Virgin(Mobile)Festival Unveiled

30Apr08

In a risky, risky move, IMP promotions released their full line-up for the Virgin Mobile Festival MUCH later than any of the other summer festivals, on Monday, April 28th. They announced their, some would say, lukewarm headliners something like a month ago, and really it just felt…bleh. Jack Johnson and Kanye were playing virtually every other festival this year, Nine Inch Nails haven’t done anything worth while since Downward Spiral (that includes the cheapening of the Radiohead idea this year to release their album online for free, but only as part of the complete 4 album work…that I’m sure could have been reduced down to one album of solid tracks) and most doubt STP will actually perform with Scott Weiland’s track record of rehab stints. Facing some AWESOME line-up’s this year, primarily by Lollapolooza, they waited to put out their REAL line-up confidently.

The line-up finally came out, and everyone involved could breathe a great big sigh of relief. The 3rd Annual V-Fest wasn’t going to be bad, not bad in the slightest. In fact, it actually seems pretty genius. All of the people [who consider themselves] HUGE into the music scene, into underground music and the best and latest indie blah blah blah were freaking out about all their choices, be it lolla, sasquatch, coachella, langerado, pitchfork, etcetera. V-Fest confidently chose their bands for their specified market. Let’s face fact; NO ONE is traveling across the country to come see Bob Dylan and Chuck Berry in Baltimore, especially since they’d have to find a hotel. It just isn’t gonna happen. Hell, you’d be hard pressed to find people from West Virginia or Pennsylvania to come out to it. But all those people who are interested in finding new music but aren’t OBSESSED with it should be, nay, WILL be quite delighted with the line-up. These people, by and large, listen to the radio and like Foo Fighters and want to see Bob Dylan and Kanye West, but aren’t stupid enough to buy into the simply awful line-up like…oh, I don’t know…DC101’s Chili Cookoff? (What’s their draw anyway? Seether?)

Those who come to see STP, NIN, Foo, and The Offspring are going to be on cloud 9 when they get wind of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Gogol Bordello, and Black Keys, bands that aren’t played on the radio, but whose talent and rock quality cannot be abstained. They’ll love the up-and-coming Rodrigo y Gabriela (haven’t they been up-and-coming for years now?) and they’re mesmerizing flamenco fills. They’ll be able to say “Hey, I saw Bloc Party!…They’re album was better than seeing them live…BUT I SAW THEM!” And The Swell Season and Wilco are playing, two of the best live performances I, personally, had seen last year. Ever person watching those shows will be converted into fans, despite any factors. You just can’t watch either of those sets and not be pulled in.

I say good. Now, it may be disappointing to see Bob Dylan NOT pick up his guitar, because he apparently never does anymore, but whatever. It is a well worthwhile festival line-up geared exactly to those people who hadn’t had a festival representing their interests.

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