Even though last week's kick off to Thursday at Canalside was magnificent, in the end, the night was tragic, a victim of what should have been but wasn't. I ran into Bossman Mac in between Hollerado and The Hold Steady and he said “there should be 4,000 people here” and he was right. Even though the weather held up (at least since 7:00 PM when I got there), a rainy and dismal day kept most people home, a spectacular shame considering there should be 3,000 more Hold Steady fans in Western New York. The…modest crowd was on the receiving end of a glorious barrage of blistering garage rock and punk ethos. As a recent and casual fan, I turned up to see what The Hold Steady had to offer (especially after talking all that smack lately), and I was transformed. Fun, rapturous fun was had, but not by 3,000 other folks alas.
This week’s installment is also looking in doubt, with an excellent bill featuring Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and St Lucia, the other half of the one-two indie rock punch we’re getting this year at Canalside potentially falling victim to more bad weather. I for one am particularly excited by this part of the lineup as it seems that the organizers are trying to broaden and mold local audiences towards the kind of shows we’ve been getting these last few years. This is good. Wonderful in fact. Socking Canalside audiences with up to the minute indie rock not only pretty much guarantees a good show, it might turn some diverse folks onto some good shit, and that’s what it’s all about. But this weather… it’s becoming a problem because it’s thwarting good things.
Now ordinarily I’m all about Mother Nature, but I don’t like where this is going. That’s why I propose striking back if Mother Nature keeps getting in the way of our fun. There’s some good free and almost free shows coming up and if rain becomes an issue I think a tire fire ala The Simpsons is in order. Sure it’s juvenile and will only make matters worse, but shit, something’s got to be done. Rain won’t keep the diehards and the truest music fans away; in fact they look upon inclement weather as a challenge (I however work in that shit all day so give me a break if the spirit doesn’t always move me), but for the average punter they’re not dealing with it, and in the end that’s a damn shame. Tire fire.
No, of course we can’t have a huge tire fire like Springfield. But I sure feel better after making that idle threat/suggestion, and I acknowledged what I think is an honest and beneficent effort to push things along and make things happen. In any case I’ll see you Thursday rain or shine… after whoofing yet more smack.
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