Review: W.E. Fest 2007 - Friday



FRIDAY

Turning on the TV Friday morning, one of the things Jim & I noticed was a plethora of religious channels. Our favorite by far ended up being TBN, where we saw a show called Bibleman. I think we first started watching it because Jim recognized the actor portraying Bruce Wayne...er, I mean whatever Bibleman's alter-ego was named, was the actor who played the sidekick on Charles In Charge. Having not watched the show I was unaware that was him. However, his Bat Lair...er...I mean, bible lair, complete with a supercomputer and a sidekick of his own, was amusing looking, and when he got a bat...er...bible call, that a kid at school was depressed, he knew he had to show up to lead him on the path back to religion, for religion apparently cures depression. So Bruce Bible puts on his bat suit...I mean bible suit (at some point DC comics should really sue this show), and ends up fighting the evil dr. depression (or something stupid like that), who caused the child's depression. Hilarity (to me at least) ensues, when both Bibleman and the villain pull out lightsabers (come on George, at least you should sue the show!), and while fighting, Bibleman quotes scripture (not nearly as good as a Schwartzenegger catch phrase). Like watching the president speak, this was so silly and sad that I couldn't turn away. Thank god it wasn't a marathon of Bibleman or I would have never left the room.

When we finally did, we drove around Wilmington and checked out some of the shops it has to offer. Jim brought me to a really cool little indoor mall (for lack of a better term) that had about a dozen little shops with handcrafts and nick-knacks and such. They also had a wall where famous people who visit have signed. For those not in the know, Wilmington is quickly becoming a prime place to shoot both TV and film, and from the look of the wall, many have stopped into this little mall. I really wanted to take a marker and put a little peace sign and below it, "Lazlo - BlowUpRadio.com". I was thinking 100 years from now people would be wondering who the hell Lazlo was and what's a BlowUpRadio.com, but alas, there were a lot of people around and I'm sure someone would have tried to stop me if I did try to sign the wall.



By Friday night, lots of people were starting to turn up to W.E. Fest, and a huge amount of people from NJ, making me feel like maybe I wasn't in North Carolina after all. I mean not only was Jim Testa there, but Jared Migden from WRSU, and Stephen Bailey too. It was beginning to feel like a normal show in Hoboken. And then I ran into the Organic Entertainment people, who I had spoken to on e-mail, but never met in person (funny how you have to drive 10 hours to meet people from NYC), and Elizabeth, someone from Wilmington who I had spoken to on e-mail on several occasions.

Highlights from Friday night:

Charlie McAlister - Charlie McAlister is a nut, and one wonders how it is that his band can put up with a guy who is totally neurotically manic on stage. It must be because his garage rock songs are pure rock and works so well in spite of (or because of?) his insanity.



Barnraisers - An amazing bluegrass band from Wilmington. Despite sound problems early on it the set making it hard to hear the vocals, this band which consists of Tiff Reece on banjo & vocals , Adam Forsythe on guitar, and Clint Cooper on stand up bass, won over not only me, but a huge amount of fans that night. I mean who doesn't love a good bluegrass band? And this trio isn't just good, they're one of the best I've ever heard. And their choice of cover material certainly was unique for a bluegrass band. Early on in the set I missed hearing the vocals, but was later told, that they had covered Joy Division. A few songs later, it was Bruce Springsteen. The big shocker though was when I swore I heard Tiff say they were closing with a Misfits cover. I was standing next to Jared Migden at the time and turned and asked him if he heard that too. He missed what she said and thought I must have heard her wrong. We stood there in amazement when it turned out I had heard her right. Wow! The misfits gone bluegrass! Who'd a thunk it?



Second Dan - Transplanted from Australia to New York City, Second Dan sound like a modern British rock band, but seem to have more fun playing then bands like Oasis. These guys closed out the lounge stage after 1am, but while I started out tired, they woke me right back up. Their set was extremely tight, and had the stage presence of a much more established rock band playing a much bigger venue. I expect big things for these guys when their album, "breaking down Goliath", officially comes out later this year (although if you listen to Lazlo's Den, I play tracks from it regularly).



The odd point of Friday night was watching I Love You Airlines. I rather liked their Garbage meets Blondie type of rock, but it's hard to take the music seriously when the lead singer of the band, Edi Duvall, is busy stripping down to her panties and loose top throughout the set. Let's face it, no one was paying too much attention to the music once she started shedding clothing. I know bands want to make an impression and do a big stage show, but I'm not sure if being known as the band whose lead singer strips while singing is really the way you want to be remembered.




Other Photos From Friday