Siren's Call
The Village Voice has announced a preliminary lineup for the Siren Fest I’m curious to know what my fellow Soft Communicators think of this shindig.
In theory, it’s a great festival. It’s free, the band roster is usually stellar, and it’s at (in? on?) Coney Island! Woo! But each year I’ve gone, it’s so ridiculously crowded and hot that, rather than watching the bands, I spend most of the day drinking beer on the boardwalk, eating fried food and recklessly driving bumper cars. And re-enacting the last scene from the Warriors. Which is certainly a good time. Am I alone in this? Have any of you found a good spot to watch the rock? If so, fill me in. If not, I’ll see you all at El Dorado on Surf Avenue. We’ll bump our asses off.
posted by therese @ 6:04 PM
15 Comments:
Hey,
Hmm...my best advice would be to arrive fiendishly late.
I find you can normally shove to the front if you're persistent enough. Wear comfy clothes, bring a spray bottle and know the roster and this should make the experience somewhat less hellish.
As for vantage points, well there's the sidelines leading up to the Boardwalk if you just want a listen?
I prefer to loiter by the second stage - wider area, less crowded, better sightlines, not as fiendishly irritating.
the best thing to do for the former is to either get a spot on the cyclone wall & deal with the endless stream of movers (the plus side is you'll probably be able to see the stage better than people in the front) OR actually have friends in the front that you're looking for (as opposed to the infamous "I'm looking for my friend").
yeah. wearing sunscreen is the best idea. unfortunately the ratio of rock enjoyment is miniscule so I go with friends (like contributor tina who has pretty much won the boyfriend game with the winner she found for me a couple of years ago) & mentally prepare myself for the fact that I will only see 3 or 4 bands. somehow I keep returning.
Yeah, I didn't go last year because every year the annoyance is greater than my desire to see bands. I've been lucky getting up front cause I throw elbows, but once up front have had drunk dudes pour beer on my tits. Beer + zillion smelly people + my tanktop = POOOOOOOOP!
That said hanging around the second stage is fun. Sunscreen is a must. I'm not sure if I will be going this year. Depends on too many factors right now.
I believe that my "I am metal Sparticus" dude has made me have a gazillion boyfriend game points. He was a beaut.
I'll be avenged tina. o yes. you can count on it.
Jeremiah and I have attended Siren every year and have repeatedly ended up sunburned, disgruntled, and all hipstered out. I don't know/like any of the bands in this year's prelim line-up, so I'll likely be watching half-heartedly from the sidelines, because the event is a nice excuse to spend the day on the beach/rides/at the boardwalk.
Speaking out free outdoor concerts, I hope to see you all at the Philly installment of Live 8, the 20th anniversary Live Aid show. Huzzah Bob Geldof!!!
who's on the bill again?
Spoon, Mates of State, Brendan Benson, VHS or Beta, Dungen, Q and Not U, and The Dears, so far.
Oh, or do you mean the line-up for Live 8? The Philly bill, as of now, includes Stevie Wonder, Dave Matthews, Il Divo, Will Smith, P. Diddy, Jay-Z, Bon Jovi, and Maroon 5.
The London bill boasts a lot of big names, although Geldof has been criticized for including primarily white acts (U2, Elton John, Annie Lennox, Madonna, Scissor Sisters, Paul McCartney, Joss Stone, REM, Sting).
I meant siren. well the three acts I know pretty well (spoon, benson, dears) I like. the others I'm not aggressively familiar with.
does that sentence make me sound like I fondle bands?
il divo. oh boy, jenny you have...eh, strength. I don't think I could deal with that.
oooh. I've never braved siren (although I guess the only time I COULD have gone was last year, as that was my first summer in nyc). big huge crowds make me very very nervous so unless it were someone I totally loved and wouldn't get to see otherwise, I don't think I'd do it.
and while I quite like spoon and q & not u, I really don't know the others very well and I can listen to spoon and q & not u on my headphones in the park, perhaps with the dog and an iced tea, and be just as happy.
oh, but I meant to say, bumper cars fucking RULE.
You know, we could all have a softcom beach party (bingo, anyone?) and those who wanted to brave the show could do so while others frolic.
ooo!
oh my lord, that lineup for live 8 philly blows.
yeah, it's pretty all around fuckin' dire.
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