Farewell Music Midtown
This past summer I did a little bit (which I don’t think I ever really finished, actually…) about Music Midtown in Atlanta and how awesome it is and that if you ever get a chance to go it’s pretty fun, and a pretty good deal considering how many bands you get to see for your $65 or whatever it was.
Well, here I was sitting around and reading about the new audio recording abilities of the iPod with video and was poking around looking at microphones and thinking “man, I wish I had something like these when I was at Music Midtown – there were some pretty good sets I wish I could hear again!” On a hunch I Googled up “music midtown 2006” and was shocked to find out that THERE IS NO MUSIC MIDTOWN IN 2006. None!
Francine Reed, the Atlanta vocalist who has played nearly every Music Midtown, would hate to see it go: “Oh my Lord! Music Midtown is the one thing I look forward to each spring in Atlanta. Can it be spring in Atlanta without it?”
“To Glenn: Love and peace and chicken grease ~ Francine Reed”
This is really depressing to me; not only did I plan to go again this year (and it’s not like I’m in the Atlanta area, either – it’s a several-hour drive from Maryland!), but it’s one of the first things I went to with fellow Radio KRUDian megs. That, and for someone like me who’s into all sorts of different types of music, paying one decently-priced ticket for an almost all-you-can-eat listen experience was something that you couldn’t really miss. I’d only been there twice, back in 2001 and again last year in 2005, and how’s this for a list of people I got to see? In no particular order: BIZ MARKIE, BLUE OYSTER CULT, BOB DYLAN, BLOC PARTY, RED LETTER AGENT, RUN DMC, THE SUGARHILL GANG, THE BLACK EYED PEAS, PUBLIC ENEMY, KANSAS, JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS, DEF LEPPARD, BEN HARPER AND THE INNOCENT CRIMINALS, THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA, FRANCINE REED, LOU REED, JOHN FOGERTY, BOOKER T. & THE MG’S, COHEED AND CAMBRIA, KID ROCK, DAVID BANNER, THE FEATURES, OLEANDER, KEANE, THE GAME, INDIGO GIRLS, TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS, INTERPOL, KEITH URBAN, WHODINI, ROBERT RANDOLPH & THE FAMILY BAND, DEVO, THE KILLERS, THE LEMONHEADS, LOUIS XIV, MOFRO, MONTGOMERY GENTRY, PIXIES, SLICK RICK, TEGAN AND SARA, TIFT MERRITT, and THE WHITE STRIPES. And that is just the ones that I remembered seeing or hearing about in the years that I was there! It doesn’t even include the number of local/ethnic musical groups, or even Metalsome Monday where I did karaoke for the first time, technically in front of thousands of people!
Here’s a few of the best photos I’ve got of this past Music Midtown for those of you who have never gone… you can also see them all here.
Whodini
Biz Markie
Joan Jett
Def Leppard
Devo
…man, this puts a downer on looking forward to spring.
At least The Who are going on tour this year…
The talent dropped off the past few years and the ticket prices were not worth it to see the two or three bands that you want -plus they scheduled the best artists against each other at different stages.
I used to go every year until last year, but I was looking forward to see if they were going to get good artists this year.
Kinda sad to see it go.
It is true that 2005 did not have that great of bands but 2004 was awesome! It doesn’t really matter who was playing it was the experience in general. My friends and I had the time of our lives! It was truely an amazing experience, and if you have been before you know what I am talking about. And if you haven’t been it is your loss. I wish somebody could do something about this because I have been anticipating Midtown all year. I love Midtown and always will, along with thousands of people who attend each year! KEEP MIDTOWN ALIVE ATTLANTA!!
I can’t find words to tell about your different experience…simply fantastic dear!
Don Lapre Zach
webmaster@estudiantesporlademocracia.org
http://www.estudiantesporlademocracia.org
Midtown was the best when it was laid back, on the grass(not pavement), plenty of restrooms…..but then the rest of the country came too !!! Too many people,NO GRASSY areas,and people going not only in the restrooms…BUT ALL AROUND THEM TOO….
I love the “old” midtown…