Gene's Sausage Shop in Chicago or Sunset Foods in Highland Park and Northbrook. Got a taste for Italian? Try Ciao Amore's (http://www.ciaoamoreristorante.com) authentic Italian dishes located in the Pilsen neighborhood. Also try some casual, contemporary Indian cuisine from O Mango that served a summertime delight of tender shrimp salad - a very tasty treat even though it's not featured on the regular menu. Couldn't be a Yelp party without yummy but unique pizza slices from Big G's Pizza By The Slice (http://www.big-gspizza.com), blogspot readers! Besides the usual cheese, pepperoni and sausage slices, this vendor also served a unique selection of pizzas to the guests such as BBQ Chicken, Buffalo Chicken & Bleu Cheese and its pis de resistance - Big G's Mac N Cheese. Yep, SouthSide took that challenge of trying a slice of Mac N Cheese and found it quite delicious but very filling after a few bites. She had a cool sample of fruit punch sangria  and Coco Water (coconut water with pineapple) to quenched her thirst.

 

After a sampling some food in the south wing and courtyard of the museum, SouthSide took a break by enjoying the ever popular Judy Istock Butterfly Haven which houses some of the wold's common as well as rarest butterfly species under one temperature controlled room. Walking through the newest exhibit Food: The Nature of Eating, there were some Yelpers taking advantage of free massages and rubdowns by Spa At Dana (http://www.danahotelandspa.com) while others were browsing at the other exhibits or mingling inside the north wing. This wing featured free servings of frozen yogurt treats and yummy toppings by Forever Yogurt and cake pops, cookies, and mini pastry treats and mini versions of the adult root beer floats by Wow Event Design & Coordination (http://www.letmewowu.com) and Hel's Kitchen Catering (http://www.helskitchen.com).

 

However the smell of tangy BBQ sauce caught this reviewer's attention before sampling the array of food samples from The Original Just Turkey Restaurant (http://www.OriginalJustTurkey.com) located in the Edgewater neighborhood, blogspot readers. Yet, this wasn't ordinary samples of BBQ food - hence the turkey prominently featured in this establishment's food menu. She tried a good portion of their turkey rib tips, sausage and creamy cole slaw. The verdict? YUMMY...especially when it's lovingly smothered in that tangy BBQ sauce! Back downstairs in the snack machine area, there were Yelpers rockin' out to their favorite songs like a rockstar with a DJ, karaoke machine and dazzling strobe lighting.

Sadly, blogspot readers, her walk on the wild side had to end. However, there's always another party in the works for Yelp members like the one happening on New Year's Eve held inside the legendary Palmer House. This annual soiree will feature top shelf drinks and champagne, hors d'oeuvres, buffet, chocolates and desserts as well as multiple rooms of entertainment, celebrity DJs and a live cover band. For tickets and information, visit http://www.ChicagoNYE.com.

 

Until next time, support your local scene,
SouthSide

World Burlesque Games 2013

Chaz Royal & London Burlesque Festival Present

WORLD BURLESQUE GAMES 2013

November 20-24 *London UK

After the overwhelming sold-out success of the 7th Annual London Burlesque Festival running 10 days in May 2013, and the 25 day run of 'Best of Burlesque' at the prestigious Assembly Festival during August's Edinburgh FRINGE, veteran producer CHAZ ROYAL gears up topresent the greatest showcase and competition of international burlesque and variety talent, World Burlesque Games 2013!

WBG 2013 Event Highlights & Official Venues:
Nov 20- Triple Variety Crown @ Madame Jojo's
Nov 21- Twisted Cabaret Crown @ Madame Jojo's
Nov 22- British Newbie Crown & British Crown @ Bush Hall (Double Bill)
Nov 23- International Newbie Crown & International Crown @ Bush Hall (2 shows)
Nov 24- Best of WBG Winners Showcase @ Bush Hall

Legendary producer and 'Burlesque Impresario' Chaz Royal said: "The World Burlesque Games 2013 is without doubt the world's greatest competition of international burlesque talent. After 7 years of producing London Burlesque Festival, it only made sense for us to run World Burlesque Games again after the success of the event we ran in 2012, in spirit of the Olympics. The WBG will now run annually in November outside of the regular London Burlesque Festival program. Starring the best in burlesque strip tease acts from around the globe, selected from over 300 submissions, this year's event is set to be even more glamorous. Participants will be competing for monetary and product prizes, endorsements and the coveted World Burlesque Games Crown in various categories."

