Siren Festival, your opinions please

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This year was my first attending, basically for Modest Mouse and Sahara Hotnights. It is so hilarious to me that music is such a powerful thing that some of the lamest bands with the worst equipment can gather crowds of people to stand in cramped quarters in the hot sun on hot asphalt and stare at the head in front of theirs, since the stage is impossible to view, while listening unintelligible noise from a strained PA system.

We heard about one song from each band before deciding to split and check out whoever was playing on the other stage and then split again and get some beer or food or whatever. As I expected, the last 2 bands on both stages suddenly had much better sound (though still crap).

I saw a lot of moustaches, afros, mohawks and greasy moptop 70s retrostylies. It's funny that music also has the power to dress you in the morning.

I thought it was pretty bad, obviously, but at least I got a little color and had a good day with my sweetie. Oh yeah, and a free Idlewild CD.

― Scaredy Cat, Sunday, 20 July 2003 02:16 (twenty-two years ago)

crowds of people to stand in cramped quarters in the hot sun on hot asphalt and stare at the head in front of theirs

I mean, it's not even like people could hook up or anything, like a regular venue. People in groups of 2 to 5 people standing like dopes for 30 minutes while the next band tunes up... I'm thinking, "Why bother? It's going to sound like shit, anyway. Just play already so I can see who's on the other stage."

― Scaredy Cat, Sunday, 20 July 2003 02:20 (twenty-two years ago)

There's a "freaks come out at night" quality to Siren Fest, all these night-owl rock club types harshly exposed to the blazing day-time sun. I had a great time, mainly because I refused to take the music-watching seriously at all. I showed up for the Dirtbombs who had a weak song or two but otherwise ruled, I saw Saraha Hotnights who had good songs and sounded okay but they seemed trapped within their music somehow. So I took a dip in the ocean, it felt great. Raj from the last FAP was there!! I missed Ally though because of the exceedingly spotty mobile reception out there. I totally disagree re: hooking up, there was some serious checking out going on.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Sunday, 20 July 2003 03:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I totally disagree re: hooking up, there was some serious checking out going on.

Not so easy to go back to anyone's place from Coney Island.

― Scaredy cat (Natola), Sunday, 20 July 2003 03:33 (twenty-two years ago)

There's a "freaks come out at night" quality to Siren Fest

Oh yeah, this is what I wanted to respond to! Yeah, I was looking around and for the first time in a long time, I wondered where the fuck these people worked or how they made their living. Waiters, eBayers, bartenders? It seems like a lot of people are heavily dependent on a healthy freak subculture or else they're fucked in the "real world", no?

― Scaredy cat (Natola), Sunday, 20 July 2003 03:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I think the difficulty of actually changing plans/group of people you're with contributed to the vibe actually, because it was like "might as well give all the cuties a big ol grin, nothing could happen anyway"

They hibernate inside a closet at Vice Magazine HQ, where they stitch their own clothes and grow moustaches until pupa-like they emerge, blinking into the sun

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Sunday, 20 July 2003 03:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Dude, ok, wtf Tracer, how the hell did we BOTH run into Raj but not each other when we were actively searching for each other? Oh, right, cos "actively searching" involves actually looking, not both sides going, eh, c'est la vie and going to do other things immediately ;)

Sorry I missed you though. We kind of all gave up on the festival itself and did Coney Island things instead, it was too odd at the music itself, all the descriptions spot on, sound quality not so hot...I'd never gone to the Siren festival before. Didn't realize the set up was like in a tiny parking lot type area. The water was lovely today though.

― Ally (mlescaut), Sunday, 20 July 2003 03:46 (twenty-two years ago)

It was amazingly gorgeous!! did you go in?

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Sunday, 20 July 2003 03:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes! We actually convinced Byron to go in fully dressed. I swam out as far as I could. It was so, so nice. Then we rode the Cyclone and I think I'm going to die from my injuries. Actually, we did every single thing possible at the Siren Festival besides actually go to the festival.

