I remember the 1000 year flood! That was a wild time to be living downtown. Seemed like the city was flooded for a whole month, with all the storms we were having.
Debby has brought a lot of rain so far, but nothing too crazy it seems. They say it’s going out in the ocean where it will pick up more water to dump on us. Doesn’t look like it will be leaving the area anytime soon.
I’m stocked up with snacks and marijuana. Spinning Steely Dan on vinyl in my living room. Life ain’t bad.
“Classic Banter” by Secret Guest is one of the greatest achievements of Brett Nash’s career to date. Just amazing, incredible stuff.
Also, how about the fact that the band is called Secret Guest? I have always loved that. People who don’t know them see Secret Guest on the lineup and think there is going to be somebody famous or something. Then it turns out to those guys. Lol.
In order to sell a lot of tickets, and get a lot of people to show up, the event would need to have several big name artists. These artists demand huge guarantees and they aren’t going to work with a grassroots movement like this unless there is cash to back it up. They have management teams that make all of the decisions for them about which shows to consider and even present to the artist. These management teams take a percentage of tickets from every performance.
The community has grown a lot in terms of infrastructure and organization, but it has shrunk in terms of fans, and exciting up-and-coming names. There are many, many undersold events and talented bands playing to empty rooms happening in this city.
This is not to knock any of the talented artists that do live here, and do contribute, but it’s a fact. The big shows are all catering to the demographic you described — the people who do not care, and who just want the social hour and the party. Even the local bands who have these big shows have become insulated from the community due to management and business.
In order to attract sponsors, the organizers would need to present a guaranteed return on investment. The people would have to show them that if they put up the money it will be put to good use, and make them lots of money in return. This can be done by having a big name artist already attached to the event before approaching sponsors. It can also be done by presenting data from past events and statistics about expected turnout, etc.
Speculating about this stuff is fun, but when you get down to the nitty gritty of it, the logistics are a huge hurdle. Of course all the local artists want to be part of it, but what is needed is people who would actually buy the tickets. The simple fact is that most local artists struggle to get even 50 people to show up at a concert and for this to work multiple thousands of people would need to buy tickets and show up.
Charleston has become a playground for the rich and retired. Whenever a corporation gets involved, it sucks the life out of everything that was once cool. It’s all about the money right now and it’s a big problem for the arts in general.
You don’t name festivals but the experience you’re describing is universal. The events have gotten too big and lost track of what made them special. The discussion on this forum about High Water showed this, and so did the fact that Shovels & Rope backed out of the festival they helped to found.
Another problem is that Charleston stands on shaky foundation in the first place. The community needs to be built from the ground up, with genuine connections made between real people who live here and experience this city.
I think you’re right that many people in positions of power would like to maintain the status quo. They are not interested in change, growth, or community. There is definitely a grassroots movement bubbling up as you say. Extra Chill is participating in this for sure.
Here is a satirical video from the local comedy group Nameless Numberhead, which pokes fun at Spoleto.
As for coming together to create a large festival, the biggest barrier to that, unfortunately, is the money. It simply costs a ton of money to put one of these events on and the reality is that only corporations can truly afford it at this point in time. Banding together with the community is an intriguing idea but it is easier said than done. I think a lot of small business owners in Charleston are just trying to make ends meet right now.
I was there, the show was sick. Les Claypool is on another level on the bass. And the songs are just so weird! Love love primus, even though they suck.
Here’s a video shot from the front row of the song “Wynona’s big brown beaver”
Thomas Street downtown used to be known among my friends as “The Chill Street”, and we would go there and burn spliffs as we walked around on weeknights.
Sunday Blunt Day in Marion Square. The thought of doing that today gives me anxiety.