The London audience is a mix of regular cabaret enthusiasts and curious newcomers, who appreciate the finest in burlesque performers as well as sheer glamour and tastefully risqué entertainment. Chaz Royal helps develop the most talented new and established performers, right through from the avant-garde to erotic, sexy circus artists, novelty acts with classic and new strip tease, exposing them to an international stage and the acclaim of diverse audiences. His events are full of colour, panache, excitement and simply the greatest displays of international burlesque talent on Earth.

Dress to impress and join the fun at the world's most extravagant celebration of burlesque in each of its exotic forms!

Please see website for event details and tickets: www.worldburlesquegames.com


Until next time, support your local scene,
SouthSide

04 Sept 13 - MACHINA

Let's dance, blogspot readers! 

Come to a mid-week dance party with SouthSide ...so put on your favorite shoes and dance the blues away!

Tonight, SouthSide continued her exploration into Chicago's dance scene and this time she's deep inside the underbelly of Metro - Smartbar. This underground venue is where you can go clubbing without leaving the Metro building after seeing a show (but you must be 21 and older). It's a very cool ...dark bar/nightclub that attracts up and coming to industry famous DJs. However tonight, Smarbar serves as the weekly hump day meeting place for MACHINA. A mini version of Nocturna (a 18 and older dance event that happens once a month on Saturday night) yet this event features alternative, industrial, goth, new wave, techno and punk music from 80s and 90s that many (like SouthSide) still enjoy dancing today. However unlike Nocturna,  MACHINA features a different DJ (or two) each week spinning your favorite songs and/or remixes until 4am ...oh before SouthSide forgets - it's FREE to enter. And since this was the first Wednesday of the month, DJ Scary Lady Sarah was at the DJ booth along with her special guests Jim Marcus (of Die Warzau) and Jason Novak (of Acucrack) - both  from bands performing at the upcoming Cold Waves II event at Metro.

When SouthSide arrived, Jim and Jason were already deep within their DJ set spinning exclusive Cold Waves II artist material and Wax Trax tracks as well as new and retro classics until Sarah took over again at midnight. Their two sets featured plenty of hard-hitting techno and bass-line electronic remixes (and more) that kept dancers on the floor demonstrating some of their best moves. And for a mid-week event, there was a good size crowd forming inside Smartbar, blogspot readers, having fun on and off the dance floor. Plus as an added bonus during tonight's MACHINA event, she was also raffling off two pairs of tickets to a lucky winner to attend Cold Waves II. Besides dancing under the dazzling lights, there was showing of random Aeon Flux episodes to help aid in the mood and atmosphere of MACHINA, blogspot readers. Yet, if dancing isn't your ideal fun, be seen at Smartbar! There are plenty of comfy seating along the bar and near the dance floor to do some serious people watching and/or enjoying a bar special with your firends. Some of tonight's MACHINA attendees came fashionably dressed in their "finest" industrial and/or goth attire ...or something in between - originality was the theme that ruled this club scene. You didn't have to dress to impress anyone except your own self, blogspot readers. 

From a selected set list (as requested by MACHINA fans or Sarah), dancers crowded the floor to songs like The Smiths "How Soon Is Now?" to Skinny Puppy "Smothered Love" and Malcolm McLaren "Buffalo Gals". Other featured artists during her sets also included Ministry,  The Clash, Bow Wow Wow, Joy Division, Love and Rockets, Ultravox, Soft Cell and many, many more! With a list like this, DJ Scary Lady Sarah keeps the floor alive and dancing by mixing it up so there's a little something for everyone to enjoy all night long. Despite spending most of her night observing the happening scene around, SouthSide promises that on her next visit to MACHINA she would be hitting the dance floor more and writing notes less, blogspot readers. 

Overall, blogspot readers, MACHINA is a happening scene in which SouthSide highly recommends checking out this Wednesday. It's a cool fix to get away from the mid-week doldrums before the weekend comes. 