(ps got yr msg just now, can't go tonite, going to bed in a few, have to be at Guggenheim tomorrow quite early--fwiw, it was not a cell phone disaster that prevented you from calling me back. My cell phone died shortly after I finally figured out wtf Carey and Phil were.)

― Ally (mlescaut), Sunday, 20 July 2003 03:54 (twenty-two years ago)

boy I miss nyc sometimes.

― M Matos (M Matos), Sunday, 20 July 2003 03:57 (twenty-two years ago)

We had a nice long walk on the boardwalk, but didn't go in for some reason. Out of the 14 bands, we missed almost everything, basically.

Who's going next year?! :D If some incredible band is playing, I might go just to have a day at the beach, etc.

― Scaredy cat (Natola), Sunday, 20 July 2003 03:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I was gonna head down and check out the scene, mostly because I've been craving Nathan's lately, but eh, I've been to Coney Island twice in the past month and a half; I'll go get my hot dog some other time.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 20 July 2003 04:03 (twenty-two years ago)

The part of the Sahara Hotnights set I did hear sounded good but A) can't see anything B) sound quality was rubbish, Battle-of-the-Bands. It's always like that? What's the point in going every year? I'm kind of curious why the quality was just so...ick amateurist, considering Summerstage is a similar thing and sounds good? I guess Central Park is lacking the cacaphony of the amusement park and beach to crowd out the sound of the bands.

― Ally (mlescaut), Sunday, 20 July 2003 04:06 (twenty-two years ago)

What I particularly enjoyed, Ally, was the sound of the Cyclone over the music (and over my head).

― Scaredy cat (Natola), Sunday, 20 July 2003 04:13 (twenty-two years ago)

But it's not really conducive, in my opinion at least, to trying to enjoy a concert for anything :(

Are you going to any of the summerstage stuff?

― Ally (mlescaut), Sunday, 20 July 2003 04:15 (twenty-two years ago)

But it's not really conducive, in my opinion at least, to trying to enjoy a concert for anything :(

Hell no, it's not. That whole set-up was lame.

SUMMERSTAGE- Hell yes.

― Scaredy cat (Natola), Sunday, 20 July 2003 04:22 (twenty-two years ago)

this just sounds awful

― James Blount (James Blount), Sunday, 20 July 2003 05:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Scaredy cat, are you ever going to meet any of your fellow NYCers? What I didn't understand about the Siren Festival: why it got increasingly crowded as the day turned into night. Around 4 the boardwalk crowds were negligible. Around 8 they were downright fearful. I led our little posse to Garguilos; turns out its a bit of a posh restaurant -- and supercrowded. Then to Totonnos Pizza, but we weren't welcome there either. Back to the old standby Carolinas, but our waiter was all down on us. I feel a bit sick today -- not sure if it was the sea water or the white wine. My body hurts again, and this time I didn't ride the Cyclone. Maybe it is the toxic water inducing cramps? Has anyone been to the Coney Island Aquarium? There is no there there.

― Mary (Mary), Sunday, 20 July 2003 11:55 (twenty-two years ago)

i wound up having a great day, but in spite of rather than due to the festival. i thought it was a great idea to stay out until 6am on friday, thus i missed the two bands i really wanted to see (oneida and the dirtbombs) since they were on so early. i saw a bit of the sahara hotnights (yawn), a bit of northern state (ack), a bit of the datsuns (eh), and a bit of modest mouse (ick). as has been noted, the sound was terrible. underwhelmed, i spent most of my time hiding in puzzles bar and grill.
PUZZLES RULES. a guy with gold teeth and prison tattoos beat my friend at pool, a spontaneous hula hoop contest broke out, and we had a nice dance party going to ac/dc. coney island, i love you.

― lauren (laurenp), Sunday, 20 July 2003 16:32 (twenty-two years ago)

which one is puzzles?

― Mary (Mary), Sunday, 20 July 2003 17:52 (twenty-two years ago)

it's next to the freakshow.

― lauren (laurenp), Sunday, 20 July 2003 18:27 (twenty-two years ago)

okay, i've been there, it's a good place

― Mary (Mary), Sunday, 20 July 2003 18:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Scaredy cat, are you ever going to meet any of your fellow NYCers?

