The Grinnell College newspaper just published an article about our on-going music festival featuring a really tawdry interview of myself, a couple of Freesound guys and my roommate, who just happened to be eating lunch with us. Note: I so do not say "tees"! >: (
by Charles Netzer
With the addition of a new practice space and some extra funds, Freesound, the campus bands collective, has never been stronger. It's set to prove just how much stronger it is with four concerts (in which 22 bands are set to play) over two and a half weeks, starting tonight in Gardner.
The "Music Still Hates You" festival will incorporate a number of musical genres into the larger concert scheme. The festival will kick off with a primarily dance and hip-hop-oriented concert tonight featuring the campus bands All the Romeos, Maxx, Honor G, The Jersey Freeze, as well as a guest DJ From Kansas City, TACTIC.
"The party's going to be workday style," said Chris Farstad '09, one of the leaders of Freesound, referencing the all-night dance party last spring in Gardner. "It's going to be off several chains at once." The workday style party hypothetically runs from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., hence the name.
"Seriously, don't come if you're lazy," Farstad warned. "DJs K, No-Face and Fancy Mike will spin into the wee hours."
The festival pauses until the next Friday, and then kicks into high gear. The punk show on Nov 21 begins with a handout of posters and t-shirts in Quad for those who get to the show early.
"We had alumni David Barnett ['08], Mac Pohanka ['08], and Carson Smith ['08] from the Brooklyn Company Tingle Fingers make show posters and tees," said Soleil Ho '09, another Freesound leader and member.
"There'll be food too," Farstad added.
The music itself begins at 9 p.m. in Quad. Cover band Fabio & The Gods of Romance start things off, and then punk outfits The Schmohawks, Unknown Assailant, and Rasco & The Rats of Nimh hit the stage. Local ska band Slaughterhouse Six will then finish the show off. "We call the show 'The Co-Optation of Counter Culture,'" Ho said.
The sweaty masses can take a break until the following night, although Farstad admitted that the festival doesn't technically end. "People gotta sleep," he said. "But you can stay."
Headlining the next night's concert, which will again be in the Quad, and will again have food, is Caustic Vision, a local hardcore outfit. College headbangers Opiate open, followed by punks Nahboo, Pigs for Miles, and White People Music before Caustic Vision begins their set.
The whole festival winds down on Tuesday in Bob's with an acoustic show featuring K Plattner, Nobody's Hippie and Friends, Allie Joelle, JTweeChasez, and Triangle. After the previous weekend's music overload, the group has decided to dub this show "Gently Caressing Like a Lamb".
"This festival has been several weeks in the making," Ho said. "All the same, we still need volunteers to help make sure things go smoothly."
Students were impressed at the scope of the event and looked forward to attending. "I'm so excited," said Claire Comstock-Gay '09, "this is going to be the best Grinnell show of all time!"