"Like" MACHINA's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Machina-at-Smart-Bar-Wednesdays/149019528596448.

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide

31 Aug 13

Sometimes ...in this business, you have to meet the good, the bad and the okay when reviewing bands, blogspot readers. You also have to put friendships aside and treat your band friends as a band and not as your friends performing on stage. On such a night, it happened to SouthSide. After basking in the hazy afternoon sun at North Coast Music Festival, she headed to Elbo Room to review local band Hazel and The Grimms. Well, blogspot readers, this reviewer liked the band name but not the band performance on several different levels. In all honesty, she does see them having the potential of making an impact on the local music scene if they only change the following two things:

1. Practice, practice, practice

When Hazel and The Grimms opened their set, it sounded a bit rough around the edges and chaotic as the three guitars tried to jell together at three different range levels. SouthSide doesn't know if that was planned to get their audience's attention but in her opinion, that intro failed miserably. It was messy ...no one sounded as if they were tuned or at the same key correctly, blogspot readers. Yet, that wasn't the only thing wrong at the beginning. This reviewer had a hard time trying to establish what type of genre Hazel and The Grimms were going for. The music at best was simplistic - a basic beat and rhythm count though trying to add a little complexity during the instrumental bridges ...sometimes with screeching riffs. Then she tried to figure if they were trying to cross a raw Janis Joplin-sounding vocals with a gritty Southern rock band style or vice versa ...or were they going for something completely different hoping it would work on stage? This may sound harsh about the band but it's still a good question for this reviewer to ask since she didn't know what they were going for throughout this set. And what this band needed, blogspot readers, was some serious music-vocal cohesiveness.

For example, Jackyln aka "Hazel" had this rusty dynamic soulful voice almost likened to the late great rocker - Janis Joplin who's voice made you feel that acid rawness of a human soul in songs like Me and Bobby McGee and Piece of My Heart. It was nice that Jackyln tried to bring a little of Janis into her songs however she was mostly overshadowed by her own band because of mainly the different guitar styles clashing against her especially when she's doing dual duties - vocals and guitar. When she wasn't on the guitar, "Hazel" turns into a dynamic and powerful vocalist to which SouthSide could clearly hear how dynamic and powerful her voice can as she added more heartfelt emotions into the lyrics without trying to sound like Janis on stage. When performing the Aretha Franklin classic Chain of Fools, it totally fell apart for this reviewer, blogspot readers, because she missed a golden opportunity to show off her vocal abilities. Why? There was too much Janis in Jackyln's voice to have that Motown soul and sound to emotionally belt out the lyrics ...not like Aretha but close enough to make her own song. No, instead, it sounded more like she was struggling to force the soul side out of her voice while amidst the band's dirty rock style chosen to cover this R&B rendition.

SouthSide's advice to Hazel and The Grimms - need to find what genre of rock do you want your band to be known for and under which vocal style does it compliment. She technically may not be a full fledged musician but she has enough experience as a vocalist to know that the two (music and voice) should meet somewhere in the middle and balance as well as compliment each other. A gritty Southern rock sound doesn't really compliment an acid Janis Joplin-sounding voice and vice versa. It's cool to pay homage to the legendary singer/songwriter however Jacklyn needs to find her own vocal range so it doesn't sound like Janis all of the time in every song. Plus not all songs especially classic Motown/R&B work well with a dirty Southern rock sound-Janis voice. Now, had the band chosen something like a Kid Rock tune or even Lynyrd Skynyrd or Janis Joplin classic, then their one cover song of the night could have worked well within the set list as well as enhanced their chosen genre style thus attracting more fans towards them. 