That would be odd.

Has anyone been to the Coney Island Aquarium? There is no there there.

Does that mean it sucks? We almost went in on Saturday, but it seemed like a rip off after the clerk told us there were "no more shows". I hadn't expected any shows, but once she informed us there weren't going to be any, well that just ruined it.

― Scaredy Cat, Monday, 21 July 2003 01:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I have never been -- but there is this big walkway up to it, then you get there, and it's just -- a tent? underground? where is it? Do you remember how much admission was? Apparantly it was a big diss to the NY Aqaurium people when they put it in C.I.

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 21 July 2003 01:24 (twenty-two years ago)

It's $14, but it's $11 after 5, when there are "no more shows". Damn it, I want a show!

― Scaredy Cat, Monday, 21 July 2003 01:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Scaredy Cat, why are you scared of your NYC brethren?

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 21 July 2003 01:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Radio 4 = good
Idlewild = good if you like Idlewild
Modest Mouse = shitty
Ted Leo = pretty good
!!! = a tough sell during the day
Oneida = good but a bit boring

Also, all were the NYC "hipsters" were really lame or was I imagining thing. HELLO GIRLS HORIZONTAL STRIPES ARE SO 1999!

― Jon Williams (ex machina), Monday, 21 July 2003 01:58 (twenty-two years ago)

What I didn't understand about the Siren Festival: why it got increasingly crowded as the day turned into night.

Bigger bands at night. Some fools actually go for the music.

― bnw (bnw), Monday, 21 July 2003 02:00 (twenty-two years ago)

If they went for the music, why were they all hounding the boardwalk?

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 21 July 2003 02:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Scaredy Cat, why are you scared of your NYC brethren?

Not sure if it would be much fun is all.

Also, all were the NYC "hipsters" were really lame or was I imagining thing. HELLO GIRLS HORIZONTAL STRIPES ARE SO 1999!

There were two times I actually burst out laughing. It was so odd for me to think of these dweebs in front of a full-length mirror shooting their reflection with finger-guns (or whatever). Cool, dude.

― Scaredy cat (Natola), Monday, 21 July 2003 02:10 (twenty-two years ago)

I think most of them were in high school. And a lot of people were too cool to wear shorts.

hahahaha suckers

― Jon Williams (ex machina), Monday, 21 July 2003 02:35 (twenty-two years ago)

a lot of people were too cool to wear shorts.

hahahaha suckers

Speaking of which, I saw 3 people faint due to heat exhaustion, I guess. One guy actually was right in front of us and clunked his head right on the asphalt. These 3 were during the 15 minutes we actually stayed still to watch modest mouse.

― Scaredy cat (Natola), Monday, 21 July 2003 02:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Well Scaredy, since you're so diplomatic and polite on an anonymous message board, I truly regret not being able to witness your ace social skills in action.

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 21 July 2003 03:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Well Scaredy, since you're so diplomatic and polite on an anonymous message board, I truly regret not being able to witness your ace social skills in action

First, I would have to purchase a self-hellp book called "Obvious & Easy, The Way of the Cynical Young Urbanite".

― Scaredy cat (Natola), Monday, 21 July 2003 03:25 (twenty-two years ago)

"manners for dummies"

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 21 July 2003 03:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, yes. I'm so ill-mannered.

― Scaredy cat (Natola), Monday, 21 July 2003 03:29 (twenty-two years ago)

oh it was awful!...terrible bands playing through a terrible PA with terrible results......eck! terrible.

oh but...the gals were out in FULL FORCE.

― ddb, Tuesday, 22 July 2003 16:39 (twenty-two years ago)

There's a pretty funny, though incoherent, review in the NY Times, in which this Kelefah Sannah fellow seems to feel that the lineup resembles or reflects the "rock 'n' roll underground". Cutting edge criticism as usual, given that half the participants are beneficiaries of major-label promotional spasms.

I agree with his scorn, though.

― Hurlothrumbo (hurlothrumbo), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 17:03 (twenty-two years ago)

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