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Monday, November 08, 2004 - 10:18 PM
Strong evidence that there is potential for life in the city Mid-Point Music Festival 2004
By Greg Matusak
That 70’s City
Let’s face it – the Cincinnati Music scene is known for three things on a national level:
1. WKRP in Cincinnati – a sitcom that aired from 1978-1982
2. 1979 Riverfront Coliseum/ The Who concert tragedy – where 11 people were crushed to death and,
3. A city-wide fascination with Jimmy Buffett – who except for a duet with Alan Jackson last year, hasn’t reached the charts since 1977.
WKRP gang: rumored top have move to West Chester after riots |
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Now I realize we can blame alcohol and poor judgment on two of the three and we will just have to accept that whole Jimmy Buffett thing as who we are, but once a year an event comes to town that has the potential to launch Cincinnati out of the 70’s and into the future of the music world. I am speaking of the Midpoint Music Festival.
The Midpoint Music Festival (MPMF) is now in its third year and this year we saw 254 unsigned, original bands participate in shows in downtown Cincinnati. There are also daytime events, such as conferences, tradeshows, and speakers about the music business. But the main focus is the shows. Every club that participated saw four to five bands performing forty-minute sets each night. The crowds were packed everywhere. Also a $10 per night cover allowed you access to all the clubs and all the music. You can’t beat that with a stick!
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A Man With a Plan
This year’s MPMF featured over 250 original bands spread out over 3 nights and 18 different venues along Main St. and the Over the Rhine. It was impossible for me to see every band, so I developed a plan. Each night, I decided to have a different strategy on how to pick the bands, thus proving in a scientific manner that no matter how you choose which bands to hear at MPMF, you are still going to have a great time.
Night 1: Thursday, September 27 2004
Overwhelmed, I twice got dizzy and fell down just by looking at the sheer number of bands and opportunities to hear live original music. I did the only fair thing: I cut all the bands names up for the first night and put them in a hat.
I started the night out with my “New” favorite band, the Newbees. They are local and capture the Cincinnati alt–rock sound that was defined by bands like the Ass Ponys. I moved on to hear Langus at Rythem & Blues Club. From there, I listened to the North Carolina band Stephanie’s Id. A mixture of between funk and jazz, achieved amazingly without a bass player.
The night ended with the Woos – what they lack in technical skills, which at times they admitted during the show, they more than make up for in pop energy. Never underestimate two chords and a moving bass line.
Night 2: Friday, September 28 2004
This band line up was going to be one that I was not going to leave to fate. After looking at the schedule for hours, I decided that tonight I would see bands whose name made me giggle.
This became tough to choose, because many of the bands had great names and I am not very mature.
Due to schedule conflict, I missed Wigglepussy, Indiana (snicker) and Janitors of the Apocalypse (giggle), but I thought they should be mentioned in this section.
The first band of the night was Wussy and if you have not gotten the chance to hear them, make it a priority. Seriously, go right now and check out this Cincinnati “super group” that pulls members from the Ass Ponys and Messerley & Ewing.
It was a complete musical about face for me to next hear Two Turntables and a Saxophone. If you love acid jazz, these guys are fine, no bass player though.
Wussy, Cincinnati's supergroup |
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The next two hours were the low point for me of the entire festival. Not because I didn’t find their names of the bands very amusing (I didn’t), but I didn’t find their show very appealing, and so the Pittsburgh band, The Band is Called You, and local jam band, Da Lemmings on Sombol, were my next two bands of the night.
The last band was called Mallory. For a moment I believed that I would find Alex P. Keaton’s loveable, but ditzy sister ready to rock. Instead I got a band with lilting melodies, crashing waves of sound and no bass player… are they all on strike?
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Night 3: Saturday, September 29 2004
Tonight I would dedicate myself to local causes. I would only see local bands that probably never get the chance to play this part of town, except for the Barrelhouse, on the weekends. The night started out poorly with Philosopher’s Stone-what they have in technical skills, they lack in song writing ability. For example, no one needs three guitar solos in one song.
On to the Cavern, to hear Fizzgig - this band has perfected the Nouveau punk sound.
To hear something completely different, I headed to Kaldi’s and listened to veteran singer-songwriter Greg Mahan. Greg played a short set to a very appreciative crowd.
It was now time to get the funk out the only way you can in Cincy, with Freekbass. I have been a fan since the days of Shag, his original Funk band and I can tell you this one show made my whole weekend. The festival closed for me aptly with the Ass Ponys. These guys have been guiding the original music direction in Cincinnati for over fifteen years.
What About the Other 51 weekends in the year?
The MPMF is an incredible weekend for the Cincinnati music scene, but it can also be so much more. It should be looked at as a blueprint or a business proposal on how in 3 years Cincinnati will be known as a first class music city.
Maybe one night a month (a weekend night dammitt!!!!), the entire Main St. entertainment district should reserve their stages for original music only. Additionally, with the purchase of a wristband at any club would get you admittance to all clubs. Too often, people are locked into a club, or a band, after they pay a cover charge. This is what this city needs and once a year MPMF shows us how to do it.
Could Cincinnati be the “new scene”? Stephanie Morgan of the band Stephanie’s Id was here only for the festival and was amazed how progressive and open the original music scene was in Cincinnati. “This is how exactly how Chapel Hill [North Carolina] is. Nobody listens to cover bands.” Chapel Hill is the home of groups like Superdrag, Ben Folds, Squirrel Nut Zippers and countless other really great bands that receive national attention.
The MPMF shows us that the talent is out there and the audience will come and listen. Now if only the Main St. entertainment district will listen.
Links
· Midpoint Music Festival
· The Newbees
· Langus
· Stephanie’s Id
· The Woos
· Wussy
· Two Turntables and a Saxophone
· Da Lemmings on Sombol
· Mallory
· Philosopher’s Stone
· Fizzgig
· Greg Mahan
· Freekbass
· Ass Ponys
Contact Information
· gregm@queencityforum.com
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