2. Tighten the stage performance

Sadly, SouthSide wasn't impressed with Hazel and The Grimms' stage performance before and during their time at Elbo Room. It doesn't truly help to impress the one person who came out to see you when you're not ready to set up for your performance immediately after the opening band concluded their set to which the sound guy had to find you. That wasn't cool, blogspot readers. And it may have been a rough start to the performance but taking long breaks in between not good either. The long pauses made it appear as if the band didn't properly prepare their set list during practice and/or before the show. End result - you lose more of your audience (including this reviewer) that way. SouthSide knows not every performance can be perfect. However she can definitely see they were having an off night at Elbo Room even though Hazel and The Grimms did their best to provide a good show for their fans who came out to support them. On the other hand, whatever caused this off stage performance moment, SouthSide tried her best to enjoy their music but couldn't, blogspot readers. She didn't feel that vibe to groove along like their overly enthusiastic fans were feeling song after song. For example, when announcing the last two songs were dance songs, this reviewer didn't feel such of vibe from either one especially when one had a chord change thus taking the original tempo way off track into something that sounded like a cross between dirty rock and a backwater groove before transitioning back to the original tempo. Also, blogspot readers, it would have helped this reviewer to know what songs were being performed during the set to thoroughly aid her for this review as well as for the others who aren't familiar with Hazel and The Grimms' music.

SouthSide advises Hazel and The Grimms to do the following - be ready to start your set on time and know which songs you're going to perform and practice them as well as do a final practice set  to see what your live performance would be before your next scheduled performance. Also engage your audience more ...interact with them ...make them feel this is the most awesome show they have ever attended without having to work too hard and being so obvious. The goal is gaining new fans. So add a little more showmanship to your set but make it fun. Make it seem you're having the best time of your life on stage while hoping everyone (besides your already established fans) are feeling the same too. A band only has 45 minutes to make a good impression on its audience ...even if there's a reviewer in the audience or not.

SouthSide is fully aware there are fans for every band like Hazel and The Grimms. Yet one thing is for certain, at this time, their music style and genre is not her to her liking. But this doesn't mean she won't review them again. With some improvements and more practice, this reviewer could one day become a fan of theirs, blogspot readers.

For more information about Hazel and The Grimms, visit http://www.reverbnation.com/hazelandthegrimms.


Until next time, support your local scene,
SouthSide

01 Sept 13 - North Coast Music Fest: Day 3

 

Well, blogspot readers, all good things must come to end. What started off as a quite whimper is now going out with one huge exploding BANG!

 

It's Day 3 of North Coast Music Festival and the steamy hot weather doesn't deter anyone away because tonight's headliners - Wu Tang Clan and local guys  JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound were poised to leave everyone who came today with lasting memories until next year. Today's agenda for SouthSide included branching out further as well as around Union Park to soak up the many sights and sounds of North Coast Music Festival instead of staying to one particular area, blogspot readers. The music scene here was an eclectic mix of everything - from rap/hip hop to world fusion/reggae/ska and instrumental rock. There was even some Nawlins style Jazz rockin' a stage too! If you wanted to party to EDM again - this festival had it. Whatever your music taste was today, North Coast had it for you. However due to the extreme hot temps, this reviewer noticed how many spent Day 3 mostly in the shade (wherever it was possible) enjoying the cool breeze blowing by and/or stayed hydrated (too many long lines at the watering fountains!).

 

Upon arriving early that afternoon, Psalm One & Rhyme School was already in the middle of her act spilling a bit of knowledge to the attentive crowd over at the Dos Eqquis stage meanwhile over at The Last Stand stage, there was another crowd grooving to the funky rhythms of world fusion/ska by Ojo De Buey. While waiting for her friends The Coop to begin their North Coast performance, SouthSide viewed the artwork and the artists at work at the Reader Living Art Gallery that was located at the baseball field. Then, it was finally time to groove to the trippy experimental rock fusion by The Coop (http://www.thecoop.net), blogspot readers! SouthSide highly recommends checking out this local band that blends the elements of modern jazz rhythms with electrifying sparks of guitar rock and cosmic floetry of digital electronica and keyboards. When hearing how these different elements wonderfully meld together as the band instrumentally jams on stage, it might have you thinking of another band which almost has the same music fusion - Spyro Gyra.  During this set, blogspot readers, The Coop wowed the shiny happy people vibin' under the bright sun with new tracks like Hieroglyphics Technician (a mellow yet rhythmic techno-sounding instrumental coupled with complex but flowing melodies), Thousands of Days (the point of the performance when this band had this crowd feeling a bit earthy while jazzed up to the song's vibrant energy) and Loose Chains (another mellow track that allows your ears to ride the cosmic wave of flowing melodies amidst the gentle vocal tone on the lyrics). This particular song attracted many hoopers and hippie dancing people closer to the stage area.

