B.O.M.B. Fest Review

May 30, 2010

As regular readers of this blog know, Sunday was the ever talked about B.O.M.B. Fest in Durham. The lead up has been nothing short of epic. Word of B.O.M.B. Fest graced the

pages of all the states major newspapers, most of which had representatives attending. Never one to let our readers down, we too sent three intrepid reporters to cover the festival, and we all arrived late. Sorry, but I work on Sundays. We walked in not knowing what to expect, but were very impressed. B.O.M.B., as you may know, in an acronym: Bring Our Music Back.

To me, B.O.M.B. has one purpose, to bring a big music festival, with bands everyone likes, and local bands, to CT. So let's address it point by point.

#1) Was it big? Yes. As a native of Valley Shore, seeing the Durham Fair grounds used for anything other than the Durham Fair threw me for a loop. Where there is usually carnival games and

rides, there were two main stages and tour buses. The streets lined with food vendors was still lined with food vendors but with the added benefit of two additional stages. It was like the Durham fair if everyone at it got high and invited Girl Talk over and got rid of the arts and crafts. But the crowds of the Durham Fair were there, too. I don't know the official numbers, but I'd venture to say over 9,000! So, it was big.

#2) Were there bands there that everyone liked? Yes and no. It would be a real challenge to get a band there that everyone likes. Simon and Garfunkel would charge too much, and there would still be some people upset with the lineup. B.O.M.B. Fest threw a large net, there was something for everyone. I'm not a huge fan of 30 Seconds to Mars, but some people there loved them. Look at the lineup again. There is something there you'd pay 50 bucks for. And it's there that B.O.M.B. succeeded. There was something that anyone would pay 50 bucks to see.

#3) Were there local bands? Yes. Local bands with national acts. That's what we'd all like to see at any fest, and I did see it at B.O.M.B. Fest. As a matter of a fact MT Bearington was probably the best act I saw there, and there were a lot of acts there. Lets take a moment to think of other music festivals. The Gathering of the Vibes is in Bridgeport this year, like it always is, and they have no local acts. There are a few acts from NY City, but that's not Connecticut. For shame if you think it is.

#4) Was it in CT? Yes. When I first arrived, I questioned if this would all work. Could a major music festival work in Connecticut? Then Of Montreal took the stage and played “Rapture Rapes the Muses” and all my doubts were cast aside.

During the Girl Talk set Greg Gillis asked a general question to the crowd. Who is from here? About three quarters of the audience raised their hands. He said that it felt like a show in someone's backyard, and that we were lucky to be from Connecticut. He's right.