515 Alive 2008 posted
This event is ridiculous - and not necessarily in a good way. I remember the first year I went - in 03 I was pretty excited about such an "urban" music festival. But at that point, I was a bedroom DJ myself, fresh out of college, and had never been to a real music event like lollapalooza - or even 80/35. I know, bad comparison, but still. I'm comparing success to - not success.
How do you expect an event to be successful if you can't pay any of your acts? You scrape up enough cash to cover the cost of the event and fly in a headliner... but everyone else... how do you expect reputable, good DJs to come out and perform when you can't even throw them $100?
Everything at 515alive this year was unorganized. Did you see a map anywhere at the event? I didn't. You had to guess the freakin stages based on which no-name DJ (no offense to the DJs) was on stage. Did you see a schedule? Only in poster format... and the schedule on the poster had 2 main stages listed, wtf? How do you know which main stage is which? I asked several of the "515alive girls," but none of them knew. And why did the headliner flown in from Amsterdam go on before other acts had even started on their stages?
Uh, what a disappointment...
But despite the horribly planned event. There were some good things to see.
And one last point, upgrade the music. Times have changed. Jungle and happy hardcore is not what will bring a crowd. You need to stay with the times. Bring on some mashup DJs or whatever and attract some kids.
Anyway... I'm now rambling. Check out my pics from this year's event.
How do you expect an event to be successful if you can't pay any of your acts? You scrape up enough cash to cover the cost of the event and fly in a headliner... but everyone else... how do you expect reputable, good DJs to come out and perform when you can't even throw them $100?
Everything at 515alive this year was unorganized. Did you see a map anywhere at the event? I didn't. You had to guess the freakin stages based on which no-name DJ (no offense to the DJs) was on stage. Did you see a schedule? Only in poster format... and the schedule on the poster had 2 main stages listed, wtf? How do you know which main stage is which? I asked several of the "515alive girls," but none of them knew. And why did the headliner flown in from Amsterdam go on before other acts had even started on their stages?
Uh, what a disappointment...
But despite the horribly planned event. There were some good things to see.
- The graffiti artists are always fun to watch. I'd really like to see more of this around DSM. Are there some legal graffiti murals/spots around?
- The B-Boys were also good this year. There were plenty of non-floor spiders that made their way onto the linoleum and really busted out. I like that we have a respectable breakdance scene in DSM.
- I finally saw the Des Moines Boyz and... eh. They were alright, not amazing, but not bad. It'd be fun to have some mainstream rap thrown into our DSM hip hop scene though.
- Cleo's apartment always seems to make it to 515 alive, and they're better than ever. That group is really starting to pull in some amazing talent. I wish they could make a national name for themselves. They need some management!
- Flatform was good stuff. The set seemed a little familiar, but it was still solid. Too bad they got pushed back so late because the whole crowd was watching the headliner - Misjah.
- And Misjah was pretty decent. Not quite headlining material maybe, but he was good. Very minimalistic repetitive techno beats. Seems a little dated.
- The fire dancers were fun to watch and photograph.
- And last but not least - the people watching. I think it gets better every year.
And one last point, upgrade the music. Times have changed. Jungle and happy hardcore is not what will bring a crowd. You need to stay with the times. Bring on some mashup DJs or whatever and attract some kids.
Anyway... I'm now rambling. Check out my pics from this year's event.
comments
Nice post man, this was my first 515 and it was a blast for me, but we knew the whole Solar Cathedral gang, i'm a "bedroom DJ" as you call, as of now, workin' my way up. I see you've hit a lot of Psychopathic Records/Subnoize/Strange Music shows, I've been at all the ones you've listed except the Bizzar Bizaar one. Good shit man.
Darrin posted
I have been to this event each of the last 4 years and it continues to go down hill. Pretty much everything Derek touched on was on point. I guess if you like those few times a summer where you can drink in the streets downtown, the event is great. Otherwise it is just a terribly laid out, horribly booked cluster fuck of out of date music.
luke posted
i both agree and disagree with a BUNCH of what you've got to say.
this event has gotten better and better every year. though it's a bit unorganized and 'thrown together' this year was the BEST. you say that you see no progression and that makes me think that you're not paying attention. last year was pretty dope, this year was even sicker.
misjah played LAST... not BEFORE any other dj's performed. and he was PHOENOMINAL. a 3 decknition that plays all over the globe for a reason. he's one of the best.
you're RIGHT about the 'bedroom dj's playing for free, blah blah blah'. a lot of not so talented shit going on at this show... but on the contrary there was some EXTREMELY solid shit going on there as well.
the sound system, the dj's and the crowd in front of the solar cathedral stage were bangin ALL NIGHT LONG.
youtube the videos posted and see for yourself. thousands of people going apeshit.
thank GOD i didn't have to listen to any happy hardcore or jungle either.
maybe you spent your time listening to the wrong dj's.
i think flash did a pretty good job with the limited funds that were available. it was a FREE festival and over 10,000 people showed up to get down.
i think it was a success. i play all over the country and that was the highlight gig of the year for me.
i hope to not come across as rude or pissed... just posting my opinion and i'll have you know that i respect yours.
best-
dude... posted
word. good comments.
yeah, i mean it has gotten bigger than it was the first year i was there, but i have no idea where that 10,000 people number came from. i don't quite believe it...
and by progression i was speaking more in terms of progressing the music. get away from 90s techno, etc. but i also somewhat meant physical growth.
as for misjah going on last... he went on last on 1 of the main stages, but he was not the last to go on all together. i went to see flatform when they were supposed to go on (10:00pm i believe), but they hadn't even started by 10:30 so i walked over to the main, main stage. misjah was going on. i watched a bit of misjah, and the fire dancers then walked down and watched flatform go on at 11:15. no one was at their show because they got pushed back so late. everyone was at misjah. that's just plain mismanagement. and it really sucks for those guys.
maybe i was watching misjah when he was just getting started, but i didn't see anything too amazing when i was there. i'm sure it got better while i was over watching flatform though.
and you are right, i didn't get around to all the djs. i saw the ones i knew and wanted to see. i should've gotten over to that solar cathedral stage... but where was that? again, a map would've been nice.
derek posted