 

Next on SouthSide's list of things to do today was to jam with her other friends, Gemini Club (http://www.geminiclub.fm) during their set at Dos Eqquis stage. However since this was another stage area where the bright sun was too stand under, most of the crowd found relief relaxing in the sparse shady grove of trees along side the stage, blogspot readers. Three years ago, Gemini Club played North Coast Music Festival at this area ...zoom to the present, they returned opening with a thunderous drum beat to kick of their 2013 set. Featuring the vibrant sounds of pop/electronic rock, this local group had many (who were adventurous to brave standing in the hot sun) dancing while the many others including SouthSide chilled in the shade. The heat wasn't the only thing effecting people today. It was causing Gemini Club some technical problems because (a) the band wasn't used to "working" in the daylight and (b) the above 90 degree temps made the computers on stage overheat. "...computers work best in 60 degrees..."  Even Tom's (front man/guitarist) guitar didn't want to tune properly, blogspot readers. Despite that, Gemini Club (also known for their DJ and club remix sets around town), did their best in giving their fans and other Coasties a good show by performing a couple of new songs coming out in a few weeks. Fans can now stream or download their latest EP - Here We Sit off their site. SouthSide would like to make a small suggestion for next year - how about having the stage face the opposite direction where it's not facing directly in the sunlight. Also there should have been a water station at this general area since most of the Coasties were either between the North, Coast and Dos Eqquis stages - it's long hike to the nearest and only one water station (for a fest this huge, not cool!) located by Tent stage.

 

Walking around the fest, there were more fashionably dressed Coasties seen throughout the park such as a couple of nuns ...actually two guys dressed as nuns ...Alice and the Mad Hatter cosplayers ...a group of female superheroes as well as the pseudo hippie/flower children. There was even a Deadmau5 character walking around the fest too. However SouthSide mostly noticed there were children ...many of them younger that her youngest daughter's age with their parents at North Coast with no special area of their own except the blanket areas where their parents kept them away from dancing crowds. Perhaps for North Coast 2014, there should be a kids area where local (or national acts like Kid Koala and/or The Arggolites - they have songs which appeared on the television program Yo Gabba Gabba) kid friendly acts perform (under a shady area) with other special activities for the younger Coasties to enjoy with their parents without having being nearly crushed or trampled by wildly dancing people especially at Last Stand stage where Dirty Dozen Brass Band (from New Orleans) was jamming. These "dirty old men who feel like spanking somebody" had this crowd grooving to the sweet jazz sounds of the Big Easy, blogspot readers. While over at Tent Stage, EDM was rockin' a crowd of gyrating party people during Paul Universe's set to which many were going insane with glee song after after song. Yeah it was super nuts inside as well as outside this stage area, blogspot readers! Hey, SouthSide found Waldo! Then over at North stage (the largest crowd SouthSide had seen all afternoon) Dastik's EDM set had most within this park bursting to life from each pulsating beat heard around the area. You should have seen the hundreds of bodies dancing and going wild under the waning afternoon sun. It was totally incredible! It didn't matter where you were - near the front of the stage, knee deep inside the middle or towards the outer edge (where this reviewer was) - there was always bodies in constant motion. Oh cool - someone was wheelchair surfing! There's Cookie Monster ...and he's a Wu-Tang Clan fan too ...and so is Cheshire Cat. Who knew, blogspot readers!

 

SouthSide didn't stay the entire day (felt a little winded from all of the excitement) but if she gets a chance next year, she'll brave the entire lineup of music acts rockin' North Coast Music Festival, blogspot readers. It was, in a nutshell, a fun experience. She met and befriended Coasties from all corners of the world and states ...danced till her feet couldn't dance anymore and partied like there was no tomorrow! Though this reviewer may be tired now, she's ready to tackle next North Coast 2014 ...and hopes to see you there.

 

For more information about this music festival, visit http://www.northcoastfestival.com.


Until next time, support your local scene,
SouthSide