I play bass for a band called The Blisters and we had the breakfast set (11:30 i think), but from where i was standing the house seemed pretty packed. Solid Sound does a great job of timing the sets so you can see almost everything you want. In fact, Solid Sound does a great job of pretty much everything. I haven't played many festivals but later in the summer we played at Lollapalooza in Chicago and i was amazed at how much SS spoiled me, haha. At Lollapalooza having an artist wristband doesn't mean anything because anyone can pay a couple hundred for a pass that offers more privileges. Plus there are too many people in charge and none of the staff knows anything so to get anything done you have to argue with ten different people. Which is how most festivals (pitchfork, sxsw, bonnaroo, etc) are to my knowledge. But at Solid Sound, everything was organized fantastically. from the stage crew to the festival managers, everyone knew what they were doing and when and how they were supposed to do it. More importantly though, everyone there is so nice! I felt welcome as a performer, because all the audience members are there to listen to music, and you can definitely feel that on stage. So yeah, Solid Sound is very different in that the people in charge's main concern is just to put on the best music festival possible.
I had come with a handful of Hubski stickers that I was planning on handing out, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. The festival was all about music and I didn't want to be "that guy". But I did wear my Hubski t-shirt for three days straight. If you guys ever come through the Raleigh-Durham area and you remember, give me a shout-out. I'd love to come out and see you perform. We did just miss your performance that morning. Dammit! Had I known.... That said, I recall checking out your band prior to the show and digging the song "One Day." I just downloaded your album Finally Bored, I look forward to giving you guys a good listen. Glad you found us here, nice to have another musician in our midst.So yeah, Solid Sound is very different in that the people in charge's main concern is just to put on the best music festival possible.
It's evident. From the volunteers on up, you can just tell that it's not your average festival. While having lunch or just walking around you feel like the musicians you came to see are just "fans" like you are, eager to see their favorite bands playing. I saw Nels Cline checking out Yo La Tengo, and I saw James McNew of Yo-La waiting at the end of a very long line for pizza. -Just a regular fella, still having to wait for his 'za. It seemed humble and the music was at the forefront and the music was very approachable -meaning you could get right up there and be a part of it and not have to be 1/2 a mile away.
I saw that you guys recorded at the Loft, what was that experience like? Again, thanks for the kind words regarding Hubski, let me know if you have any suggestions for the site etc.I've only been here for a few days so far but i think i'm really going to enjoy it.
Thank you, that's really nice to hear. I appreciate you being willing to let others know about the site, especially Jeff. If Tweedy were to be on Hubski, well.... that'd be pretty damned cool. I'm a singer/songwriter and aside from John Lennon and a family friend that would bring his guitar over when I was a boy, I don't think anyone has influenced me musically more than Jeff Tweedy and Wilco.